Today we’d like to introduce you to Chris McCoy.
Hi Chris, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I first got into the performance industry later than most, even though it was something multiple family members and friends tried to get me involved with for years. My brother pushed me to audition for the drama club’s play adaptation of A Christmas Carol. Next thing I know, I was cast and having the time of my life on that stage. I felt free to express emotions, feelings, and words through performance.
I graduated high school and my gut was telling me to perform at the local community college and theaters in the area. I decided that I was going to pursue a life of performance. Families are usually deterred when their youngest member says they want to pursue acting. My family couldn’t have been more thrilled for me and have supported me the whole way. I went on to get a BFA in Musical Theatre/History at the University of Tampa. Those years of acting showed me what I was capable of as an artist preparing for a role, which I am very thankful to my mentors for.
Graduation came and right out of college, I booked a role in Connecticut for a musical called She Loves Me. I then went on to perform in theaters around my community while still serving tables. Life was going well for about two years until 2020 came. But what some may have seen as a curse, I saw as an opportunity to start fresh. Multiple friends and colleagues advised me to change my style up, try film acting, and move to Atlanta. It was one of the best decisions of my life. In the past year, I have found more acting opportunities and successes here than anywhere else. On top of that, I have a fondness for old-school jazz music. I got some musical equipment and now I sing at 3-4 different locations in the Atlanta every week.
I am beyond grateful to say when people ask me what I do professionally, “I am a jazz singer and an actor.” To quote the Gershwin brothers, “It’s nice work if you can get it. And you can get it if you try.”
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Every destination worth getting to is going to have some potholes. I’m just glad that I learn from them and hopefully will keep on learning. I’ve been at this for about ten years now, and the best thing that has helped with struggles is all the people that you consider your family around you.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
For my jazz singing, I specialize in Frank Sinatra, Nat King Cole, etc. kind of styles. I try to sing the music that most won’t hear anymore, I think it is hands down some of the most poetic and romantic love songs ever written that tell a story.
For my acting, my people always assume that Ido comedic acting when they meet me because of my personality. However, I am a sucker for a deep dramatic role with substance. Whether it’s Shakespeare or something current, I love tackling the characters that feel disconnected from the world and reality as we get to see their journey with how they handle it.
I am also a writer specializing in writing dramas. Same with my acting, I like to write characters that I can connect with as I tell their story and help the reader and viewer visualize it and relate to it as much as I have.
We’d love to hear about how you think about risk taking?
Comfort is a slow death. If you’re not taking risks with what you love, you’re hindering yourself as a human being who wants to let their spirit be free and create. Most of your superiors that see your risk taking ability will not be appalled by it, but they will respect it. It was something I was afraid of when I first started performing; although when I soon realized that no one thinks about you as much as you think they do, risk taking became a hobby of mine as a performer.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.chrismccoyactor.com
- Instagram: @chris.mccoyski
Image Credits
Kelton Gresham (@kg3_photos)
