Meet Lindsay Sherman | Actor and Musician

We had the good fortune of connecting with Lindsay Sherman and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Lindsay, what role has risk played in your life or career?
To me, art (in whatever form you practice) is always about risk. Growing up as an actor and dancer, I was taught at a young age that my success was based on things I did not have much control over: body type, weight, height, skin tone, vocal tone. Was I pretty enough to play the part of an ingenue? Will my voice blend with others or is it too unique? I never looked or sounded like the people I saw in movies or on Broadway, and my casting often reflected that. I was deemed as a “character actor”, which when I was younger, felt like I was being put in a box. How I longed for a romantic lead, but I accepted my fate as is.

It took until college for a professor to tell the class that acting isn’t all about “pretty people doing pretty things”, and that stuck with me. As a character actor, I had the opportunity to lean into the ugly, the gritty, the comical, the emotional, the wild and untamed part of myself and my characters at their core. I could let go of being “pretty” and focus on what makes that role tick, what difference in their body movements could I adapt? How would this emotion truly impact my voice? Not everything had to be done “perfectly” in order to do it “well.” Some roles may have a darkness or hurt that hadn’t been explored yet, and that’s what I found more interesting. I feel this is so important for children to learn, specifically. When I teach, this is one of the first rules I start off with – you don’t always have to be a “pretty person doing pretty things” in order to be successful.

I’ve carried this into my music career as well, I look for the weird and interesting tones. I discuss things that might be a bit uncomfortable. I’m learning how to play some of the more unique instruments (theremin is a focus at the moment), to incorporate into my songs. Overall, I want my art to be unique and interesting, as I myself am unique and interesting. If I kept myself to the box I was originally put in, I would have never discovered these aspects about me.

Please tell us more about your work. We’d love to hear what sets you apart from others, what you are most proud of or excited about. How did you get to where you are today professionally. Was it easy? If not, how did you overcome the challenges? What are the lessons you’ve learned along the way. What do you want the world to know about you or your brand and story?
Growing up, I was a super shy kid. I had glasses, a lisp (that I went to speech therapy for until 5th grade), was hypersensitive, and had a hard time connecting to children my age due to being in honors classes at school. But for some reason, when I was on stage that did not matter. I was able to be someone else and live their life for a few hours a night. I guess reflecting back on it, isn’t that how most theatre kids start? All the “misfits, and losers (yeah you know you’re rock and rollers)” come together to just be silly and do what they love without the judgement.

My training in music did not follow typical structures. I was taught blues and jazz piano/voice by a local musician, played a blues set at Canal Street Tavern when I was 9 years old, and learned piano from members of other local bands at that time. I did not receive actual classical training until I was about 12 or 13, which by that time I learned how to sight read anything you put in front of me, but still couldn’t play a proper scale. I learned how songs were supposed to sound versus reading the time signature on the page. My very strict piano teacher and I would get into yelling matches about this often. I wouldn’t discover what “perfect pitch” was, or that I had it, until many years later in college. While this caused issues later (PTSD from music theory classes), Ultimately, I felt that I had more of a connection to the pieces that I would play.

My acting training was very similar. I attended an acting program for a very brief time. Was in voice lessons for many years. However, I feel that what genuinely shaped me most as a performer was… performing. I recognized that I have a unique voice, with a unique style/look. What was marketable to most did not include me. I learned what I could from watching others, gleaned techniques from multiple directors I worked with, as well as my outside experience in the music scene. If anything, my psychology background truly helped me most when it came to my characters. Why would they react this way, what happened in their backstory to cause these reactions/emotions, what motivation do they need to overcome this? Mental health and art truly go hand-in-hand.

I wish I could say it was easy, but if I’m honest, I’ve had a love/hate relationship with my art in many aspects. The ugly truth of acting is that you are consistently judged not just on your talent, but your appearance and body type at a very young age. I was told in college that if I wanted to be “castable”, I needed to cut/dye my hair a normal color and lose weight to even be considered for roles (I was probably at most 140 lbs., 21 years old at this point). You are also constantly in competition with your friends, which made it hard to trust and connect. It took until I was (embarrassingly) in my 30s to decide that I was tired of being teamed up against my fellow womxn in theatre. I developed a Facebook Group dedicated to womxn in Ohio theatre to be a safe space for support, to discuss the tough questions, ask advice, and just have a positive network in their local area. This might be what I am most proud of, connecting with these womxn and having had a chance to bask in their talent and greatness. People in this area are truly remarkable.

I’ve been a professional actor for many years now, and if I had any takeaway, it would be this: Be you, unapologetically. Make weird music, make strange art, be a little wild. We spend so much of our lives portraying other people, fitting ourselves into other’s standards. Your training, your looks, may not fit directly in that little box that they tell us is “castable”, but I guarantee that someone will look at the way you shine and think “Finally”.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I live in the Dayton area and there is SO much to see and do here. One of my favorite things is that a majority of the downtown businesses are locally owned! Let me break it down a bit:

For Food: I also have a food allergy, so most of these places are accommodating:
Salar – my go to spot for dinner, excellent Peruvian food and drink.
Silver Slipper – Oysters and wine, what more do I need to say?
Lily’s – “tropical inspired, budget conscious eatery and drinkery”.
Blind Bob’s – has an amazing brunch (but also try their pickle soup).
Ugly Duckling – Dayton diner vibe, their breakfast burrito looks AMAZING.

For Coffee:
Ghostlight Coffee – try their LumberJack Latte
Press Coffee Bar – pick up a bag of coffee to take home, you won’t be disappointed.

For Fun:
The Neon – independent movie theater
Blackbox – improv, they have a hilarious improv musical every Saturday.
Luna – one of my favorite plant shops in the area
The Oregon District – 5th street downtown, with local shops, bars, music, and vintage.
Tender Mercy – great cocktails, excellent vibe.
Woodland Cemetery – the view is phenomenal.

For Art:
Dayton Art Institute – a truly beautiful set up, they host many events throughout the year.
First Friday Art Hop – Front St artists open their warehouses to the public to walk through, purchase art, have good food/drink every first Friday of the month.
TheatreLab Dayton – check out when/where/what they are performing, see if there is a show you can catch!
*Also, Dayton has SO many musical festivals throughout the year, check out local listings to see what’s coming up!*

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
My mom deserves a giant shoutout. I was under the age of 5 when I decided I wanted to play piano, my mother found some friends in local music groups to teach me what they knew – when I surpassed that she signed me up for “proper lessons”. She also noticed that I had a knack for theatre by the time I was 7 and got me into my first audition. If I didn’t have her to run me to every dance class, rehearsal, audition, and to convince me during my teenage years to not give up on piano – I wouldn’t be where I am now.

TheatreLab Dayton has been my resident theatre for a while now. The opportunities they have provided me have helped shape who I am today. Not just with honing my craft as an actor, but as a costume designer, set designer, music director and so much more. I have learned who I am as an individual through the roles and safe space that they have allowed me to explore and perform.

Also, Mikey Chappell encouraged me over the last few years to explore and write my own music. It was something I was terrified of but was immediately welcomed into such a loving and supportive music scene in the Dayton and surrounding areas. If you have any recording needs, Mikey is your guy.

Overall, if you’re a performer in Ohio, you’ve lucked out. The Dayton/Cincinnati/Columbus scene is so welcoming and encouraging. The people you meet genuinely want to help and watch you learn and grow. I couldn’t be more thankful for everyone I’ve met along the way.

Instagram: uma_sherman

Image Credits
Danny Council Mackensie King Knack Video + Photo JAMS Photography