Theater People

There's nothing like being in a show--the camaraderie, the sense of focus, the risk of digging deep to find a character and the thrill of putting it all out there on stage. It's been a year since I've been in a show and I've finally recovered enough to be ready for another one.

For those of you who perform--whether singing, acting, dancing, and/or playing a musical instrument--you know just how much energy it takes. To be on-stage requires putting out a huge amount of internal energy in order to be interesting enough for others to want to watch. I can see why so many performers are tempted to manufacture that energy through chemical means, because if you're not careful, you can dry up the well pretty quickly.

Still, being on-stage, acting, is worth all the time it takes and the incredible energy drain. That's how you know you're "theater people," when even before your current run is up, you're planning out your next audition. Or, when you plan your vacations around the production schedule. Or when you wail to a friend that if you don't get THIS part it'll be 6 months before there's another role suitable for your particular talents and you can't wait that long.

I've auditioned for four roles since January and landed exactly none. That's why it's been so long since I've been on stage. It's not for lack of trying, certainly. It's because my talent has not been appreciated in the right places. Sigh. Still, there's another audition next month. And if that doesn't take, I can go to the next city and try out a few weeks later for their show. If that's a non-starter then there's a small part in a Christmas show that might work. If all else fails, in January 2009 I can audition . . .