“I know it's hard to stay positive and hopeful right now, but if you keep working on your craft, you'll come out the other side of this in a much better place than where you started.”

“Ask yourselves what you want to do with this time, and remember there is no wrong answer. You can stay connected to your art, or you can decide to get a real estate license or become an architect. What feels right to you? If you have chosen to be in school, then work hard at your craft.”

“This is a time to be entrepreneurial. That’s something I discovered in myself six years ago that I had this real entrepreneurial side. I’ve produced two albums, three singles and am really enjoying that side of me. You have to create your own work and find ways of being creative.”

“Comparing ourselves to others is generally unhelpful and, I think, particularly unhelpful right now. Let’s all try to focus on being kind to ourselves first and then doing our best to help the world heal.”

“Spring will come again….this pause is an opportunity to really focus on what about this business really fuels you. What can you do to change it and make it a more just and equitable and comfortable space for all performers. Especially your colleagues and friends of colour.”

“I also think the other challenge that performers, particularly theatre performers and musicians are a little bit better equipped to deal with something like a shutdown because we go through long periods of time of “I don’t have a gig”. There are periods of non creative output in terms of jobs.”

“If we’re making things over again, we should be making things that contribute more to our society and to our communities by giving more opportunity to do something new. That’s the place to look for hope and encouragement.”

“I know that people enjoy what we’re doing, even if it isn’t live and in person. I’m happy to keep putting things out there if people enjoy it.”

“What I do is what I do. I love telling stories to people either through song or on the stage. That’s what I do for a living and I’ll never stop loving that. Nobody can take that away.”

“I am inspired by the intelligence, talent, and political activism of the younger generation. As we discover what the world looks like after COVID, I have a feeling many of us will be turning the tables. It’ll be us who are asking them for advice.”

“A lot of theater companies and Broadway shows have made their archival recordings available for free online! Take this time to watch shows you’ve never seen. Read plays. Listen to cast recordings. Take this time to feed your curiosity and to nourish your enthusiasm for theater.”

Since 2016, performer Ilana Levine has been interviewing actors, writers, directors and professional creatives on her podcast “Little Known Facts,” which she previously described to OnStage Blog as “the most inclusive, personal conversations that [are] meant to share artists in an uncensored, unpackaged way.” 200-plus “LNF” episodes later, Levine has a new podcast project. “And The Award Goes To…” tracks the career of Tony-winning guests using their acceptance speeches as an entryway. “Many of them have not listened to their speech since they made it,” Levine explained in an email, “It's a thrill to listen to it together and ask them to take me through all that led up to that night.’

“We want to live in a world where we don't see color. But we all see color. How that manifests in theater is that, a lot of times, people with good intentions want to non-traditionally or color-blind cast something because they think it doesn't matter to the show. But the truth is, sometimes it matters. It's not just about coloring up your show but being aware of the potential effect it will have on the audience and thinking about how that affects the storytelling.”

“Be Kind. Breathe. Listen. Learn to let go of what might be holding you back. Life is not a competition with anyone but YOU. Keep going. Love yourself. As hard as it may be, love yourself. It is worth it, and so are you.”

“I love hearing a thousand people laughing at once or hearing them all sigh together – or cry together and then pass Kleenexes down the row.”

What advice would you give any aspiring artist during these crazy times? 

“Since uncertainty is part of the game, learning how to acknowledge and be happy where you are at this very moment is key. I think reminding ourselves, 'Where I am now is exactly where I am supposed to be’, can be very powerful.”

What advice would you give any aspiring artist during these crazy times?

“Do whatever YOU need to do to be well. There is no "right" way to handle this.”

“What advice would you give any aspiring artist during these crazy times?

Listening to artists you’ve admired or those whose work you’ve wanted to go down the proverbial rabbit hole provides a great education.”

“Be creative.  Look to spots where your voice can be heard.  Think about what message or story YOU’D want to hear right now, and chances are someone else out there ALSO would want to hear that message/story, so MAKE IT!”

“I would like you to meet Libby C. Nelson. Libby is a performer based in New York City and is trained in ballet, tap, jazz, hip hop, contemporary, pointe, theatre, and voice.”