A Day in My Life as a Performer at The Cumberland County Playhouse

When people think of actors, they often imagine red carpets, curtain calls and applause echoing in ornate theatres. But for those of us working in regional theatre—especially as resident artists—it’s a very different, wildly rewarding and incredibly full life.

I’m an actor at the Cumberland County Playhouse in Tennessee, and no two days are ever quite the same. But one thing is always true: from sunup to sundown, I am living my dream.

7 A.M – Start with Strength

My day usually kicks off at Planet Fitness. (Thank goodness for the nationwide membership—essential for any traveling artist!) It’s my way to ground myself before diving into the chaos of rehearsals, office work and performances. After all, performing eight shows a week requires more stamina than most people realize.

9 A.M – Switching Hats: Social Media Mode

From 9 to 10 a.m., I wear my social media manager hat. Yes, many resident actors take on multiple jobs in regional theatres. At Cumberland, I manage our online presence—editing rehearsal trailers, coordinating content, and reaching out to photographers and videographers for promotional needs. It’s a creative extension of my role on stage, and it helps our shows find their audience.

1 P.M. – Picnic Table Moments OR Get Ready for the Matinee

Lunch is a communal affair. We pack our meals and gather at the picnic tables outside the theatre—a much-needed breather and bonding time with the cast. These moments, simple as they are, feel like family. However, if we have a matinee show that day, I’ll head straight to the dressing room and start to “beat my face” and warmup.

2 – 5 P.M. – Dive Back In

Afternoon rehearsals continue the momentum. In addition to being a resident actor, I am also a music director for 2–3 productions each year, so I often lead vocal rehearsals or help shape harmonies. I also work with kids and teens from our education department giving them voice lessons and helping them prep for a career on the stage.

5 P.M. – Dinner and Reset

Depending on the day, I’ll either eat at the theatre or head home for a quick dinner. It’s the quiet before the final stretch of the day.

6:30 – 10 P.M. – Evening Rehearsals or Performances

Evenings are for rehearsals, unless it’s a show night. From Tuesday through Sunday, we’re performing. We typically have matinees at 2:30 p.m. on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays, and Sundays, and evening shows on Thursday through Saturday. That means if I’m cast (and I usually am—about 10 of the 12 shows per year), my day includes at least one performance in addition to rehearsals. Each show in the year runs for approximately eight weeks, with summer and Christmas being our biggest season.

Mondays Off (Sort Of)

Our only official day off is Monday, but that changes during tech week when we move the show into the theatre. Those weeks are all-hands-on-deck, with no days off leading up to opening night.

It's a full plate—but it’s filled with exactly what I love: making art, telling stories, and helping others grow in their craft.

The Road Here

My journey here was anything but direct. After graduating from Samford University (Delta Psi Chapter) in 2014, I bounced around: a regional contract in Georgia, six months working at Disney World, and then a leap to New York City. I auditioned constantly, lining up outside Pearl Studios at 5 a.m. and hoping to be seen before heading to my job at a cigar bar, where I worked until 2 a.m. It was exciting, and exhausting.

I lived with a Craigslist roommate, felt isolated and started to lose sight of my artistic purpose. After two years, I pivoted. I focused on roles I wanted to play instead of companies I wanted to work for. This was so successful for me. I toured regionally, performing in Colorado, Missouri, Michigan, South Carolina, Georgia, Indiana, and finally, Tennessee.

Finding Home

When I booked a gig at The Cumberland County Playhouse in 2018, I didn’t know I was finding my forever home. But that’s exactly what happened. I found a theatre that embraced me, a community that welcomed me, and a life filled with meaningful, daily artistic work.

Yes, it’s long hours. Yes, it’s a lot of jobs rolled into one. But I wouldn’t trade it for anything. I get to wake up every day and do what I love—and that’s more than a dream come true.

Some of my Favorites:

1. Playing Carole King in Beautiful: The Carole King Musical – My #1 favorite role!
2. Vocal Zones to help my voice stay strong and lubricated during a show.
3. Entertainer’s Secret – a vocal spray to help when my voice feels tired.
4. A good leotard or athletic set that I feel confident in for auditions (tennis skirt and align top are my faves)!
5. Doing Godspell after the pandemic let up and theatres were able to open again. Such a beautiful moment in time.
6. My Vocal Mist cool air nebulizer to reduce phlegm.
7. A good journal for writing down wins AND losses. I love to manifest my dreams but also record struggles. That way I know when something better comes along, or wonderful things happen, it was all a journey to get there and truly meant to be.
8. Lay’s potato chips to keep my vocal cords greased up!
9. Line Learner app on my phone for memorizing lines quickly.
10. A good support system to call on hard days – my mom is mine :)

A Final Piece of Advice:

In college, someone once told me, “If you can see yourself doing anything else, do that—because this business is hard.” And they were right. It is hard. But if theatre is your passion, you’ll find a way to make it work.

One of the most important lessons I’ve learned is this: don’t compare your journey to anyone else’s. We all bring something unique to the table. Some people shine in children’s theatre, others create magic with lighting design. Some can kick their face, others can belt a high A—and some can do both!

Theatre is a wide, beautiful world with room for all kinds of talent. I truly believe there’s a place for everyone in this industry. So, perform for you. Follow your passion, on your timeline. That’s where the magic lives.