Hello friends!
I hope you are all doing well, and enjoying this warmer weather. Spring is blooming, and winter is dying. I love warmer weather so much. It makes me want to be outside more often. Anyways, not what I wanted to talk about today. Today, I want to share a personal feeling that's been going through my mind recently.
I really miss theatre.
For those of you who don't know, I participated in theatre all throughout high school and middle school. It became more than just a hobby for me. It practically engulfed my life. Whenever I wasn't in class, I was most likely at a rehearsal for the school show. It took over my time for both the good and the bad, but I'll get to that later.
The other weekend I went to see the musical Spring Awakening that was being produced at my college. The show was amazing. I got chills listening to the singing and watching the acting. It made me miss the thrill of being on stage. Theatre was an outlet for me to get all of my emotions out. It was a place where I could be with my friends and just leave reality for a while. It was a place where I could be something different. Someone different.
Now I have stage fright every once in a while. I know that makes no sense but let me explain. I get stage fright when I have to give a presentation to my English class or sing a solo at a choir concert. I get stage fright when I am myself on stage. When I have to be a character though, everything is different. If you give me a character to act as then I will be able to perform in front of a crowd after rehearsing it. Maybe I'll have some nerves, but it won't be as much as the other situation.
Portraying another person is exhilarating. There is something about becoming someone new that gives me adrenaline and excitement. One day I'm portraying Kenickie from Grease, and the next I'm running around as the Mysterious Man from Into The Woods. Every time it is different, and that is the best part. Sometimes I wish I could find the time to be a part of a cast or find the courage to audition for a show again. I don't want to go back and be in high school shows and relive everything. That is not at all what I'm saying. The past is the past and I kind of want to keep it that way.
I am afraid of having a bad experience with theatre again. I don't want to dread all the rehearsals or feel stressed out of my mind. I want to make new friends, make new experiences, and make new creative outlooks for myself. This summer I may be working at a theatre near me as an intern, and honestly, I'm excited about it. It'll slowly get myself back into that atmosphere, and maybe I will find the will to audition for a show at my college in a future semester.
I love theatre, and I love everything about it. Though I did have bad experiences with it, I did have some pretty great ones. I have some amazing friends, and I learned some new skills along the way. I'm grateful for my time with theatre. I'll never forget it, or the people that made it special to me.
Maybe one day I'll be in a show again, or maybe I'll continue to see shows as an audience member. I don't know. Life is full of paths and right now I'm going down one that I'm okay with for now. When a new path comes along that takes me to audition for a show, maybe I will take it. I'll wait for that time to come to make that decision.
Thank you for taking the time to read this if you did. If you are still in high school doing theatre, I hope you are enjoying it. I'm excited to see some friends perform in their musical Curtains the second week of April. I know it will be amazing. Keep your heads up, and enjoy the rest of your week. I'll see you all next time with a new article.
Your Friend,
Al