Acting "I wish I could be brave enough, to do that in audition rooms." - Ellie Parker (played by Naomi Watts) from Scott Coffey's (wildly funny yet truthful and serious look at acting and life in Hollywood) film 'Ellie Parker'.
2007 Headshot
1st Headshot...circa 1995 by photgrapher Jane Hunt (mother of Academy award winning actress Helen Hunt).
Headshot II...circa 1997
Headshot III...circa 1997
PROFESSIONAL ACTING RESUME MYLES LEIGHTON
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First & Second Acts of "Three Days of Rain" One of many plays I starred in at SIUC and one of the most challenging. It was one of the most demanding roles I ever performed due to the fact that I played dual father/son roles. It pushed me to the limits of what a normal "college" undergrad acting experience is all about. I played the son for the 1st Act and his father (years earlier) in the 2nd Act. If it wasn't for my fellow actors/friends Jennifer Hampson and Thom Miller (in the above & below pix) as well as director Paul Bawek, I wouldn't have been as good as I was. And, when it really comes down to it, I have to give the utmost "props" to Paul Bawek. Considering the somewhat typical atmosphere & curriculum that was SIUC's Department of Theatre, Paul treated the play (his "thesis" project) as well as us "actors" with unbelievable power, intelligence, respect, professionalism, and camaraderie. Looking back, he was not only amazing in his ability but in the razor sharp way in which he saw the material and characters.
At the time of the production, the intensity of the situation as well as multiple roles (playing father AND son) put me in a funk whereas I thought that it would be a LONG time before I would ever agree to do such a demanding play. Not only did I have to play such differing yet intense father and son characters, BUT, I had to do them under intense and demanding direction. At the time and after the production concluded, the only way I would have considered acting in another like production was if the characters were "drastically" different from one another in BOTH makeup & costume. Otherwise, I would have severe reservations, because of the toll "Three Days of Rain" had one me. I mean, when it comes to the play, Richard Greenberg (the playwright) had distinct and precise reasons how and why he wanted the same three actors to play dual roles. At the time though, I thought the same actors playing different characters in Act One and Two to be a distraction for myself and I'm sure for certain members of the audience. As an audience member, I personally, wouldn't want such contrived BS. I don't want to be taken out of a play while watching it and if the SAME actors are playing different characters in Acts One and Two, I WILL be taken out of the play, if for nothing else than to realize how different they are playing the characters. When it comes down to it, even though Richard Greenberg has the absolute right to write the play EXACTLY how he wants to write it, in MY opinion and if I were writing the exact same play, I would NEVER demand that the SAME actors play different characters in the different Acts. To me (and in MY opinion), that kind of writing not only cheats the material but the audience as well, especially, when the dual roles look so identical. I think there are enough hungry actors out there to fill the roles with different people. In many ways, it worked for me to play both roles, but it was incredibly challenging and a great acting lesson learned. It didn't hold a candle to another play that I did while at SIUC called "Ladies From Fall River" (featured in pictures and words below).
Pictures from 'The Ladies From Fall River', an original play which ran at SIUC. The above pictures (with accompanying articles) ran in the local newspapers.
I thought TWO roles were difficult and off-putting enough....try EIGHT or so! During "The Ladies From Fall River", I had so many roles as to make ones head swim. Plus, numerous times during the play, there were many times when whichever character I was playing finished saying their piece and had to "freeze" in place....ON STAGE....For ALL to see. To say it was frustrating and a learning experience is an understatement, especially the few times when beads of sweat were streaming down my face and/or hanging off the edge of my nose while I stood frozen and in full view of the audience. I knew I was sweating and I knew the audience knew I was sweating and knew I knew...You know? You know the old saying, "Never let them see you sweat". Oops! Too late here. They all got to see me (and others) sweat. I'm telling you from experience, I learned more than I had EVER learned in my life. At the end of the day, I have the director Charlie Krebs to thank for it. He pushed us farther than possible, but it WAS possible and we did it, at least the actors that mattered. There were problems I won't go in to, but when the production was underway and us actors were ruling the stage AND material (by the amazing Robin Roberts), it was ALL completely worthwhile. At the time, it was like I was being thrown around a dryer on high, but now, a couple of years later, I'm able to look back with more objectivity. Charlie Krebs had it right on and I thank him for that. Without directors/professors/teachers like him, the University setting would be in trouble. So, to all the naysayers who say that a "degree" doesn't matter, they are not only talking simplistically and naively but are generalizing in a way in which they have absolutely NO knowledge of. When it comes down to it, they are probably jealous THEY didn't get their degree. I, and countless others, DID and we have teachers like Paul Bawek and Charlie Krebs to thank for their unbelievable knowledge, passion, vision, and direction. Without teachers/directors/professors like them to push us to the edge and BEYOND, the scholastic world of Theater would not only be uninspiring but, in many ways, dead as well. It took a few years for me to realize this. Thank God I have those years. Every year, someone dies that helps to wake me up more and more to my past, present and future. In the last 30 years, I have the following to thank. If it weren't for their gifts AND their passing, I wouldn't be where I am today: my father Kenneth Ray Gullette SR, Uncle Robert Gullette, Aunt Tootie Gullette, Bruce Lee, Keith Haring, Robert Mappelthorpe, Herb Ritts, Andy Warhol, Stevie Ray Vaughan, River Phoenix, Jeff Porcaro, Johnny Cash, Brandon Lee, John F. Kennedy Jr., John Ritter.
Stills from the SIUC Television production of "Struggling With Bob", a short one act play that I was in while in the Acting Program. I played "Death" coming to show Bob how much of a failure he and his life have become. The play was directed and staged by Paul Bawek, a grad student at the time and current friend. It was a fun experience where I learned fencing/sword play and stage combat. Looking back, I could have done better in the role, but as they always say, "Hindsight is 20/20". When it comes down to it, I made the director happy and I learned a great deal about bringing my character to life.
'Struggling With Bob' still from a rehearsal for the production. This shot was used in the University newspaper.
Three pictures from local papers in Carbondale, Illinois about the play I was in called 'Leander Stillwell'.
Various plays that I was cast in while at SIUC.
The SIUC play 'Cat on a Hot Tin Roof' (where I played 'Big Daddy') was featured on the cover of the Carbondale local weekly newspaper.
A one-scene play I directed at SIUC. It turned out quite well considering the short time I had to put it together and rehearse.
Posing "GQ" (tongue in cheek) style near the 'Hollywood' sign during a photo shoot. It's against the law to go all the way up to the sign but this was cool enough.
On the set of 'Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman' in California, Summer 1995 (I'm kneeling in front). The other four guys were fellow interns from Southern Illinois University. The woman was a cast member from the show. This shot was taken an hour before our roles in the Halloween episode of Dr. Quinn. We were part of the main party sequence and it was a blast as well as an amazing learning experience.
Flashback...Still from 'A Thurber Carnival', my first official play back in high school at WCHS in Versailles, Kentucky. Looking at it now, it looks like a still from a horror film. Just look at that hair! But, back then, I thought my look was cool.
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