Theatre is a way of life for some people. If you are a theatre person, that means something to you. There is something very unique about you that is somehow a characteristic of most other theatre people. Some may disagree with that statement, but it is what I have learned in my years in the theater. So here are a few signs that you may be a theatre person:
1. Your wardrobe looks like this:
This is actually a photo of a good portion of my blacks. We have a show this week and I need to be prepared.
2. This makes perfect sense to you:
CB -x -> DL
(my initials are CB, in case you were wondering)
3. The spelling: "Theater" is the equivalent of nails on a chalkboard.
4. A shiver goes through your spine when anyone dares utter the name of the Scottish play.
5. You and your pals go by cute nicknames, such as Garrick and De Loutherbourg.
6. You slip in and out of accents like it's your job, because it kind of is.
7. Your bookshelf looks a little something like this:
A collection isn't complete without Shakespeare's complete works. Plus, a little Beckett and Albee never hurt anyone. (By the way, this is actually my bookshelf.)
8. You've used the phrase of, "I can't, I have rehearsal..." more times than you can keep track.
9. You treat life like a musical and burst out into song and dance, even in public. Because singing in public is fine, it's just a challenge, to resist getting laughed at. (That is a reference to the "Last Five Years" and I literally say it on a daily basis.)
10. You know who this is and you're probably a little jealous right now. (Bonus if you know the show on my shirt!)
11. You've mistakenly called sports practices "rehearsals" and tryouts "auditions".
12. You own at least one costume piece or prop. True you're not supposed to take them home, but regardless of whether you're production or performance, you most likely have something from a show sitting in your room right now.
13. You're the person that waits outside the stage door no matter the weather, show, time, or place.
14. You refer to your fellow theatre peeps as family, because in theatre we are not just friends, we are family.
15. You have most likely seen all of your friends in their underwear, or less, or they have seen you in your underwear, or less. There is no room for modesty in the theatre.
16. A theatre isn't just a building or stage to you, it's a home. It's a place that you belong. It's a place you can be yourself. It's a place where you can learn, grow, and love.
