This weekend, I made a quick 24-hour trip home to see my middle school drama club's production of "High School Musical." I've been out of middle school for five years now, so I know it seems a little crazy that I would make the trek home just to see a two-hour long musical put on by students that I barely know.
It isn't the fact that I've been dying to see a middle school production of "High School Musical," or that I'm stuck in middle school that brought me home this weekend. It's the community of people, the incredible memories, and the values that musical theatre taught me that keep me coming back for more.
Being involved in musical theatre gave me a safe space to express myself while I was trying to figure out who I was and what my morals were at a young age. It is very easy to feel pressured to fit a specific social mold when you are in middle and high school, but I found that my musical theatre community was comprised of the most accepting and supportive individuals I've ever met. To this day, my closest friends are the people I met through my middle school drama club. I still have excellent relationships with the faculty members, parents, and other students who helped out in the productions. It is a great feeling to know that I have a whole community of individuals invested and interested in my success beyond the stage.
Rehearsals and performances are a time where you get to put yourself and your problems behind and step into the life of another character. I'm sure you've heard the phrase, "Keep the drama out of the drama club." For me, that expression rang true. The moment I stepped into a rehearsal, it was time to check my problems at the door, and focus my complete energy on creating a performance with other people. I have always struggled with allowing my stress to get the best of me. Rehearsals and performances were always way for me to invest all of my nervous energy into a positive place. In addition to this, the results of my investment in theatre were tangible; it wasn't just an A at the top of an exam, but the ability to make an audience member happy or to hit the harmony perfectly. For me, those accomplishments were far more rewarding than a good grade.
However, the most valuable thing I learned from musical theatre was to follow your passion and give it everything you have. There is something about making music and stories with others on a stage that creates this magical feeling that is very hard to put down in words. That feeling, in my opinion, is what passion feels like; it lights a fire inside of you and makes you want to try for the best even when you're feeling down. When you perform a musical, you are building a story through creativity, innovation, and timelessness. No musical is ever told the same way twice; but everyone can understand the values of the story regardless of the way it is portrayed to the audience. It is an awe-inspiring notion, and one I consider myself so lucky to have experience on multiple occasions.
I know musical theatre has made me a better person. From teaching me about hard work and dedication to giving me a solid support system, I will always be so grateful for the things I have learned from musical theatre. It is a part of me I will hold on to forever, like a handprint on my heart.
