Interview with an Actor (Day Two)

One of the great things about Makeshift is that we consistently get to work with a wonderful group of vibrant and exciting actors each of whom has a passion for entertaining audiences young and old alike. We consider ourselves a family, and while we have many actors that come and go throughout our seasons, we do have close friends that return season after season to entertain and inspire young audiences. As part of our Anniversary season, many faces of Makeshift old and new are happy to offer their own personal thoughts and memories about their experiences in theatre. For Part One of this series, click Here!

Erin Brehm joins Makeshift Theatre Co for the first time as The Empress, wife of the fassion savvy monarch in The Emperor's New Clothes. She recently moved to Boston from Santa Barbara where she went to school and worked as an actress with Lit Moon Theatre Company. She has acted and spent time in the theatre for as long as she can remember.

As a child, what was your favorite children's story and why?
My favorite children's story was "Oh What a Mess!" A story about a family of very messy pigs who had one very neat and tidy child who helped them to clean up their pig pen house. I have always loved stories of transformation and cleaning up.

How do you memorize all those lines?
I memorize all my lines by saying them out loud and doing "blocking" while repeating them over and over. It is easy to remember them once you walk through it a couple times.

Makeshift shows have a very high energy level. how do you keep your energy levels up?
Maintaining energy during a show can be a challenge. But it can be compared to staying in shape from exercise as well; the more you work out, or rehearse, the more energy and perseverance you gain.

What advice would you give to kids who want to be actors?
The advice I would give to kids who want to be actors is to always remember to enjoy what you are doing. You have to have fun while working hard, otherwise you might get run down. Also if you enjoy what you do, then you are more likely to succeed in doing your job well.