It's been a hard few weeks. Honestly, no matter who you voted for, this entire election has been intense, to say the least. With that in mind, I'd prefer to stray from post-election discussions for at least most of this article and share a positive. This is a fact that all theatre students should know to be true, and, to those looking for solace, you may find comfort here: Shakespeare is good for the soul.

It just is. It makes you think, it makes you feel, and, as a theatre student, or even just a person who absorbs media, it takes you back to the basics of entertainment. Shakespeare, with its beautiful language, vague stage direction, and universal stories allows you to read and act imaginatively, while still maintaining a true sense of history and respect. As someone who has done a surprisingly large amount of Shakespeare in their lifetime, I often find that it hits my plate exactly when I need it. In January of 2016, I stage managed (and randomly understudied) a production of As You Like It. The plot doesn't make sense, the language is sometimes difficult to follow, but you know what? Even with all that, it helped me get through deciding to take a semester off of school. In summer of 2017, my sister directed and I produced (and acted in) a staged reading of Hamlet for the charity Dramatic Need. The language is somewhat difficult to follow, the scholarship on Hamlet has many varying points of view, but you know what? Even with all that, it helped me realize why I do charity work and why I want to continue to advocate for theatre education for children.

I am currently in a production of a Shakespeare piece. I am playing Lady Capulet in a student directed, devised theatre production of Romeo and Juliet. Seems pretty typical, right? Incorrect. This production utilizes gender-blind casting: Juliet is being played by a man, while Friar Laurence, Benvolio, and Tybalt are being played by women. While I believe this was, initially, just to challenge our little cast (there are only seven of us in this show). We were focused on the movement and the characters, not trying to make a political statement, but just letting our acting be guided by the intricate language and gorgeous story. However, after the misery of last week's election, our show became something so much more important. Rehearsal the Wednesday after Tuesday's results was a blessing. Not only did it give most of us a much needed catharsis, it also gave us the recognition of our much more necessary work. I cannot take credit for this at all, as our director reminded us of this, but here it is: As artists, it is our job and our blessing to share and help create the kind of world we want to live in. I am honored to be a part of a project that shows that love is love is love. This is the world I want to live in.

With that in mind, go pick up some Shakespeare. Read the stories, come up with ideas, and work for the kind of world you want to live in.