On this episode of Second Act Actors, I talk with teacher and actor Clodine Sponagle, who I connected with when we were both cast in a community theatre play. Clodine has been passionate about theatre from a young age but decided to keep acting as a hobby whilst she pursued her career as a teacher. 

Clodine explains why she chose teaching over acting and what keeps her coming back to acting and community theatre in her free time. We also explore how the pressure and fear of rejection might turn an actor off acting, especially if they’re in a position where they really need to book a role to support themselves or their family.

We move on to talk about every stage actor’s worst nightmare, forgetting a line on stage. Clodine shares memories of plays she’s acted in with chaotic costume changes and a last-minute casting change where she was called upon to play a much older character, which turned into one of her most successful character portrayals.

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Timestamps

[0:51] “It’s one of the neat joys of doing theatre”: Clodine on getting to know people through theatre and see them display their talents

[2:00] Clodine talks about the demands of her job as a teacher and when she can and can’t share emotions in the workplace

[4:36] Clodine explains how she got into acting and why she loves community theatre

[6:39] Making the decision to not pursue acting as a career

[7:39] “It doesn’t feel like work”: Clodine on why she acts as a hobby

[8:40] What prompted Clodine to audition for the play where she and I met

[12:34] The magic of community theatre

[13:39] The transferable skills from acting to teaching, and vice versa

[15:51] Clodine’s magic monologue skills

[16:55] The fear of rejection is still present in community theatre, but it’s lessened

[19:17] Does the love of acting diminish as soon as it becomes your job?

[21:20] Feeling the pressure to book a role can ruin an audition

[22:04] Clodine’s pleasant surprise at coming back to acting

[23:17] The most common recurring nightmare for actors: Forgetting a line on stage

[25:27] Funny on stage memories with chaotic costume changes

[28:45] Taking on a challenging role of an older character

[30:50] Advice from Clodine about the right reasons to start or restart acting

[32:15] What Clodine’s family and children thought of seeing her on stage

[34:19] What it was like for me seeing my dad in a play

[35:01] Clodine’s plans and hopes for the coming year

Links

Second Act Actors website

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Second Act Actors on YouTube

Janet McMordie website

Janet McMordie on Instagram

Janet McMordie on LinkedIn

Janet McMordie on Twitter

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