Old habits die hard, especially those formed onstage.
Anyone who's performed in a musical during his or her lifetime can tell you about the way a show consumes your life, at least for a few months. As someone who participated in theater for ten years, I admit to being a stereotypical "theater kid."
But when I went to college, I had to stop performing in musicals, since I wasn't pursuing it as a career. Still, there are some habits I formed at rehearsals over the years that I just can't seem to break, habits that every former theater kid just can't get rid of:
1. Practicing a tap combination while waiting in line.
What better way to pass the time than doing some shuffle-ball-changes in place? And if there's tile floor, even better.
2. Spontaneously breaking into song.
You know the situation: a friend starts off a conversation by saying, "One more day until...," and you immediately jump in by singing, "One Day More" at full volume. This also applies when someone mentions that they're out of coffee ("No coffee?! NO COFFEE!"), that someone is in trouble ("Right here in River City!"), or the phrase "Oh my God" ("Omigod you guys!").
3. Using theater jargon in everyday conversation.
If your friends hear you say, "Jazz hands!" or "Cue dramatic music!" one more time, they might just ship you off to theater camp.
4. Fangirling about the Broadway scene on the reg.
While all of your friends are discussing the latest celebrity gossip, you're gabbing about what Audra McDonald tweeted yesterday and the next show that Aaron Tveit was cast in. You can debate Julie Andrews' best roles for hours, even if no one is listening.
5. Speaking in different voices while telling a story.
From all of the weird roles you've played over the years, you've learned to do a bunch of different voices, from a little kid to an old man. And don't even get me started on accents.
6. Posting #TBT pictures of yourself in past shows just because you loved your costumes so much.
So you can't dress up like that anymore. Who said you didn't look fabulous?
7. Listening to show tunes, especially around your old "musical season."
Your show tunes playlist is full of classics and new favorites alike. And when it comes to that time of year when you used to be prepping for dress rehearsals, you listen to all of your favorite OBC recordings to feel as nostalgic as possible.
8. Bonding with other former "theater kids."
Once you find out that someone you know used to be in musicals, you're instantly better friends than you were before. You bond about crazy directors, embarrassing "show-mances," and favorite dance numbers and roles. And now you have someone to fangirl with! (See number 4.)
9. Making references to shows you've been in even though no one gets them.
Whenever you quote some show you've been in or some backstage inside joke, no one understands. You can't help but miss your old show families who would be the first to laugh at your hilarious memories.
10. Missing theater all the time.
There isn't a day that goes by when you don't remember something from your experiences in musicals and think, "If only I could go back..." Even though your time on the stage is over (at least for now), you've still got the memories to get you through those days when you wish you could be back in the spotlight. Theater might have taken over your social life, but you wouldn't change those experiences for the world.
