As we celebrate lots of new things on the Live Arts Theatre horizon, we are highlighting various people who make up the village we like to call the Live Arts Theatre family. This series will focus on the many actors, directors, techies, stage hands, members, and even our regular theatre-goers who make Live Arts Theatre great.
Our next profile is Cat Rondeau.
Please introduce yourself:
I’m Cat Rondeau! Theatre-wise, I am primarily an actor, although I branched into directing once and am interested in giving it another shot in the near future. Outside of theatre, I used to be a radio DJ until the industry started to shrink. Losing that career option really encouraged me to pursue creative interests that had always taken a backseat before. Now I work in a shop that sells the work of local artists, including my own (I am a photographer and also design postcards.) I also like to make beaded jewelry, collect antiques, and on a totally different note, I am a huge horror and music buff.
How long have you been involved in theatre?
I got into theatre in 2009 by complete chance. I had moved back to Kentucky to spend more time with my mom. She is an actor and I went with her to an audition for moral support. The director insisted I audition too. I have always had stage fright and was terrified, but I went along with it – and got cast. I fell in love with telling other people’s stories – I spent the first half of my career telling my own, as a DJ, and now it’s really cool to be able to tell someone else’s. I realized my stage fright only happens when I have to be myself – I’m more comfortable being someone else when I’m in front of people.
What brought you to Live Arts?
I went to the season auditions in 2015 after seeing the notice go out on the Atlanta Theatre Mailing List. I wound up moving away for a couple of months and wasn’t able to attend any of the callbacks I’d been invited to. I wound up quitting the job I moved away for and emailed Live Arts a week before I moved back to ask if I could schedule a callback for Hot L Baltimore. It was a very last minute decision, but I needed the distraction – and I am so glad I did it because I got cast. Being in that show and meeting everyone involved really changed my life.
What is your favorite Live Arts show that you’ve worked on/seen? And Why?
My favorite show I’ve worked on is in my top 3 of shows I’ve ever done: The Book Club Play. I was already really excited to work with Andre as a director because I love his work as an actor, but then when we started rehearsals, the cast just came together in a lightning-in-the-bottle situation. There wasn’t a bad link, there wasn’t a lick of drama – most of us are still super-tight a year later – and Andre took a script that on paper is just dialogue and added some hilarious physical comedy to it. I wouldn’t trade my experience on that show for anything. Especially considering we not only sold out every show, but changed the mind of a critic who originally thought he didn’t like the play the first time he saw the show elsewhere. My favorite show I’ve seen – that is a tough one. I really liked Outside Mullingar. The chemistry with that cast was undeniable, and they were so natural, it felt like eavesdropping.
What do you love about Live Arts?
They are so inclusive. It’s not clique-ish. If you want to get cast, just be the best one for the role. Period. They also consistently choose interesting scripts – it’s not the same old tried-and-true crowd-pleasers. There is a place for that in every community, but it’s refreshing to see a theatre company in the suburbs trying something different. It’s exciting for the actors and for the audience.
What are you looking forward to?
I can’t wait to see what they are going to choose next season! This last season has been so interesting, I am excited to see what is coming up. I am interested in maybe participating in the reading series next year as a director, maybe helping with set decorating, and learning some skills that aren’t just about being onstage. One of the great things about Live Arts is that those opportunities are there if you just ask.