When you go see any show, such as a play, a musical, a dance recital, or any other performance, you almost always get a great performance. But many times being a dunce member, you can forget that months of hard work was put into every production you see. Blood, sweat, and tears are a part of every production. Although it sounds harsh and tough, it's pretty much what the entire company(cast, crew, pit, managers, director, etc) live for.
Even though it's exhausting, everyone involved puts their whole heart into every part of the production. All my life I have been surrounded by performers and a loving family, but when I stepped into the world of theatre for the first time I found a place outside of home where I truly belonged. The people I encountered may have been different from me, but that's where we were connected. Our differences were not always accepted or welcomed comfortably outside the walls of the auditorium. However, walking onto that stage somehow managed to take our minds off of everything else. None of it mattered because you were with people who cared about you, doing something you loved.
Sure being a part of a production in which preparation took months was bound to be exhausting. There were times when you may have thought you want to quit and never go back. The stress of keeping up with lines, songs, and dance moves can really bring out the worst in people. But you know they don't mean it. Everyone just wants to put on a fantastic and memorable show for the audience and themselves. If you spend countless hours working on something it will get tiring but you never forget what you're doing it for. You want to make your family, on and off the stage, proud of you.
My favorite thing about doing performances, especially in my high school's drama club, was performing the pre-show rituals. Putting all your work into a show is tiring and once it comes to be tech week and showtime, you need all the energy you can get. We would often be sleep-deprived, delusional, and hyped up with anticipation and excitement. Before we got into our elaborate costumes and makeup, we would often have huge cast-wide dance parties on the stage before(and during and after) mic checks. In addition to the huge dance parties on the stage, we would also have specific rituals with the people we shared a dressing room with. One year, a bunch of my friends and I shared a huge dressing room and we belted out songs from "Frozen", complete with interpretive dancing and stunts. I especially loved when the all the members would get together for a pep talk and a "break leg" right before the doors to the auditorium opened.
Running backstage between scenes is crazy, to say the least. Apart from the stage crew running sets and props on and off, you also have people changing their costumes pretty much wherever they can. Sometimes there isn't enough time in a quick change to run back to your dressing room, so performers master the art of layering and changing right in the wings. Other cast members who may see said performer changing right out of audience view will hardly give a second glance because they are either 1. desensitized to seeing it, or 2. don't even have time to look at them. Not only are quick changes a huge thing behind the scenes, but you will also hear simultaneous running down the halls followed by hisses of, "shhh the mics could be on!"
The whole run of a show would be exciting and magical for everyone involved. You get to be doing what you love with people you love, and even if the show wasn't your favorite, you would develop a sense of appreciation for it because it holds a special place in your heart. Everyone would give their all, even if it meant making some mistakes or missing some lines. At the end of every show, right when the curtain closes after the bows, the cast and crew would be on the stage cheering and hugging each other at the fact that another great performance took place that night.
Being on the stage and performing with people who are just like me has always made a lasting impact on me. It helped me break out of my shell and help me meet people who are still special in my life even today. I love being a part of something that makes me feel at home, even when surrounded by people who have totally different backstories than I do. This is what brings us closer together and helps us make lifelong memories and friendships. Many times people don't see or understand all the hard work and time and dedication that takes place to make a performance so great, but it is a truly amazing experience to build a show from an idea on paper or a script into a production that thrills and entertains the audience. I would never give up my experience in theatre for anything and I'll never forget the wonderful memories I've had. To anyone who hasn't been in theatre or a production, you are truly missing out.
