AboutKenneth D. Plonkey Expertise Questions about acting and directing. Questions about getting started in a careeer. Questions about training and schooling for actors.
Experience I am a retired film actor. I am a retired university theatre program director and professor. I am the author of "The Tao of Acting, Mentoring for the Aspiring Actor" to be published this summer.
Organizations SAG
Education/Credentials BA, MA, PhD in Theatre
Post graduate study with certificate in Media Acting
Awards and Honors John Golden Traveling Fellowship
Question Hi, I'm having a careers crisis at the moment - I've always loved performing, but lately I've become much more passionate about physically making the world a better place, for example through social work/psychology/research. I feel that art is a comment on life, but it doesn't physically make life better for others. Is there some way I can combine my love for performance and my desire to help people?
Answer Hello Ingrid, I am sorry to hear about your careers crisis, but maybe I can help you decide. Well, if you go into psychology to help others perhaps you could specialize in psychodrama and drama as therapy. This would not be something you would perform, rather it would be something you would guide or direct. Confidentially, there really is not a career in acting, if that is
your performance area. Read the acting posts on acting as a career over the past three or four weeks at my blog http://theatredoconacting.blogspot.com and you will see what I mean.
It is also possible for you to become a social worker or psychologist or researcher and still perform in community theatre as a hobby and recreational activity.
