I’ve always been an introvert, entirely more likely to let others approach me and strike up a conversation before I even say a word to them. So maybe it seems strange that I’ve been involved in theater for ten years, maybe it doesn’t. No matter that looks to other people, theater has been a big part of my life since I was very little.

I was about three or four years old when I saw my first musical: Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. Theater has been a part of my life ever since. I did a few church plays, but my first musical was in middle school. I’ve been involved in theater ever since, and it’s been a huge part of my life.

Introversion and theater don’t seem to go hand in hand. I’d argue that being introverted is not the same as being shy, but I’m shy as well. I grew up loving musicals, though. So, when I reached middle school, I jumped at my first chance to be involved in something that I loved so much.

I’ve been involved in musicals and shows ever since then. I did them all through middle school, high school, and college. I was always happy to be in the chorus or to play smaller roles. At my college, we mostly did plays. I’d get slightly larger roles for those. Whatever I got, I was happy to be involved.

Theater did not “get me out of my shell.” I’m still very much a shy introvert. However, theater did introduce me to people who are completely okay with that. I’ve been in shows with a wide variety of different people. I’ve met people who study all different kinds of subjects: computer programming, psychology, biology, business, communications, writing, education, chemistry, and, of course, theater. I’ve been in shows with people who are many years older than me. I’ve made some of my best friends by acting in shows. Each and every person I’ve met has been different. Despite these differences, they are all brought together by their love of theater.

Rehearsals only last for a short time and the show only goes on for a week or so, right? So how can I feel so close with these people? Performing a show requires every single person involved to put in effort to make everything come together. That’s not just the actors’ and director’s job, either. There are so many more people involved who all want to see a show come together. That requires a great deal of trust on everyone’s part. Actors have to trust each other to say their lines when they’re supposed to (or to find a way to recover from forgetting some). The stage crew has to be ready to execute a scene change in the shortest amount of time possible. The director has to trust the actors to listen to his or her direction, and the actors have to trust the director’s decisions. The stage manager has to dutifully record notes in the script and remember who is supposed to be where and what is supposed to be happening. Not to mention, there are light and sound cues that have to be pulled off at the right times.

All of these small pieces of the show must come together, and so it is only natural that the people involved build friendships. Rehearsing for a few hours every day also allows everyone to see each other often. Everyone involved becomes so much closer by closing night. I’ve made friends in theater that I’m sure will stay with me, no matter how shy or introverted I am. The theater accepts anyone willing to put in the effort to perform.