Meet Joe Staton | Actor, Director, Producer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Joe Staton and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Joe, what led you to pursuing a creative path professionally?
Not an easy question! I guess because I was brought up in a highly creative family. Creativity was really valued among us – my mother was a dance teacher, my aunt works in costume design, and my parents ran a face-painting company called Snazaroo Facepaints. I was drawn to acting, theatre, and film from a very early age though, and this mixed with a passion for history and storytelling just made sense. I also developed a passion for Shakespeare at an extremely young age, and that really shaped what I wanted to do. I made the decision to go to drama school in both London and New York and haven’t looked back since! I love creating, I love mixing with creative people (or, as my best friend calls them: doers), and I think it’s just the most rewarding way to live your life. I did the whole 9 to 5 job sitting behind a desk. It’s not for me.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
It’s been a long road so far and it shows no sign of getting any shorter. I’ve struggled in the past with self-confidence and worries that I am not good enough. This is happening less and less as I get older, but there will always be challenges and hurdles to overcome. I knew that I really wanted to go to drama school, and I auditioned consistently in my late teens/early 20s with little success, until finally, I managed to get into the Stella Adler Studio in New York City. But that constant rejection was difficult to overcome, though it did teach me a lot, and in ways, I’m grateful for it. As a working actor, rejection is something I face on an almost daily basis, and there will always be people who put you down or who don’t respect you in ways they wish you would. I’ve had many days when I’ve thought about giving up. What gets me through that and edges me onwards is literally the thought of doing anything else. I think about other things I’m interested in an try to imagine dedicating my life to them and I just can’t. So, at least for now, acting has been the only thing I’ve been able to see myself doing. And every success, no matter how big or small, is still a success and I have a lot to be proud of.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Central Park for sure. I can’t get enough of Central Park, it’s absolutely beautiful in the summer and when it’s covered in snow in the winter it is seriously just gorgeous! I actually work part-time as a Broadway tour guide, so from Times Square through Broadway I know a lot about that area! Prospect Park in Brooklyn is also a great time, but I have to give a shout-out to my favourite bar in Williamsburg – Hatchets and Hops! It’s an axe-throwing bar, everyone who works there is an actor, and you can have axe-throwing tournaments! It’s a lot of fun, and surprisingly safe!

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Oh, wow, so many people. This is gonna feel like writing an Oscar speech. Lee Walker has to come first: he was my first drama teacher from age 10! He sparked the passion that started it all. Lisa Solett also has to have a shout-out for introducing me to A Midsummer Night’s Dream when I was 10 years old. If that hadn’t happened, I think my life would have been a lot different. Thank you, Lisa.

Jon Campbell was a director and teacher of mine who I miss dearly. Sadly he passed away in 2017, but he taught me a great deal in the time that I knew him. I met him during a low point in my life and he turned that around completely, making me realize that I could do this. Paul McNeilly has also been a valued mentor and contact, who has taught me a great deal and I’ve been lucky enough to work with on the short film “The Lightworker” which has one too many awards now to count!

My teachers at The Stella Adler Studio of Acting, especially Suzi Takahashi who managed a miracle and actually got me to enjoy movement classes! Elizabeth Shepherd and Jack Wetherall for nurturing my love of classical theatre, and Joe Goscinski who has been an incredible mentor, voice coach, acting coach, and director – he will be fondly remembered for casting me in my first ever paid Shakespeare role at the Classic Theatre of San Antonio in Texas. Thank you, Joe. Through that, John Stillwagon and Carolyn Dellinger for being two supportive and talented people who I love working with! John Desotelle and Judith Feingold for accepting me into their community and teaching me so much.

Annika Low for helping me overcome my fear of self-taping, teaching me to waltz, and supporting me constantly! She’s the absolute best. The team at Glitter Talent Agency for taking a chance on me, Mike Grenham for constantly having my back, Mike Hopkinson for his sense of humour, Gwendolyn Fitz for her friendship, Karissa Carpenter for her stage management skills, Chloe Champken for being an awesome director, playwright Floyd Toulet for his writing and trusting me with his work, Victor Hugo for writing Les Miserables, Alain Boublil & Claude-Michel Schönberg for turning Les Miserables into a musical that inspired me, my friend Harrison Tipping for being such a dedicated, talented actor and friend, and finally my mum Lauren Staton for her constant support, pushing me to pursue what I want to do, and being one of the best people I know. Thanks, Mum.

I fully expect to receive messages from people I’ve forgotten to mention. If you’re reading this, I value you, and thank you. I know far too many people.

Website: https://www.joestaton.net/

Instagram: @staton_the_facts

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/joesprog/

Image Credits
Wolf Marloh Photography Perk Hull Design AK47 Division