(Driver and Menagerie Keeper, "Androcles and the Lion")
 

Theatre to me is a means of expressing oneself; a way to work through your own problems or idiosyncrasies by dealing with those of a fictional character, who could just as easily be your neighbor. I guess I kind of use theatre as therapy (ha!) But also I am drawn to this exquisite feeling of aliveness that I feel when I'm on stage, being the character. A certain exhilaration, if you will. Plain and simple, I love it. And if you do something that you truly love to do, the rewards will be beyond compare.

I spend all this time (much more that I care to say) doing shows because I Love doing this. Plus the best way to hone your craft is by practice. Most folks learn by doing, same here. I have only taken one acting course. Everything else I've learned has come in the rehearsal process, which is an invaluable time when a director can teach his/her actors and possibly mold them as well. But, basically I learn when I work on shows, and learning is the path to improvement and refinement of most likely the second oldest profession in the world.

Theatre is self-serving for me. I never really thought about what I hope to accomplish with theatre. I know that I want to go as high as I can within my craft, excelling to the highest summits, as it were. I wouldn't mind writing a show or two, but at current I'm consumed by acting. Ultimately, I hope that what I'm doing during the show helps to convey the director's vision of the play to the audience. I hope that the audience enjoys and understands the show. And if they do, most times they'll let you know about it.

Let's see...I was a junior in High school, and my friend Rebecca Brown asked me to come and audition for the play that Thespians (drama club) was putting on. I had never done any acting, except for a local commercial for my Boy's Club, but I was being myself. I had to choose between being a junior on the junior varsity basketball team or auditioning for A.R. Gurney's The Dining Room. I chose the latter. Someone dropped out of the show and another role was dropped in my lap. Two roles my first show was a bit frightening, but I handled it well. The show went on without a hitch, except that for opening night my character is supposed to be carving a turkey, but I have never carved a turkey before so I'm using the wrong side of the knife (the agony, the agony), grins break out all around the table but we keep our composure and pantomime eating the turkey. All in all the scene was a success.

Theatre is a giant reflective mirror of reality. A morality play sometimes, sometimes a comedy. Just like life. Theatre shows us our missteps and takes great pride in our accomplishments. When I say our, I mean the Human Race of the world. So, I don't know if I can change the world through theatre, but I can damn well try.

People watch theatre because they really enjoy seeing people pretend on stage. NO!! (smile) I think people watch theatre because it gives them a release from the trappings of their world. The 9-to-5 gig can sometimes drive the joy from a person. They can escape to a world of ancient Rome for an hour or two, and get away from what's happening with them and wonder "why did Romeo and Juliet fall in love, no, really?" We can make them think about things differently and use their minds in ways that they didn't think possible. If they but suspend disbelief it can be possible in that hour or two away from their reality.

I hope to achieve.... Well I haven't done live theatre in little over a year, so I'm still hoping I can do it. (I can!!! Ha!) By working with different directors you do each show differently. Each director brings his/herself to the table with how the production goes up. So I can see a different style of acting from what I've done in the past. I learn something new and add it to my repertoire. I diversify, and by diversifying I can only get better. I hope that the audience loves the show and recommends it to their friends. Not that it matters much, but I even hope critics like it, it couldn't hurt. Just reaching people who haven't been reached by theatre would be a good thing. And I mean that. I am an actor because I love it, but I also love it when a spectator comes up and tells you hey I enjoyed the SHOW , that is THE complement to me.

How theatre has inspired me? I don't know. It let's me know that I can do anything I put my mind to. And a lot of people don't know that. I'm struggling right now, but I stand by my craft because I know that this is a skill that I have and I'm good at. Am I the best? I'm not saying that, but I've definitely seen worse. I hope that doesn't sound cocky. I think as an actor (male/female) you are subject to the ebb and flow of confidence and over the past three years that I've been doing this solidly, I think I've finally reached a place where I know within myself that, truly, anything is possible. If I can perceive it, I can achieve it, ya know. I'll get off my tree stump now.

Theatre is like therapy, albeit sometimes not quite expensive. People can see fragments of their lives played in front of them. Joy, anger, anguish, longing, love, sadness, the entire gamut right in front of them. That'll have to cause them to see some kind of parallels during intermission(hmm, maybe that's why we have intermissions...) And then the thought process has begun.

We definitely are not living in a healthy civilization at current. But theatre would surely be a part of a healthy civilization. Yes it's true, all people are not inclined to be involved in theatre, but theatre is a resource that opens its arms to people from all walks of life. If you've got something to say, get it copywritten, find some money and away we go!!! It's like I said in the beginning, its a positive way of expressing yourself, showing your individuality in a world that likes copies.