Friday Question 257

By , August 22, 2014 6:02 am

Have you ever been in a play or musical?

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From Snow White and the Seven Dwarves at the community playhouse

I was really in to theater my freshman and sophomore year of high school. Maybe a little in middle school, as well? I remember taking acting classes at the community playhouse for fun. I remember being DEVASTED when I did not get a role when I tried out for the fall play my freshman year… then elated when it turned out someone had to drop out and I got their spot. I was in the fall and spring play both freshman and sophomore year, as well as in a community playhouse play during fall of sophomore year. I remember going to the school rehearsal then straight to the playhouse one!

Then I lost interest the last two years of high school. Womp womp. 

Lately I keep having dreams that I am about to be in a play (to play a character from Downton Abbey, ha ha) and don’t know ANY of my lines. And that my acting partner won’t help me out. And my acting partner is someone from high school. Brain! Quit regressing back fourteen years! These dreams make me wake up all panicked, and it’s so weird I am fretting about this, because I never had a problem memorizing my lines (or everyone else’s). Of course, I also never have a problem showing up places without shoes or clothes, which are also things I dream about. Ha ha. 

23 Responses to “Friday Question 257”

  1. I’ve been in a dance show before in college- it was a ’50s malt shop thing with full choreography- SO much fun! (I think in another life I’d love to be a dancer…music videos, ballet, fitness videos, you name it!)

  2. Erin says:

    Oh, man, I LOVED theater and music in middle school and high school. I was in every play and musical in middle school (and I’m sure there are dorky photos at my mom’s house) and then I was behind the scenes in high school. I tried out for a lot of stuff in high school but didn’t get cast until my senior year when we did Guys and Dolls (of course, the “rule” was that any senior who tried out got a part of some kind…) In the mean time, I built sets, did make-up and helped with lighting for just about every single production we did. My letter jacket had two badges on it: one for the dance team and one for thespians 🙂

  3. Kristina says:

    Why does the brain always regress to adolescence when it comes to dreams?!

    Except for summer camp and elementary school, I’ve never ‘done’ drama. But, last year I participated in a comedy sportz “match” – students vs. faculty. It’s improv, which I know is different from theatre in a lot of ways, but I was super nervous about the experience. It ended up being tons of fun and it makes your brain work in a different way. I’d love to learn more about improv, especially from a teaching standpoint – how to incorporate some of the games/exercises into the classroom.

  4. Xaarlin says:

    But would you be spot on with the accent for Downton Abbey? 😉

    I was in The Music Man in highschool- a quick role where I was in a marching band. Since I pretty much despise broadway plays/musicals (never enjoyed that genre of music) I never pursued it further.ive performed in a few operas (in the pit) as a classical musician. Marriage of figaro, and Madame butterfly to name a few but does that count for your question of “being in” the performance??

    • kilax says:

      In my dreams I was ready for it, but I am sure I am a horrible actor, so, no 😉

      Hmm. Does that count… well, I was thinking acting! 🙂 But that is not what I said in my question, so it does count. I still need to see all of The Music Man. I got partway through and was bored. Surprisingly, cause I like musicals (and am from IA, so I should like it, right?!).

  5. diane says:

    We had no drama department in my school. At all. Ever. I ended up on the debate team since it was the closest I could get!
    Because I loved theater, I took classes at a children’s theater nearby, but never got cast in anything.
    In college, I really got into improv theater. I did a few small one-acts with the drama department as well.
    We did some holiday/historical shows in elementary school, but alas, I don’t have any photographic evidence!
    (BTW, which dwarf were you??)

  6. Kiersten says:

    I was totally into theater growing up. My high school put on amazing musicals and they are some of my fondest memories. My worst role was as a duckling in Charlotte’s web. I had to spend the first 30 mins inside an egg on stage waiting to htach. I was allergic to the hay and had to try and stiffle my sneezes inside my egg. My biggest goof was in the Crucible. I had to pretend to be asleep because I had been bewitched, then I was supposed to jump up and make the first accusation of witchcraft. One night I really fell asleep and never woke up!

  7. Pete B says:

    How do you remember all those lines, especially when the pressure is on during a performance?

    • kilax says:

      Man, I actually read an article awhile ago about how people remember lines and now I can’t find it! But it was easy for me. Just read them over and over until I couldn’t forget.

      Of course, I don’t know the Pledge of Allegiance…

  8. I was the Scarecrow in The Wizard of Oz when I was in 6th grade. Yes, there are pictures. There’s also a video, but hopefully I threw it away when cleaning out closets at my dad’s house (it’s so terrifyingly embarrassing).

  9. I’ve never been in a play or musical. But, I’ve taken improv classes (which some folks use to improve their acting), plus I was in band during junior high and high school. Do those count?

    I do enjoy watching plays and musicals, though! It’s amazing seeing some of the talent onstage live and in person!

  10. I was ALLLLL about theatre during my junior and senior years in high school, especially the musicals. I was Sandy in Grease and Miss Adelaide in Guys in Dolls. I had so much fun doing those shows and I sometimes really miss being on stage. I think I did have a dream once that I couldn’t find my costumes for a show and had to go on stage in a tshirt and sweatpants…worse things have happened. 🙂

  11. Kayla says:

    I loved plays and musicals. I was in at least one every year and was also student director for our schools one act play one year. The first 3 years I was an old crabby person..I wonder if that means something? Granted it wasn’t difficult to get a part with our school being so small.

  12. Amy says:

    I am not surprised you were in theater! I was also big time into theater in high school – I got into it sophomore year and I was in all the plays (except for musicals – I can’t sing well at all) and even directed two plays for a senior project my last year. I loved it!

    Dreams are weird, aren’t they? I often have dreams where objects are being thrown at me or at coming at me at high speed and I have to get out of the way, which always wakes me up.

  13. kandi says:

    I’ve never done theater but I can relate to your dream. I sometimes dream I’m in college and I can’t remember what classes I’m taking and when and where they are and I wonder if I can drop them before the withdrawal date. I haven’t taken college courses in 11 years so it is weird.

  14. I loved being in musicals in high school. I actually really miss it now and for a while considered finding a community musical I could be in.

    I’ve been in Annie Get Your Gun, Oklahoma, Crazy for You, Inherit the Wind (judge), and Will Roger’s Follies(Ziegfeld’s Favorite). My friends used to make fun of me because I was basically a show-girl in most of the musicals. Man, I can still sing my songs from Will Roger’s Follies.

  15. Mica says:

    I didn’t know you were into theatre! Me too! Actually, a very similar situation–I was super into it the first two years of high school and then let it slide. A couple of the kids I did community theater camp are now on Broadway (one of whom is kind of a big deal now?!?), and I’m always sad that I didn’t stick with it. Then again, I’m not actually that talented, which is kind of a big part, ha!

    Also, I love your face in that photo. You look SO SURPRISED. Give that lady a Tony!

    • kilax says:

      That is so cool that you know a few people on Broadway now! 🙂

      Ha ha ha! Ha. Ha. I was looking at these pics thinking “why the hell did they ever cast me?!”

      Hope you had fun at Wicked this weekend!

  16. martymankins says:

    Back in my teens, I was in a play where I played a character that had to sound like Maxwell Smart (from the TV show “Get Smart”). Nothing since though.

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