You are here:
- Home
- Arts/Humanities
- Performing Arts
- Acting in Plays, Singing
- Tattoos and stage acting
Acting in Plays, Singing/Tattoos and stage acting
Advertisement
Question
Hi there. I'm an18 year old guy attending Berklee in the fall. I love being on
stage acting but I am seriously considering a tattoo on my back between my
shoulders. I know there are ways of covering up but how bad is it to have a
tattoo on my back when it comes to stage acting? Thanks alot. Aaron
Thanks for one of the most unique questions I've received in quite a while!
Having *any* type of body alteration, especially voluntary, is a risk from the standpoint of an actor. The majority of roles you'll play will require that you be fully clothed, but there will be those few roles that will require a certain amount of nudity (and nude from the waist up is the most common). And, depending on the design of the tatoo, you may be eliminated simply because it would not be appropriate to the character. Yes, you can cover it with makeup, but only if it's not too elaborate or too intensely colored (it'll show through the makeup).
On this basis alone, I would recommend avoiding any tatooing or piercing. As an option, I would suggest you check into getting a Henna tatoo that can be removed if necessary, and, if you want to wear rings or other jewelry, consider the type that attaches with some form of adhesive, such as latex or spirit gum, and can be removed as easily.
(Just FYI, I considered getting a tatoo myself, but decided against it for the reasons above.)
Good luck at Berkley!
-- Spyder
Related Articles
Answers by Expert:
J. Spyder Isaacson
Expertise
Especially the Seattle theatre scene. Seattle is the number two theatre city of the nation, having more theatres than any other city (including Chicago!) except New York. I know the reputations of most of the local theatres, have worked with quite a number of them, and am currently earning the majority of my livelihood through live theatre. Beyond that, I have been a working professional for the past 10 years (after a long career in an unrelated field), have done just about everything in the field, and have done every possible type of theatre. Currently, I am also pursuing a new (and unexpected!) career as an animated film producer. (PLEASE NOTE that I am NOT an expert in music!) ***DO NOT*** ASK ME QUESTIONS REGARDING AUDITION SONGS OR MONOLOGUES - the answers require way too much information to be passed along by the All Experts system.
Experience
I have been an award-winning actor, singer, playwright, director and administrator (on various levels, all categories) for the past 30 years. A large part of my expertise has been with live theatre, although I do have a minor connection to filmed theater. I have done musicals, straight dramas, straight comedies, and experimental theatre.
Organizations
Theatre Puget Sound
Magical Mystery Troupe
Centerstage Theatre Conservatory Board of Trustees (former)
Express-Theatre Northwest (former)
Snoqualmie Falls Forest Theater
Publications
Unrelated trade publications
Education/Credentials
B.A. in Theatre Arts, Gonzaga University
M.Ed. in Education and Technology, Western Governor's University (in progress)
Awards and Honors
Mutiple awards (ask for specifics), Kennedy Center/American College Theatre Festival
Valley Community Players, Best Supporting Actor
Past/Present Clients
C's Animation Studio Productions, LLC
©2012 About.com, a part of The New York Times Company. All rights reserved.