The Year I Did A Lot Of Theatre

For me, 2012 was the year of a lot…a lot of theatre. I’ve certainly done more shows in a year than I’ve ever done before but that’s always been the case. What makes 2012 different is that since January, is all the NEW kinds of theatre I’ve been doing.

Playwriting: I’ve always toyed with writing a play…I’ve written out stories, blog posts and poetry before but scripts tend to stump me before the first draft gets finished. But at the beginning of the year, I took the leap and wrote a ten minute play for a 24 Hour show—and my Begonia and Garden Gnome come to life! I loved writing it too. I’m still struggling with getting the rest of my ideas for plays completed but I took a Script Writing class last semester and I’ve started working on a zombie apocalypse webseries that I’m hoping to write this winter.

Political: I don’t know if it was because this was an election year or if it was a coincidence, but I feel like the work I did this year had a decidedly liberal and outspoken feel to it, with shows like The Vagina Monologues and My Mother’s Lesbian Jewish Wiccan Wedding. Theatre with intentions other to entertain is an interesting concept I’m considering…

Film: Also something I don’t have a lot of history with. But with a close friend and my roommate studying film, I’ve been helping them both out as an extra in their various projects. I’m starting to gain a bit more comfort in front of a camera and I’m hoping that when they get working on their big student films/my zombie webseries, I’ll be ready for more face time on screen.

Stage Management: I got my first experience in stage management, working as an assistant for a show with over thirty actors, almost a hundred costumes, a phone for me to ring backstage and a dog. ASM-ing was definitely a happy memory for 2012.

Devised Theatre: In May, I performed in a devised theatre piece, created for and by the sophomore Voice and Movement class. Out of all the shows I’ve ever done, this one holds the closest place in my heart, for the creation of my classmates into ourselves as characters and the stories we chose to tell. I also got to sing again, for the first time in a long while (but not for the last time!) and I’ll be keeping those songs in my book.

House Managing: While I was working my first job in house management, I also was working my first professional job. I loved organizing the playbills, greeting the audience members and working alongside the cast and crew every day. I don’t think I would ever get tired of listening to complaints that the theater is too cold. Have I found my perfect “pays the bills” job?

Movement Theatre: In my Voice and Movement class, I underwent probably the most life-changing of experiences I’ve had yet in college. From the way I walk to the way I see strangers on the street, I have been transformed by my professor and my classmates. Even outside of our class, I’ve been studying Modern Dance, Tai Chi, Dance Improv and have added Stage Combat to that list this semester. Also thanks to that professor, I’m becoming fascinated with the works of Pina Bausch and the thought of doing a purely physical kind of theatre is something I would like to make do.

24 Hour Theatre: While I wrote the play for one 24 Hour show, I also worked behind the scenes of another showing. I offer praises to these coming-togethers of creative types to make more theatre with as little as possible. Huzzah!

Technical: And theatre would be nothing if it weren’t for the backstage folks who keep the show going on. While I’m no Technical Director or expert, I’ve dabbled this past year in costume changes, prop finding and stage sweeping.

So that’s my 2012 by types of theatre. Full of costumes, vaginas, garden gnomes and zombies, Pina Bausch, playbills, stage combat and the novelty of wearing a name badge. I think I’d be sadder to see 2012 go if I wasn’t so already excited for 2013 and the two shows I’m already working on. Here’s to the new year!