--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I'm just a Chicago actor who's a…" description: "\"I'm just a Chicago actor who's a playwright. Even with the success of 'August,' the people in town who come to our theater know me by sight, because th..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7ed/tracy-letts-12197_actor_i-m-just-a-chicago-actor-who-s-a-playwri_231297.png" --- # I'm just a Chicago actor who's a playwright. Even with the… ![“I'm just a Chicago actor who's a playwright. Even with the success of 'August,' the people in town who come to our theater know me by sight, because they've seen me onstage so much.” quote by Tracy Letts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7ed/tracy-letts-12197_actor_i-m-just-a-chicago-actor-who-s-a-playwri_231297.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7ed/tracy-letts-12197_actor_i-m-just-a-chicago-actor-who-s-a-playwri_231297.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7ed/tracy-letts-12197_actor_i-m-just-a-chicago-actor-who-s-a-playwri_231297.png) > “I'm just a Chicago actor who's a playwright. Even with the success of 'August,' the people in town who come to our theater know me by sight, because they've seen me onstage so much.” [Tracy Letts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracy-letts/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker is known locally for stage performances, not for his writing fame, highlighting the gap between public perception and personal identity. **In simple terms:** People recognize him as an actor, not a playwright. Key Takeaway Embrace multiple facets of your career. Themes identity recognition artistic career Mood reflective determined Type personal career. When to use this quote - theater community - casting calls - media interviews - career transitions Key Concepts typecasting public perception Questions to Reflect On - How does public perception shape your artistic choices? - Can you leverage acting fame to promote your writing? A Different Perspective Recognition may limit opportunities in other creative roles. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Actor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actor/) [August](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/august/) [Chicago](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chicago/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Playwright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/playwright/) [Success](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/success/) [Theater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theater/) [Theatre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theatre/) ## Related quotes > [There are two things that a playwright can have. Success or failure. I imagine there are dangers in both. Certainly the danger of being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-albee/there-are-two-things-that-a-playwright-can-have-success-or-failure-i/) [Edward Albee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-albee/) > [I'm lucky enough to say my day job is acting. I cut my teeth as a theater actor and playwright in New York.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-denham/i-m-lucky-enough-to-say-my-day-job-is-acting-i-cut-my-teeth-as-a/) Christopher Denham > [An actor without a playwright is like a hole without a doughnut.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-jean-nathan/an-actor-without-a-playwright-is-like-a-hole-without-a-doughnut/) [George Jean Nathan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-jean-nathan/) > [I was a writer. I just wasn't a very good one. I was lucky enough to have a playwriting teacher who told me that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liev-schreiber/i-was-a-writer-i-just-wasn-t-a-very-good-one-i-was-lucky-enough-to/) [Liev Schreiber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liev-schreiber/) > [Any actor, any playwright who's worked a life in the theater knows how to do things cheaply and quickly. It's just all by necessity.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israel-horovitz/any-actor-any-playwright-who-s-worked-a-life-in-the-theater-knows-how/) [Israel Horovitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israel-horovitz/) > [I'm an actor and a playwright, and I don't earn much.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-mclaughlin/i-m-an-actor-and-a-playwright-and-i-don-t-earn-much/) [Ellen McLaughlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-mclaughlin/) > [There's no reason why you can't say "August Wilson, playwright" even though all of my work, every single play, is about black Americans, about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/august-wilson/there-s-no-reason-why-you-can-t-say-august-wilson-playwright-even/) [August Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/august-wilson/) > [I was first introduced to August Wilson in the 80s when Charles Dutton did Ma Rainey and James Earl Jones and Courtney Vance did…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denzel-washington/i-was-first-introduced-to-august-wilson-in-the-80s-when-charles/) [Denzel Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denzel-washington/) > [African-Americans are always forced to learn the other culture, but the other culture is not forced to learn ours. I went to acting school…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracie-thoms/african-americans-are-always-forced-to-learn-the-other-culture-but/) [Tracie Thoms](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracie-thoms/) > [Some playwrights are obvious influences on younger writers. Arthur Miller (realistic, politically engaged dramas) and Christopher Durang (satirical dark comedies) are examples. But August…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-j-sullivan/some-playwrights-are-obvious-influences-on-younger-writers-arthur/) Daniel J. Sullivan > [The thing with film and theater is that you always know the story so you can play certain cues in each scene with the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-cumming/the-thing-with-film-and-theater-is-that-you-always-know-the-story-so/) [Alan Cumming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-cumming/) > [For film and theater, you know how the story starts; you know how the story ends. With TV, you don't. It's literally like living…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/costa-ronin/for-film-and-theater-you-know-how-the-story-starts-you-know-how-the/) [Costa Ronin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/costa-ronin/) > [I happen to love working in cinema, but the theater is always there... you know, and I would never shut the door on it.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-york/i-happen-to-love-working-in-cinema-but-the-theater-is-always-there/) [Michael York](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-york/) > [Coming from the theater, you know what your given circumstances are every night and who your character is. You're reenacting this one moment of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-rannells/coming-from-the-theater-you-know-what-your-given-circumstances-are/) [Andrew Rannells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-rannells/) > [In film and theater, you know the story and the journey from beginning to end, but with TV, you can keep peeling away layers…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-boston/in-film-and-theater-you-know-the-story-and-the-journey-from-beginning/) [Rachel Boston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-boston/) ## More by Tracy Letts > ['Killer Joe' provides a lot of red meat for the theater. Pam MacKinnon is the perfect director to shepherd a group of actors who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracy-letts/killer-joe-provides-a-lot-of-red-meat-for-the-theater-pam-mackinnon/) [Tracy Letts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracy-letts/) > ['Killer Joe' was originally written in 1991 and first produced in '93 at the Next Theater's Lab - a 40 seat black box theater…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracy-letts/killer-joe-was-originally-written-in-1991-and-first-produced-in-93-at/) [Tracy Letts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracy-letts/) > [“VIOLET: Oh, horseshit, horeshit, let's all say horseshit. Say horseshit, Bill. BILL: Horseshit.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracy-letts/violet-oh-horseshit-horeshit-let-s-all-say-horseshit-say-horseshit/) [Tracy Letts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracy-letts/) > [The way we tell our stories on stage is that we use spoken word to convey action, and in movies, we use visual images…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracy-letts/the-way-we-tell-our-stories-on-stage-is-that-we-use-spoken-word-to/) [Tracy Letts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracy-letts/) > [I like Shakespeare, but I never know what the hell is going on.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracy-letts/i-like-shakespeare-but-i-never-know-what-the-hell-is-going-on/) [Tracy Letts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracy-letts/) > [I don't know what it says about me that I have a greater affinity with the damaged. Probably nothing good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracy-letts/i-don-t-know-what-it-says-about-me-that-i-have-a-greater-affinity/) [Tracy Letts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracy-letts/) > [“You're thoughtful, Barbara, but you're not open. You're passionate, but you're hard. You're a good, decent, funny, wonderful woman, and I love you, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracy-letts/you-re-thoughtful-barbara-but-you-re-not-open-you-re-passionate-but/) [Tracy Letts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracy-letts/) > [Divorce is an embarrassing public admission of defeat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracy-letts/divorce-is-an-embarrassing-public-admission-of-defeat/) [Tracy Letts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracy-letts/) > [Time wounds all heals.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracy-letts/time-wounds-all-heals/) [Tracy Letts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracy-letts/) > [One of the things you hope you've done as a playwright is create roles that can sustain different interpretations.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracy-letts/one-of-the-things-you-hope-you-ve-done-as-a-playwright-is-create/) [Tracy Letts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracy-letts/) > [I never know what the hell I'm writing about, I never know what the next thing I'm writing about is, I never have a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracy-letts/i-never-know-what-the-hell-i-m-writing-about-i-never-know-what-the/) [Tracy Letts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracy-letts/) > [“We covered this around Year Three, Bill: that you're the Master of Space and Time and I'm a spastic Pomeranian.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracy-letts/we-covered-this-around-year-three-bill-that-you-re-the-master-of/) [Tracy Letts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracy-letts/) > [I grew up in a small town, in a small community, and I would not have had access to great plays when I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracy-letts/i-grew-up-in-a-small-town-in-a-small-community-and-i-would-not-have/) [Tracy Letts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracy-letts/) > [I don't think I'd give advice. That never pays off. That's always a bad idea. If they follow your advice and it doesn't work…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracy-letts/i-don-t-think-i-d-give-advice-that-never-pays-off-that-s-always-a-bad/) [Tracy Letts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracy-letts/) > [You get to know a character that you play on-stage in a pretty profound way over a length of time. I don't want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracy-letts/you-get-to-know-a-character-that-you-play-on-stage-in-a-pretty/) [Tracy Letts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracy-letts/) [Explore all 56 Tracy Letts quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracy-letts/) ## 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'm just a Chicago actor who's a playwright. 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