Favorite Place: All My World's A Stage

All My World's A Stage

It's like taking a breath from the beginning of time. Suddenly, you become part of a tradition as old as civilization itself. The yearn to be connected to another. The need to find a reason for the confusion of life. The want to explain how you view the world. It's like all of time is captured there. The familiar musty smell promises new opportunities and delights in the remembrance of old memories. The ghosts of the past flicker in the shadows wanting to greet you like old friends. There's magic in the theatre...

Greek Theatre, Epidaurus from the public domain of the 

Metropolitan Museum of Art. Source:Archive 

I will never forget my first play. My mother decided that I needed an activity that would help me come out of my shell, and I auditioned for A Little Princess under bribery of a new book. I ended up being cast as the lead, and I went from dreaming to be a doctor or lawyer to deciding to be an actor. I was hooked. I remember that first theatre so well. The smell--intoxicating, comforting.The labyrinth of rooms that became dressing rooms, storage areas, the stage, the rehearsal room, and the lobby. As a small child, I felt like I could be lost in there forever. In a way, I wanted to. In a way, I still am. I fell in love with the theatre. I found myself in the theatre. 

To this day, my favorite place is to be in the comforting clutches of the theatre. The mystical thing about the theatre is how each one feels similar. They all have that same musty smell that lets me know that I'm home. I think finding that comfort is important. It allows me to be vulnerable. It gives you the chance to be someone else. Someone from another time. Someone who has had different triumphs and heartbreaking moments. Through learning about the character, I become a stronger person. When I played Karen in The Children's Hour, I admired her graciousness. People kept trying to bring her down, but she fought to keep it together. From one loss to the next, she tenaciously moved forward. She was patient and kind to so many that tried her. 

The theatre is an incredible tool. It connects us. It has been around for thousands of years and will continue for many years to come. As long as we have questions, as long as we live, the theatre will exist. It's comforting to know that my favorite place will survive even when I'm long gone. It will become a home and favored place for many others. The theatre exists worldwide, too. While it's thrilling to be a part of the production being in my favorite place daily for a month or more, even just sitting in the audience and observing someone else's work is comforting. The lights go down and instead of being lost in the world of the play, you are lost in the magic of the theatre.

(Me as Karen in the Helmerich School of Drama's The Children's Hour. Costume Design by Riley Smith.

Set Design by Jenn Bobo. Lighting Design by Olivia DeLuca. Photographed by Diana Miller. Fall 2016)

(Me as Karen in the Helmerich School of Drama's The Children's Hour. Costume Design by Riley Smith.

Set Design by Jenn Bobo. Lighting Design by Olivia DeLuca. Photographed by Diana Miller. Fall 2016)