Being a part of theatre all through high school, there were certain moments that I experienced over and over again. Every theatre season is unique, but from the very first read-through to the very last show there are a few things that I eventually came to expect. Every theatre kid knows that thanks to all these shared moments, nothing will compare to the bond you hold with your cast as they will be there for you through every tear, every forgotten line, every trip over a prop, and every time you actually hit that note you didn't think you could. Many of these moments are portrayed quite accurately through scenes from the incredibly popular sitcom Modern Family.
1. Feeling like a badass when you walk on stage for your first show.
Nothing compares to walking out under the hot lights and seeing the faces of the audience looking up at you. Once you shake off all the nerves and anxiety, you feel like you could take on the entire world as you step out onto the stage.
2. Trying to improvise when you completely forget your lines
If you have ever acted before and claim to have never forgotten a line...you're lying. Forgetting your lines is 100% awkward, but hopefully your fellow cast-mates will realize what's going on and help you create a moment that you can actually laugh about later.
3. The moment you get your costume and realize it's horrendous.
The day you get your costumes is always full of excitement along with a little bit of fear. Your friends, family, and a bunch of random people are inevitably going to see you wearing this costume, so you can only hope you don't get stuck with something that contains excessive amounts of glitter or neoprene, and fits at least kind of properly.
4. The emotional roller coaster that is tech week.
You will go from Eponine singing "A Little Fall of Rain" in Les Miserables to Scar in the entirety of The Lion King in a matter of three minutes. Only your real friends will understand why tech week has you thrown into an emotional tornado, and understand that after you've had an adequate amount of sleep you'll be somewhat back to normal. (Until the post-drama-trauma sets in, that is)
5. The moment when another theatre kid doesn't know every single word to your favorite showtune.
You can expect that most of your friends outside of theatre won't be able to share in singing all of "Cell Block Tango" with you, but it's basically an unwritten rule that in a dressing room full of thespians any showtune is appropriate. It's all fun and games until someone has never heard your all-time favorite showtune and you smother them with all your fangirl knowledge.
6. Trying to reenact a scene from your favorite musical/movie with your cast-mates.
Every single theatre kid is guilty of this, and usually the outcome results in lots of laughter and Snapchats. Actors however, are not the only one guilty of this as it isn't the least bit uncommon to witness the backstage crew reenacting the entire show together behind the curtains.
7. When your director gives you the same note 5,000 times and you still can't figure out their vision.
For some reason something as simple as walking two steps left can become the most frustrating thing in the world when your director keeps telling you you're just not doing it the way you're supposed to. Every once in a while your director has their specific vision, and you just can't figure out what it is no matter how many times you try to walk three steps towards stage left.
8. All the random and incredibly unhealthy food you eat during tech week.
Tech week is already an emotional roller coaster, so why not just add in a plethora of terrible food to add to the stress-acne that's already happening. Sour Patch Watermelon, Pizza, Coffee, Twizzlers, all tech week favorites, and "it's tech week" will forever be a valid excuse for eating all of it.
