All the world’s a stage, and that much has become more and more evident lately. Whether it is through the creative means of broadcasting theatre, or local theatres promoting fun activities for those stuck at home, it is now more clear than ever that theatre is not only important, but necessary.
As I mentioned in my last post, I was in rehearsals leading up to my state’s Stay-At-Home order. I won’t lie, I miss it dearly. Not only was it something more in my routine to keep me busy, but it was a phenomenal distraction from life, and the most welcoming environment. Almost every rehearsal in which I’ve been has been full of smiles, giggles, and ridiculousness in a way that can’t be replicated in an office. The theatre is a space that lets you pretend to be someone else, enter a world that isn’t your own, and take part in fantastical stories. Not only that, but the theatre community itself is one that almost can’t be described. It’s warm, and loving, and eccentric in all the best ways. Whether theatre is something from which you make your living, or a hobby you do in your spare time, there is no denying the love and acceptance that comes from those with whom you share the stage (on and off). You form bonds with cast mates that sometimes can’t be explained to those who weren’t there, and everyone is truly there for one another (you need a quick change buddy, I’ve got you). It’s hard to go through weeks of rehearsals, tech week, and performances without forging a certain kind of relationship with everyone, and I miss that kind of experience. I had just gotten back into theatre after some time off, and the void that those few weeks had filled, was one I didn’t even know was empty.
I realize that hundreds of people will have written about why theatre is important to them, and I’m just adding to that, but this idea has been mulling in the back of my head for a couple of weeks now so please, bear with me. Plus, it’s certainly something that means a lot to me and I want to get back to writing so here we are. I started theatre after seeing a production of Macbeth at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival in seventh grade and I was absolutely hooked. It quickly became a big part of my life and I’m so grateful for it. Every theatre in which I’ve ever stepped foot has become a sort of second home, with a community that has made me feel safe and happy. It’s a place where I’ve found confidence and my voice (literally and figuratively), and a place where I have been free to express myself through characters that can, at times, be the absolute opposite of myself (or if you’re playing an Oompa Loompa, at all times). Theatre has made me push myself physically – ten hour tech days are something different, let me tell you – and it has pushed me to allow myself to fail. It’s never easy to make a mistake, or to put yourself out there in a way that so many people can see, but theatre has made that risk feel a little bit easier to take. I look back on every show I’ve done with fond memories (yes, even the disasters backstage, the forgotten choreography, and the many, many wigs), and I know that I want to make more.
The theatre is a place where I feel endlessly happy. Whether it’s creating ridiculous backstories for characters without names, or being drawn into a performance from the audience, there are infinite ways for me to fall more in love with theatre. There’s no way really to describe the feeling you get when the house lights dim and that hush falls over the audience. The nerves that settle after you’ve delivered your first line. The thrill of being so immersed in a story that you forget where you are. The excitement of putting on your makeup and truly becoming a character for the first time. I find these feelings just aren’t the same when reproduced in a not live fashion (don’t get me wrong, I still love a good Netflix binge). It’s been a couple of years since I stepped foot on stage, and I’m hoping to be able to get back to it soon. I can’t wait for theatres to reopen and for people (including myself) to get to enjoy them again.
Even though I cannot be in the rehearsal room, I am grateful for theatres across the world keeping the community alive, and spreading the joy that theatre brings in a time where joy is so very much needed. No matter whether you’re onstage or in the audience for any given show, each production offers something for everyone that we might not even know we needed until it is presented to us. With technology, the world is still getting to experience the magic of theatre, albeit through a screen. The National Theatre has started presenting weekly showings of National Theatre Live productions on YouTube, which have so far not disappointed. The Globe is also showcasing some of its classic Shakespeare plays online. The theatre where I got my start is presenting weekly “how to” videos for crafts on Facebook to engage children in the world of creation and make believe. I even recently took part in creating a scene from The Importance of Being Earnest with stuffed animals that will be edited into the entire play with others doing their own take on the same. These are just some of the examples of ways that theatre is still touching our lives, and making this unprecedented situation a little bit easier to bear. Some ways in which we are making all the world a stage.
At the start of the year, I made a resolution to get back into theatre, and to do more of it. I was on track to achieve that, but now, it’s unclear if that resolution will be kept, and grappling with those feelings is still something with which I’m struggling. With all the unknown, it’s hard not to keep thinking about the fact that a return to the stage may be later rather than sooner, or that personally, it could be some times before I find myself back in a theatre. I know (or at least hope) that as things start to open back up, theatres will return, but it has crossed my mind that I may not be back on stage anytime soon, and that things will be very different when theaters open up to audiences again. I know that any first rehearsal back will be filled with hugs and first shows will be met with standing ovations. I will relish every “thank you, five,” and that feeling you get when the orchestra plays those first notes. I can’t wait to take stereotypical photos of my tickets with the stage in the background, and to take as many nerdy cast photos as possible at every opportunity. Gathering in any space will be something that will take some getting used to, and it might take time for people to once again congregate in full force in the theatre, but I have hope that the curtains will be up one day, and I can fulfill my resolution.
Not Your Average Giraffe 