"I've got time on my hands, do you need anything done?" I walked into Melanie Harris' office on a Wednesday, trying to kill time and un-fry my brain before Calculus that evening. Melanie had said earlier in the year that if anyone was bored or found a relief from stress through various tasks such as what working theatre can supply, he or she could just drop in any time. I decided to take her up on that offer, and I am beyond happy that I did.
As a high school student, I was very involved in the drama club. One of the things I looked forward to each year was the North Half High School Drama Fest, held right here at Mississippi State University. We would spend months in rehearsal, picking at the smallest of details and running the same scenes repeatedly. It meant hours without sleep, hours neglecting studies, and hours of doing exactly what we love to do. We'd find ourselves with a conflict and we could say nothing to one another other than, "make it happen." I participated in this competition that called for such grueling and rewarding work for four years. During my last competition, I thought that I was finished with Drama Fest. I'm glad that I was wrong.
It took two hours to put up signs for the competition. That's right, you read it correctly. Two hours. This year, the functioning of the competition is being run on a color code; two colors going up stairs, two going down. Sounds simple, but believe me, it's not. After putting up the signs, re-assessing the signs, and putting up more signs, I felt that I had accomplished at least something that day. There were so many issues with the signs, but again, "make it happen," right? Then I was asked to babysit the copy machine. You see, it only produces about seven programs before throwing a fit and refusing to function unless you empty out those seven as they are produced. So I sat next to the machine and removed programs as they were spit out. The best part was that I was able to work on calculus at the same time.
These tasks seem small, and hey, they were, but throughout the day I could see the work that others as well as myself were doing to put together this competition, and it reminded me of what it was like to prepare for a show. While putting together packets and getting name tags sorted, I was smiling the whole day, just being able to do what I was doing.
Then came the real kicker. The day was not without its problems, and that is what I love and adore about working in theatre. It's flexible and adaptable, yet it commands authority and to be held to a high standard. The most random issues are tossed in the way of achieving perfection, yet the resilience of cast, crew, and actors together makes the production something presented as magic but held together by crossed fingers, prayer, and good luck.
Putting together this competition has been something like putting together a show. Only this time, I wasn't on stage. I wasn't presenting myself with emotion demonstrated for the appeal and delight of a crowd. Today I was able to display my own delight in the over all success of the competition. I also was able to display the dark circles under my eyes from running myself weary and tired.
Backstage is a whole new world, one that I have taken to with such appeal, and it has welcomed me with open arms. Actually, everyone back stage welcomed me with literal open arms. It's a pretty grand place to be. You'll hear that theatre students are all different, everyone has different personalities, and those who may utter those words are correct. What some may not realize is that in theatre, there is a vibration, maybe more of a feeling, of connectivity and family. I guess when you have to wrangle a herd of teenagers together, you bond a bit.
Returning to theatre, even in one as new to me as this one, has been sort of like coming home. My brain has definitely been un-fried, and new hopes have been added. These are hopes to learn more, to overcome more obstacles, to do more. Because in the theatre, we make things happen.
If you even have the slightest interest in theatre, go to McComas and volunteer an hour or two. If you're even slightly interested in cleaning or just having good-natured conversation, go to McComas. I swear, that place is magic.
