Sinclair360

When Michael Malarkey was cast as Tartaglia in Sinclair Community College’s production of The King Stag, he had no idea that his experience would blossom into a career. “Working with such an imaginative director as John Fleming and other inspiring young actors ignited my interest in pursuing acting as a career,” said Malarkey. “In fact, I am still friends with several members of that company!”

Malarkey also starred in other productions while at Sinclair, including A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum (as Marcus Lycus), which was directed by Nelson Sheeley, and Cymbeline (as Iachimo), which was directed by Kathleen Cleary.

“I received DayTony Awards for Excellence in Acting for all three roles [at Sinclair], which was encouraging. I was also ‘singing’ in a punk/metal band at the time, which was a blast and assisted me in gaining additional stage confidence. We ended up playing all over Ohio and touring the Midwest. Dayton is a great place to experiment artistically, because there are so many avenues to get involved with,” said Malarkey.

Malarkey auditioned for drama schools in London after he graduated from Sinclair, his interest in British cinema guiding him overseas, instead of to New York or Los Angeles. He was accepted at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art (LAMDA), and he received a first-class Bachelor of Arts honors degree in 2008.

“After graduating from LAMDA, I worked as a waiter, doing temp work on the side. My agent was putting me up for loads of good auditions, and I was getting encouraging feedback – but not the jobs. It took about eight months to get my first jobs, when I was cast as Robert in Beyond the Horizon, by Eugene O’Neill, and Arthur in Spring Storm, by Tennessee Williams,” said Malarkey. “The shows were to be played in rotation at the Royal & Derngate in Northampton.

The productions opened to fantastic reviews, and the run was such a success that both plays transferred to The National Theatre in London. They opened at the end of March 2010, and are scheduled to run until July 22. I am thrilled to be playing lead roles in these early plays by two of America’s finest dramatists, at one of London’s most prolific theatres.”

Malarkey realizes that Sinclair was a great place for him to further his acting career. “I really value the affordability of Sinclair, as well as how accommodating the college is for each individual,” he said. “Having the opportunity to participate in a whole range of classes and construct my own curriculum was just what I needed at that time in my life.

“Also,” he continued, “working with Kathleen Cleary and Brian McKnight in the acting classes not only helped ignite my interest in the profession, but also established my sense of professionalism and the importance of technique in the craft. My experiences in the acting classes and especially onstage gave me the confidence and desire to take acting seriously.”

Although Malarkey knows that acting for a living won’t always be easy, he’s comfortable with that and looks forward to new challenges. “It’s vital to be able to maintain a cool head, stay in shape and network during the times you’re out of work. Any profession under the category of ‘the arts’ promises a bumpy ride. Some find it maddening; but with the right mental attitude, it can be very exciting and rewarding!”

For more information about Beyond the Horizon or Spring Storm, visit nationaltheatre.org.uk.

By Meghann Heft

Meghann Heft recently graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Communications from the University of Dayton. She can be reached at meghann.heft@gmail.com.