Hello Beautiful People,
Before he was part of The Write Teacher(s) Team, Bret Shuford was one of the first people to participate in the Actors & Actresses Q&A Series at The Write Teacher(s). I was immediately taken with his talent, his kind heart, and his passion for all things art. For those of you who do not know, Bret made his Broadway Debut at the Hilton Theatre (now Foxwoods) in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, choreographed by Gillian Lynne (Cats, Phantom of the Opera). Subsequently he has performed for Disney on Broadway as understudy to Lumiere in Beauty And The Beast, and as understudy to Prince Eric in The Little Mermaid. Other New York credits include Actors Fund Benefit performances of A Wonderful Life, Best Little Whorehouse In Texas, On The Twentieth Century, Radio City Christmas Spectacular, as well as many concerts. Bret performed in the National tour of Lincoln Center’s South Pacific. Most recently he was Dr. Fine/Dr. Madden in Next To Normal at the Adirondack Theatre Festival. He has a bachelor’s degree in theatre from Wagner College. His television credits include All My Children, and Guiding Light. Film includes: The Wolf Of Wall Street, Bedfellows, and Uncle Melvin’s Apartment, as well as several webseries. This website wouldn’t be the same without his constant support and creativity, and I’m thrilled for you all to get to know him a bit better.
Ladies and Gents, meet Bret Shuford…
MM: Growing up in Texas, did you always have dreams of Broadway?
BS: When I was six, I was fascinated by musical movies. Especially Annie, which I would rent from the local VHS store incessantly, much to my father’s chagrin. I also had an Annie doll, and an Annie Record. Then, when I was six years old, I saw a local troop of kids singing and dancing about safety (don’t talk to strangers, don’t do drugs, etc.) And had a conniption fit. My mother thought I was stung by a bee I was crying so hard. Once she calmed me down, all I said was, “I want to do that.” Then one day, during The Little Mermaid, I saw myself onstage and realized, I was now the person I always imagined I wanted to be that day at the library.
MM: What came first – the singing or the acting?
BS: That’s a tough question. I definitely always sang, but the acting was where I wanted to dig in; it still is. I teach many students and mentee’s that being a good actor is the core of all of your skills. There are lots of people with good vocal technique in this city – it’s what you do with it in your acting that will make you stand out.
MM: Just for fun, what books are permanently on your bookshelf?
BS: The Alchemist, The Artist’s Way, Walt Disney’s Biography, and I still have my Bible.
MM: Just for fun, if you were stranded on a desert island, what movies and television shows would you want to have available to you?
BS: WAITING FOR GUFFMAN! I’m still so in love with that movie. Also, the film Fantasia. Television shows? I miss the original Fame, with Janet Jackson.
MM: Of all the roles that you’ve performed, which ones are the most memorable for you?
BS: Playing Joseph my senior year of high school at the Beaumont Community Players in this old Vaudeville theatre the Jefferson Theatre. I’ll never forget that experience. A few months later I graduated High School.
MM: What’s the best piece of advice you could offer to high school and college students who wish to pursue a career in the entertainment industry?
BS: Try everything!! This is a collaborative business, and you need to be able to see all sides of the process in order to respect the people you are working with. Also, you never know what other skills you would learn that may come in handy. Run spotlights, design the sets, do wardrobe, you never know.
MM: What’s next for Bret Shuford?
BS: This week I’m premiering my new solo show, CHARMING. It’s all about a Prince from the Kingdom of Texas. Come down on Monday and/or Thursday, (November 11 and 14) at The Duplex, in NYC.
MM: In today’s economy, arts programs are being cut. What reasons would you give to a politician for preserving the arts?
BS: Musical Theatre is one of the only true American art forms. It was a craft developed and honed in the American theatre. It’s important that we continue to embrace, support, and cultivate this art form, as it is our patriotic duty. I want more Americans to realize and appreciate what a gift Musical Theatre is to our country. No one does it like us.
MM: Who is/was your greatest teacher?
BS: Stanley Zareff has probably taught me more than anyone in my life. I met him when I was 13 at an improv workshop that he taught in Houston. It was because of him that I discovered my skills, and my self-worth. To this day, I credit him for bringing me to New York, and my level of success.
Thank you, Bret!
Live, Love, Learn,
Megan &