February 27, 2023 • 46 mins
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Chryssie Whitehead is originally from South Carolina and began her career as a Radio City Rockette right out of highschool. 20 years later she would go on to perform the role of Velma on Broadway in Chicago, as the understudy. Her brilliant career has spanned 25 years working bi-coastal in Los Angeles and New York, acting in over 13 television shows (Greys Anatomy), film (West Side Story and is known for Revenge of the Bridesmaids, the romantic comedy with Raven Simone.
She made her Broadway debut in the revival of “A Chorus Line” where she is featured landing the role of Kristine in the documentary, Every Little Step. She leads a creative, artistic life teaching across the globe and now spends a lot of her time directing and choreographing. She is a proud Co-Founder of Broadway Arts Community, the mentoring & performing arts educational company she founded with her best friend and is dedicated to passing it onto the next generation of artists.
Most recently, she wrote a one woman show focused on mental illness, a true story shared with the goal to spread hope and awareness globally. In My Own Little Corner, A Work in Progress with Bipolar Disorder made its New York debut on November 5th, 2022 at The Riverside Theatre.
@chryssiewhitehead @imolcetheshow
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Lisa Hopkins (00:00):
This is the stop time podcast. I'm your host,
Lisa Hopkins, and I'm here toengage you in thought provoking
motivational conversationsaround practicing the art of
living in the moment. I'm acertified life coach, and I'm
excited to dig deep and offerinsights into embracing who we
are and where we are at. So mynext guest is originally from
(00:26):
South Carolina and began hercareer as a Radio City Rockette
right out of high school. 20years later, she would go on to
perform the role of Velma onBroadway in Chicago as the
understudy. Her brilliant careerhas spanned 25 years plus
working bicoastal in Los Angelesand New York, acting in over 13
television shows. Just turn onthe TV you're gonna see. A lot
(00:49):
of people know her for revengeof the bridesmaids, the romantic
comedy with Raven Simone. Shemade her Broadway debut in the
revival of a chorus line whereshe is featured lending the role
of Christine in the documentaryevery little step. She leads a
creative artistic life teachingacross the globe, and now spends
a lot of her time directing andchoreographing. She's a proud co
(01:11):
founder of Broadway artscommunity, the mentoring and
performing arts educationalcompany she founded with her
best friend, and is dedicated topassing it on to the next
generation of artists. Mostrecently, she wrote a one woman
show focused on mental illness,a true story shared with a goal
to spread hope and awarenessglobally. It's called in my own
(01:32):
little corner, a work inprogress with bipolar disorder,
and it made its New York debuton November 5 2022, at the
Riverside theatre. It's withgreat pleasure, I can finally
sit down with Chrissy Whiteheadwelcome, Chrissy.
Chryssie Whitehead (01:46):
Yay. Thank you so much, Lisa, that's so
funny here and you're, you know,you, you type out the bio, and
you send it to people all thetime, and then you forget about
what it says. So that was niceof you reading it out. It's so
funny how the highlight soundsso great, don't they? The
highlights just sounds so good.
Lisa Hopkins (02:03):
No, I know, how do they feel when you hear it back?
Chryssie Whitehead (02:09):
I feel like it's just just a quarter of my
story. You know, it's like theysay, because they say that, like
your life is really in betweenyour resume. It's everything
that's happening in between. Andso that got that from my
business partner, Alexis. Shegot that from somewhere. But I
really liked that because we'relike, it's what you're doing in
between. So it feels good.
Because you're like, gosh, youhave dreams, you have goals and
(02:32):
but I got lucky. I mean, youknow, this business, it's a lot
of its luck. I mean, you can beas talented as you possibly can
be. And then I just got I justhappened to be a Christine they
liked for A Chorus Line. Butthere was a plethora of
Christine's that were right. Forthat role. You know, I just got
lucky. So I'm, I'm, I'm, it's anhonor to be on the other side of
(02:56):
it now. So it feels good to hearthose things. It feels good to
hear that about the show.
Because the show isn't about me,it's about the message and the
mission. And, and I'm only doingit because it's about that.
Lisa Hopkins (03:10):
Yeah. So much to unpack. But first of all, hell
yeah. About It happens inbetween, you know, I mean, I'm
writing I'm writing a thingcalled the places where there
are spaces and it's what I'vealways always believed. That's
where the dancing is right?
Lifestyle.
Chryssie Whitehead (03:28):
Yeah, yeah.
Yeah. I mean, it's what growsyou makes you it molded you I
think that performing got reallyvacant for me after a while
because I I think what I loveabout theater is the connection,
and the talking and thecommunity. And that's why we
named our business that brotherscommunity is the communal aspect
(03:48):
of what theater can do. So forme after a while there applause
and people telling you how greatyou are and how talented you
are, can only go so far. Butactually having deep
conversations and looking intopeople's eyes and, and having
real conversations, I think arereally special.
Lisa Hopkins (04:12):
Yeah, no, first
Chryssie Whitehead (04:13):
I don't, I don't like knock, knocking,
performing. I think there's abeautiful space for performers,
I coach performers and teachperformers. But it can be very
self indulgent. And I thinkthere's a fine line between self
indulgence and like, what isyour WHY basically the what what
are my earlier what is your why?
Why are you why are you? Why doyou want to porn?
Lisa Hopkins (04:36):
Yeah. Well, it is tricky for young people with
talent like yourself. I mean,I'm curious if this resonates
with you. I mean, sometimes, youknow, in their effort to elevate
and support and celebrate usparents and or people around us
that are older than us whenwe're young. You know, if you
say oh, you know, Chrissy,you're so talented that you
(04:56):
should audition for this ormaybe I should put her dance
class or maybe she becausethey're looking when they're
trying to help, right, butsometimes it's received in a way
when you're a child that, Oh, Iget more attention, love safety,
all of that when I'm doing whatthey say I do well, and it's
amazing. That mixes messageswhen you're young. Right? What
(05:16):
do you think about that?
Chryssie Whitehead (05:18):
It mixes with your worth a little bit,
you know? I mean, yeah, I feltvery bashful when people
responded to my work, especiallyyoung it because of the dancer,
too. I mean, it was a veryemotional dancer. And that's
what they made people tell meand made me want to do acting
was because I was just soemotive when I danced and I just
(05:40):
so got into the moment. But I,there's pressure that comes with
that with Oh, you're so good.
And, and then you think, Okay,I'm so good. And then oh, I am
really good. Like, I was winningall the competitions. And then
they're thinking, Okay, now, youneed to do XY and Z. And if you
don't do xy and z, then what areyou? It's like chorus line,
right? If I'm not a dancer, anactor and a singer, what am I?
(06:04):
Huh? It's like, I think I thinka lot of people feel we all have
this like field of work, andespecially if we love our work.
Yeah, what happens when we can'tdo that work anymore? You know?
Yeah, I didn't mind thepressure. I really enjoyed it. I
didn't, I didn't like it. When Iwhen I didn't deliver what I
did, quote, unquote, deliver inthe way that I thought I should.
Lisa Hopkins (06:24):
I wanted to really, just take a moment to
celebrate you and what you'redoing currently now, in your
life. You know, your one womanshow your mission to spread hope
and global awareness aroundmental illness. I mean, I
watched the video of reading Ithink it was just last night,
and I was so impressed with howhonest and kind and inviting you
(06:50):
are. And I believe that the waywe do anything is the way we do
everything. So yay, that you'vechosen to use your gift. But you
have this you have this. Tell mewhat you think about this. But
you have, from my perspective,this incredible facility to make
people feel like they want tocome in. You do that in on the
(07:12):
stage playing your roles.
Everything you do even talkingto you like you have this sense
of it's it's it's an IT FEELSinvitation almost as beautiful.
Yeah. And it's not that like,you know, you're coddling or
going Oh, it'll be okay. Youjust have this. It is what it
is. And we're all this. I don'thave this this is this is
Chryssie Whitehead (07:31):
we are all the same. Yes. That Oh, that's
it that's that I truly feel thatat my core. I feel that when if
I am open, I think a lot of thatcame from my mom. I watched her
be an amazing listener. And Iwatched her listen with her
sweet eyes. And so I think Mom,I just got lucky did come from a
(07:56):
mom, that was really sweet. Ijust think I've found that if I
start out as an open palming andthen invitation and welcoming
anyone in that it allowspeople's guards come down. And
they feel seen. And ultimately,that is what we all need. We all
(08:17):
want to be seen. No matter whowe are, where we come from what
we look like we want to be seen.
We want to feel heard, we wantto feel loved. And we want to
feel like we belong somewhere.
And so dancing to me was a hugeplace for that. And I really got
lucky to find dance becauseAshley I called dance like a,
(08:37):
like a pronoun. Like I thinkshe's one of she's like my
dearest friend. And like we arewith each other all the time
when she helps me feel free. Andso if I can feel free or joy for
dance, and that's what I want.
That's what I did with the show.
I was to come out with bipolardisorder. To do all this I did
(08:59):
all last year was verydifficult. But something was
pushing me that was bigger thanme. And whether that was my
mom's spirit or, you know,because she's passed and she
died and she didn't take goodcare of her health. So, you
know, I watched her deterioratein front of my eyes. And I don't
(09:23):
see the same as I did prior tothat. Like I don't look at life.
That is the is what it iscurrently for me. I can't be
inauthentic. I can feel theradar on me if I am even tapping
into it. Just because I justwatched life slip outside of my
mother and she slipped away. Andso when she slipped away I tried
(09:48):
to figure out why how there'stons of secrets that she lived
with and shame and guilt andwhich is revealed in the show,
because I really thought it'd beimportant for people to see A
real authentic story between amother and her daughter, the
secret she kept from her, thetruth of the matter is, she
(10:08):
didn't take care of her mentalhealth. And I have been doing
everything I possibly can tothrive, her death certificate
red failure to thrive. That washer death certificate. And that
stuck with me all these years.
And then five years later, I gotdiagnosed with bipolar disorder.
And I was literally kind ofconfused, in shock, and was
(10:30):
like, What is this, and then Istarted to do more research, I
started to go, oh, and then I,and then I started to really, I
still have my team that I havewhen I got diagnosed. So I've
been able to be lucky to havethese people in my life, who
have guided me along the way togive me tools and life skills to
(10:52):
help me manage these mooddisorders. I think it's really
great that if people can morepeople can come out with stuff
like this. The more we don'tmake it a big deal. The less it
is, right? Yep. So if I canshare with you my story on a
stage, and bear my heart and mysoul. And then come out and say,
how are you? How was that foryou? So my show comes with a
(11:18):
talkback at the end. Because Ithink it's really important.
It's not, it's not a show that Ijust come out, come into a city
and here you go, I'm gonna dumpall this information and then
get out, you know, like, no,that's me being protective. So I
do need to have an invitation.
So that's a lot, but it iscalled in my own little corner,
because it's the song that gotme my Broadway debut, which was
(11:42):
courtside. Yeah. I've alwaysfelt like in my own little
corner. And I think a lot ofhuman beings feel like we are in
our own little corner. But if wecan recognize that we're
actually we don't have to dothis alone. There are people out
there that can help. And thereare resources and you don't have
to stay trapped in your brain.
And there's little little thingsyou can do, you know, little
baby thing, not likeastronomical, go to India and do
(12:05):
a Yeah, yeah. Right. I mean,that's great. You
Lisa Hopkins (12:12):
totally know what came up for me right now, if I
can share, when you were talkingabout, you know, in my own
little corner, which which kindof can, on the one hand imply,
obviously, that you're keepingto yourself and all of that. But
it's also interesting, becauseit's another connotation of that
expression, which is being inyour own corner. And I feel like
(12:34):
you're doing that. I feel likeyou're also in your own corner.
So it's not that you're justcoming out, but that you're
like, No, this is for me as muchas it is for us.
Chryssie Whitehead (12:41):
I think that that's cool. Yeah, I can agree
with that. I mean, this has beenhealing for me, just to talk
about the fact that like, in thefirst time, I said that I had
bipolar disorder, after Ilaunched it and put it on the
social media, you should haveseen how I felt that day. Like I
was just like, Oh, my God, itwas the first announcement that
I was doing a show and I just, Iwas so nervous. And then I was
(13:03):
like, What are you nervousabout? You know, like, what are
you nervous about? What is yourdefinition of
Lisa Hopkins (13:09):
living in the moment?
Chryssie Whitehead (13:13):
Living in the moment is really being here.
Now. It's like right now as I'mwith you, and not thinking about
anything else. Other than havingthis moment in this conversation
with you. I have nowhere else Ineed to be but this gift, this
present moment, which I lovethat too, that it's called a
present. It's like a gift. Samething. Yeah, we really give a
(13:37):
gift to someone when we arebeing present with them. Even if
it's on Zoom, you can feel it.
Oh, no. And when I am not, Ihave to be like, I'm sorry, I'm
multitasking right now. And I'mnot fully here. Give me one
second, I want to be here. So Ithink the present moment living
in the present moment is beingright here right now. Not in the
past, not in the future. Andaccepting and surrendering to
(14:03):
what is
Lisa Hopkins (14:08):
well, it's, it's beautiful. And it's interesting,
because when you when you camein, and I pointed out how I
perceive you, right, just evenwithout giving, and that will
lead to presence. It's funny inthe arts, we talk about oh,
she's got such presence. She'sgot the it factor or whatever.
And, and you as we know, like,there's, there's everybody
(14:29):
there's so much talent, I mean,it's just ridiculous. And I
actually yeah, now do I justhave access to learning and it's
so great. I mean, on the onehand is really incredible,
right? Like there's just so muchknowledge and stuff, but, but
the speed at which people areable to access this mastery,
(14:50):
technical mastery of stuff andlearning is tough, versus having
those moments where there weredeep processing goes on on all
that, right, which is reallyinteresting. Yeah. But when you
talk about that, it factor thatsort of essence. Wow, I think of
(15:10):
it like an essence, right? Imean, you have it. And you it's
funny because and I'm just goingto call you out because you do,
and you wouldn't need to do. Ithink I think if you chose to be
a rocket scientist, you'd haveit. I mean, you happen to choose
dance, because you were calledfor whatever reason, right? But
I think no matter what you did,you would show up in the same
(15:32):
way. I don't think it's whatyou're doing. I think it's who
you are.
Chryssie Whitehead (15:37):
That's interesting. My mom, my mom used
to always I mean, I don't knowshe did. She used to say to me,
she instilled in me. Maybe Doc,you could be if you wanted to be
a street sweeper, you would bethe best street sweeper that
ever was, you wanted to go workat McDonald's, you'd be the best
McDonald's worker. She said tome in a very young age, and I
never quite, you won't be thePresident of the United States.
(16:00):
She was very thing, but I thinkthat's very kind of you. I think
you're right, though, I think weall are born with certain
essences truly to our spirit.
Right? And what's cool about itis it is all different, some are
similar, some are different, butit's what makes the world go
round. Because if we all havethe same it factor, or if we all
(16:20):
had the same calm factor, Imean, think about the people
that have such ability to becalm, I mean, I will be spend
the rest of my life trying tomaster calm, you know, and
there's moments where I, there'smoments, you know, I'm really
actively like thinking about it.
But I like the fact that we'reall so different in different
(16:41):
essences, so I don't really, Ithink the it factor can be a
blessing and a curse. I don'tlike to think of it as the it
factor. But I just really enjoycommunicating and connecting
with other human beings. And Ilove the truth. I'm really
interested in the truth. Likewhat you just said, it's not
what you're doing, it's how youare, I'm gonna have these kinds
(17:03):
of conversations. And I'm justgonna sprinkle in some hope, and
sprinkling some resources. Andjust share because I can't say
that I can't save anyone. I'mnot a clinic, you know, not
license, but I can share mystory and maybe sprinkle in some
hope. That feels really good.
More than anything I've everbeen able to do. Besides
(17:23):
teaching. I love teaching,because I suppose I do the same
thing. We do the same thing.
When we're teaching, we sprinklehope. And we shine the light on
people's lights. And we say, Oh,don't you see? Oh, you remember,
look what you've got there. Oh,there you are. You know. And
that's exciting to see when thatcomes to life. Because we're
(17:44):
here so short, right, Lisa?
Like, it's, it's done? Like lifeis really over yesterday. I
mean, every day is another dayto go. Alright, I got another
day I woke up. Okay, how do Ido? What do I do with it? Not
easy all the time. But
Lisa Hopkins (18:02):
yeah, yeah.
Totally. No, no, it's beautiful.
And, you know, you justcompletely illustrated what
we're, you know, what I wassaying is that, I really
believe, you know, like, some ofus find it grew what we're
doing, but then we think thatthat's it so that when it's
(18:23):
taken away from us, and it was areally good example, and during
COVID, where so many people weregoing Shit, I don't know who I
am when I'm not performing. Or,you know, or working at IBM or
whatever it is that they do,
Chryssie Whitehead (18:35):
or teaching or Yeah,
Lisa Hopkins (18:36):
or whatever.
Right. And in some of us, it wasexciting and like, all sorts of
things came out because it cameout so and no judgment, you
know, you know, no disrespect.
Yeah, we all had
Chryssie Whitehead (18:48):
such different responses to that
time. I was in the mountains inNorth Carolina, like, completely
away from New York City. And Iput my head down. I did not
breathe. No, we grew Broadwayarts community, and we grew
everything we possibly could.
For me, it was to survive. Sowhereas I was I admired a lot of
(19:11):
people that kind of calmed down.
I did not do. Yeah, I took Itook it and said, Oh, you're
gonna shut me down. No.
Lisa Hopkins (19:21):
I love it. That's awesome. So I'm going to ask you
maybe to put humility aside fora minute and ask you to tell me
like, beyond what everybodyknows about you. What would you
say? Are your unique gifts?
Chryssie Whitehead (19:40):
I say my unique gifts are Yeah. i i The
word for me is just how much Icare. Like I think gift of mine
is that I really, really care.
Almost too much at a faultsometimes. I think that that's a
gift to care of a lot of peoplefind we're all just busy. So
(20:05):
people are so busy that we'rerunning out, I'm living in New
York City. So, you know. So Iwould say caring is one of my
gifts. And the other gift, Iwould say, is my ability to
create and produce things thatI'm proud of. And the other, I
(20:31):
don't know if it's a gift, but Iwould say I really, really am
always working on myself. Sowhatever that word means about
working on myself, meaning howcan I be a better human because
I can be really good withpeople. Right? And really good.
(20:53):
And I think this goes to showfor a lot of people, like people
who are in the field of work oflike social workers, or
therapist or pastors, right? Youhear this a lot, right? We're
people that are really good. Andreally, and really mean it. And
like, I am so in it. And so inthe present moment, when I am
teaching my students and when Iam directing them, when I'm
(21:14):
leading people and I reallydeeply care, there's nothing put
on. But I tend to, you know, ifwe want to be candidly speaking,
I tend to have to work harder atbeing a better human being and
partner to my husband, and to mylittle family unit. Because what
happens is, I become a littlebit like, I get so much out of
(21:35):
my work. But, but I also get somuch out of sharing life with my
partner, who loves me very much,and who teaches me how to love
more. I mean, I think my momtaught me to be self sufficient.
I think she taught me to be alittle bit selfish, even though
(21:56):
she was always about saying,give back, give back, Chrissy
give back to your life, talk toyour elders, that, you know, she
was constantly teaching me, Ifeel like she was setting me up
for me to be in a life withouther you know. So I think I'm
well equipped, worldly. And Iwant to be just as well as if
not more well equipped with myfamily, the one that is with me
(22:18):
every day, you know. And so Ithink that that's where the self
care and the journaling andmeditation and the things for me
is like, every day, it's a turndown the devices sit with my
husband, you know, so you wantto talk about gifts, but I also
want to talk about the thingsthat I think it's important that
(22:39):
like, for the rest of our livesin the Yang, right? No one's
great at all things. You know, Ihave a business, you know, and,
and I do love my business. Sowhen I post and when I do stuff,
it's super intentional. Butthat's not me every day. I can't
always be, you know, I mean,yes, I'm, I tried to be an open
(23:00):
book. But there's days where I'mcrabby. There's days where I'm
super sad. There's days where,you know, and I think that
that's important to talk aboutto just in general, like, your
highlight reel, and my Hollywoodreel looks great. But that is to
me, it's only a quarter of whatof what life really is. Like you
said, I really will walk awayfrom this conversation because I
(23:24):
like to know about takeaways.
It's like it's not in what I'mdoing. It's how I it's, it's how
I am. It's just how I am. So yousaid it's just how you are. And
I'll share with you and why I'mso excited about this. The other
thing I'm really excited with my40 plus class that I'm doing at
steps, I don't know if you sawthis, but I'm teaching a class
(23:44):
of 40 year olds and up. Andevery time before class that I
start, you know, I started asgrounded and I close our eyes
and we take a breath and justget into our heart centered and,
and then I just ask an invitefor everyone in the room to find
a word that they really want tobe in that room. You know, do
(24:04):
they want to be kind tothemselves and to each other? Do
they want to be open to theywant to be more joyful today? Do
they want to be silly, you know,and and really find that word
and hold on to that word. Sothat that can emulate in the
class. And for me, I love thatstuff. I really I really believe
(24:26):
in what I'm saying. And it canbe too much for people or it can
be I don't know, and that'sokay. You know, because I know
I'm being authentic. And I knowI've seen it really helped
people just show up because justshowing up to a dance class in
New York City. Even for the 20year olds. The 20 year olds are
still feeling the same thingyou're feeling. You just had 20
(24:49):
years more experience. Now I getit. We don't want to take class
with the 20th. I started thisclass because I was taking
classes with 20 year olds and Iwas like, and I was working
through at least Like I wasworking through, like, it's
fine, and I'm gonna, I'm gonna,I'm in my own little corner back
here and I'm good. You know, andI and I, like did and I would
allow myself to let go, but Istill had this. Plus I teach and
(25:13):
it's like they know I'm ateacher in the class. Like,
there's all that around it andto me that in my ability to my
ability to create community.
That's a gift. A safe community.
Yep. So
Lisa Hopkins (25:30):
lucky, lucky people. I think that's
incredible. I really do. I thinkit's wonderful. I'm curious to
know, though, you being not 20anymore, although I think it
shows up in both places. Buttalk to me about your personal
experience in your career inyour life with with imposter
syndrome. Have you experiencedthat? Do you feel that? How does
that show up for you?
Chryssie Whitehead (25:51):
Mm hmm. I think so, of course, I think the
imposter syndrome is for any ofus who are doing something new.
Right? And then we're trying tobe in it. So, as a dancer, I
never felt like an imposter.
Because I was like, I'm adancer. This is what I do. And
by the time I was 18, I was arocket. Right? And so I felt
very strong about my dancing andwho I was and that never
(26:13):
happened. But man oh man goingto school for musical theater. I
felt like an imposter. i Myvoice was very thin. I was like,
but I wanted to be a Gwen Verdontype, but I didn't know how to
do it. So I went to AMDA. Youknow, and I really worked my
tail off. So I felt like animpostor. But I worked through
the imposter syndrome. So Ithink when I feel like an
(26:33):
impostor, it gets me excited toget better and to learn, rather
than retreat and be like, Ishouldn't be here. And then it
happened again. Same thing, Iwanted to be an actress on film
and television, I went to everyacting class you could possibly
imagine in Los Angeles andtackled it, like, I love it and
took me a long time to get onTV. And then I felt like, I'm
(26:55):
you. Like I'm new, right? I'm anew director and choreographer.
But I've been doing iteducationally for a while. But
you get a new job. Like I got myfirst professional job as
director, I joined the Union. SoI'm going to be directing and
choreographing nonsense, whichis really sweet, fun little show
(27:17):
down in California and down inFlorida. I think of the imposter
syndrome and never have lookedat it, like I feel like an
impostor. I just look at itlike, oh, I, this is new to me.
Keep going. Because the more andmore you keep doing something,
you're gonna get better at it.
(27:37):
Yeah. And then you won't feellike an impostor. So that's,
that's how I am teaching hasalways been part of my blood. I
mean, I've been teaching since.
Since 2005, pretty muchthroughout my whole career. I
mean, I've, I've loved it, ithas saved it has saved me.
Lisa Hopkins (27:53):
I love that because it sounds like it works
for you. It's much like what yousaid with, you know, when they
were going to when they whenCOVID was gonna shut you down
and set you were like, yeah, no,like that. Actually jazz. Which
I think is really cool. Yeah,but my
Chryssie Whitehead (28:09):
always looking for the solution.
Lisa Hopkins (28:11):
Yeah, totally.
Well, so when you do find asolution, so and you have,
right, so like, when you finallybroke into television, or
acting, or any one of thesethings that you described, when
you actually got there, youknow, and actually had proof
that you that you did it? Howdid you operate from that place?
Like, was it like, Haha, I'vearrived I was right, or is it?
(28:31):
Is this maybe this isn't enough?
Or there's more to do? Or like,how do you? Yeah, sure. In that,
Chryssie Whitehead (28:40):
ah, I've arrived, I was great. I love
that. No, you never feel likeyou never feel like you arrive.
You know, there's alwayssomething and that's the that is
the that is the what is it thecarrot that dangles for all of
us as performers. And I findwhen I say that to students as
well, like, at the end of theday, all you're gonna get a job,
it's gonna be great. It's not,and you're gonna close, and
(29:03):
you're gonna, or it'll end, andyou're back at square one.
Again, it's the in between. So,film and TV. So I worked very
hard at acting, but the trainingI got, I was very much pulling
on my own life. And so it gotexhausting for me, because I was
I was using my mother's illnessand sickness for when I was
(29:24):
crying about a boy and Irvingiathe bridesmaids like, so it, and
I didn't have the confidence yetbecause I felt like, I felt like
I was an imposter on that movie.
Because I was like, the new girland I was number two choice.
Like, who's this dancer going toLA to be an actress. Right?
Yeah, I mean, and I studied inmusical theater. Yeah. And my
mom was the one that was like,What are you doing? We spent all
(29:45):
your dancer like, what are youdoing? And I was like, Oh,
you'll see. And I proved to mymom, but it took years. And once
I got there, there were all suchdifferent roles like I've really
played A lot of different rolesthat I do feel like I like the
body of work that I was ablethat people saw me as and I was
a little bit of a chameleon. Iwent through many different
(30:06):
things, I'd either be a chattyCathy or I was a crying victim,
or I was a Koosh bond grim, or Iwas in a sci fi television show
singing. So I look at it, and Igo, I'm cool. I'm grateful for
the experience of the work thatI know what that's like to be on
a television set, I will alwaysknow what that's like. And it
(30:29):
helps me as a teacher, so Ithink I knew, Lisa, that I
wanted to have a body of work asbest as I could, because I've
always had a good businesssense. So I was like, if I don't
have a good body of work, peoplearen't how are they going to
trust me to teach them. And Iknew I was going to be a teacher
of some sort. I didn't know Iwas gonna have a company. I had
no idea. We were gonna have acompany. We're now in six years.
(30:51):
You know, women run and but I'mvery proud of it. Very proud of
it. But I think I think I didget to a point where I was like,
You know what, I've done this. Idon't want to stay here forever
trying to get a series regular,because I never got a series
regular. And people were like,you know, I, for me,
authentically, I do not want tochange my face and do things to
(31:14):
alter myself so that I lookdifferent so that I can stay
young in Hollywood. And when Istarted seeing that, and then
when my mother died, the way shedied, I I went halt. said this
is not what I want to do. Idon't know why I want to
perform. I don't know. And Istopped. I mean, I did Cassie
(31:35):
and of course I am but I wascrying every night. And I didn't
want to do that. And that's whenI That's when I found the
criticize. Because I didn't wantthe pressure of being on stage.
Yeah. So
Lisa Hopkins (31:50):
Wow. Thank you for sharing that. That's that's so
interesting. So, so interesting.
How do you want to beremembered?
Chryssie Whitehead (32:00):
I just wanted to be remembered as love.
I want to be remembered as love.
That really people felt likebeing with Chrissy or being in a
room with Christie or lovingChristie, I felt loved. I felt
seen I felt cared about. That'show I want to be remembered. I
(32:20):
don't really care about thehighlights of my career. It's
about who I've met along theway. So that was I would say
that.
Lisa Hopkins (32:32):
Well, success.
You've already succeeded. You'vealready achieved that goal. I
mean, it's it's beautiful. Yeah,I mean, like I said, we don't
know each other that well, butyou are definitely living in
that value. I mean, it's reallybeautiful. It's really, really
beautiful. Thank
Chryssie Whitehead (32:49):
you. Yeah, I'm back in New York City that
helps. Oh, interesting. And backand back where my heart needs to
be. Huh?
Lisa Hopkins (32:58):
It is that tell me more about that. Why do you
think that is?
Chryssie Whitehead (33:01):
Oh, um, even though my heart is always where
it needs to be in my body. Ilove that I love that my home is
my body is my home. I got thatfrom somebody during COVID. Um,
so really wherever my heart is,where my body is, is where my
home is. But the the wildernessBeyond Mountains, I went down
there to be with my husband,because that's where I met him.
And we were up here in New York.
And then I was doing Chicago onBroadway. And I was ready to go
(33:25):
and I was ready for a change.
And this was before I gotdiagnosed. So I was just ready
for another drastic change in mylife. So we we laugh moved down
south and I looked out my windowduring COVID and I had a
mountain for my neighbor and Ireally didn't see anybody and it
was very, I taught on theCherokee reservation Lisa, I was
(33:47):
on a Native American Cherokeereservation for a year and a
half, I became a public schooldrama and dance teacher during
this time. I and I directed themand that's where it all my
directing work started Shrekinto the woods. And Aladdin Jr.
I taught middle school in highschool, and that was incredible.
And I learned a lot and theylearned a lot and then COVID Hit
(34:09):
in the middle of me doinghairspray for them. I was
directing and choreographingthat. And then COVID And then
during that after about a yearof COVID I was like I was
teaching online for AMDA and itwas like I I think we have to go
back like I just might, I gottabe around the people that are
like, have similar creativedrives and dreams. And I feel
(34:33):
like New York is the Mecca and Ifeel very at home here I always
have but I stayed in LA for wayin my opinion way too long
chasing a acting dream. Youknow? Yeah, it is what it is. I
don't have any regrets because Ithink that's silly like our
lives do what they do. But um,this is I call this the second
act so I'm gonna be 43 thisyear. And there's my second act.
(34:56):
I've got her husband weseparated for like six months
and now We're back on track. Wewent to Kenya this year last
year. And I taught out there andI'm just starting to like,
regroup. Like, what is thesecond act look like? What does
it look like with my show? Whatdoes it look like with directing
and choreographing? And I'mreally just kind of open palming
(35:18):
it like that. And then like thecoaching and the teaching will
always, I don't feel like that'sgoing anywhere. That's like my
bread and butter, you know? So
Lisa Hopkins (35:27):
the teaching thing really seems like it's at your
core, right? It seems liketeaching is such a big part of
what you do. So I'm supercurious. Is there someone or
some experience or somewhere inyour life that inspired you in
this way? Or that modelteaching? Or how do you think,
where does that come from? Doyou think?
Chryssie Whitehead (35:48):
My mom, she taught fashion, she taught
modeling. But it's funny, shetaught it from the inside out,
when she was like, she had awhole thing and an idea of, of
me having a studio when theycalled Light shine, like let
your light shine. So I watchedher be also a teacher to these
(36:08):
young models and help them feellike they can. It was all about
the way they walked and carriedthemselves. It was like a, an
after school, like modelingfashion program. So that was
cool. I watched her be a teacherand people love her and every
now and then I'll get she didn'tdo a very long, but people loved
my mom doing it. And so she wasone and then my musical theater
(36:29):
mentor, who my very firstteacher at AMDA was Elaine
Patricof. Since then, she becamelike my mentor, my coach, my
dearest friend. And like, I callher my Jewish mama. She spoke
about our wedding and she didthe crack and the plates. And
then now she's my boss like shehas gifted me talk about
impostor syndrome. She put me onthe musical theater faculty. She
(36:51):
was like, I really think you canteach acting now. But see, I
wanted to get all these actinggigs so that I could teach
acting because I loved it somuch. And I wanted, you know, I
mean, I knew I wouldn't be ableto do it if I hadn't gotten this
work. But then she said to me, Ijust reached out to her about
choreographing and she came backto me and said, this was in
2015. That's 35. I was like, I'mmoving to New York. She was
like, I think, what are yourthoughts about joining the
(37:12):
musical theater faculty? And Iwas like, Okay, I have no idea
how to like, give songs. I canteach them how to act and tell a
story. But she was like, I'llput you with the right person.
You'll be fine. I'll coach you.
You'll do the exercises. You'llbe good. And then it it. I was
literally Lisa doing Chicago,eight shows a week and I had an
I had a I had a first semesterclass of three times a week,
(37:34):
teaching them for 15 weeks. AndI was more excited about going
to that class than I was to theshow. Yeah, Doug Caldwell, and
he had a way of looking at youwith his big blue eyes. And he
danced like he was dancing inheaven. And I've never met to
this day anybody like nobodywill but because we're all
(37:58):
different. But Doug Caldwell wasa special special teacher and
person. I know he battled a lot.
And that makes me sad. But I heis definitely a big a big
influence. So yeah, I've hadreally great influences in my
life. You know, that's cool. Itreasure the value of teachers.
(38:20):
I mean, it's important.
Lisa Hopkins (38:23):
Yeah. Oh, 100% What's the what's the the best
and the worst advice you've everhad from teacher or from anybody
for that matter?
Chryssie Whitehead (38:31):
Oh my God, that's a good question. The best
advice I ever got, gosh. I don'tknow about a teacher. I'm more
so. I mean, more so my mom like,um, I like this one that she
drilled in me a lot. finish whatyou start, always finish what
you started. finish what youstarted. Do unto others as you
(38:55):
would have them do unto you.
Like husband, my husband, Craig.
He does that a lot. And I I tryto remember that but that you
know, judgments are so easiernowadays. I feel like I don't
know it's so easy to just belike right off something rather
than just just let things belike we're all you know,
(39:17):
everybody everybody deserves tobe here. So those are the things
the worst advice. I don't reallyknow I don't really know of any
worst advice.
Lisa Hopkins (39:26):
Okay, can you finish this phrase? Most people
think Chrissy Whitehead is dotdot dot but the truth is
Chryssie Whitehead (39:35):
most people think that Christie lie head is
a ball of energy. And the truthis, I don't know why I'm
thinking this but she stillwants love. Like she still need
love. Like I feel like sometimespeople think of I say this to
the show like when is my fun toomuch, especially before I was
(39:55):
diagnosed. I have a hard time.
You know, people could probablysay because he was oh my god,
she's a lot. She's like anenergizer bunny. She's got a lot
of energy are having fun withit. But she's also got a huge
heart, and a lot of love togive. And sometimes she's
overwhelming. And then I wouldjust say, and to that. She's
also fragile and human just likeeveryone else. So it needs
(40:21):
assurance and kind of thing.
Lisa Hopkins (40:27):
I love it was beautiful. That's beautiful. All
right, so we usually finishedwith what I call a rapid fire.
So I'm gonna say what hates you,and then I'll give you a word
and then you can just respondwhatever comes to mind. What
makes you hungry?
Chryssie Whitehead (40:43):
When I was a kid, my mom was pretty poor. And
we didn't have anything in ourrefrigerator. So all I would eat
was saltines. And gelati. So nowis that I try not to gorge when
I'm hungry.
Lisa Hopkins (40:58):
What inspires you?
Chryssie Whitehead (41:03):
My husband, and how he is with people, and
how he really cares. Mystudents, the youth, the next
generation.
Lisa Hopkins (41:14):
What frustrates you?
Chryssie Whitehead (41:17):
By things frustrate me, I don't know why
it's like I'm drawing a blankhere. Inflation in frustrates
frustrates me. I can't believethese things are in New York
City now. And I used to not bethat way. And now I'm just like,
what's happening here?
Lisa Hopkins (41:38):
What makes you sad?
Chryssie Whitehead (41:43):
When I really miss my mom I really miss
my mom. And then my mooddisorder will come come in a
little bit polar bear. When Ifeel something's coming on. That
makes me sad. Because I'm like,Oh, I don't want to deal with
(42:03):
this right now. But I do find myways of handling it.
Lisa Hopkins (42:09):
Yeah, no kidding.
What makes you laugh?
Chryssie Whitehead (42:14):
First, first thing that comes to my mind is
Greg has been hastily He's on abusiness. He's funny. I thought
he was a comedian or an actorwhen he first met him. So he was
my server. He was my waiter inHighlands, North Carolina. And
he cracked us up with his dryhumor. And I was like, Are you a
comedian? And we're like, in themountains? He's like, No, I was
(42:36):
like, Are you an actor? And hewas like, No. And he's
definitely not any of thosethings. He makes me laugh
because be silly.
Lisa Hopkins (42:42):
What makes you angry? My husband that's fair.
Chryssie Whitehead (42:53):
You push it Egon but also push my buttons.
Big time inequality. Justinequality in general makes me
just super angry about how wecannot all just understand that
we all deserve a life that welove and want. And nobody should
be in anybody's freakingbusiness bedroom. sexuality,
(43:13):
gender. I just don't understand.
And I can't wrap my brain aroundit. So then I get really angry
about it. Because I'm like, justlet people be.
Lisa Hopkins (43:20):
Yeah. Yeah. And finally, what makes you
grateful?
Chryssie Whitehead (43:24):
My help. I'm grateful that my heart and my
head and my mind and my, mylittle puppies are still with
me. And we have a roof over ourhead and and I'm grateful for
food. Water.
Lisa Hopkins (43:42):
Yeah. What are the top three things that have
happened so far today?
Chryssie Whitehead (43:47):
Top three?
Well, I told you one of them. Wegot a booking inquiry, which is
our first one wanting to book usfor our show. That was amazing.
Um, I got to speak to my musicdirector and my choreographer
while we're happily researchingour students for the showcase to
cast them this week. That wasnice. And then walking my dogs
because I needed to do thatbefore we have a podcast.
Lisa Hopkins (44:14):
Amazing and what something looking forward to.
Chryssie Whitehead (44:18):
I'm looking forward to. I'm really looking
forward to directing my firstshow nonsense in in March. You
know, I'm looking forward totrying on that hat and see how I
how I do with that and see if Ilike it.
Lisa Hopkins (44:32):
I love it. I love it. Chris has been such a joy
speaking with you today. Thankyou so much for being here.
Chryssie Whitehead (44:37):
Thank you so much, Lisa, this was really
cool. I love what you're doing.
And I love and I just wish youall the best with it, too. I
think it's just incredible.
Lisa Hopkins (44:46):
I've been speaking today with Chrissy Whitehead.
Thanks so much for listening.
I'm Lisa Hopkins stay safe andhealthy everyone and remember to
live in the moment. In musicstop time is that beautiful
moment The band is suspended inrhythmic unison, supporting the
soloist to express theirindividuality. In the moment, I
encourage you to take that timeand create your own rhythm.
(45:10):
Until next time, I'm LisaHopkins. Thanks for listening
This is the stop time podcast. I'm your host,
Lisa Hopkins, and I'm here toengage you in thought provoking
motivational conversationsaround practicing the art of
living in the moment. I'm acertified life coach, and I'm
excited to dig deep and offerinsights into embracing who we
are and where we are at. So mynext guest is originally from
(00:26):
South Carolina and began hercareer as a Radio City Rockette
right out of high school. 20years later, she would go on to
perform the role of Velma onBroadway in Chicago as the
understudy. Her brilliant careerhas spanned 25 years plus
working bicoastal in Los Angelesand New York, acting in over 13
television shows. Just turn onthe TV you're gonna see. A lot
(00:49):
of people know her for revengeof the bridesmaids, the romantic
comedy with Raven Simone. Shemade her Broadway debut in the
revival of a chorus line whereshe is featured lending the role
of Christine in the documentaryevery little step. She leads a
creative artistic life teachingacross the globe, and now spends
a lot of her time directing andchoreographing. She's a proud co
(01:11):
founder of Broadway artscommunity, the mentoring and
performing arts educationalcompany she founded with her
best friend, and is dedicated topassing it on to the next
generation of artists. Mostrecently, she wrote a one woman
show focused on mental illness,a true story shared with a goal
to spread hope and awarenessglobally. It's called in my own
(01:32):
little corner, a work inprogress with bipolar disorder,
and it made its New York debuton November 5 2022, at the
Riverside theatre. It's withgreat pleasure, I can finally
sit down with Chrissy Whiteheadwelcome, Chrissy.
Chryssie Whitehead (01:46):
Yay. Thank you so much, Lisa, that's so
funny here and you're, you know,you, you type out the bio, and
you send it to people all thetime, and then you forget about
what it says. So that was niceof you reading it out. It's so
funny how the highlight soundsso great, don't they? The
highlights just sounds so good.
Lisa Hopkins (02:03):
No, I know, how do they feel when you hear it back?
Chryssie Whitehead (02:09):
I feel like it's just just a quarter of my
story. You know, it's like theysay, because they say that, like
your life is really in betweenyour resume. It's everything
that's happening in between. Andso that got that from my
business partner, Alexis. Shegot that from somewhere. But I
really liked that because we'relike, it's what you're doing in
between. So it feels good.
Because you're like, gosh, youhave dreams, you have goals and
(02:32):
but I got lucky. I mean, youknow, this business, it's a lot
of its luck. I mean, you can beas talented as you possibly can
be. And then I just got I justhappened to be a Christine they
liked for A Chorus Line. Butthere was a plethora of
Christine's that were right. Forthat role. You know, I just got
lucky. So I'm, I'm, I'm, it's anhonor to be on the other side of
(02:56):
it now. So it feels good to hearthose things. It feels good to
hear that about the show.
Because the show isn't about me,it's about the message and the
mission. And, and I'm only doingit because it's about that.
Lisa Hopkins (03:10):
Yeah. So much to unpack. But first of all, hell
yeah. About It happens inbetween, you know, I mean, I'm
writing I'm writing a thingcalled the places where there
are spaces and it's what I'vealways always believed. That's
where the dancing is right?
Lifestyle.
Chryssie Whitehead (03:28):
Yeah, yeah.
Yeah. I mean, it's what growsyou makes you it molded you I
think that performing got reallyvacant for me after a while
because I I think what I loveabout theater is the connection,
and the talking and thecommunity. And that's why we
named our business that brotherscommunity is the communal aspect
(03:48):
of what theater can do. So forme after a while there applause
and people telling you how greatyou are and how talented you
are, can only go so far. Butactually having deep
conversations and looking intopeople's eyes and, and having
real conversations, I think arereally special.
Lisa Hopkins (04:12):
Yeah, no, first
Chryssie Whitehead (04:13):
I don't, I don't like knock, knocking,
performing. I think there's abeautiful space for performers,
I coach performers and teachperformers. But it can be very
self indulgent. And I thinkthere's a fine line between self
indulgence and like, what isyour WHY basically the what what
are my earlier what is your why?
Why are you why are you? Why doyou want to porn?
Lisa Hopkins (04:36):
Yeah. Well, it is tricky for young people with
talent like yourself. I mean,I'm curious if this resonates
with you. I mean, sometimes, youknow, in their effort to elevate
and support and celebrate usparents and or people around us
that are older than us whenwe're young. You know, if you
say oh, you know, Chrissy,you're so talented that you
(04:56):
should audition for this ormaybe I should put her dance
class or maybe she becausethey're looking when they're
trying to help, right, butsometimes it's received in a way
when you're a child that, Oh, Iget more attention, love safety,
all of that when I'm doing whatthey say I do well, and it's
amazing. That mixes messageswhen you're young. Right? What
(05:16):
do you think about that?
Chryssie Whitehead (05:18):
It mixes with your worth a little bit,
you know? I mean, yeah, I feltvery bashful when people
responded to my work, especiallyyoung it because of the dancer,
too. I mean, it was a veryemotional dancer. And that's
what they made people tell meand made me want to do acting
was because I was just soemotive when I danced and I just
(05:40):
so got into the moment. But I,there's pressure that comes with
that with Oh, you're so good.
And, and then you think, Okay,I'm so good. And then oh, I am
really good. Like, I was winningall the competitions. And then
they're thinking, Okay, now, youneed to do XY and Z. And if you
don't do xy and z, then what areyou? It's like chorus line,
right? If I'm not a dancer, anactor and a singer, what am I?
(06:04):
Huh? It's like, I think I thinka lot of people feel we all have
this like field of work, andespecially if we love our work.
Yeah, what happens when we can'tdo that work anymore? You know?
Yeah, I didn't mind thepressure. I really enjoyed it. I
didn't, I didn't like it. When Iwhen I didn't deliver what I
did, quote, unquote, deliver inthe way that I thought I should.
Lisa Hopkins (06:24):
I wanted to really, just take a moment to
celebrate you and what you'redoing currently now, in your
life. You know, your one womanshow your mission to spread hope
and global awareness aroundmental illness. I mean, I
watched the video of reading Ithink it was just last night,
and I was so impressed with howhonest and kind and inviting you
(06:50):
are. And I believe that the waywe do anything is the way we do
everything. So yay, that you'vechosen to use your gift. But you
have this you have this. Tell mewhat you think about this. But
you have, from my perspective,this incredible facility to make
people feel like they want tocome in. You do that in on the
(07:12):
stage playing your roles.
Everything you do even talkingto you like you have this sense
of it's it's it's an IT FEELSinvitation almost as beautiful.
Yeah. And it's not that like,you know, you're coddling or
going Oh, it'll be okay. Youjust have this. It is what it
is. And we're all this. I don'thave this this is this is
Chryssie Whitehead (07:31):
we are all the same. Yes. That Oh, that's
it that's that I truly feel thatat my core. I feel that when if
I am open, I think a lot of thatcame from my mom. I watched her
be an amazing listener. And Iwatched her listen with her
sweet eyes. And so I think Mom,I just got lucky did come from a
(07:56):
mom, that was really sweet. Ijust think I've found that if I
start out as an open palming andthen invitation and welcoming
anyone in that it allowspeople's guards come down. And
they feel seen. And ultimately,that is what we all need. We all
(08:17):
want to be seen. No matter whowe are, where we come from what
we look like we want to be seen.
We want to feel heard, we wantto feel loved. And we want to
feel like we belong somewhere.
And so dancing to me was a hugeplace for that. And I really got
lucky to find dance becauseAshley I called dance like a,
(08:37):
like a pronoun. Like I thinkshe's one of she's like my
dearest friend. And like we arewith each other all the time
when she helps me feel free. Andso if I can feel free or joy for
dance, and that's what I want.
That's what I did with the show.
I was to come out with bipolardisorder. To do all this I did
(08:59):
all last year was verydifficult. But something was
pushing me that was bigger thanme. And whether that was my
mom's spirit or, you know,because she's passed and she
died and she didn't take goodcare of her health. So, you
know, I watched her deterioratein front of my eyes. And I don't
(09:23):
see the same as I did prior tothat. Like I don't look at life.
That is the is what it iscurrently for me. I can't be
inauthentic. I can feel theradar on me if I am even tapping
into it. Just because I justwatched life slip outside of my
mother and she slipped away. Andso when she slipped away I tried
(09:48):
to figure out why how there'stons of secrets that she lived
with and shame and guilt andwhich is revealed in the show,
because I really thought it'd beimportant for people to see A
real authentic story between amother and her daughter, the
secret she kept from her, thetruth of the matter is, she
(10:08):
didn't take care of her mentalhealth. And I have been doing
everything I possibly can tothrive, her death certificate
red failure to thrive. That washer death certificate. And that
stuck with me all these years.
And then five years later, I gotdiagnosed with bipolar disorder.
And I was literally kind ofconfused, in shock, and was
(10:30):
like, What is this, and then Istarted to do more research, I
started to go, oh, and then I,and then I started to really, I
still have my team that I havewhen I got diagnosed. So I've
been able to be lucky to havethese people in my life, who
have guided me along the way togive me tools and life skills to
(10:52):
help me manage these mooddisorders. I think it's really
great that if people can morepeople can come out with stuff
like this. The more we don'tmake it a big deal. The less it
is, right? Yep. So if I canshare with you my story on a
stage, and bear my heart and mysoul. And then come out and say,
how are you? How was that foryou? So my show comes with a
(11:18):
talkback at the end. Because Ithink it's really important.
It's not, it's not a show that Ijust come out, come into a city
and here you go, I'm gonna dumpall this information and then
get out, you know, like, no,that's me being protective. So I
do need to have an invitation.
So that's a lot, but it iscalled in my own little corner,
because it's the song that gotme my Broadway debut, which was
(11:42):
courtside. Yeah. I've alwaysfelt like in my own little
corner. And I think a lot ofhuman beings feel like we are in
our own little corner. But if wecan recognize that we're
actually we don't have to dothis alone. There are people out
there that can help. And thereare resources and you don't have
to stay trapped in your brain.
And there's little little thingsyou can do, you know, little
baby thing, not likeastronomical, go to India and do
(12:05):
a Yeah, yeah. Right. I mean,that's great. You
Lisa Hopkins (12:12):
totally know what came up for me right now, if I
can share, when you were talkingabout, you know, in my own
little corner, which which kindof can, on the one hand imply,
obviously, that you're keepingto yourself and all of that. But
it's also interesting, becauseit's another connotation of that
expression, which is being inyour own corner. And I feel like
(12:34):
you're doing that. I feel likeyou're also in your own corner.
So it's not that you're justcoming out, but that you're
like, No, this is for me as muchas it is for us.
Chryssie Whitehead (12:41):
I think that that's cool. Yeah, I can agree
with that. I mean, this has beenhealing for me, just to talk
about the fact that like, in thefirst time, I said that I had
bipolar disorder, after Ilaunched it and put it on the
social media, you should haveseen how I felt that day. Like I
was just like, Oh, my God, itwas the first announcement that
I was doing a show and I just, Iwas so nervous. And then I was
(13:03):
like, What are you nervousabout? You know, like, what are
you nervous about? What is yourdefinition of
Lisa Hopkins (13:09):
living in the moment?
Chryssie Whitehead (13:13):
Living in the moment is really being here.
Now. It's like right now as I'mwith you, and not thinking about
anything else. Other than havingthis moment in this conversation
with you. I have nowhere else Ineed to be but this gift, this
present moment, which I lovethat too, that it's called a
present. It's like a gift. Samething. Yeah, we really give a
(13:37):
gift to someone when we arebeing present with them. Even if
it's on Zoom, you can feel it.
Oh, no. And when I am not, Ihave to be like, I'm sorry, I'm
multitasking right now. And I'mnot fully here. Give me one
second, I want to be here. So Ithink the present moment living
in the present moment is beingright here right now. Not in the
past, not in the future. Andaccepting and surrendering to
(14:03):
what is
Lisa Hopkins (14:08):
well, it's, it's beautiful. And it's interesting,
because when you when you camein, and I pointed out how I
perceive you, right, just evenwithout giving, and that will
lead to presence. It's funny inthe arts, we talk about oh,
she's got such presence. She'sgot the it factor or whatever.
And, and you as we know, like,there's, there's everybody
(14:29):
there's so much talent, I mean,it's just ridiculous. And I
actually yeah, now do I justhave access to learning and it's
so great. I mean, on the onehand is really incredible,
right? Like there's just so muchknowledge and stuff, but, but
the speed at which people areable to access this mastery,
(14:50):
technical mastery of stuff andlearning is tough, versus having
those moments where there weredeep processing goes on on all
that, right, which is reallyinteresting. Yeah. But when you
talk about that, it factor thatsort of essence. Wow, I think of
(15:10):
it like an essence, right? Imean, you have it. And you it's
funny because and I'm just goingto call you out because you do,
and you wouldn't need to do. Ithink I think if you chose to be
a rocket scientist, you'd haveit. I mean, you happen to choose
dance, because you were calledfor whatever reason, right? But
I think no matter what you did,you would show up in the same
(15:32):
way. I don't think it's whatyou're doing. I think it's who
you are.
Chryssie Whitehead (15:37):
That's interesting. My mom, my mom used
to always I mean, I don't knowshe did. She used to say to me,
she instilled in me. Maybe Doc,you could be if you wanted to be
a street sweeper, you would bethe best street sweeper that
ever was, you wanted to go workat McDonald's, you'd be the best
McDonald's worker. She said tome in a very young age, and I
never quite, you won't be thePresident of the United States.
(16:00):
She was very thing, but I thinkthat's very kind of you. I think
you're right, though, I think weall are born with certain
essences truly to our spirit.
Right? And what's cool about itis it is all different, some are
similar, some are different, butit's what makes the world go
round. Because if we all havethe same it factor, or if we all
(16:20):
had the same calm factor, Imean, think about the people
that have such ability to becalm, I mean, I will be spend
the rest of my life trying tomaster calm, you know, and
there's moments where I, there'smoments, you know, I'm really
actively like thinking about it.
But I like the fact that we'reall so different in different
(16:41):
essences, so I don't really, Ithink the it factor can be a
blessing and a curse. I don'tlike to think of it as the it
factor. But I just really enjoycommunicating and connecting
with other human beings. And Ilove the truth. I'm really
interested in the truth. Likewhat you just said, it's not
what you're doing, it's how youare, I'm gonna have these kinds
(17:03):
of conversations. And I'm justgonna sprinkle in some hope, and
sprinkling some resources. Andjust share because I can't say
that I can't save anyone. I'mnot a clinic, you know, not
license, but I can share mystory and maybe sprinkle in some
hope. That feels really good.
More than anything I've everbeen able to do. Besides
(17:23):
teaching. I love teaching,because I suppose I do the same
thing. We do the same thing.
When we're teaching, we sprinklehope. And we shine the light on
people's lights. And we say, Oh,don't you see? Oh, you remember,
look what you've got there. Oh,there you are. You know. And
that's exciting to see when thatcomes to life. Because we're
(17:44):
here so short, right, Lisa?
Like, it's, it's done? Like lifeis really over yesterday. I
mean, every day is another dayto go. Alright, I got another
day I woke up. Okay, how do Ido? What do I do with it? Not
easy all the time. But
Lisa Hopkins (18:02):
yeah, yeah.
Totally. No, no, it's beautiful.
And, you know, you justcompletely illustrated what
we're, you know, what I wassaying is that, I really
believe, you know, like, some ofus find it grew what we're
doing, but then we think thatthat's it so that when it's
(18:23):
taken away from us, and it was areally good example, and during
COVID, where so many people weregoing Shit, I don't know who I
am when I'm not performing. Or,you know, or working at IBM or
whatever it is that they do,
Chryssie Whitehead (18:35):
or teaching or Yeah,
Lisa Hopkins (18:36):
or whatever.
Right. And in some of us, it wasexciting and like, all sorts of
things came out because it cameout so and no judgment, you
know, you know, no disrespect.
Yeah, we all had
Chryssie Whitehead (18:48):
such different responses to that
time. I was in the mountains inNorth Carolina, like, completely
away from New York City. And Iput my head down. I did not
breathe. No, we grew Broadwayarts community, and we grew
everything we possibly could.
For me, it was to survive. Sowhereas I was I admired a lot of
(19:11):
people that kind of calmed down.
I did not do. Yeah, I took Itook it and said, Oh, you're
gonna shut me down. No.
Lisa Hopkins (19:21):
I love it. That's awesome. So I'm going to ask you
maybe to put humility aside fora minute and ask you to tell me
like, beyond what everybodyknows about you. What would you
say? Are your unique gifts?
Chryssie Whitehead (19:40):
I say my unique gifts are Yeah. i i The
word for me is just how much Icare. Like I think gift of mine
is that I really, really care.
Almost too much at a faultsometimes. I think that that's a
gift to care of a lot of peoplefind we're all just busy. So
(20:05):
people are so busy that we'rerunning out, I'm living in New
York City. So, you know. So Iwould say caring is one of my
gifts. And the other gift, Iwould say, is my ability to
create and produce things thatI'm proud of. And the other, I
(20:31):
don't know if it's a gift, but Iwould say I really, really am
always working on myself. Sowhatever that word means about
working on myself, meaning howcan I be a better human because
I can be really good withpeople. Right? And really good.
(20:53):
And I think this goes to showfor a lot of people, like people
who are in the field of work oflike social workers, or
therapist or pastors, right? Youhear this a lot, right? We're
people that are really good. Andreally, and really mean it. And
like, I am so in it. And so inthe present moment, when I am
teaching my students and when Iam directing them, when I'm
(21:14):
leading people and I reallydeeply care, there's nothing put
on. But I tend to, you know, ifwe want to be candidly speaking,
I tend to have to work harder atbeing a better human being and
partner to my husband, and to mylittle family unit. Because what
happens is, I become a littlebit like, I get so much out of
(21:35):
my work. But, but I also get somuch out of sharing life with my
partner, who loves me very much,and who teaches me how to love
more. I mean, I think my momtaught me to be self sufficient.
I think she taught me to be alittle bit selfish, even though
(21:56):
she was always about saying,give back, give back, Chrissy
give back to your life, talk toyour elders, that, you know, she
was constantly teaching me, Ifeel like she was setting me up
for me to be in a life withouther you know. So I think I'm
well equipped, worldly. And Iwant to be just as well as if
not more well equipped with myfamily, the one that is with me
(22:18):
every day, you know. And so Ithink that that's where the self
care and the journaling andmeditation and the things for me
is like, every day, it's a turndown the devices sit with my
husband, you know, so you wantto talk about gifts, but I also
want to talk about the thingsthat I think it's important that
(22:39):
like, for the rest of our livesin the Yang, right? No one's
great at all things. You know, Ihave a business, you know, and,
and I do love my business. Sowhen I post and when I do stuff,
it's super intentional. Butthat's not me every day. I can't
always be, you know, I mean,yes, I'm, I tried to be an open
(23:00):
book. But there's days where I'mcrabby. There's days where I'm
super sad. There's days where,you know, and I think that
that's important to talk aboutto just in general, like, your
highlight reel, and my Hollywoodreel looks great. But that is to
me, it's only a quarter of whatof what life really is. Like you
said, I really will walk awayfrom this conversation because I
(23:24):
like to know about takeaways.
It's like it's not in what I'mdoing. It's how I it's, it's how
I am. It's just how I am. So yousaid it's just how you are. And
I'll share with you and why I'mso excited about this. The other
thing I'm really excited with my40 plus class that I'm doing at
steps, I don't know if you sawthis, but I'm teaching a class
(23:44):
of 40 year olds and up. Andevery time before class that I
start, you know, I started asgrounded and I close our eyes
and we take a breath and justget into our heart centered and,
and then I just ask an invitefor everyone in the room to find
a word that they really want tobe in that room. You know, do
(24:04):
they want to be kind tothemselves and to each other? Do
they want to be open to theywant to be more joyful today? Do
they want to be silly, you know,and and really find that word
and hold on to that word. Sothat that can emulate in the
class. And for me, I love thatstuff. I really I really believe
(24:26):
in what I'm saying. And it canbe too much for people or it can
be I don't know, and that'sokay. You know, because I know
I'm being authentic. And I knowI've seen it really helped
people just show up because justshowing up to a dance class in
New York City. Even for the 20year olds. The 20 year olds are
still feeling the same thingyou're feeling. You just had 20
(24:49):
years more experience. Now I getit. We don't want to take class
with the 20th. I started thisclass because I was taking
classes with 20 year olds and Iwas like, and I was working
through at least Like I wasworking through, like, it's
fine, and I'm gonna, I'm gonna,I'm in my own little corner back
here and I'm good. You know, andI and I, like did and I would
allow myself to let go, but Istill had this. Plus I teach and
(25:13):
it's like they know I'm ateacher in the class. Like,
there's all that around it andto me that in my ability to my
ability to create community.
That's a gift. A safe community.
Yep. So
Lisa Hopkins (25:30):
lucky, lucky people. I think that's
incredible. I really do. I thinkit's wonderful. I'm curious to
know, though, you being not 20anymore, although I think it
shows up in both places. Buttalk to me about your personal
experience in your career inyour life with with imposter
syndrome. Have you experiencedthat? Do you feel that? How does
that show up for you?
Chryssie Whitehead (25:51):
Mm hmm. I think so, of course, I think the
imposter syndrome is for any ofus who are doing something new.
Right? And then we're trying tobe in it. So, as a dancer, I
never felt like an imposter.
Because I was like, I'm adancer. This is what I do. And
by the time I was 18, I was arocket. Right? And so I felt
very strong about my dancing andwho I was and that never
(26:13):
happened. But man oh man goingto school for musical theater. I
felt like an imposter. i Myvoice was very thin. I was like,
but I wanted to be a Gwen Verdontype, but I didn't know how to
do it. So I went to AMDA. Youknow, and I really worked my
tail off. So I felt like animpostor. But I worked through
the imposter syndrome. So Ithink when I feel like an
(26:33):
impostor, it gets me excited toget better and to learn, rather
than retreat and be like, Ishouldn't be here. And then it
happened again. Same thing, Iwanted to be an actress on film
and television, I went to everyacting class you could possibly
imagine in Los Angeles andtackled it, like, I love it and
took me a long time to get onTV. And then I felt like, I'm
(26:55):
you. Like I'm new, right? I'm anew director and choreographer.
But I've been doing iteducationally for a while. But
you get a new job. Like I got myfirst professional job as
director, I joined the Union. SoI'm going to be directing and
choreographing nonsense, whichis really sweet, fun little show
(27:17):
down in California and down inFlorida. I think of the imposter
syndrome and never have lookedat it, like I feel like an
impostor. I just look at itlike, oh, I, this is new to me.
Keep going. Because the more andmore you keep doing something,
you're gonna get better at it.
(27:37):
Yeah. And then you won't feellike an impostor. So that's,
that's how I am teaching hasalways been part of my blood. I
mean, I've been teaching since.
Since 2005, pretty muchthroughout my whole career. I
mean, I've, I've loved it, ithas saved it has saved me.
Lisa Hopkins (27:53):
I love that because it sounds like it works
for you. It's much like what yousaid with, you know, when they
were going to when they whenCOVID was gonna shut you down
and set you were like, yeah, no,like that. Actually jazz. Which
I think is really cool. Yeah,but my
Chryssie Whitehead (28:09):
always looking for the solution.
Lisa Hopkins (28:11):
Yeah, totally.
Well, so when you do find asolution, so and you have,
right, so like, when you finallybroke into television, or
acting, or any one of thesethings that you described, when
you actually got there, youknow, and actually had proof
that you that you did it? Howdid you operate from that place?
Like, was it like, Haha, I'vearrived I was right, or is it?
(28:31):
Is this maybe this isn't enough?
Or there's more to do? Or like,how do you? Yeah, sure. In that,
Chryssie Whitehead (28:40):
ah, I've arrived, I was great. I love
that. No, you never feel likeyou never feel like you arrive.
You know, there's alwayssomething and that's the that is
the that is the what is it thecarrot that dangles for all of
us as performers. And I findwhen I say that to students as
well, like, at the end of theday, all you're gonna get a job,
it's gonna be great. It's not,and you're gonna close, and
(29:03):
you're gonna, or it'll end, andyou're back at square one.
Again, it's the in between. So,film and TV. So I worked very
hard at acting, but the trainingI got, I was very much pulling
on my own life. And so it gotexhausting for me, because I was
I was using my mother's illnessand sickness for when I was
(29:24):
crying about a boy and Irvingiathe bridesmaids like, so it, and
I didn't have the confidence yetbecause I felt like, I felt like
I was an imposter on that movie.
Because I was like, the new girland I was number two choice.
Like, who's this dancer going toLA to be an actress. Right?
Yeah, I mean, and I studied inmusical theater. Yeah. And my
mom was the one that was like,What are you doing? We spent all
(29:45):
your dancer like, what are youdoing? And I was like, Oh,
you'll see. And I proved to mymom, but it took years. And once
I got there, there were all suchdifferent roles like I've really
played A lot of different rolesthat I do feel like I like the
body of work that I was ablethat people saw me as and I was
a little bit of a chameleon. Iwent through many different
(30:06):
things, I'd either be a chattyCathy or I was a crying victim,
or I was a Koosh bond grim, or Iwas in a sci fi television show
singing. So I look at it, and Igo, I'm cool. I'm grateful for
the experience of the work thatI know what that's like to be on
a television set, I will alwaysknow what that's like. And it
(30:29):
helps me as a teacher, so Ithink I knew, Lisa, that I
wanted to have a body of work asbest as I could, because I've
always had a good businesssense. So I was like, if I don't
have a good body of work, peoplearen't how are they going to
trust me to teach them. And Iknew I was going to be a teacher
of some sort. I didn't know Iwas gonna have a company. I had
no idea. We were gonna have acompany. We're now in six years.
(30:51):
You know, women run and but I'mvery proud of it. Very proud of
it. But I think I think I didget to a point where I was like,
You know what, I've done this. Idon't want to stay here forever
trying to get a series regular,because I never got a series
regular. And people were like,you know, I, for me,
authentically, I do not want tochange my face and do things to
(31:14):
alter myself so that I lookdifferent so that I can stay
young in Hollywood. And when Istarted seeing that, and then
when my mother died, the way shedied, I I went halt. said this
is not what I want to do. Idon't know why I want to
perform. I don't know. And Istopped. I mean, I did Cassie
(31:35):
and of course I am but I wascrying every night. And I didn't
want to do that. And that's whenI That's when I found the
criticize. Because I didn't wantthe pressure of being on stage.
Yeah. So
Lisa Hopkins (31:50):
Wow. Thank you for sharing that. That's that's so
interesting. So, so interesting.
How do you want to beremembered?
Chryssie Whitehead (32:00):
I just wanted to be remembered as love.
I want to be remembered as love.
That really people felt likebeing with Chrissy or being in a
room with Christie or lovingChristie, I felt loved. I felt
seen I felt cared about. That'show I want to be remembered. I
(32:20):
don't really care about thehighlights of my career. It's
about who I've met along theway. So that was I would say
that.
Lisa Hopkins (32:32):
Well, success.
You've already succeeded. You'vealready achieved that goal. I
mean, it's it's beautiful. Yeah,I mean, like I said, we don't
know each other that well, butyou are definitely living in
that value. I mean, it's reallybeautiful. It's really, really
beautiful. Thank
Chryssie Whitehead (32:49):
you. Yeah, I'm back in New York City that
helps. Oh, interesting. And backand back where my heart needs to
be. Huh?
Lisa Hopkins (32:58):
It is that tell me more about that. Why do you
think that is?
Chryssie Whitehead (33:01):
Oh, um, even though my heart is always where
it needs to be in my body. Ilove that I love that my home is
my body is my home. I got thatfrom somebody during COVID. Um,
so really wherever my heart is,where my body is, is where my
home is. But the the wildernessBeyond Mountains, I went down
there to be with my husband,because that's where I met him.
And we were up here in New York.
And then I was doing Chicago onBroadway. And I was ready to go
(33:25):
and I was ready for a change.
And this was before I gotdiagnosed. So I was just ready
for another drastic change in mylife. So we we laugh moved down
south and I looked out my windowduring COVID and I had a
mountain for my neighbor and Ireally didn't see anybody and it
was very, I taught on theCherokee reservation Lisa, I was
(33:47):
on a Native American Cherokeereservation for a year and a
half, I became a public schooldrama and dance teacher during
this time. I and I directed themand that's where it all my
directing work started Shrekinto the woods. And Aladdin Jr.
I taught middle school in highschool, and that was incredible.
And I learned a lot and theylearned a lot and then COVID Hit
(34:09):
in the middle of me doinghairspray for them. I was
directing and choreographingthat. And then COVID And then
during that after about a yearof COVID I was like I was
teaching online for AMDA and itwas like I I think we have to go
back like I just might, I gottabe around the people that are
like, have similar creativedrives and dreams. And I feel
(34:33):
like New York is the Mecca and Ifeel very at home here I always
have but I stayed in LA for wayin my opinion way too long
chasing a acting dream. Youknow? Yeah, it is what it is. I
don't have any regrets because Ithink that's silly like our
lives do what they do. But um,this is I call this the second
act so I'm gonna be 43 thisyear. And there's my second act.
(34:56):
I've got her husband weseparated for like six months
and now We're back on track. Wewent to Kenya this year last
year. And I taught out there andI'm just starting to like,
regroup. Like, what is thesecond act look like? What does
it look like with my show? Whatdoes it look like with directing
and choreographing? And I'mreally just kind of open palming
(35:18):
it like that. And then like thecoaching and the teaching will
always, I don't feel like that'sgoing anywhere. That's like my
bread and butter, you know? So
Lisa Hopkins (35:27):
the teaching thing really seems like it's at your
core, right? It seems liketeaching is such a big part of
what you do. So I'm supercurious. Is there someone or
some experience or somewhere inyour life that inspired you in
this way? Or that modelteaching? Or how do you think,
where does that come from? Doyou think?
Chryssie Whitehead (35:48):
My mom, she taught fashion, she taught
modeling. But it's funny, shetaught it from the inside out,
when she was like, she had awhole thing and an idea of, of
me having a studio when theycalled Light shine, like let
your light shine. So I watchedher be also a teacher to these
(36:08):
young models and help them feellike they can. It was all about
the way they walked and carriedthemselves. It was like a, an
after school, like modelingfashion program. So that was
cool. I watched her be a teacherand people love her and every
now and then I'll get she didn'tdo a very long, but people loved
my mom doing it. And so she wasone and then my musical theater
(36:29):
mentor, who my very firstteacher at AMDA was Elaine
Patricof. Since then, she becamelike my mentor, my coach, my
dearest friend. And like, I callher my Jewish mama. She spoke
about our wedding and she didthe crack and the plates. And
then now she's my boss like shehas gifted me talk about
impostor syndrome. She put me onthe musical theater faculty. She
(36:51):
was like, I really think you canteach acting now. But see, I
wanted to get all these actinggigs so that I could teach
acting because I loved it somuch. And I wanted, you know, I
mean, I knew I wouldn't be ableto do it if I hadn't gotten this
work. But then she said to me, Ijust reached out to her about
choreographing and she came backto me and said, this was in
2015. That's 35. I was like, I'mmoving to New York. She was
like, I think, what are yourthoughts about joining the
(37:12):
musical theater faculty? And Iwas like, Okay, I have no idea
how to like, give songs. I canteach them how to act and tell a
story. But she was like, I'llput you with the right person.
You'll be fine. I'll coach you.
You'll do the exercises. You'llbe good. And then it it. I was
literally Lisa doing Chicago,eight shows a week and I had an
I had a I had a first semesterclass of three times a week,
(37:34):
teaching them for 15 weeks. AndI was more excited about going
to that class than I was to theshow. Yeah, Doug Caldwell, and
he had a way of looking at youwith his big blue eyes. And he
danced like he was dancing inheaven. And I've never met to
this day anybody like nobodywill but because we're all
(37:58):
different. But Doug Caldwell wasa special special teacher and
person. I know he battled a lot.
And that makes me sad. But I heis definitely a big a big
influence. So yeah, I've hadreally great influences in my
life. You know, that's cool. Itreasure the value of teachers.
(38:20):
I mean, it's important.
Lisa Hopkins (38:23):
Yeah. Oh, 100% What's the what's the the best
and the worst advice you've everhad from teacher or from anybody
for that matter?
Chryssie Whitehead (38:31):
Oh my God, that's a good question. The best
advice I ever got, gosh. I don'tknow about a teacher. I'm more
so. I mean, more so my mom like,um, I like this one that she
drilled in me a lot. finish whatyou start, always finish what
you started. finish what youstarted. Do unto others as you
(38:55):
would have them do unto you.
Like husband, my husband, Craig.
He does that a lot. And I I tryto remember that but that you
know, judgments are so easiernowadays. I feel like I don't
know it's so easy to just belike right off something rather
than just just let things belike we're all you know,
(39:17):
everybody everybody deserves tobe here. So those are the things
the worst advice. I don't reallyknow I don't really know of any
worst advice.
Lisa Hopkins (39:26):
Okay, can you finish this phrase? Most people
think Chrissy Whitehead is dotdot dot but the truth is
Chryssie Whitehead (39:35):
most people think that Christie lie head is
a ball of energy. And the truthis, I don't know why I'm
thinking this but she stillwants love. Like she still need
love. Like I feel like sometimespeople think of I say this to
the show like when is my fun toomuch, especially before I was
(39:55):
diagnosed. I have a hard time.
You know, people could probablysay because he was oh my god,
she's a lot. She's like anenergizer bunny. She's got a lot
of energy are having fun withit. But she's also got a huge
heart, and a lot of love togive. And sometimes she's
overwhelming. And then I wouldjust say, and to that. She's
also fragile and human just likeeveryone else. So it needs
(40:21):
assurance and kind of thing.
Lisa Hopkins (40:27):
I love it was beautiful. That's beautiful. All
right, so we usually finishedwith what I call a rapid fire.
So I'm gonna say what hates you,and then I'll give you a word
and then you can just respondwhatever comes to mind. What
makes you hungry?
Chryssie Whitehead (40:43):
When I was a kid, my mom was pretty poor. And
we didn't have anything in ourrefrigerator. So all I would eat
was saltines. And gelati. So nowis that I try not to gorge when
I'm hungry.
Lisa Hopkins (40:58):
What inspires you?
Chryssie Whitehead (41:03):
My husband, and how he is with people, and
how he really cares. Mystudents, the youth, the next
generation.
Lisa Hopkins (41:14):
What frustrates you?
Chryssie Whitehead (41:17):
By things frustrate me, I don't know why
it's like I'm drawing a blankhere. Inflation in frustrates
frustrates me. I can't believethese things are in New York
City now. And I used to not bethat way. And now I'm just like,
what's happening here?
Lisa Hopkins (41:38):
What makes you sad?
Chryssie Whitehead (41:43):
When I really miss my mom I really miss
my mom. And then my mooddisorder will come come in a
little bit polar bear. When Ifeel something's coming on. That
makes me sad. Because I'm like,Oh, I don't want to deal with
(42:03):
this right now. But I do find myways of handling it.
Lisa Hopkins (42:09):
Yeah, no kidding.
What makes you laugh?
Chryssie Whitehead (42:14):
First, first thing that comes to my mind is
Greg has been hastily He's on abusiness. He's funny. I thought
he was a comedian or an actorwhen he first met him. So he was
my server. He was my waiter inHighlands, North Carolina. And
he cracked us up with his dryhumor. And I was like, Are you a
comedian? And we're like, in themountains? He's like, No, I was
(42:36):
like, Are you an actor? And hewas like, No. And he's
definitely not any of thosethings. He makes me laugh
because be silly.
Lisa Hopkins (42:42):
What makes you angry? My husband that's fair.
Chryssie Whitehead (42:53):
You push it Egon but also push my buttons.
Big time inequality. Justinequality in general makes me
just super angry about how wecannot all just understand that
we all deserve a life that welove and want. And nobody should
be in anybody's freakingbusiness bedroom. sexuality,
(43:13):
gender. I just don't understand.
And I can't wrap my brain aroundit. So then I get really angry
about it. Because I'm like, justlet people be.
Lisa Hopkins (43:20):
Yeah. Yeah. And finally, what makes you
grateful?
Chryssie Whitehead (43:24):
My help. I'm grateful that my heart and my
head and my mind and my, mylittle puppies are still with
me. And we have a roof over ourhead and and I'm grateful for
food. Water.
Lisa Hopkins (43:42):
Yeah. What are the top three things that have
happened so far today?
Chryssie Whitehead (43:47):
Top three?
Well, I told you one of them. Wegot a booking inquiry, which is
our first one wanting to book usfor our show. That was amazing.
Um, I got to speak to my musicdirector and my choreographer
while we're happily researchingour students for the showcase to
cast them this week. That wasnice. And then walking my dogs
because I needed to do thatbefore we have a podcast.
Lisa Hopkins (44:14):
Amazing and what something looking forward to.
Chryssie Whitehead (44:18):
I'm looking forward to. I'm really looking
forward to directing my firstshow nonsense in in March. You
know, I'm looking forward totrying on that hat and see how I
how I do with that and see if Ilike it.
Lisa Hopkins (44:32):
I love it. I love it. Chris has been such a joy
speaking with you today. Thankyou so much for being here.
Chryssie Whitehead (44:37):
Thank you so much, Lisa, this was really
cool. I love what you're doing.
And I love and I just wish youall the best with it, too. I
think it's just incredible.
Lisa Hopkins (44:46):
I've been speaking today with Chrissy Whitehead.
Thanks so much for listening.
I'm Lisa Hopkins stay safe andhealthy everyone and remember to
live in the moment. In musicstop time is that beautiful
moment The band is suspended inrhythmic unison, supporting the
soloist to express theirindividuality. In the moment, I
encourage you to take that timeand create your own rhythm.
(45:10):
Until next time, I'm LisaHopkins. Thanks for listening
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