Today we’d like to introduce you to Tyler McCabe.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I grew up in Couer d’ Alene, Idaho, and from a very young age, I knew I had an appreciation for the arts. I lived there from when I was born until I graduated high school, and living in the Pacific Northwest definitely had a massive impact on my upbringing! I always loved the PNW, and always felt very inspired by the culture and atmosphere where I grew up. CDA is a great place, and the amount of creative/artistic outlets in the community definitely gave me opportunities to enter and explore the world of the arts, and for that, I am incredibly grateful. I started doing children’s and community theater, and that hobby soon became a passion that I devoted most of my time to. I had excellent mentors and support systems that allowed me to learn, grow, and experiment as an artist to the point where I felt very comfortable and empowered to pursue theater as a career, which is how I landed at UVU pursuing my BFA in acting. I always felt very close and in touch with my community, and my love for where I came from/the mentorship and love I got from there have always fueled my ability to venture out and seek higher education. In my time in Idaho, I participated in about 36 productions/projects in 8 years, and will always be thankful for the experiences I had in my hometown. Couer d’ Alene will always be a home!
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
I definitely can say my experience growing up and my life in the theater thus far has been overwhelmingly positive, but there have of course been obstacles and tribulations along the way, and there definitely still are. From the moment I knew I wanted to pursue theater professionally, I think there is definitely a very daunting feeling that comes with that. It can feel almost impossible to get yourself to a point where the arts are sustainable. I grew up surrounded by so much talent, so there can definitely be feelings of inadequacy and insecurity that come with pursuing the arts. You are essentially selling yourself and your abilities, and it can be very easy to succumb to your doubts, fears, intrusive thoughts, and feelings of falling behind the curve. I have always struggled with the concept of imperfection, and have definitely learned to grasp with the fact that you cannot devote yourself to everything at once. With theater, school, work, friends, and family, I definitely felt myself growing up working to reach this impossible standard I had set for myself, which can definitely do more harm than good. My work ethic to me has always been my biggest strength and weakness. I am so grateful for my passion and willingness to learn/work, but also struggle to find a balance in my life between my hopes and what is right in front of me. Growing up in the theater it can be very easy to compare yourself to others and try to mirror those around you, but I am very lucky that I had excellent support systems that helped me come into my own individual self and learn to appreciate that entirely. Now, entering adulthood, I am definitely learning to find balance in my life while still working towards my dream.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I am an actor for the stage, and have spent my life learning to perform for the theater. Theater has always been something that inspires me from such a young age, and there are so may facets of it that I appreciate. To me, theater is a living, breathing thing. The exchange of energy from the stage to the audience, and the way the audience is consuming this story/message is very raw, intimate, and genuine. Being in the same room together and sharing this experience is very touching to me, and I think there is much beauty in the experience being temporary. People coming together to appreciate art. Theater has the power to change perspective, and as actor, I think there is definitely a duty and obligation to create something that resonates with people, and give a performance that people can relate to and be touched by. Theater helps people feel seen. For me, I am most proud of how much I have grown in the theater and the various opportunities that I have been able to explore. I definitely feel like I started at the bottom of the ladder with the arts. I never was musically inclined, couldn’t dance, and had trouble connecting with people, but hard work and practice through the years got me to a very different point. Because of that, I have gotten to do so many things with the theater that I am proud of. I have gotten to play heroes, villains, friends, family, people healing, hurting, exploring, etc. It is truly so fun and fulfilling to get to experience so many different stories. I would say, above all, though, what I am most proud of is what I’ve done in the role of a teacher/mentor. Through organizations such as CYT North Idaho back home, I have gotten to be on the other side of the table and teach theater to kids. Using the arts as an outlet to help kids live up to their full potential and love themselves/what they do feels very full circle to me. As a teacher, I have a job to be uplifting and inspiring, and it is something I don’t, take lightly. I love it. Having mentors back home such as Presley DuPuis, Jessica Belisle, Paisley Siemens, and Marta Myers, I am always looking back on my experiences with them to become my own teacher. What sets me apart from others I would say is my attitude with the arts. I am genuinely just happy to be here and so grateful to have the theater in my life. My main aspiration as a performer I guess is to just spread love and positivity. Anything I can do to make the industry a better place is something very important to me.
Networking and finding a mentor can have such a positive impact on one’s life and career. Any advice?
In my experience, what works best for finding success in the theater and making a name for yourself is kindness, growth mindset, and dedication. Kindness is the most important thing. Being genuinely interested in forming relationships and getting to know people while working with them makes a huge difference. It makes the experience so much more enjoyable and also creates a safe space where people feel comfortable exploring the piece and working. Kindness makes people want to work with you, which opens so many doors. Growth mindset is extremely important. Always striving to be better than you were the day before and having the willingness to grow is so important. There will always be a better actor, singer, or dancer than you, so knowing what makes you special as a performer and constant practice makes the biggest difference when trying to find work. Finally, dedication is crucial. I would say yes to whatever you can. Say yes to the things that scare you, and any opportunity that can help you grow and advance. Always be pushing yourself, it is what makes a well-rounded performer.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: tyler__mccabe
- Facebook: Tyler McCabe
Image Credits
1st Photo (Blue shirt brown pants): @thewisecapital (on Instagram)
