Personal Narrative: Stage Lights

Theatre has a different meaning for everyone who encounters it. Over the years theatre has given me a lot. It has given me an outlet, a way to express myself. In fact one of my mentors said that, “It isn’t about impressing, but about expressing,” and that really resonated with me, as that’s what I really believe theatre is about. Also, theatre has given me a safe place that I can always turn to. In addition, I have learned many life lessons through theatre, such as, dedication and work ethic. It has also taught me about the sanctity of communication and individuality. My most valuable high school memories and experiences have stemmed from theatre. When I look back on my high school years I won’t remember the classes I took and the grades I received, but I will remember the shows I participated in because they have shaped the person I have become and have been some of the most impactful moments in my life.

Above all, I wouldn’t be where I am today without theatre. Without the chance to perform throughout my life, I would be disconnected from the wide array of communities and histories that’s been imbedded in my daily routine. Unfortunately, it’s speculated that the theatre is a dying art form, because of the expanding popularities of movies (“Is”), but I think that it’ll remain a well renowned part of expressing imagination and interpreting history as years pass; it only takes cooperation with school faculty and young students that go above and beyond to change their

As a shy, reserved student, I found myself blossoming through the stage. I fell in love with the stage and auditioned for the middle school's play, A Christmas Carol. Fortunately, I was casted in the performance. I loved the experience so much that I auditioned for the next year's play and musical and got a part in those as well. The more time I spent on stage, the more confident I became. I felt like the stage was where I belonged. I had a passion for theater that began to distinguish like a flame when I entered high school.

Ever since I can remember I have loved theatre. It’s been a constant presence, and an important touchstone, in my life. However, for as long as I’ve loved theatre, I have also been ridiculed for my enjoyment of it. As a child, my interest was tolerated as something precious, something I was bound to grow out of. My parents and teachers would sit in the audience, clapping and cheering me on, all the while thinking to themselves “I bet she’ll make a great lawyer one day.” They thought, like most of society, theatre was an unnecessary luxury; a pastime for the rich and powerful, for those who didn’t have to worry about putting food on the table, or clothes on their children’s backs. Certainly not

I saw my first Broadway show at only seven years old and have seen over ten more since then, due to the fact I live only two hours away from New York City by train. I always enjoyed theatre, but I didn’t grow the deep love I have for it now until acting became a career option. I spent a week of the summer completely in the business world of theatre and came out knowing I had to be an actress. I dived into all things Broadway, bought as many albums as I could, watched as many interviews as possible, saved up to see more shows, but even with all of this love for

As I sat enveloped in her story of overcoming conclusions, she taught my heart to embrace each quirky part of myself. I identified with Elle Woods’ need to prove herself. This idea of accepting individuality provided me with the courage to audition for my first show, the Arvada Center’s production of Footloose. Since that first nerve-racking, nail-biting experience, I have come to find myself through each move I dance onstage. Getting my first big role, the Dragon in a production of Shrek, I poured my heart out, knowing the people ready to judge and mock were watching. After the show, the peers who judged my intelligence approached me, saying things like, “I never knew you could sing like that.” Through performing I found myself again. I shifted back to the girl I was, the girl who cared about her morals. I want to perform, hoping to provide audience members with the ability to connect with characters who can offer them a point of realization, as Elle Woods did for me.

It was the winter of 2014 when my mother forced me to go to The Corner Health Center Theatre Troupe. I was livid, and acting at the time was something that I was terrified of. I felt as if I was a bird being pushed from the nest too early. I knew there was no possible way that I could be able to: one,talk to strangers, two, learn a script,

Now that I could see beyond the audition, I remembered why I had wanted to be in the ensemble in the first place, and I desperately wanted to know if I had made the cut. After what seemed like endless waiting, Mrs. Vermillion finally posted the list. My eyes immediately went to the Soprano column. When I saw my name, I hardly dared believe it. Slowly, the realization that this was not some mistake began to sink in. It was the most incredible feeling in the world, like I could have flown if I wanted to.

The heat of the light was burning down on me, and I felt much too warm in my costume. I remember thinking that I would pass out any minute, though whether that be from the blinding heat or my body-wracking nerves, I did not know. I performed my heart out that day. We all did. We acted as one, every scream, every laugh, and every action was done in the most seamless way possible. In those 30 minutes, we were all parts of the machine that was our play. As the play went on, my fear disappeared. I do not recall feeling anything other than joy on that stage. The knots in my stomach slowly unraveled, and in their place came an unbreakable confidence. I walked across that stage as if there was nothing in the world that could possibly tear me down, and my cast mates held a demeanor in themselves similar to my own. There was a magic on our stage that day. I felt a warmth spreading through me, an elation like nothing I had ever felt. As the lights dimmed out and we waltzed off of the stage, the sounds of applause had erupted throughout the hall. Our last show of the season had been our best, and I could not have been more satisfied. Ms. Carraher, our director, and Mama Jack, our assistant director, had always told us that when our show had reached it’s peak, there was a sparkle on the stage. I knew there was a sparkle on our stage that day. And the only thing that could diminish that sparkle, would be not

Over the past 3 years at Eleanor Roosevelt Middle School I've been able to blossom into a culture of music and theater. I started choir in 6th grade, along side doing that years musical. Music and theater weren't new to me at that point, for I knew what it's like to dance to loud music in my room, and what it's like to sit through musicals and plays my older sisters did. And I was eager to star in my own musicals and concerts. That’s when "Shakespeare Comes to Calamity Creek" showed me what it's like to be in a performance, and how much work it takes outside of it. That it takes more than just the time at rehearsal to make a show great. How it takes a couple of hours just to remember lines, or how it takes a couple of rehearsals to really get

Since I was eleven years old, I have known that I wanted to act. It was something that my parents never particularly encouraged, nor supported, but the seed was planted. I was sixteen when I first stepped into my high school’s theatre for my first day of drama class, and it changed my life. I felt at home and I would even call it the point of my salvation. From discovering the theatre and joining the world of the performing arts, I have grown so much as a person and have found a sense of self and purpose that I didn’t have before. I could not have imagined that I would, or even could, have the immense passion for acting and theatre that I have today, and it is beyond me how I became so lucky as to find something that makes me so incredibly

This was all a gateway into a world I have never seen myself in. Once the show ended I continued to search for ways to be involved in the theatre department, being enrolled in the class wasn't enough for me, I needed more. Quickly I developed a passion for theatre and continued to find new ways to do it. The summer of my freshman year I was involved in a play in the park. During one of our performances a tree fell down onto the area we

I stood in the right wing of the magnificent Gershwin Theatre in New York City, ready to go on stage in my insanely uncomfortable corset and 20 pound dress. I was surrounded by millions of props and set pieces. Backstage was packed with over forty crew members and by my side there were ten of my co-stars waiting for their cues to come barging on stage singing at the tops of their lungs. As the time approached, I gathered all my strength to lift and ‘walk’ with dignity to my position.

Once I arrived to rehearsal, we immediately began practicing the most challenging pieces first. After practicing for about four hours, eighteen musicians, eighteen stands, eighteen instrument cases, and a conductor, packed onto the bus. We were on our way to the festival. When we arrived at the festival, we set up our stuff, practiced the introduction and bows. After going through the songs again, I felt like I had played these songs my entire life. It was about three o’clock, we went to the dining hall and had dinner before the performance, since the performance started at seven. After eating, we my friends and I walked around the campus talking. I entered the dressing room and changing into my black dress, and black dress shoes. Once again we went through places and entrances. We all made our way backstage, holding our instruments and music. We entered the stage, bowed and sat down to

I have a passion for theatre and storytelling. I’ve acted in twelve productions, covering a variety of topics. Part of the reason I love theatre so much is how much it’s expanded my perspective. Last year I was in a production