Today we’d like to introduce you to Tanner Vydos.
Hi Tanner, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I was born and partially raised in Southwestern Oregon. I developed a passion and fascination with acting singing, and playing music at a very young age. I ended up getting sick a lot in elementary school, and I had a lot of time to watch and reenact my favorite movies scenes and sing my favorite songs, and play my favorite songs on my keyboard that I had at the time. I had spent many many hours informally developing my skills as an actor/singer/musician for most of my early childhood. Then I moved to Southern California at age 11 and within a couple weeks of me moving there, my mother and I were at a Target, and I was pulled aside my a youth talent scout to become a part of this talent agency. I ended up doing a few pilots for televisions shows and even got to work with Brian Singer (the director of the X-Men movies) on the set of one of the pilots.
However, after moving out of the LA/OC down to San Diego, it was too hard to keep me as a client with all the driving that had to be done.
In middle school/high school, I started doing after-school drama and singing in a band called “The Muskrats”; developing my skills further.
Towards the end of high school, I started doing community theatre around North County and got familiar with the community of artists in the area eventually developing a heavy interest in Shakespearean text.
Out of high school into young adulthood
I also was lucky enough to have many high-caliber influential mentors that believed in my pursuit of becoming a professional actor/singer.
18 I was cast in a professional Reg. Touring production of Les Miserables.
That opened my eyes to the standard of excellence and consistency that is required of performers.
Since then, I have worked with companies such as Cygnet Theatre, Welk Resort, San Diego Musical Theatre, New Village Arts, Scripps Ranch Theatre, Oceanside Theatre Company, Star Theatre, Lamplighters Theatre, Patio Playhouse, Coronado Playhouse, Mira Costa, and many more in the Riverside County region.
Over the last ten years, I have also written a lot of music. Some of them in the form of singles and some in the form of musical numbers. I have a passion to compose my own musical and have been working meticulously to complete that project. Hopefully, with the community that I have around me, I can make that possible someday.
I have developed many passions over the years. I really like to create different realities or engaging experiences for audiences and communities. Whether that be storytelling or board games, or music, I will not rest until I show the world my work.
I have been so lucky to grow up in the San Diego theatre community. It is full of so many giving, talented, and wise artists that have built me into the person I am today. I have all of them to thank for the work that I do today.
A piece of advice that will always stick with me is “The Work is Never Done,” and I really resonate with that.
If the work is never done, then you’ll never stop growing.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
I’d like to think that, relatively speaking, I have had a pretty smooth road. The only times the road was bumpy was when I made it bumpy for myself, and I made a lot of flubs and mistakes along the way. My work ethic and conduct have definitely improved, and I have the people that I worked with over the years to thank for that development.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
Mainly, I am a professional singer/actor in the San Diego musical theatre scene.
I am a legit Baritenor that specializes in 20th-century classical compositions but can venture into Rock/Pop Opera as well.
I would say that is what I am most known for to my knowledge.
I also spend a lot of my time studying and performing Shakespeare.
I make videos on my Instagram of Shakespearean Monologue, and I love to get out the lexicons and de-crypt the text.
I think something that might set me apart from others is the volume of my voice. I can get very loud. On good days, I can compete with full orchestras for sound control. But I do think I can always improve on dynamics, and I work hard to keep developing that skill.
Is there anyone you’d like to thank or give credit to?
Yes, absolutely, there are so many. Everyone that I have worked with in every production that I have been a part of. I’ve found that there is always something to learn from every artist that you work with.
Some specific people that come to mind are
Justin Lang (Actor & Educator)
I met him through an educational outreach program in my high school drama department. He specializes in Shakespeare, and his approach to the language spoke to me and guided me on a path of performing Shakespeare in the SD/Riverside community. He is still a great mentor and friend to this day.
Kristianne Kurner (Artistic Director of New Village Arts)
I also met her with an educational outreach program in my high school.
She saw my passion for theatre and acting and provided me many professional opportunities that helped boost my career. I am forever grateful for everything that I have learned from her.
Jeff Ingman (Actor and Educator)
Jeff really helped me with thinking about the business side to being an actor and how to really market myself to directors/casting directors in the audition room (still something I’m working on). There are so many acting techniques and philosophies that I’ve never seen anywhere else. An acting mentor and coach of the highest order.
Lisa Berger (Director/Educator)
Lisa introduced me to the Meisner technique. The discovery of self and delivering lines with truth and working off of your scene partners. She taught me to make my performances not about myself but about the other cast mates and the audience.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tannervydos?igshid=YTQwZjQ0NmI0OA%3D%3D&utm_source=qr
- SoundCloud: https://on.soundcloud.com/A8vfeRv3QHMArs1c7
- Other: https://www.backstage.com/tal/tannervidos
Image Credits
Ken Jaques Photography
Jeeky Productions
Daren Scott Photography
Balderama & Bernhardt Photography
