Theatre : A Place Full of Experiences, 6th Grade, Nikhitha Nimma
Have you ever wondered what it’s like to stand on a stage in front of hundreds of people acting like a completely different person? Well, that’s what theatre students do every time they put on a show. It’s honestly one of the greatest experiences a kid in middle school can have, but not everyone wants to try it. That’s OK, because they will be in the audience, and the audience is just as important as the actors. Without an audience, the actors wouldn’t be able to perform.
Stage fright can be a common thing for theatre students, because there can be a lot of things to worry about when on stage. For example, they could forget their lines, when they have to talk with an accent they could mess it up, and most of the time they have to wear weird outfits, most/all of which could result in them feeling a sense of embarrassment . But, for me, stage fright is also what causes half the excitement and rush when you’re up on stage.
Every play that a school throws requires a lot of effort. That effort not only comes from the actors, but also from the offstage stars. This includes the people in stagecraft, the lights and sound crew, and stage managers who all work behind the scenes. The actors have to be very precise about a lot of things but in emergencies, they can improvise which is a very important skill for an actor to have. This came in handy this year during my school play Anything Goes. The lead was late for her cue because she was still in the dressing room, so one of my friends improvised and kept the play going until the lead showed up. This shows that the more diligent the cast and crew are, the better the show turns out.
When you join theatre you’re bound to make new friends that will make you feel like you’ve known them forever. Even though you may not become besties with the whole cast, you will make memories that you will never forget. At times there might be arguments, but in life, you can’t have the good without the bad, and you just have to get through it together.
When one of my best friends and I decided to audition, I was oblivious to how much fun I was going to have. I didn’t have the biggest role in the play, but it still gave me multiple chances to learn. Theatre can not only improve your acting skills, but also your singing and dancing skills, and I can definitely say mine have improved.
Whether or not you’re on stage or offstage, no matter the size of your role, when you join theatre you’re joining something much bigger, you’re joining a family. A family filled with a lot of different people, with different ideas, and a mind of their own. In theatre, you experience so much that you can’t anywhere else. That’s why I love theatre.
