Today we’d like to introduce you to Meredith Bennett.
Hi Meredith, 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?
I was a child actor and grew up in Dallas, TX. I grew up singing, acting, and dancing and truly haven’t ever known anything else. I went to college at Baylor University and graduated in 2017 with my BFA in Musical Theatre Performance. I soon after moved to NYC for a little over a year and then made the move to Atlanta. I was looking for more community and a city where my art could pour back into my area and the people there. Upon moving to Atlanta, I was looking for work and came across a youth theatre in Kennesaw called Young Actor’s Playhouse where I worked as a Voice Teacher, Music Director and Director for two years. I parted ways with Young Actor’s Playhouse in February 2021 and opened my vocal studio with all of my previous students (who stayed with me despite the split) called Finding Your Voice Vocal Studio. In July of 2021, a previous colleague from the studio I had worked at reached out to me and informed me he was opening a new performing arts studio (YAP had fallen apart) and asked if I would come on as the Director of Music. We agreed on a partnership for Finding Your Voice and the new Firefly Theatrical and we opened in September of 2021. I am now the Owner of Finding Your Voice Vocal Studio and the Director of Music at Firefly Theatrical. In addition, I am still a working professional actress and singer and represented by Ursula Wiedmann Models and Talent.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
No, my journey has been and continues to be full of surprises. I would say what people point out most about me is my tenacity, but I just truly don’t know a world that isn’t consumed with the arts. I have had more heartbreaks and wild stories of not getting cast than I care to count. Atlanta has certainly been all that I was looking for and more when it comes to community but breaking in here has been tough. I’m grateful for artistic homes like The Atlanta Opera and The Legacy Theatre that I’ve been fortunate enough to work with.
In addition, I wanted to live in NYC my entire childhood. I did a summer there in college and knew exactly where I was going post-grad but I never expected how void of performing my life there would become. You are constantly surrounded by the arts and yet they are kept at an arms distance. I’d have to work 6 days a week just to pay the bills and on my one day off, I’d spend all day waiting in line to *hopefully* just get seen. DecidIng to leave NYC was easily one of the hardest choices I’ve ever had to make but I knew I just wanted to do the work and do it consistently. The work has always been what’s been most important to me. I want to live somewhere and be surrounded by a plethora of opportunities so i don’t have to go years without performing or teaching. Atlanta has offered me so many wonderful opportunities but more importantly, relationships, than I ever could have hoped for (and I hope they just keep coming!).
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
The entertainment industry is such a bumpy, ridiculous road. I would say I am not most proud of my biggest credit or success but I’m just freaking proud I’m still here. There are so many days that it is awful and then I see my students who are just starting to feel that fire, who are just starting to have those lightbulb moments and I remember why I love performing. My students have truly been why I’m still at every audition, no matter how many no’s I get.
So, before we go, how can our readers or others connect or collaborate with you? How can they support you?
I love to con my friends into teaching, haha. I love to collaborate on projects with heart and bring in those who have abilities that are not my specialties. I am ALWAYS down to collaborate and love new projects! Film, music, musical theatre, let’s do it!
Pricing:
- $35/30 min vocal lesson
- $65/hr vocal lesson
Contact Info:
- Email: Meredithbennett17@gmail.com
- Website: Meredithmbennett.com
- Instagram: Meredithmbennett
- Facebook: Facebook.com/meredith-bennett-mcpherson
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/channel/UCWUU3Ve0sZwFctkYpMksrJQ
Image Credits
Patrick Marcigliano (headshots)
