Bio's..what are they coming to?- Page 3

[SporkGoddess]

Posted: 2/9/08 at 9:27pm

Christian Campbell has the "Never appeared in Law and Order" in his bio, too.

[orangeskittles]

Posted: 2/9/08 at 10:26pm

I don't care what their beliefs are - I don't want to hear about them.

I don't care about their family - I don't want to hear about them.


Haven Burton's bio is really just because she has only one professional credit and wanted to fluff it up with nonsense to fill up the 50 word limit.

[COOOOLkid]

Posted: 2/9/08 at 10:28pm

^ Religion and family are different things. I just don't think it's necessary to say that you are thanking God.

[LePetiteFromage]

Posted: 2/9/08 at 10:42pm

Updated On: 5/8/09 at 10:42 PM

[george95]

Posted: 2/9/08 at 10:49pm

The bio's in the playbill are for the actor to tell us what he wants us to know about his past professional experience, and a place to put some personal thank you's.

Broadway is not the stuffy, uppity place that some people make it out to be. So there's nothing wrong with having anything that could be deemed as silly in a bio. And there sure is nothing wrong with thanking God, Allah, misc Deity there either. I think its cool how a little of the person's personality comes out.

For example: Gregory Butler (the dance captain from Chicago) Watching him on stage, he is so serious and into the show, you'd almost think he must be like that all the time. But he's got stuff in his bio about how he is so thankful to be in Chicago and its given him lots of opportunities; seeing him on stage, you'd expect his bio to be as impersonal as he appears. It's cool to see an actor's personality come through.

There is no standard for a bio, nor should there be.

[orangeskittles]

Posted: 2/9/08 at 10:53pm

^ Religion and family are different things. I just don't think it's necessary to say that you are thanking God.

How are they different? I don't think it's necessary to thank every member of your family by name, but people still do and I deal.


Thank you, LePetiteFromage, you said what I meant, but better.

Updated On: 2/9/08 at 10:53 PM

[friedrichVT]

Posted: 2/9/08 at 11:05pm

Actors' bios are there to express ANYTHING they want. That's why their is a disclaimer in Playbill about bios. All the actor has to do is adhere to the number of words deemed to them in their contract,. Other than that NO one can control what goes in it, unless their is foul language, I guess.As for the pompous bios claiming how great an actor is...don't be fooled, it was absoultely written by the actor. If it were submited by a press agent, the actor has final approval and always does. Equity asked members to include the union affiliation.

[bwayboi4life42]

Posted: 2/9/08 at 11:40pm

While it's really neither here nor there...

Barbra Streisand's Bio from I CAN GET IT FOR YOU WHOLESALE
Not a member of the Actor's Studio, Miss Streisand is 19 and this is her first Broadway show. Born in Madagascar and reared in Rangoon, she attended Erasmus Hall High School in Brooklyn. She appeared Off-Broadway in a one-nighter entitled "Another Evening With Harry Stoones". She has appeared at New York's two best-known supper clubs, the Bon Soir and the Blue Angel, and has been on Mike Wallace's PM East and the Jack Paar Show. (Later Streisand would change the second line to "Born in Zanzibar and reared in Aruba)

Barbra Streisand's Bio from FUNNY GIRL
In addition to having appeared off-Broadway, on Broadway and away-from-Broadway, in nightclubs, on television and on the concert stage, Barbra Streisand is the recipient of CUE magazine's Entertainer of the Year Award. A top recording star, a talented interior decorator, dress designer and portrait painter, she also plays field hockey. Her performance in the musical I CAN GET IT FOR YOU WHOLESALE stopped the show, and was much admired by the critics, the public, and the show's leading man, Elliot Gould, who married her. Barbra is a follower of Eastern philosophy and cooking but also favors TV dinners on occasion. She is a reknowned collector of antigue clothes shoes and fans. Her favorite flower is the gardenia since it is the only scent that can never be captured. Her favorite day of the week is Tuesday, since she spends part of each Tuesday thoughout the year to stringing crystal beads which are sold in a Vermont general store. She knows how to make coffee ice cream and to fix her own hair. For more personal information, write to her mother.

[AnnaK<3LMIP]

Posted: 2/9/08 at 11:41pm

Is there more space for stars (especially if celebrities come to Broadway) in their bio's, or does that 50-word limit apply to everyone?

[Raspberry]

Posted: 2/10/08 at 4:48pm

I hate when actors list the name of the director in parentheses after the title of each show. I don't care if Spamalot was directed by Mike Nichols; that doesn't make it okay that you were in it.

[scaryclowns223]

Posted: 2/10/08 at 9:52pm

Inappropriate use of apostrophe, what is it coming to?

[Dover]

Posted: 2/10/08 at 10:40pm

"I never got any swag... Maybe LA-area theatre doesn't count. :-P (And I do leave it off a lot, too.)"

It took me a long time to get it. I think the key is that an Equity rep has to come see your show and when they get the Playbill they put all the people who mention Equity on a list. I can't say for sure if it's only done in the Eastern region.

But here there's an urban legend that on the West Coast the deputies get a little plastic badge with their paperwork kit. We would like to know why we don't get those.

[friedrichVT]

Posted: 2/11/08 at 1:06am

There are variables in the number of words in a bio depending on the size of the cast, Status (stars) Principals,etc... The number often amounts to 25 for ensemble 50-75 for principals, stars probably get to babble on, its all specified in a performers contract. General managers will hold you to the said amount and make changes if need be, all to be approved and initialled by the actor. So even if a press person sent in a stars bio, that star must sign off on it.

[meredithchandler73]

Posted: 2/11/08 at 8:43am

I've never thought overly much about bios. As others have said - it's a chance to share credits and sometimes a bit of their own personality. There usually has to be some degree of editing involved (some people have too many credits to list them in the limited space) - so it shows what they want to share.

Don't often read a bio and do a double-take, but I did recently. Can't remember whose it was, but it seemed to be a "standard" bio - listing credits separated into Broadway, Regional, TV, etc. But next to next to "Regional:" it said "Yes." Heehee. Took me a second to get it, but I think that's cute. Acknowledged that there's been regional theater on their resume, but didn't feel like listing it.

[Mamie]

Posted: 2/11/08 at 9:47am

I've been collecting Playbills for a long time - including some very old ones. I've noticed that the younger and more inexperienced a performer is, the more personal items will appear in their bios. As they gain more experience and have more professional items to add to that bio, the less you'll see of the special thank you's and notes.

I do think it's fine (and important) for a performer to list any awards and nominations they've garnered over the years, as well as to list their home pages if they have them. Usually those pages will give a more detailed listing of their experience in all media and it becomes a good reference source for any casting directors who may notice them in a show.

[jrb_actor]

Posted: 2/11/08 at 1:09pm

I agree with those who have said that an actor's bio is theirs to do whatever they please. It's an awfully foolish thing to get worked up about.

[Jade]

Posted: 2/11/08 at 2:44pm

I personally love bios which are funny, a bit offbeat, show the actor's personality, etc. At least they make for an interesting read before the show starts. I've seen a few programmes where the bios are standardised, just providing lists of theatre, film and television credits, and I find them incredibly boring.

[South Fl Marc]

Posted: 2/11/08 at 2:54pm

I remember the playbill to "Sugar Babies" starring Ann Miller and Mickey Rooney.

Ms Miller wrote a 2 page bio (the Producers had to pay extra to Playbill to handle her extra large bio).

Mickey's on the other hand was one sentence. It read something like "Mr. Rooney has been working on stage and screen for over 50 years". And that was all. I thought that showed such class.
Updated On: 2/11/08 at 02:54 PM

[mygfdontliveincanada]

Posted: 2/11/08 at 2:58pm

I think the best ones are the bios that don't take themselves too seriously. Case in point: Jason Alexander's bio for the LA company of "The Producers"...

JASON ALEXANDER (Max Bialystock) is delighted to return to the Los Angeles stage. For those unfamiliar with his work, or who read everything in the program just to kill time, here are the highlights of his vast and occasionally acclaimed career. He appeared on Broadway in the original companies of "Merrily We Roll Along," "The Rink," "Broadway Bound," "Accomplice," and "Jerome Robbins Broadway." For the "Robbins" show he won the Tony, Drama Desk and Outer Critics Circle awards as Best Musical Actor. he also authored the narrative book for that production. In Los Angeles, he has starred in "Give 'Em Hell, Harry," "Promises, Promises," and "Defiled." (He won no awards for any of that. LA audiences are tough). His films include "Pretty Woman," "White Palace," "Jacob's Ladder," "The Paper," "Love, Valor, Compassion," "Dunston Checks in," "Rocky and Bullwinkle," and "Shallow Hal." He has never even been nominated for his film work. In some cases, the check barely cleared. He has directed two feature films--"For Better or Worse" and "Just Looking." On television he has starred in "Bye, Bye Birdie," "Cinderella," "The Man Who Saved Christmas," and the series "Everything's Relative," "ER," "Duckman," "Bob Patterson," and "Seinfeld." For "Seinfeld," he received four SAG awards, a Golden Globe nomination, two American Comedy awards and at least a half dozen Emmy nominations. He never won the Emmy. He hosted the Emmy's, but never WON the Emmy. He is not bitter. (Expletive followed)

It goes on from there, but you got the gist of it.
Updated On: 2/11/08 at 02:58 PM

[Pippin]

Posted: 2/11/08 at 3:00pm

wow. on a side note, I have to say that I can't believe Alexander never won an emmy for George Costanza.

[Pippin]

Posted: 2/11/08 at 3:00pm

wow. on a side note, I have to say that I can't believe Alexander never won an emmy for George Costanza.

At least he has a sense of humor about it. And I'm sure he's crying all the way to the bank.

[DottieD'Luscia]

Posted: 2/11/08 at 3:55pm

massofmen, I have to admit that your example made me laugh.

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 2/11/08 at 3:57pm

The perfect bio for somebody making their NY debut:

Jessica Cummings (U/S Babe Botrelle/Chick Boyle). Jessica Cummings graduated from Northwestern University in June 2007 with a BA in theatre. She is thrilled to be making her New York debut. AEA.

[AnnaK<3LMIP]

Posted: 2/11/08 at 7:12pm

I like it.

[jake6970]

Posted: 2/11/08 at 7:58pm

Who cares? Young performers who get a Broadway gig realize how lucky they are. I think it's classy they thank their friends, families and teachers. Without much professional experience, they only have their talent to get them by. They're thanking these people for nurturing and supporting their talent.