Being involved with a theatre production is always a lot of work and a lot of fun. Between the weeks of rehearsing to the endless hours you spend researching and preparing for the show, you will notice a few things that are always true:
1. Everyone involved with the production gets really close really fast.
It is incredible how quickly everyone becomes in sync with each other. Between seeing people at rehearsal every day to sharing many of the same interests, it is easy for people in the cast and crew to become very close. And being close with everyone is what makes performing with them so special!
2. The ensemble is essential in creating an amazing show.
The ensemble is incredibly important in creating an amazing show. In my experience, people often complain about being cast in the ensemble, but I have always felt that they do not understand the importance of their role in the show. The ensemble supports the lead roles and brings a lot of the energy to the show with their every interaction and reaction to what is happening on stage. The ensemble makes such a difference in how the audience receives the show and have the power to make a good show a great one.
3. You have to be creative.
Often during the run of a show, the material can start to feel old. In those cases, it is important to be creative in order to bring new, exciting elements to the show. Sometimes this can mean looking for new interpretations of lines or songs, finding a different way to approach a scene, etc. Creativity is essential in keeping the show fresh and exciting for audience members as well as the performers.
4. Everyone has off days.
It is important to remember that there will be days for everyone where they forget words or slip up on something and that is okay. That is why we love live theatre! The mark of a good performer is how they come back from those slip ups. So when stuff happens, and it will, take a deep breath and move forward.
5. Theatre is a team effort.
Productions are not possible without all of the crews and actors. It is so easy to neglect the work of the many crews or musicians working on a show -- but their work is incredibly important in supporting what the actors do to tell the story.
6. A little kindness goes a long way.
Being in a show means working with a lot of different people and it is important to remember to be kind and take care of each other. Everyone working on the production has the common goal of making the show amazing and is it always more fun for everyone if people are positive and kind. Much of the theatre business is about working with different people and just like everything else in life, people may not remember everything you did or said to them, but they will remember how you made them feel.
7. It is important to remember to take care of yourself.
Being in a show can be grueling and it can be hard to remember to take care of yourself. It is essential that you keep your body in good condition and sometimes that means saying no to certain activities when you know you should take a nap instead. Although it is not always fun, it is super important to take care of your body in order to bring out your best and most energetic performance.
8. You are busy all the time.
Being in a show is also known to be code for “I don’t have any time.” Between rehearsals, practice, and performances being involved with a production does not leave you a lot of down time. Although it feels really tiring, the hard work always pays off in the end.
9. There are always ways to continue improving your performance.
The best part about performing is that there will never be a perfect performance. There are always things that could be better or interpreted in a different way, etc. Nothing in theatre is "set in stone" and it is so exciting to know that each time you walk on stage, there is something that you could do to make it your best performance yet.
