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June 5, 2007
Curtain Calling
Former Raider Red moves to New York City to make his acting dreams come true.
Written by Kristen Delisle
Mallen stars as Corny Collins in the national 72-city tour of "Hairspray."
© 2006 Chris Bennion
It’s early in the evening. But for Jarret Mallon, the night has just begun. The orchestra begins to play and the stage lights cast a warm glow on the audience.
“I can’t believe this is happening,” the Texas Tech alumnus says to himself backstage. “I can’t believe this is my job.”
Preceding a summer 2007 release of the major motion picture, Mallon stars as Corny Collins in the national tour of the hit Broadway show “Hairspray.” The show highlights the life of a young girl with a big heart and even bigger hair who dreams of appearing on “The Corny Collins Show,” Baltimore’s most popular dance show. Mallon is currently on a 72-city tour of the United States and Canada, proving it’s never too late to try something new.
While many actors get their start as youngsters, this 36-year-old actor didn't get serious about his craft until several years after he earned his bachelor’s degree in public relations from Texas Tech.
“I was bitten by the acting bug rather late in life,” said Mallon from his New York City home.
Texas Tech Roots Run Deep
Originally from Georgetown, Mallon said he first discovered his talent for acting as Raider Red for two football seasons. A former Saddle Tramp, Mallon said his experiences with spirit organizations on campus brought out the performer in him.
“It was an amazing experience to be an ambassador for Texas Tech,” said Mallon. “It was fantastic to represent the university, travel and see other campuses. Each term I made about 150 personal appearances in parades, elementary schools, hospitals and other community events. I was constantly out and about with the saddle tramps and Raider Red.”
After his graduation in 1994, Mallon stayed with Texas Tech as an admissions counselor and later as a graduate student. Though he had no prior acting experience in high school or college, Mallon said he became more interested in theater while pursuing his master’s degree in interdisciplinary studies. The degree, which focused on three concentrations of mass communications, higher education and theater, helped spark the flame that one day would become a fire – his passion for performing.
“When I started my master’s at Texas Tech, I took theater management courses and theater classes and I really got interested in that field,” said Mallon. “I had always had the desire to act, and I knew I could sing a little bit, so I thought ‘I want to try this out.'”
Mallon's performances have been described by critics as "hypnotic" and "flawless," but this New York actor first caught the acting bug while performing as Raider Red. Photo credit www.JarretMallon.com.
Mallon soon became heavily involved with local theater productions sponsored by the Texas Tech School of Music, theater department and local Lubbock community theater programs.
Risking it all to Make the Dream a Reality
After graduating with his master's degree in August 2000, Mallon grew tired of his office job, sold nearly all of his belongings and moved to New York City to pursue his dream of becoming an actor. Without a plan, he moved into an apartment with an old friend from college, and enrolled in a musical theater/vocal performance program at New York University.
“I knew I needed to get to New York City; I knew that’s where I needed to be to be a professional actor,” said Mallon. “For the most part, I didn’t have a plan. I thought initially it was going to be a lot easier than it is to find success in this industry.”
His gamble paid off, and Mallon has since found a steady stream of work in numerous roles such as Amos in “Chicago,” Will Rogers in “The Will Rogers Follies” and Master of Ceremonies in “Cabaret.”
Being a Little Crazy Doesn't Hurt
Though he said there’s always been something inside that’s driven him, there are still occasions where he can’t believe he’s achieved the acting success of which most people only dream. He readily admits that he’s always been just a little crazy, and feels fortunate to have found his success. But one piece of advice that has stuck with him thus far and continues to inspire him to this day.
“I think there comes a point when you just can’t be scared,” said Mallon. “A professor once said ‘so many of you are so scared to know just how powerful you can be. Don’t be scared to be as powerful as you can be.’ I think once you realize It’s just about putting yourself out there and taking a risk, you can succeed. It may not pay off the day you take that risk, but down the line it will come.”
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