Courtney Hammond, Wojcik|Seay Casting
From Peter: Courtney is another one of the ones we’re lucky to know together. The first time I worked with Courtney (as a reader), she was a Casting Assistant at Eisenberg/Beans. She conducted the eight-hour session, prepped for the next day’s eight-hour session and then headed out the door to start her shift waiting tables.
It was, to me, a reminder that artists of all kinds are sacrificing to be a part of entertainment magic and was, honestly, the pristine embodiment of the artist hustle. It inspires me still.
Nowadays, Courtney has a full-time gig as the newest Casting Director at Wojcik|Seay. Her hustle isn’t the only thing we admire. She’s a great example following the winding road of the arts, having left a successful acting career a few years ago to explore the passion of ‘the puzzle’. She’s a great example of moving with confidence, with a unique understanding of how each job informs the next. And, most importantly, she’s a great example of kindness, humility, and fun. We’ve loved getting to know her over the past two years and think you’ll really enjoy her too. We’ll let her take it from here.
Courtney! We’re honored to have you contribute to our Casting Director portion of our blog. Would you briefly introduce yourself to our readers?:
Of course and thanks for having me! Aloha all! I’m originally from Los Angeles, CA, and come from a long family line of actors, musicians and talent agents. I’m sure my parents would have loved if I had chosen to attend medical school, but they kind of set me up for failure there! I grew up at Disneyworld. For real. My mom worked as the talent buyer for “The Mouse” in Orlando, FL so most of my childhood was spent running around the most magical place on earth. I attended Dr. Phillips High School’s Performing Arts High and then went on to earn my BFA at NYU Tisch School of the Arts CAP21 Studio. After several years living and working as an AEA actress with various jobs in between, I made the official switch to casting in 2017. I started at Eisenberg/Beans as an Apprentice and quickly moved to Assistant and then Associate. In October 2018 I was hired at Wojcik|Seay as the Associate and I just celebrated my one-year anniversary with a promotion to Casting Director!
You went to NYU, Tisch School of the Arts….Can you tell us how you ended up there and how it impacted your career?
I applied to several colleges around the country, but New York was always the dream. My grandparents lived here so as a child I was really lucky to visit and see Broadway shows and explore the Big Apple. In high school I was a theatre kid through and through, Company Manager of my theatre troupe, President of Drama and super involved with the programming and shows. I was also a bit of a scholastic Hermione type (yep, I’m a Harry Potter nerd) and so I craved a university experience that was equally academic as it was artistic. NYU was my number one choice so when I got in, all bets were off. NYU was an incredible college experience, even if I will be paying off those loans for the rest of my days. Being immersed in the city and surrounded by theatre, art, museums, restaurants…it makes you grow up pretty quickly. NYC is a tough town so navigating my way at such a young age definitely prepared me for a career here. A lot of my teachers were working actors so I felt immediately connected to the community I would eventually work with.
You were very successful in your acting career. You toured internationally, worked regionally and led shows aboard cruise ships…. How did you know acting wasn’t what you wanted to pursue anymore?
I love the rehearsal process, loved being in shows and I love the craft of theatre. There is nothing like being in a company of like-minded artists. But if I’m being honest, I just wasn’t obsessed with it the way I could see that others were. Looking down the pipeline at the trajectory of what I wanted out of life, it started to give me very real anxiety. The constant struggle of “Am I skinny enough? Blonde enough? Funny enough? Did I belt high enough?” just started to wear me down. The inevitable and constant asking for validation as opposed to using my brain to create and problem solve isn’t what I wanted in a career anymore. Maybe that’s what happens in your 30’s. I SO admire the drive and tenacity of the talented and brave women that continue to pursue this career path. I just realized it wasn’t the life I wanted.
What led you to becoming a Casting Director? What were the things you did in the first year to help you make that transition?
I knew that I wanted to be more involved in solving the “puzzle” of creating theatre. I wanted to make the magic in a different way. I didn’t know what avenue to take so I emailed a Casting Director that I knew, Daryl Eisenberg, and asked if I could come learn from her. Try something new. Why not? She graciously offered me an apprenticeship at Eisenberg/Beans Casting (I won’t say internship because I was a full-grown adult at this point) and invited me to learn and grow while I was still waiting tables full-time to survive. I will always be grateful to her for that. Ally Beans and Daryl trusted me with their new office and together we worked our asses off to build something great. It was a hard and fulfilling and exhausting and transitional and gratifying 6 months. I was learning and growing in ways I wouldn’t realize until much later. I still had my agent, was still singing and acting here and there, went through a big breakup and had basically no social life. If I wasn’t at the office or in session, I was at the restaurant working to pay my bills. I told myself that as long as I wasn’t getting paid to work in casting, then I could still have my toes dipped in the “acting pool” with no conflict. In November of 2017, Daryl and Ally cornered me at Ripley Grier studios one day after a session and officially offered me the Casting Assistant position. Business cards and all. In my mind, to accept the position would mean I worked in casting “for real” and would have to say goodbye to my actress life. What surprised me is that I didn’t even hesitate – I said yes and then immediately started crying tears of joy. It was the easiest decision; I had no qualms and knew it’s what I wanted. I called my agent the next day to tell him and then dove into the work. For the following year that we worked together we had incredibly varied, exciting projects come across our desks and in August of 2018, we made our Broadway debut. It was thrilling.
Did you ever feel overwhelmed or think you weren’t going to be able to be successful after making the switch?
I really didn’t. It felt right. It was an immediate fit. I think the main thing is that I didn’t doubt myself. I took one day a time and embraced whatever project or challenge came my way. Am I saying that I’m confident 100% of the time and never worry? Of course not. I have doubts and fears and questions every day. I still don’t know exactly where I will wind up in this industry, but do I know that as long as I keep saying “yes” to good work and good people, it’s all going to land where it should. And that is a very freeing feeling.
When I first started out, I had this feeling of being ‘late to the party’. After acting for so many years, did you ever fight any of those feelings? Or did you feel like your journey into casting aligned nicely in your timeline? I for sure wondered if it was insane to make the switch. To accept a glorified internship at 31 years old is NOT where I thought my path was headed, but as soon as a I started, those feelings went away. I, generally speaking, try to be as receptive as possible in my life to new situations. I’m not someone that is afraid of change. When I started in casting I was like a sponge. I wanted to learn everything I could. A few months in, I realized that I actually already possessed much of the skillset required for this line of work. Because of my acting career, I actually knew (or at least knew of) a lot of the people we were working with and I of course understood the world of auditioning well. I felt the pressure actors felt and I also started to understand what creative teams were looking for. Waiting tables taught me to time manage, work under high pressure, juggle different personalities and to let things go at the end of the day. Working in Event Management gave me more administrative skills than I even knew I had! So, though casting was “new” and I suppose I could feel late to the party, a lot of what the job actually entailed were all aspects I was very comfortable and confident in. In regard to my timeline, I think the only reason I am where I am now is because it all happened when it did.
What’s the most important thing you’ve done in your career so far?
Important? Oh, wow this is a tough one. I’ve worked on some really exciting projects and all of them have truly important to me. Right now, I think the most IMPORTANT thing I get to do is teach. I’ve had some really lovely opportunities to work with both working professionals and younger students on their audition technique and it has been so incredibly fulfilling. I love teaching. I love engaging with actors and helping them. I love the “aha” moment where they realize what’s been missing. I love sharing what I’ve learned thus far and know that my knowledge base is only going to expand. I think it’s important to empower the next generation of artists and remind them that their uniqueness is what is going to set them apart in this industry.
At the onset of your career, what was the definition of success you were aspiring to achieve? Now, where you are now, how do you describe your success?
Don’t we all dream of Broadway? Of course, as a young musical theater actress that’s what I thought I wanted. As I continued acting however, that began to shift. I had lots of wonderfully talented friends on Broadway and though they were (are) so grateful for their success, they still had bad days. Complaints about their jobs. Frustrations with their career. The shine started to wear off for me and it became less important to “make it” as it was to sustain my lifestyle by working. Regionally, touring, cruise ships…it truly didn’t matter as long as I was happy doing what I was doing. What’s funny is that when I decided to switch my career path, I wound up making my casting Broadway debut less than a year later. All I could think was, “good one universe”. Now I am casting for regional houses I used to dream of working in, tours I would have loved to be a part of, and I know that I am far happier on this side of the table. It brings me the most joy to support an actor I adore, push for them and then hopefully see wonderful things happen for them. It’s a far better feeling than any applause I may have received for myself. So how do I describe my success? As long as what I’m doing brings me the most joy, I feel pretty damn successful.
What’s something you wish you had done or wish you had known earlier?
That there is no “one way”. I think as a kid and young actress I wanted to do everything “correctly” and “perfectly”. But the truth is, that doesn’t actually exist. There are no guarantees and there is no formula to follow. Everyone’s journey is different and there is no straight line to where you are headed. Truly. It’s a pretty windy road actually…and isn’t that more fun to drive anyway?
Are you at the top of your mountain? No way. I just started climbing.
RAPID FIRE!
Favorite Broadway show of all time: Currently, it’s Come From Away. All time? Lippa’s Wild Party. Ok ok ok it’s technically Off-Broadway…but it’s my all-time fave.
TV show that you love: Friday Night Lights
On my commute, I’m listening to: Usually Marco Polos from my friends.
Any other obsessions?: Does wine count?
Social media is: Time consuming.
Religious, Spiritual, or nah?: Namaste.
Actor-ism that frustrates you: Apologizing. STOP APOLOGIZING. You are a talent and a gift and are unique and we are lucky to share an audition room with you. Oh….and be nice to the monitor. And the accompanist. And me. Just be nice.
Biggest beef with the business: From my side of the table? When actors aren’t prepared for their appointment after I’ve spent HOURS making sure they have exactly what they need.
Favorite part about working at Wojcik/Seay Casting? The team. They are dedicated, hard-working, intelligent and KIND. Truly some of the kindest people I’ve ever worked with and it is refreshing.
Favorite part of being on the other side of the table? Being a part of the creative process and being a champion for actors I adore.
I get inspired when: I hear a new song, see a reading of a new play or experience an actor doing a rendition of a classic that makes it unique.
Anything you’d like to promote?: Audition season is coming up. But y’all already know that.
Interview by: Peter Hargrave