Liesl Ehardt is an actor living in LA who spends notable time in NYC and wears a smile daily. Her acting adventures have taken her from the Stage to TV, Film and into Blogging, where she looks forward to sharing her thoughts, while remaining positive, and hopefully offering a refreshing outlook.
She holds a BFA in Acting degree and is a member of both SAG and AFTRA. Hopefully you will follow her on her adventure as she continues to take “baby steps” towards becoming a successful actor with possible hosting/personality spots along the way. Ultimately, she hopes to open and be an active part of her own Children’s Charity Foundation.
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August 20, 2008
I have aged since I last blogged and did so while back east, where I celebrated my (insert any number of your choice here) Birthday. All with my personal fan club, better known as my entire family, including nephews, brother-in-law and even soon to be brother-in-law, supportively by my side.
I will enthusiastically admit that both my sisters, the married and recently engaged, have found themselves some definite keepers, whom I am more than happy to call family! Men like the ones they have found and our father, quite honestly, only come around once in a blue moon, but they give me hope that there are a few out there like themselves. Even just partially as extraordinary as each is would be fine by me, since expecting anything more would be asking for far more than most would consider your typical “good guy.”
Oh, but I digress…
So, just like last year, I did not have a party or group dinner in LA to celebrate my Birthday, which I have done in past years. I just didn’t feel as though I needed a big day where people had to come out and celebrate little me, as I am someone who never really feels I “need” it. However, seeing that next year’s Birthday is considered a “big one,” I suppose I might just have to have a par-tay, as I like to call them, or I might not hear the end of it from my friends.
Either way, I currently have an entire year to ponder the idea, and I’ll bet you can now correctly guess the answer to this week’s blog title and how many candles were on my birthday cake this year. If not, just take a guess or jump on over to good old IMDb (Internet Movie Database) and search Liesl Ehardt to find out…if you dare!
I will be back in LA for next week’s blog post and plan to bring you news from the acting front, if there is any to report, of course. Also I can update you on the continued SAG contract discussions, which appear to be going relatively well as of August 15th, according to what SAG has released to its current members.
‘Till next time, I had best get back to making the most of each day of this year before yet another Birthday is upon me! That said, I also would like to thank everyone who sent me birthday wishes via e-mails, comments, text messages, voicemails, e-cards, cards in the mail and even donations to the Make-A-Wish Foundation for kids in my name! Each means so much to me, and I truly appreciate you simply remembering and then taking the time to say “Happy Birthday” in any way that you did. Each made me smile, and to you I say, “Thank You!”
“The more candles the bigger the wish.” - Unknown
August 13, 2008
Working with the wonderful WICKED team has been a blast, per usual, and somewhat like “defying gravity.” I simply love interacting with such creative people: from those behind the scenes who are a part of casting, directing and the music end of the Broadway musical to those who shine in front, like the actors, singers and dancers.
There is so much talent out there, and to think that I’ve only worked with a portion of the talent in LA! Be it veteran Broadway actors, celebrity actors or everyday actors, like myself, whether through the open call or scheduled appointments, each put their heart and soul passionately on the line for a chance to be on Broadway. I can only imagine the amount of talent out there “walking off [their] tired feet, pounding 42nd St. to be in a show,” that can be found in and around New York City!
Quite honestly, I found myself being inspired by their ability to just let go and do all that they do so effortlessly, in most cases. Many brought their triple threat (acing, singing and dancing) abilities front and center, impressing not only myself, but more important the WICKED and Telsey and Company casting team. Since I have been a part of the WICKED casting process before, I saw so many familiar faces who were back to give it another commendable go. Their continued hard work paid off and shined, once again.
Truth be told, if I were to start my career all over again, I would have trained in multiple areas of dance, furthered my singing abilities and range through continued vocal coaching, and headed straight for Broadway! All without passing go or collecting $200, mind you!
I find myself happiest when I am in the heart of Times Square seeing a Broadway musical, despite whether the musical is good or bad. My heart actively longs to be up their doing what they are doing, each and every time. To the point where it is now somewhat bitter sweet for me. Just being a part of the ensemble in a Broadway musical or even touring with one would, in my heart of hearts, make me happier than acting on TV or in Film. But with all dreams, an ounce of reality has to be faced as well.
Now don’t get me wrong, dreams are important, and I believe that with persistence they can and often do come true. Some just require things we don’t all exhibit or necessarily have the ability to exhibit. I also love acting, but, just as some actors’ hearts may beat a bit stronger for film roles over TV roles, or stage acting over on-screen acting for the big or small screen, my heart beats for musical theatre via Broadway over TV or Film.
However, the talent held within each actor who graces a Broadway stage is something above and beyond what I myself possess, and I am openly aware of this. I respect and hold high admiration for each of them and will always be there in the audience, or on the sidelines, rooting them on, with a proud, yet yearning, smile on my face.
In life we can’t go back in time, even when we may want to, for whatever reason. So, it is important to live in the present, while looking forward to the future, before it too becomes a part of the past, without a chance to rewind.
I am on a path of my own, just as you are on yours, and mine just happens to have a birthday creeping up, just around the corner. Even though I am unsure of where my current road and new age will take me, I don’t have plans of getting off of it any time soon.
Instead, I shall let the “Broadway Baby” within me graciously steer me towards my more attainable dream. This will ultimately take me where I am meant to be, no matter what my age is when I get there, while thoughts of Broadway rest where they probably belong…only in my dreams.
“There is a fine line between dreams and reality; it’s up to you to draw it.” - B. Quillia
August 6, 2008
Things are a bit of a whirlwind at the moment and spare time has been severely lacking.
That said, I am in no way complaining since aside from life, it is work, auditions, callbacks and producer sessions, that are a part of what is keeping me so busy. These are all things that an actor wants and looks forward to being busy with, whenever possible.
In fact, in the midst of it all, I quite honestly forgot that my birthday is quickly approaching and I have a feeling it might just come and go this year in the blink of an eye.
Hence, my blog this week is cut rather short. However, I am hoping that you will come back next week, after what we will call this week’s brief commercial break, and tune in for some more full length blogging. A blog that I promise, if nothing else, will be at least more entertaining than this week’s.
‘Till then, go outside and enjoy what is left of summer in the oh so fabulous warm sunshine. Also know that although I am busy, I have not forgotten about all of you who have been so supportive and continually committed to by blogs each and every week!
“Success usually comes to those who are too busy to be looking for it.” - David Thoreau
July 30, 2008
The weeks seem to be flying by faster and faster, and the next thing I know it is blog-posting time again! Now, they do say time flies when you are having fun and as you get older. I think I can second that notion…at least for the moment.
As mentioned last week, I am gearing up to start working on the musical “WICKED” again, where the fun will surely continue. I am also looking forward to going back to my temporary “home” where I will be house-sitting at the end of each day of fun interacting with all the Broadway-hopeful actors, singers and dancers!
It is while interacting with large groups of people, especially when they are in the entertainment industry in some form, when I am often told I look like someone. The most common are Meredith Monroe (from “Dawson’s Creek”), Leslie Bibb (from “Popular”) and the front-runner being Katherine Heigl (from “Grey’s Annatomy”), which does in fact happen more often than even I can believe.
It all started back in 1994 when I was 15 and she was starring in “My Father the Hero.” There was a new substitute teacher at my high school who stopped me in the hallway simply to ask if I acted in movies during my summers. I had no idea what he was talking about and questioningly said, “No?” He proceeded to say, “So you aren’t that girl in ‘My Father The Hero?’” Which I was not, of course, but you can bet I went home that day with a mission to figure out who “that girl” was.
Mind you, it took slightly longer with the dial up, cross your fingers in hopes of making solid contact, Internet connection we had in those days. However, it was very worth it in order to discover, via the wonder that is IMDB (Internet Movie Data Base), the answer to the question I had been pondering, out of curiously, the entire day! “That girl” was none other than 15 year old, at the time, Katherine Heigl.
So, a little unknown fact about me is that I have known of her since that day. From that point, I’ve followed her career, which has taken off in recent years, due in part to the TV show “Grey’s Anatomy.” She has been persistently plugging away for some time, something I have always said I believe is key in this industry. However, saying it is one thing, but sometimes it is nice to see some actual proof of it paying off as well!
Seems you never know what you might learn from these little buoyant blogs of mine, even through a quick update. I hope you’ve gained the answer to this blog’s title question, or else, I suppose, it will have been rather disappointing. I, at least, hope to have kept you entertained in some way, shape or form!
“I was fortunate to discover so young something I’m so passionate about and something I want to spend the rest of my life doing.” – Katherine Heigl
Side Note: I’ve survived my first big earthquake and am happy to report that my heart did start beating again once I got off of the unexpected roller coaster ride! Lesson here is that, just as with acting, one must always be prepared!
July 23, 2008
Things are still moving rather quickly and definitely keeping me on my toes. However, I am doing a pretty good job at balancing filming, auditions, work and life in general, while trying to fit in some muchly needed catching-up-with-friends time, which has been happening less often these days.
We are shooting “pick-up” shots (shots or scenes recorded after principal photography has concluded) for the kid’s design show this week, including some of my intros while having too much fun for my own good. So my kitchen has been baking lots of cookies. Cookies are what I like to bring to every set I work on as a “thank you” for the hard working cast and crew. Speaking of my cookies, they actually get to have their moment in the spotlight in the pilot episode! Even though they weren’t able to express it personally, they were very excited about it!
Slow times continue on the acting front, due to summer and the SAG negotiations, but I have managed to get a few great auditions. I felt really good about the one I just went on. Although I would love to be a part of the film, even if nothing comes from my audition, I was happy with what I did, and that is enough for me. Plus, aside from the “great job” or “well done” that you hear on auditions, the casting director also thanked me “for being so well prepared” and let me know that I was “one of the most prepared actors” she had seen.
I took it as a compliment because, as I have said before, so much of the audition process is out of the actor’s control. However, being as prepared as possible, which means memorizing your sides, having done your research, being on time, etc., is something that is in your control. So if they see this preparedness and make a point to comment on it, it means you’ve accomplished what you could, and the rest is out of your hands. From there, you must leave it behind you and move onward and upward!
In other news, Bernard Telsey Casting in NYC is heading back out to LA in August to do some more casting for the Broadway Musical “WICKED” and called saying they would love for me to be their reader and to be a part of the whole process again. I, of course, jumped on board right away, since I simply love working with the Bernard Telsey team and always enjoy meeting all the talented actors, singers and dancers. Plus, there is never any shortage of good old-fashioned fun!
Aside from working on “WICKED” again, I will be house-sitting for the month of August in the Hollywood Hills. This is the perfect side job for an actor! I feel honored when someone trusts me enough to leave their beautiful home and amenities in my hands, while they are away, and I am always thankful for the jobs when I get them.
Needless to say, I will be keeping busy right through the end of summer and am looking forward to having my family and many friends from college and NYC in town to give me mini breaks from it all! ‘Til then, I am trying to keep my “heels to the pavement,” which my good friend Andrew so kindly reminded me to do, and hope you’ve enjoyed my week in review!
“Review your goals twice every day in order to be focused on achieving them.” – Les Brow
