If you've met me for a few minutes, you've probably come to the conclusion that I'm basically Glee's Rachel Berry except less talented and more insecure. If you haven't, now you know. I've been involved with theatre since I was about ten (though I was obsessed with it long before that) and am still involved now as a college sophomore, so here are some differences between high school and college theatre I've noticed, as well as some lessons I've learned from them!
My experience with high school theatre was definitely positive. My roles included Sister Sophia in "The Sound of Music" (9th grade), Bird Girl 3 in "Seussical" (10th grade), Turn Back O Man Soloist in "Godspell" (11th grade), and Ursula in "The Little Mermaid" (12th grade). I was also a participant in many a cabaret, both with my school and my voice studio where I took lessons, and one year Mrs. Jefferson and the Bag Lady in "RENT."
During that time, I was a production assistant at my middle school for "Godspell," (a different production than the one I was in), and "Grease." I also served as Vice President of the Drama Club and Co-President the following year. This is where I learned that directing is fun, but also that I am very loud and sometimes that scares high school freshmen.
I student directed my senior production and found staging a show to be super fun, but also very frustrating. A lot of the time people would come to me with problems that they had with other people in the cast, or with staging that I hadn't done, and it was difficult to explain that I wasn't the person to talk to about this, and it wasn't my place to do anything about it. I'm a very naturally maternal and anxious person (a lethal combination) which ultimately resulted in me crying from stress and my friend Joseph grabbing me and sort of gently shoving my head into his shoulder so I could cry on it (which was uncomfortable for both of us because we're about the same height).
These are the senior members of the cast of Little Mermaid. (If you're wondering which one is the aforementioned Joseph, I'm sitting on his lap in this picture)
I learned how to adapt to more pressure than I was used to, and I like to think this experience helped me to better adapt my personality to the people I was working with, as well as become a better multi-tasker (since I was memorizing my own lines and blocking while also helping other people with theirs). This was a time where I also believed I was going to major in theatre in college, something I ultimately decided against.
I love theatre, and definitely, intend to pursue it professionally, but I think I have a better shot at doing that if I pull a Lin Manuel Miranda and make my own work. I'm a better writer than I am an actress, so here's hoping that pans out. One of the first things I learned in college was just that: theatre is very competitive and getting a "no" stings.
Back in high school, while I definitely learned a great deal about myself as a person and made some amazing friends, I was working in shows in an environment where everyone who auditions gets in. That's not the case in college theatre. While in high school, the drama clubs are often divided into The Kids Who Get The Leads and The Ensemble, college is more The Kids Who Get The Leads all auditioning against one another for the same four or five roles.
In high school, I got a principal part in every show I auditioned for. In my first year of college, I auditioned for three things, got called back for all of them, but only actually ended up getting one of them. (And even that, I initially didn't get. I got the role because of really unique circumstances). I thought I was prepared to be told "no," but really I wasn't, and though it got easier each time, it never really rolled off my back immediately.
However, I'd take a million "no's" in exchange for how good it feels when you get a "yes." When I found out I would play Rona in "Spelling Bee" (my first ever college production), a room full of my friends jumped up and down and squealed. It felt like I was on "Smash" (except Wesley Taylor wasn't there and we didn't break out into a sassy dance number).
The cast of Spelling Bee, people I will love and admire always.
College theatre is a lot harder, too. In high school, we struggled to put a show together in three months. "Spelling Bee" came together in a little over a month, meaning we put in some super late hours, and I hurt myself a lot. Highlights include: jokingly death dropping and hitting a metal rod with my head, getting nailed in the crotch with the bottom of a trophy, and falling off of a chair and landing on my face.
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The level of professionalism and kindness the people in this production had astounded me daily. We had fun, but we worked our butts off. Here's the tea, sister: high school theatre is a lot of dealing with kids who don't care at all, and being a kid that cares way too much.
College theatre is a lot more fun, a lot more professional, and a lot more stressful. There were tears, injuries (most of which were mine), and many an inside joke. High school theatre is a little more relaxed, easier to get involved with, and a good place to make friends who also want to talk about what Patti LuPone wore to the Tonys.
They're both infinitely worth it, and experiences I wouldn't trade away for the world. If you want to give it a shot, you should. Who knows, maybe you'll try it for fun and suddenly become the next Ben Platt. (Probably not, but maybe! Someone will one day, and maybe it's you!)
