Theatre is so much more than getting on a stage and pretending to be a character. It's about the audience and the behind-the-scenes jokes. It's about those unbreakable bonds you form with everyone involved in the theatre program. Those people out there putting on a show are more than just a cast— they are a family.

Before I became involved in the theatre arts, I never knew just how close everyone was in theatre. It didn't take long for me to realize that this was one giant family. We are all held together by our love for the arts. That bonding is what really makes the productions great. As you are onstage, you become much more relaxed knowing that one of your best friends is right there next to you.

Theatre is a huge part in a lot of people's lives, and every one of them has the same love and passion as the rest of us. We don't do it for the fame or the money (for those of us that get paid). We do it for the fans and the love we have for the program. When a performer is standing onstage during a performance, the one thing he or she cares the most about is making the audience really invested in the production— either that or not forgetting his or her lines. Both are pretty important to a performer. Feedback from an audience member is a huge part of what we do. We take the negative criticisms and use them to improve our next performance. The positive feedback is what gets us through the day. Having an audience member comment on how great of a job you did is something that makes every performer feel like the greatest person ever— that goes for any profession that you are in. Everyone loves being complimented on how great of a job they did on something.

Let's get a little more personal. The arts have always been a huge part of my life. Growing up, I sang a lot, and I've also been playing the trumpet for nine years. Nothing has made me feel like acting does, though. The feeling of escaping from reality and becoming a totally different person is something that I really enjoy having. Everyone's love for the arts is built on something. This is just a little bit about what mine is built on. No matter what you love, if it's special to you, then make the most out of it. Use that love and passion to your advantage and live your life to the fullest.