Theater is hard work. I remember someone who has long since graduated sharing how an athlete had sneered "Well, we take ourselves seriously," at her from over a coffee shop counter -- which, OK, we don't always take ourselves seriously. We joke about shows and directors and rehearsal all of the time. But just like any other person in college, we're here because this is what we want to do for a living, and it is hard. Don't believe me? Hear it from the horse's mouth.
1. Time constraints
Ever have to put together an entire show, choreography and blocking and line memorization and all, in a collective 35 hours? Say hello to the cast of "Little Shop of Horrors," playing at Cardinal Stritch from April 15th-24, 2016 who have been rehearsing for six days a week from 6:30 p.m. to 10 at night.
2. "To be, or not to ... uh, line?"
Contrary to what you might think, memorizing lines is harder than it sounds. And no, I'm actually not talking about Shakespeare. Compared to a lot of contemporary plays these days, which feature a more organic conversation structure of people interrupting each other and sometimes offering nothing more than a "Hmm" or "Uh-huh," learning a page of Shakespeare verse is a walk in the 16th to 17th century park where everyone rhymes and sentences don't end until the director says they end.
3. Choreography. Lots of choreography.
Step-touch step-touch kick-ball change pivot. Keep your arms tucked into your sides. Look at the audience. Great! Now try doing it in-tempo instead of at half speed. No, no, no! Let's start from the beginning ...
4. You don't get an off-season.
Whoof! We finally opened the show. No more rehearsals until 10 p.m.! Now I can relax, play some video games, and catch up on my home -- ... what do you mean auditions for the next show are on Friday?
5. Tech Week.
Basic survival rules of dealing with actors on tech week: give them a full pot of tea and a full bottle of honey, be gentle when breaking the news of the five-page paper due next class, and do not -- I repeat -- do not, under any circumstances, ask them how the show is going.
These are just a handful of the struggles theater majors go through. Thankfully, theater communities are pretty tight-knit, which helps to take away from some of the craziness. And the hardest work is the most rewarding!
(We're also pretty welcoming to newcomers. Just putting that out there.)
