A beginning

It seemed like an auspicious time to begin this new blog. Broadway resumed last night after a 19 day strike by the stagehands union. The year is coming to a close and hope for the future is in the air. So here I am.
And who am I? My name is Mark Aldrich and I've been a working professional actor for well over a decade. I'm far from famous, but have made my living pursuing one of the most difficult and unpredictable careers around. It can also be one of the most rewarding, full of interesting people and travel and creativity. Those come hand in hand with the rejection, self-doubt and instability. Actors are misunderstood in many places. Most of us are neither rich and spoiled nor starving in a garret tortured by creative demons. We simply want to raise a family, have a home, pay our bills and be actors. True, some seek fame. Some seek wealth. Most that I know simply want to work.
So here we go. Follow along as I blog about what it really is to pursue this in that supposedly harshest of cities, New York. I guarantee you're in for some surprises.


Some words about myself: I've appeared on LAW&ORDER and LAW&ORDER:SVU. I was (briefly) in the film GODS AND GENERALS. However, I mostly appear on the stage, often singing. I've been seen in numerous Off-Broadway shows, some have won awards, some have passed unnoticed. I've performed in nearly all the 50 states. I can be heard on a few cast albums. There are two shows I'm a part of that are looking to be on Broadway within the next year or so. I belong to the three major acing unions: Actors' Equity, SAG, and AFTRA. I'm an actor. I live in New York.