--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I started out doing theater in N.Y.C." description: "\"I started out doing theater in N.Y.C.\" — James Van Der Beek" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a39/james-van-der-beek-14237_actor_i-started-out-doing-theater-in-n-y-c-272_2724889.png" --- # I started out doing theater in N.Y.C. ![“I started out doing theater in N.Y.C.” quote by James Van Der Beek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a39/james-van-der-beek-14237_actor_i-started-out-doing-theater-in-n-y-c-272_2724889.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a39/james-van-der-beek-14237_actor_i-started-out-doing-theater-in-n-y-c-272_2724889.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a39/james-van-der-beek-14237_actor_i-started-out-doing-theater-in-n-y-c-272_2724889.png) > “I started out doing theater in N.Y.C.” [James Van Der Beek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-van-der-beek/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He began his acting career in New York City theater before moving to screen work. **In simple terms:** He started in NYC theater. Key Takeaway Leverage early stage experience. Themes career development acting urban arts Mood reflective optimistic Type personal career When to use this quote - audition preparation - stagecraft workshops - career transitions - building a portfolio Key Concepts performance art networking skill building Questions to Reflect On - How did theater shape his acting style? - What challenges did he face moving to TV? A Different Perspective Stage work may not directly translate to screen success. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Actor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actor/) [Doing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doing/) [Doing Theater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doing-theater/) [Out](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/out/) [Started](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/started/) [Started Doing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/started-doing/) [Theater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theater/) [Theatre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theatre/) ## Related quotes > [I've definitely become smuttier. When I first started out, I had these aspirations: 'I'm not going to do jokes about anything crude because I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-whitehall/i-ve-definitely-become-smuttier-when-i-first-started-out-i-had-these/) [Jack Whitehall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-whitehall/) > [I was doing theater in my high school, and I started writing sort of silly songs on the piano backstage in summer theater. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bo-burnham/i-was-doing-theater-in-my-high-school-and-i-started-writing-sort-of/) [Bo Burnham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bo-burnham/) > [I started out doing theater and a soap in New York and that's... sort of what I got stuck in. I was blessed enough…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-sullivan/i-started-out-doing-theater-and-a-soap-in-new-york-and-that-s-sort-of/) [Susan Sullivan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-sullivan/) > [I had started doing theater in high school, and while I was doing that, I got my manager.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-rady/i-had-started-doing-theater-in-high-school-and-while-i-was-doing-that/) [Michael Rady](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-rady/) > [Me and my cousin started doing CrossFit in my barn; I haven't looked back since.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rich-froning-jr/me-and-my-cousin-started-doing-crossfit-in-my-barn-i-haven-t-looked/) [Rich Froning Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rich-froning-jr/) > [I first started doing theatre, as my sister did it, so I wanted to do the same.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sigrid/i-first-started-doing-theatre-as-my-sister-did-it-so-i-wanted-to-do/) [Sigrid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sigrid/) > [Theater will always be a huge part of my life. The high I get from doing theater is not, quite honestly, matched by many…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-pine/theater-will-always-be-a-huge-part-of-my-life-the-high-i-get-from/) [Chris Pine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-pine/) > [I love doing theater. It's what I grew up in and is my roots. I get a huge fulfillment from it. But if my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-stokes-mitchell/i-love-doing-theater-it-s-what-i-grew-up-in-and-is-my-roots-i-get-a/) [Brian Stokes Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-stokes-mitchell/) > [I wanted to be a doctor when I was a kid, but I started doing theater in high school because it was a requirement.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophia-bush/i-wanted-to-be-a-doctor-when-i-was-a-kid-but-i-started-doing-theater/) [Sophia Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophia-bush/) > [When doing theater, you have to find great satisfaction in the small things. There's going to be a repetition and a redundancy night after…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-spader/when-doing-theater-you-have-to-find-great-satisfaction-in-the-small/) [James Spader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-spader/) > [I like doing everything - theater and film, radio and TV, comedy and tragedy. I love it all. And I've never really planned anything…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-molina/i-like-doing-everything-theater-and-film-radio-and-tv-comedy-and/) [Alfred Molina](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-molina/) > [It isn't called TV money for nothing. There was a time where I paid my rent by doing theater for years, and I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-parsons/it-isn-t-called-tv-money-for-nothing-there-was-a-time-where-i-paid-my/) [Jim Parsons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-parsons/) > [I love doing theater. Despite the fact that out of theater, film, and TV, theater is the hardest thing to do. It's the least…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-morton/i-love-doing-theater-despite-the-fact-that-out-of-theater-film-and-tv/) [Joe Morton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-morton/) > [I think I made $55 a week, and it was bliss... I was doing theater. It was all I ever wanted to do. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-tambor/i-think-i-made-55-a-week-and-it-was-bliss-i-was-doing-theater-it-was/) [Jeffrey Tambor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-tambor/) > [After that, I started going downtown and doing a lot of theater shows in Chicago. When you go downtown there, it's like you're in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kel-mitchell/after-that-i-started-going-downtown-and-doing-a-lot-of-theater-shows/) [Kel Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kel-mitchell/) ## More by James Van Der Beek > [You get a script and you love it. You find a director that you trust, and it becomes all about how do I commit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-van-der-beek/you-get-a-script-and-you-love-it-you-find-a-director-that-you-trust/) [James Van Der Beek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-van-der-beek/) > [You can't really pretend something is rosier than it is and expect people to buy it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-van-der-beek/you-can-t-really-pretend-something-is-rosier-than-it-is-and-expect/) [James Van Der Beek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-van-der-beek/) > [I have a gut reaction to stuff that I read. 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Heart expanding way faster than my brain...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-van-der-beek/had-my-first-son-this-morning-well-actually-my-wife-had-him-i-just/) [James Van Der Beek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-van-der-beek/) > [I love sports and I love sports movies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-van-der-beek/i-love-sports-and-i-love-sports-movies/) [James Van Der Beek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-van-der-beek/) > [I was dyslexic, so math and formulas were not necessarily my strong suit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-van-der-beek/i-was-dyslexic-so-math-and-formulas-were-not-necessarily-my-strong/) [James Van Der Beek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-van-der-beek/) > [Ultimately, I'd love to be able to work in film.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-van-der-beek/ultimately-i-d-love-to-be-able-to-work-in-film/) [James Van Der Beek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-van-der-beek/) > [The film business has changed and society has changed. I started acting before the internet, which is insane to say. That makes me sound…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-van-der-beek/the-film-business-has-changed-and-society-has-changed-i-started/) [James Van Der Beek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-van-der-beek/) > [Eventually, I think I may end up directing. It would have to be the project where I think that I'm the person to direct…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-van-der-beek/eventually-i-think-i-may-end-up-directing-it-would-have-to-be-the/) [James Van Der Beek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-van-der-beek/) > [I've only dyed my hair blond once, after 'Varsity Blues.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-van-der-beek/i-ve-only-dyed-my-hair-blond-once-after-varsity-blues/) [James Van Der Beek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-van-der-beek/) > [I remember one day during my freshman year of high school, when as usual I was obsessively listening to a cast recording: it may…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-van-der-beek/i-remember-one-day-during-my-freshman-year-of-high-school-when-as/) [James Van Der Beek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-van-der-beek/) > [If a rumor comes out that I'm gay, I could care less. There are so many worse things that they could be saying.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-van-der-beek/if-a-rumor-comes-out-that-i-m-gay-i-could-care-less-there-are-so-many/) [James Van Der Beek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-van-der-beek/) > [I figure if you talk about it once, then that's an open invitation for everyone to dig into your personal life even further. So,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-van-der-beek/i-figure-if-you-talk-about-it-once-then-that-s-an-open-invitation-for/) [James Van Der Beek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-van-der-beek/) [Explore all 47 James Van Der Beek quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-van-der-beek/) ## More Actor quotes > [I actually think acting is a form of self-hypnosis. You have to be hyper, hyper aware of what's going on around you. You have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julianne-moore/i-actually-think-acting-is-a-form-of-self-hypnosis-you-have-to-be/) [Julianne Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julianne-moore/) > [When you step out and do a song in a musical, the easier thing to do is make it funny. But when those transitions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelli-o-hara/when-you-step-out-and-do-a-song-in-a-musical-the-easier-thing-to-do/) [Kelli O'Hara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelli-o-hara/) > [I once told someone I could act. They totally bought it. I've been getting away with it ever since.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/akshay-kumar/i-once-told-someone-i-could-act-they-totally-bought-it-i-ve-been/) [Akshay Kumar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/akshay-kumar/) > [There has got to be a way for me to have a role on TV or in film that is just as normal as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adeel-akhtar/there-has-got-to-be-a-way-for-me-to-have-a-role-on-tv-or-in-film-that/) [Adeel Akhtar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adeel-akhtar/) > [I love casting against type and doing things you wouldn't expect, because I think you get more interesting performances that way. Hollywood loves to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-s-goyer/i-love-casting-against-type-and-doing-things-you-wouldn-t-expect/) [David S. Goyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-s-goyer/) > [I'm an actor, so I'm never going to feel like I've done enough.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/italia-ricci/i-m-an-actor-so-i-m-never-going-to-feel-like-i-ve-done-enough/) [Italia Ricci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/italia-ricci/) > [I am tired of our characters being so incomplete. When do we ever save the day in a film? When does a Latino actor…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esai-morales/i-am-tired-of-our-characters-being-so-incomplete-when-do-we-ever-save/) [Esai Morales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esai-morales/) > [When I was 13, I auditioned for the theater school, and I was there for four years. In the meantime, I did my first…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ana-de-armas/when-i-was-13-i-auditioned-for-the-theater-school-and-i-was-there-for/) [Ana de Armas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ana-de-armas/) > [If you stood me in a costume next to a computer graphic of the same-looking character, I think there would be a difference. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warwick-davis/if-you-stood-me-in-a-costume-next-to-a-computer-graphic-of-the-same/) [Warwick Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warwick-davis/) > [failure in the theater is more public, more brilliant, more unreal than in any other field.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lillian-hellman/failure-in-the-theater-is-more-public-more-brilliant-more-unreal-than/) [Lillian Hellman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lillian-hellman/) > [I'm a character actor - always have been, always will be - and historically, character actors don't come into their own until later in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-potts/i-m-a-character-actor-always-have-been-always-will-be-and/) [Annie Potts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-potts/) > [Actors don't hate acting. Most people don't hate acting! Whether you're a child mucking around with your friends or a grown up being paid…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liv-hewson/actors-don-t-hate-acting-most-people-don-t-hate-acting-whether-you-re/) [Liv Hewson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liv-hewson/) > [It was only when I went to acting school that I was like, "You are absolutely such a pigheaded freak show that you thought…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giles-matthey/it-was-only-when-i-went-to-acting-school-that-i-was-like-you-are/) [Giles Matthey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giles-matthey/) > [I never planned to do female roles. It just happened. I was typecast.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/divine/i-never-planned-to-do-female-roles-it-just-happened-i-was-typecast/) [Divine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/divine/) > [Once I committed to acting, this has been it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernie-hudson/once-i-committed-to-acting-this-has-been-it/) [Ernie Hudson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernie-hudson/) [Browse all 21,590 Actor quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actor/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I started out doing theater in N.Y.C.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "James Van Der Beek" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-van-der-beek/i-started-out-doing-theater-in-n-y-c/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Actor" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-van-der-beek/i-started-out-doing-theater-in-n-y-c/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a39/james-van-der-beek-14237_actor_i-started-out-doing-theater-in-n-y-c-272_2724889.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a39/james-van-der-beek-14237_actor_i-started-out-doing-theater-in-n-y-c-272_2724889.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a39/james-van-der-beek-14237_actor_i-started-out-doing-theater-in-n-y-c-272_2724889.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I started out doing theater in N.Y.C.” — James Van Der Beek", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "James Van Der Beek", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-van-der-beek/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I started out doing theater in...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-van-der-beek/i-started-out-doing-theater-in-n-y-c/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-van-der-beek/i-started-out-doing-theater-in-n-y-c/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```