Getting on stage again

Yesterday will have marked my first time performing in an in-person Stevens Dramatic Society (SDS) show since my first year. It’s been a wild ride in between, with several virtual productions, and work last year as President and Producer for SDS. Even though acting is familiar territory, getting on stage again has felt fairly foreign to me.

This feeling has given me a lot to reflect on. For one, I’ve seen how I can learn new things about performing even though I’ve been doing it for so long. I think it helped that I was away from the stage for a while. Doing something for a long time without a break can lead to a bit of stubbornness and burnout, neither of which is productive or fun. But taking some time off and returning has given me a fresh look at this activity that I enjoy so much.

With this fresh outlook, I feel I’ve been able to grow a lot as an actor. I’m more willing to try out new ideas during rehearsal and more open to feedback from the director or other cast and crew members. And with my experience last year as Producer, I saw more of the behind-the-scenes work that goes into a performance. I think this has helped me be a more helpful member of the overall production team, especially when it comes to painting and building the set (I still am fairly fearful of a drill, but I feel confident in using a saw!). 

Mentioning the other members of this team is probably the biggest and most fulfilling takeaway for me as I complete my last fall production with SDS. It has been an absolute joy working with this cast and crew, strengthening bonds with old friends and making connections with newer faces. All this has made the very long nights and hecticness of show week more than worth it. 

Not to wax too Shakespearean, but everyone has multiple stages to perform on, whether it be school, work, parties, or even free time. We typically have some sort of script, maybe tasks or assignments to complete, or people to talk to, or errands to run. But there’s also a lot of freedom for us to decide how we perform on these stages. And even if we’re lost, we can take cues or play off of the actors around us, and rely on a crew behind the scenes for support.

All of this can be daunting for sure. I still get very nervous on opening night, as I do before a test or a presentation. To calm these nerves, I try to keep the above in mind – how much I’ve grown in preparing for this moment, and how much support I’ve gotten. One final thing to remember is that, even if I don’t give an Oscar-worthy performance, the audience will still very likely cheer me on and give an ovation at curtain call. 

I hope that all of this gives you some excitement for the performances you have coming up. Especially if it’s your first time getting on a stage in a while, you have every right to feel scared or discouraged. But you bring unique qualities and skills to the stage, and there are people in the wings there to help in case something goes wrong. So break a leg and go on out there!