Theater in New York vs. Los Angeles… A tale of two cities.

Having worked in both New York and Los Angeles, I can say the experiences are profoundly different.

In New York, theater felt like pure artistry. At the time, the training and performances were all about exploring the essence of being human. Audiences came for the theater itself, and casting directors often attended plays to discover new talent. It was a place where theater was done for theater’s sake.

In Los Angeles, things are more complicated. Many actors move here with their eyes on film and television, and that influences the theater scene. Audiences are different, too—sometimes you have to work harder to draw people in. That said, LA has its own kind of hopefulness. Building relationships here is key, and while it’s not always the same as New York, I’ve learned to value what LA offers: new techniques, new opportunities, and a wider canvas for storytelling.

Both cities shaped me in different ways, and both are essential parts of my journey as an actor.