Theatre has always been said to be a living, breathing creature, and those lucky enough are paid to share their craft with the world. In college, though, not only is it a living, breathing creature-but it also doesn’t sleep. Especially if you and all of your friends are studying together.
When I was in school, my roommate was a voice major, and I was a theater major. There were always showtunes coming out of our room at all hours of the night (we apologized to our R.A. more than once!). If I wasn’t belting my face off in our room (or as we used it-a rehearsal space), we were all auditioning for the same shows, reading the same librettos or plays, and taking the same classes.
College theater is very different than community and sometimes even professional theater. The bond you form with your classmates and cast mates is a bond that really can’t be broken. The difference here is that you do everything together. It becomes a community in a community. I would get up, go to a required class that I would barely pay attention in, then get to rehearsal and be with my friends, or go grab something to eat-even skip class to go jump on the bus to the city and see a show!
College is such an adventure, and being in a college theater department just makes the experience all the richer. You learn from each other, cry with each other, laugh, and grow together while working on your craft.
If I wasn’t singing in my room, or at rehearsal, my friends and I were preparing for auditions. Listening to and helping each other with monologues and songs, giving feedback, and playing improve games. The dorm became a safe, creative space where theater and writing came together and lived every second.
Also, take this time to discover who you are. Who you are, as an actor and as a person. The theater program in college is a perfect atmosphere to discover, explore and make mistakes. Take that opportunity and run with it!
If you’re lucky enough to get into a college theater program (even if its just a program and its not necessarily a performing arts college), you will be welcome with open arms, and before you know it that group of strangers will be your family for life.