One Reason to be in a Play
Acting has been one of the greatest things I've ever done with myself. Looking over the Fifteen resons in the last preformance, I found that I can relate to almost all of them. If you really want to know what keeps me on stage, I'll tell you...
My grandfather has been a sad man. He came to visit at the time "Murder's in the Heir" was showing. His fiance had passed away about two weeks previous to his visit. He was torn by her death in a way the made him completely emotionally shattered. He came to the Friday night preformance and enjoyed it so much. As I returned home that night I saw the biggest smile on his face. I had the ability to make this shattered man happy again. I am absolultely certain that he hadn't smiled in weeks, but when he saw me he chuckled so much. not just because I was funny looking either, but it was because of my Nancy walk.
It was The Saturday Night preformance of "Murder's in The Heir". My family was not there. I did not preform for anyone in the audience that I knew. It kind of broke my heart. As my fellow actors left the stage and greeted their friends and family I just stepped out independantly. Not ready to greet anyone, just step out and go back to the costume room to wash my makeup off. Just then, a very young girl, probably about six or seven, came up to me with her eyes wide and a big smile. I was not sure if she was looking at me until she said to me:
"Hi Nancy, I think you're really pretty...and that boy you kissed was really handsome. You were my favorite character!"
That moment I realized, this is why I am here in this costume, with this make up, the blisters on my feet, and the wounds in my friendships. Everytime I get up on stage I do it for her, the little girl that was touched by my preformance.
It is not just these things either. It is the support I get from the people I get to preform with. I get very nervous before I go on stage. The remedy seems to always be a hug or encouraging word such as John's: I get nervous too, but it goes away afeter I say my first line. I don't get that in band or choir.
...Many of you may know just how stressful being in a play can be. Just, don't give up. Like I've heard many times this week, when the curtain comes down in the last Act, you get this feeling of satisfaction inside, and it is rather addicting. I wrote this entry to remind myself why I am meant to be preforming on stage, because sometimes, with the chaos, it can be tempting to just quit.
Love,
E. Wald
My grandfather has been a sad man. He came to visit at the time "Murder's in the Heir" was showing. His fiance had passed away about two weeks previous to his visit. He was torn by her death in a way the made him completely emotionally shattered. He came to the Friday night preformance and enjoyed it so much. As I returned home that night I saw the biggest smile on his face. I had the ability to make this shattered man happy again. I am absolultely certain that he hadn't smiled in weeks, but when he saw me he chuckled so much. not just because I was funny looking either, but it was because of my Nancy walk.
It was The Saturday Night preformance of "Murder's in The Heir". My family was not there. I did not preform for anyone in the audience that I knew. It kind of broke my heart. As my fellow actors left the stage and greeted their friends and family I just stepped out independantly. Not ready to greet anyone, just step out and go back to the costume room to wash my makeup off. Just then, a very young girl, probably about six or seven, came up to me with her eyes wide and a big smile. I was not sure if she was looking at me until she said to me:
"Hi Nancy, I think you're really pretty...and that boy you kissed was really handsome. You were my favorite character!"
That moment I realized, this is why I am here in this costume, with this make up, the blisters on my feet, and the wounds in my friendships. Everytime I get up on stage I do it for her, the little girl that was touched by my preformance.
It is not just these things either. It is the support I get from the people I get to preform with. I get very nervous before I go on stage. The remedy seems to always be a hug or encouraging word such as John's: I get nervous too, but it goes away afeter I say my first line. I don't get that in band or choir.
...Many of you may know just how stressful being in a play can be. Just, don't give up. Like I've heard many times this week, when the curtain comes down in the last Act, you get this feeling of satisfaction inside, and it is rather addicting. I wrote this entry to remind myself why I am meant to be preforming on stage, because sometimes, with the chaos, it can be tempting to just quit.
Love,
E. Wald