Sam Prince is joined by actress Jean Gerczak. In this episode Jean shares about her acting journey, how taking a break to raise her family was longer than anticipated, and what it was like coming back to the stage. Jean has been in multiple plays, a musical, and a commercial. She also talks about her experience about what it was like being surrounded by a great cast in the play Frederick. For acting classes from your host; Sam Prince, check out his website: www.samber.productions and follow along on Instagram: www.instagram.com/samberproductions
Sam Prince 0:05 Have you ever wondered what it would be like to be a great actor on stage or television? Do you wish you had an acting coach to help you get to the next level? Or maybe you just have a great idea for a movie series are played but aren't quite sure where to start? Well, you are in the right place my friend. My name is Sam Prince and I am the director of a production company here in Grand Rapids, Michigan, and have been an actor for over 30 years. I've directed and written plays, and screenplays and taught many acting classes. This podcast is your place to learn how to move forward with your career in acting, theater, film, playwriting, screenwriting, and much more. There will be inspiring conversations with special guests as well. So welcome to the creativitorium podcast, and action. All right, welcome, welcome. Welcome to the creativitorium podcast. I'm your host, Sam print. And I am here with my great friend, Jean Gerczak, how are you, madam? Jean Gerczak 1:19 I'm very good. How are you? Sam Prince 1:22 I'm great. I'm great. Thank you so much for joining me. Jean Gerczak 1:26 i I'm happy to be here. Very happy. Sam Prince 1:29 Yes, yes. And you know, I was trying to think we met at tribes church. Yeah. Yeah. And we weren't. I mean, it wasn't like, we had never any long conversation was just kind of like, Hey, are you doing a little wave? Right, right. Yeah, yeah. Jean Gerczak 1:50 I know. Um, I heard about you from Tara. Because Tara knew that I, you know, like directing it. She goes, oh, you should meet Sam Prince. I said, Okay. You know, and we didn't meet briefly, but I knew that we would meet again. So. Sam Prince 2:04 Yeah, exactly. And we definitely get to be, it was meant to be. It's meant to be busy. I got a bone to pick with you, though. Jean. Okay. All right. How long we member tribes? Jean Gerczak 2:16 Oh, my gosh. Along from the beginning. Sam Prince 2:20 You're one of the beginners? Yeah, yeah. Right. How many like skits and videos? Yeah. And all those theatrical productions. Did they do like, I mean, dozens. Right. Right. How many were you in? Jean Gerczak 2:38 No, no. Hey, Sam. You know what? That is interesting. Because I said to myself, um, because I was watching it watching Tara did a couple skits. And I go, I think I might like that. And at the time, prior to that, I was working full time, um, had a lot on my plate, I was helping in the nursery and doing different things. But always in the back of my mind, I said, I have to talk to Julian, um, and see what I can do. And you know how you you just do that. And then time goes by and you're thinking, and I also thought about because I used to sing too. And I thought about singing, but then I know this is gonna sound odd. Okay. I'm not a real big. Okay. I would prefer to sing maybe with another person or a couple. I don't know. I just, it wasn't up my alley. Does it make sense? Yeah. I said, I wasn't drawn to it. And I said to myself, something's gonna hit me one of these days. And something's gonna happen where I'm gonna say, This is it. This is it. And that's my fault. I but I knew after I met you, I go, I'm gonna meet him again. But I didn't know when or why. I just know. And I was glad I met you. I go, okay, that Sam Prince. I know. I'm going to see him again. I'm going to meet him again. But I did not know how. And I just knew going on. Sam Prince 4:12 Wow. That's great. Well, you Jean Gerczak 4:16 kind of go by you're like, I know this is this is going to happen, but I don't know when. And I'm grateful. It didn't know. Yeah, yeah. Because it's the beginning of me. It just is the beginning for me again. Yeah, right. Feeling good about it. Sam Prince 4:33 Yeah. So you just, you just totally just melted that bone and pick away I don't even remember what the bone to pick was. That was beautifully said. Jean Gerczak 4:50 You're right about it because I would sit in church. This is really mechanics. I would sit there and go. I'm looking at the little plays going oh, that looks fun. I was looking at when Julian was up on the screen. And the little skits I go, I want to do one of those. And I was going to have a talk with Julian. Julian, I work. Julian and I were close friends, but we were friends. How and maybe I wasn't comfortable. But then I wasn't drawn to the singing part. And I said, Okay, so what's going on? What? What is it? Or what it needs to happen? What am I going to be drawn to? I was sure. Sam Prince 5:29 Right, right. Well, you know what, and you gotta go with with the good. Yes. Yeah. Good. Jean Gerczak 5:37 Yeah, I think it was it, Sam. I think it was No, I wasn't drawn to it. But that doesn't mean it was bad. I'm just thinking, what does this mean? Maybe it's not something I'm going to do anymore. Um, but I knew in my heart and in my mind, I go, No, no, no. Sam Prince 5:54 I have to wait. Yeah, you know, and I definitely feel you there. I mean, there was some skits there church that I didn't feel drawn to. Okay, you know, so So I didn't do you know, so I try. I get it. I get it. Okay. But I'm glad I got John stage, though. Jean Gerczak 6:15 Oh, my gosh, I, I since I, oh, my gosh, I have been so very, very happy. alive and going. Wow. It's been a while but you don't really stop being an actor or stop being creative. That's not what happens. Come alive again. And once you do whether or not it's two lines, I don't care if it's two lines. I don't care if you're up there singing or dancing. I don't care what it is. You got it. You got it. You get it? And you're going, oh my gosh, Sam Prince 6:53 I got it. Yeah, right. I know. It's, it's, it's so hard to explain. But it's it's hard to explain. So feeling that it's the feeling rush of adrenaline that Jean Gerczak 7:05 oh my gosh, I It's so hard to explain. You're going I'm alive. I'm feeling this. I hope others are feeling it. Because I am so happy and excited. You know to be creative, I guess I should say. Sam Prince 7:21 Yeah, exactly. Yeah. Yeah. We're gonna talk more about Frederick and stuff. But let's talk about Jean. Okay. And like her acting career, like, what was the first thing you did? What got you excited? And what have you been doing so far? Jean Gerczak 7:39 Well, oh, boy. Um, I started, you know, this is interesting. In high school, nothing. I was in choir, but I went to Western. And I was studying early childhood, which is another one of my love children, and Human Services. And every class that I took, there I go, I'm going to start taking acting classes there. So every extra curricular class I had was drunk. Um, I enjoyed it very much. I enjoyed the classes, the people, the teachers. Um, I was up up with people. Do you remember that? I'm really dating myself? Oh, yeah. Yep. Got involved with that. I'm also I sang on the weekends with a two guitar people at church got involved there. Um, and then, but I did not do any big productions at Western. I just studied it. After school was done. I wanted to be involved with Civic Theatre. So I took it it was called the what was it the circle of the classes it was called something Civic, the circle or the turntable of classes where you start at the beginning monologues, and then you go through the entire classes it at Civic. Wow. And I love them. Um, Sam Prince 9:04 how are you then? Jean Gerczak 9:05 I was in my 20s. Late 20s. Oh, okay. And then I loved and I'm dating myself I crime so the heart I got involved with with other women. I was one of the sisters. hilarious because there was funny parts in it. You know, all my it was I it was incredible. Variety Show. After that they had a variety show up at the hospitals did for all the hospitals to fundraise. I did dancing and singing in that. Then let's see what happened. Oh, and then I went through all the classes. And then I said I still want to study. So I went to spectrum theater. And they were introducing different classes than what I did. So I took classes there I got into production up perfect ganache. Were with a friend So boskie and that was wonderful. Um, oh, I did. And then after I also went to Masters Art Theater after that, and did Oliver I sang out in that, but my, but at that point, Sam, let's see, I was in my 30s and my kids were getting older things were very busy with sports, because you're both at sports all year long. And I was working, and I really needed to be home. So I said to myself, I need to maybe put this on the shelf for a bit, um, and take care of business. And it continued. It was a long stretch, where I just kind of put it away. And I always knew, because I'm a creative person. So I also like writing I write children's books. I like singing I like, I'm not a very good dancer. I didn't study them very well. But I mean, it's like, oh, boy. Um, I did singing lessons, piano lessons, because I think you always have to do singing and piano lessons, singing dancing lessons, because if you don't, you can't get your voice stronger. You got to learn. But I always knew Sam, a lot of times, you know, when you go, especially for Civic Theater to audition, you better know, your stuff. You better know how to dance and sing and everything. And my dance was always I could follow a partner. But like, by myself, it was really bad. I'm not kidding. They go, Oh, did you go? Oh, you know, it was bad. There was a lot of times so in between, I would try out for plays all kinds of stuff. They'd say, no, they call me back. Right? You're not right, for the part. If you're not right, for the part. You're not right. And so I tried that avenue to I did a commercial when I was four. What am I I was pregnant with Lucas. That, um, but that's, you know, and then I, I took a break, I would say, a long break, you know, and why it just was what I had to do. But, um, I really, really needed to get back into it. You're like, Okay, I'm older. Now. What is the first step? And really, you need to meet people? Sam Prince 12:35 Yeah, right. Jean Gerczak 12:37 If you're lucky enough. And of course audition, but you got to go what? Where do I fit Sam Prince 12:50 so if you live in the West Michigan area and close by, you gotta come check out our play. Frederick. It's going to take place February 11. Through the 13th at the Cannes theater and Cedar Springs. Samra Productions Presents Frederick. And it's about Frederick Douglass, who, back in the 1800s. We're gonna take you back in time and tell you about his life from being born as a slave to become a great political figure. And the coolest part is that we have some amazing West Michigan actors and actresses are going to be portraying Abraham Lincoln, Susan B. Anthony and more. You'll be amazed. Trust me. So come check it out. February 11. Through the 13th. Tickets are on Eventbrite when you go to Eventbrite, just search Frederick and at Sandburg dot productions as well. Check it out. Yeah. Can't wait to see you. Jean Gerczak 14:02 But you have to beat up with people connect with people and say, What can I do? What can I say? How can I meet them? You know, and things like that. Yeah. And, you know, like we said, tried it just was not something that I felt compelled to do. Which I don't really understand. I don't I'm not sure. And I said to myself, I know something's kind of come along sometime. Don't know when don't know why don't know how, but if it does, I'm gonna just like just grab it and just grab hold and hopefully, do something good or do something right. And and I'm very grateful to have an opportunity to be respected and have someone say, I'm going to give you an opportunity gene because and I'm grateful Sam Prince 15:00 Are you talking about me? Jean? Yes, you Ah? Well, Jean Gerczak 15:04 it really because respectful. You know the business. I know what you want. I like that. But just saying, I'm going to say this is it, I'm going to do this. I'm going to let gene do this. I'm gonna give her this. And say, take it, do it, but do it deliver. Sam Prince 15:25 Right? Yeah, yeah. Yeah. Jean Gerczak 15:27 If you say deliver, well, the person better deliver. Sam Prince 15:31 Right? For sure. For sure. Absolutely. Well, so let's walk through the genesis of it. Now we're talking about it. So I think your husband said, hey, my wife jeans an actress, right. Like he messaged me that right? Yes. Yeah. Right. So I was like, Alright, cool. So then I was like, so let's set up a zoom thing, because it was so like, COVID Craziness. Right, right. And then I sent you the monologue. Right. Right. Right. And then, and you and you read it. Right? Those that that that I missed anything there? No, one of them. Right. Yeah. Right. So when you read it, I remember immediately saying this is your role. Yeah, it was, it was so strange. So I, it was a real Zurab. I was like, yes. Great. But then what was the cool part was that as we kept practicing, and then would we through the New York accent in there? Yeah. You work that in? Yeah. And then we worked out the the beats and in where you need to PA and all that stuff. And as it started getting so much better. I'm right. I'm telling you. I'm not learning anything. Tears would be in my eyeballs. Jean Gerczak 17:12 Oh, my God. See? Yeah, that's Sam Prince 17:16 it. Yeah. That's it. You, Jean Gerczak 17:19 you, you say to yourself, if I can do even one line to someone in the audience, or your director, or anyone, if I can deliver one, two lines, and it gets them writing up, you know, get some Yeah, and they'll buy it, then that's everything. Because then you're like, oh, yeah, I got it. I got it. Right, because that's my job. Your job is to direct help, Gene, this is what I need from you. This is what you have to improve on. But I have to deliver to you and I have to make you think that I am hurt. Or I feel I'm telling you something, and I feel bad too. I need you to think that I am this person. Yeah. Right now, if you can do that, I think it's genius. Sam Prince 18:07 That's absolutely genius. And that's that's the ultimate of acting, you know? I mean, yeah. Especially, especially with theater, because, you know, they're right there. Jean Gerczak 18:18 They're right there. Exactly. You're right there. Exactly. Sam and and you're like, if I think if I think about I think you think I can act a little and I can do that. And I can work with whatever. But you know what? Not every one we forget, can direct can act can do it. You right? And you forget that and you're like, hey, wait a minute, maybe I can do this. Maybe I can say, Oh, I'm an actress. I'm very modest. I don't I say Oh, I do a little this and a little vamp. Right. Right. But if you can deliver, then you are an actress or an actor. Because you made you feel something that I was trying to get you to feel. Sam Prince 19:06 Right, exactly. Which brings me to a question I just thought of, which is, I mean, I would say the caf were pretty darn talented. Yeah. So would you do you feel like when you have that talented group that you that step your game up? Jean Gerczak 19:27 Absolutely. Yeah, absolutely. And so when we first met I, at the table, we didn't know each other. I was looking at everybody. I'm going I want to see what is their role? I want to hear him talk. You know, and I remember that very first time we were at the table. I go, Whoa, are you kidding me? I could hear them talks. I want to hear him talk right now. And I go, I turned to Michael, you've acted before I know you're seasoned. And he goes, yep, you know, tell me a little bit. And so you listen to them and you But wait a minute. You knew how good every because I could feel it. And I went was my heck's going on here? I became very thrilled, and very honored. And I said, Oh my gosh, how did you do it? How did you get these people? Because I'm sitting there going, what the heck? In my mind? Yeah. And I'm looking out and going. Professional season. Cool. I'm gonna do this. Out it up. I'm reading my part. No. problems. And I'm like, going, okay. How'd you do it? Sam Prince 20:38 Yeah, well, I got. Yeah, I know. I prayed a lot. And yeah. prayed a lot. So yeah, and you know, yeah, no, you don't? Yeah. And you don't, you know, want your first one should just be okay with mediocre actors. Right. You know, I mean, right? You want something? Pretty darn amazing. So, yeah, I really prayed on that. And, you know, I really wanted to have the best. Jean Gerczak 21:12 I couldn't believe it. I'm going, Are you kidding? Because, of course, we've acted before we we've met all different kinds of people. Um, and and sometimes you feel it, sometimes you don't. You just do your best. And I'm just sitting sitting there thinking, Hmm, I'm comfortable. I'm listening. And I'm listening to the voices going, Okay, wait a minute, here. We're, where are you all from? With the band, what have you been doing? And sometimes, Sam, it's not even about how seasoned you are. Or if you've been on Broadway, or you've studied it for your whole life, you know, what my feeling is? Someone can come in, that's not seasoned, or doesn't even know their own talent. And they get it. They, you're like, Who are you and where you been? Who are you? And they say, Well, I don't know where, you know, I've been here. I've been there. Um, I believe in that. Also, just get in there and get it when you get it again. Sam Prince 22:16 Yeah, yeah. Like Michael, who played John Brown. Yeah, that's his first time ever doing it ever. At that, right. Yeah. That See, that's, Jean Gerczak 22:27 like, Are you kidding? Right. Right. So it was meant to be. Sam Prince 22:32 It was meant to be. Exactly. Yeah. So. So let's talk about just your overall experience doing Frederick? Like, how long was a cool Jean Gerczak 22:45 minute of it? From sitting at the table, to practicing. And what's interesting about it as I go, I gotta get my head. I gotta get in my head. Who am I? But first of all, I, Frederick Douglass, I knew but I had to get it in my head. Who is he? And then I realized how important that go. This isn't just about a play. This is about an important person. Um, it's historical. So you have to be believable historically. And everything about it excited me everything from Play practice. I enjoyed every minute of it. Everyone was nice. I like talking to everyone. You were very easy. You know, it's like, oh, Sam, do Lola do this or that? It's not right. You just said, let's practice this. Can you do this? So I'm like, Oh, this is fun. Okay, mine. Join every moment of it. I was so excited to be looking at a stage and standing there. Boy, this is this fun, everything waiting to go on. And getting it right. But getting it right every night. It but it was a pleasure. Sam Prince 24:05 Yeah, well, that's awesome. And, you know, we we didn't say genius played or played will play again in February. Margaret Turner, who was the reporter who reported about Frederick Douglass death. Right. And then Sophia all too was the wife of a slave master who was very nice. Right? And you know, it's so funny because both roles are so different because you got this long monologue, but one, right and then when one way you don't say anything, right? But just as important, you know, like, I love that scene with with you and you know, consoling young Frederick, and you know, you you you are very important and his mixed Are you were the most important that role of him learning? Jean Gerczak 25:06 Yes, English reading, right? Right. And it really, it you take that very seriously. Because all the rules are very important and you have to take it seriously. But you think again, who was she? What was her nature? And you think about it in your head. You want to be consoling, you want to, you know, teach them you want to help them. So, two different ones are fun, too, because you're like, Okay, I'm like this right now. But then it can be like this. Right? Other personality or someone more personal? Maybe? Right. Right. Independent or forceful more? Sam Prince 25:53 You know? Right. Jean Gerczak 25:56 Let's think about it that way. Right? Sam Prince 25:59 Yeah. Well, it was an honor to have him it was honored to watch you. So glad you did it. I'm so we're so excited to do it again. With you. This time. Jean Gerczak 26:17 Yes. Yeah. It's very important. Very important subject. It's very prevalent now. You know? Yeah, it's time. Sam Prince 26:27 Yeah. Yep. And I hope this is a surprise that Julian is very busy in February. So I'm gonna take his place. Yeah. And so you and I are gonna be doing that scene. I'm excited to do that with you. Jean Gerczak 26:46 Well, I I'm not I'm like, Cool. I'm i That's not that surprising to me. And you're quite qualified, and you know what you're doing? So? I was like, very nice. Sam Prince 27:01 Yeah. I'm excited. Yeah, I'm excited. I if I could do it half as good as Julian did. Jean Gerczak 27:09 Well, you know what, you're gonna bring you into it. It's your Sam. He's Julian. You know, and that's interesting. It's totally phenomenal. Sam Prince 27:21 Yeah, it's funny, because I'm practicing with Jesse with Abraham. And all of zoom right now. And Julianne and Angela. And they're all saying how, how much different it is, you know, cooler. Oh, my gosh. I mean, not cooler, but just as cool but different. Because you're right. Julian Julian, I'm saying? Yeah. Jean Gerczak 27:48 I think that's, that's, I can't wait because I think, again, this is going to be interesting to me, because I want to see how you bring it. I want to see how you think he is, um, and he's a very important man. But I think you can I, when I heard that you were I thought, well, that's just normal. That's just a natural thing that's going to happen for you to step in. You're qualified. You're a good actor, and you can do it. But bring yourself wait. I think it's gonna be phenomenal. Sam Prince 28:22 Yeah, yes. I can't wait till I it will be. Yeah. Yeah, for sure. For sure. And you know what, Jane, we are having so much fun that I think we're gonna have can you come back? And we can do the second half? Yeah. Yeah. All right. Cool. All right. Awesome. Awesome. So we're gonna end it here. Okay. And then we're going to do part two, next week. Okay. Right. And we're gonna talk about tips about how you learn that big long monologue. Jean Gerczak 28:59 I got tips for you. Sam Prince 29:01 All right. So all right. Well, we are very, very important, very important. So we will see you next time. Okay, I will talk to you soon. Hey, hey, hey, thank you for listening to the creativitorium podcast. Again, my name is Sam Prince. And it is my honor to be your host and thank you so much for listening. I would also be honored if you could leave a review on Apple podcasts and say some nice things about what you just heard. And definitely please listen every week. We come out every Tuesday. Also, for more information about coaching classes, workshops, and upcoming productions, please check A website Samber dot productions that's s a m b e r dot productions and you can also subscribe to our newsletter. And remember all the worlds a stage.