Today we’d like to introduce you to Rose Foster.
Hi Rose, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
Even from a young age, performing has been my escape and my voice when I needed to get away. I come from a background that some would consider as less-fortunate. I started off in my acting career going to local casting calls for commercials, theatre productions, whatever my parents could get their hands on. After my parents dreams for me fizzled out due to lack of funding I decided to put my head down and build myself so I could succeed with or without their support. I was finally able to raise enough money to start taking lessons in dance and vocal performance at the age of thirteen, where I met my mentor, Gareth Chapman, who gave me the confidence to push forward even when things got hard. He pushed me to audition for productions I thought I had no chance of booking, which eventually landed me my first role as Ariel/Ensemble for Disney’s Magic Music Days. After that, everything just fell into place. I took a short hiatus after Gareth’s passing to reflect and focus on what I envisioned for my future. Once I was back, I hit the ground running, meeting with casting directors once a week, non-stop auditions, and weekly lessons to keep my skills sharp. Within the past year, I have booked multiple roles, including Janet Weiss in The Rocky Horror Show, Belle in Beauty and the Beast, and Christmas Eve in Avenue Q.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Like with any creative career, the road is never smooth. It’s filled with ups and downs that challenge you in ways that other careers don’t. For me, the biggest struggle was catching up to others who grew up more privileged to have formal training from a young age. One thing that isn’t discussed openly is the cost of training and education to be considered for most productions, including community theatre. The balance between learning tap, ballet, jazz, hip-hop, lyrical, vocal performance, sight reading, acting techniques, and so much more is delicate and requires a lot of time, discipline, and patience. Another struggle that I have seen affect nearly everyone in the acting industry is Imposter Syndrome. When you go to audition, it’s easy to get into your head that someone sitting in the room with you is more qualified than you and that you don’t belong there. That’s only amplified if you happen to get a “No” back after you’ve put yourself out there. The biggest thing to remember is the Fifty to One Rule. “You will receive one yes for every fifty no’s”. It’s never personal when you are not selected for a role, it doesn’t mean you’ll never get it, it’s just not in the cards this time.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I am a South Florida based actress who has worked in numerous theatres across the tri-state area, with some opportunities coming up out of state. In theatre, there is not a specific skill set you specialize in, rather you have to be a jack of all trades. I am trained in Ballet, Tap, Ballroom, and Lyrical Dance with training in Vocal Technique. I am currently in the process of obtaining my degree for Vocal Performance so I can create a non-profit that offer free to low cost classes to those coming from the same underprivileged background I did. I am most known for performing in productions throughout South Florida. If I had to choose one thing I am most proud of, it’s that my paperwork for my LLC is currently being finalized and I’ll be able to start giving back to my community. Simply put, what sets me apart from others is that I am myself. I came from humble beginnings like most people with a dream, but instead of letting my circumstances stop me from perusing what I wanted to do, I embraced the challenge. I know there’s still a long way until I reach the top of the mountain, but I will continue to better myself and honing my craft until I make it.
What has been the most important lesson you’ve learned along your journey?
The most important lesson I’ve learned along my journey is that there’s no such thing as perfection. Most of us strive to be perfect, to learn everything there is to know in our field, but that’s unrealistic. In order to be the best at what you do, no matter the field, you need always be learning and embrace change. If you fall into a routine or become complacent in what you know, any industry is going to leave you behind.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @therosefoster
Image Credits
Elijah Pestana and Milo Connor
