Skyler Sinclair made our Ones to Watch list in 2017. Fresh out of college and fresh off a powerhouse debut in Dry Land at Mildred’s Umbrella, she was still deciding if Houston would become her acting home.
“I knew if there were opportunities present, I was going to take them,” says Sinclair. “And if they were continuing to happen in Houston, I was going to stay here and see how it goes.”
Houston roles kept coming, and nearly ten years later, Sinclair has performed on almost every stage in town—often in the lead or as part of a strong ensemble. It’s exactly the kind of theater she always dreamed of: work that has shaped her as both artist and person. Still, like most young actors, Sinclair had to learn to feel worthy of the work.
Never more so than in 2019, when she performed at the Alley for the first time in Crimes of the Heart. “I remember thinking I’m gonna throw up, ” says Sinclair. “It was at a time at the Alley when local actors weren’t getting hired there a lot, so the pressure of being on that stage with women I admire was just like, I can’t do this. Like, who am I? But it ended up being the best experience because everyone was so supportive.”
Few things boost confidence more than repeated invitations to join a show—especially Main Street’s cherished Christmastime productions of Lauren Gunderson and Margot Melcon’s Jane Austen prequels and sequels. Sinclair has lost count of her performances, focusing instead on her gratitude for being part of something so special. Experiences like these, and collaborating with great local artists, have deeply helped her process.
“I think I’ve gotten better about being more relaxed where I need to be relaxed, especially in the rehearsal room,” says Sinclair. I’ve also gotten more confident in my ability, approach and attempt. And if it’s wrong, well, hey, the director will just get it back on track and it’s not a big deal. So rehearsals have become a lot more fun for me.”
Jennifer Dean, Artistic Director at 4th Wall, has seen this transition firsthand over the years. Most recently, she directed Sinclair in the company’s production of Our Town. “While Skyler’s talent was evident from day one, watching her confidence and trust in herself develop has been wonderful,” says Dean. “She is thoughtful and curious and wants to do her best, but she brings such a genuine love and care to her work that you instantly fall in love with the characters she creates. She loves the work and is a true delight as a person to have in any rehearsal room.”
Audiences delight in seeing Sinclair on stage. She typically plays outgoing characters who always have something to say—and say it fearlessly.
“I hear the words feisty or spitfire a lot,” says Sinclair. “And while that’s not necessarily my go-to, I do have a fire in me and I do have that energy about me and I’m not afraid to use it if it helps tell the character’s story.”
What really excites Sinclair at this stage in her career are stories and characters that move people in some way.
“I like anything that manages to hit an audience and make them feel something,” says Sinclair. “If it’s a comedy and there’s a moment of relatability, then that’s the show I want to do. If it’s a drama, and audiences feel those moments, then that’s the show I want to do. I don’t have a preference between one or the other because I kind of attack them the same way.”
Next up for Sinclair will be the zany dinner-party comedy Red Maple at MATCH, running March 26–April 4.