This year, I was on tech crew for what I have decided will be my last One-Act play, and my second to last show (if I get into the other one) at my school’s theatre. Due to a myriad of reasons, primarily time management issues, I’ve ultimately made the decision to quit.
Now, that doesn’t mean that I’m quitting theatre entirely. I love being on stage, memorizing lines, wearing costumes, etc. I just don’t love the way that our theatre is being run. I personally feel that both me and my time are better off being put to work doing things that make me happy.
Community Theatre
I actually hadn’t realized how much I was beginning to dislike theatre until I auditioned for a role (and got it!) in a community theatre nearby where I live. My dad actually approached me about a week before auditions and told me that somebody had reached out to him about the part I wound up getting and asked if either my sister or I would be willing to audition for the part. I told him that I would audition under one condition: He also had to audition.
He begrudgingly agreed (despite what he tells others) and after we auditioned, he was cast as the lead and I was cast as the lead’s daughter, which was an amazing coincidence. Despite not having and scenes where we actually talked to each other (Although I was in his death scene) I was told that I fit the role of his daughter perfectly.
As soon as I was notified that I got the part that I had auditioned for, I instantly started mentally preparing myself for late rehearsals almost every night and starting thinking about the logistics. I was shocked to find out that, in part due to the fact that most of the cast were working adults, rehearsals were only 3-4 days a week. Our director would write down who needed to be there which days and which scenes we’d be going over while there. Until the weeks leading up to the show dates, I was needed once a week maximum.
Of course, the 2 weeks leading up to the show were hectic and I usually had to be there every day, but that was to be expected. We got to the show days, 3 or 4 performances in total, and it was amazing. I had actually made it through a show with most of my sanity still intact, and with some new acquaintances to show for it! I had honestly forgotten that theatre could feel this way, and it made me do some serious reflecting on my experience theatre at school.
School Theatre
After the show at the community theatre was done I reflected on my time at our school theatre. I realized after a while that being in the theatre constantly and constantly being stressed about the shows was taking all of the fun out of being there. At first, I was just going to quit entirely. Then the show lineup came out.
The Play That Goes Wrong was listed as our spring play this year, and I was super excited. I’ve always loved that show, mostly because it’s a show inside a show. I decided at that point that I was going to give our theatre as a whole one more chance with one-act to see if anything had improved. If our theatre had gotten better, I decided I’d stick around. If it hadn’t, I decided that I’d audition for The Play That Goes Wrong. If I got an acting role, great! If I didn’t, I wasn’t going to be involved in the show.
One-Act
I auditioned for One-Act and ultimately got “cast” as the first alternate, which essentially meant that if anybody decided to quit, I would be the first person who would be offered that spot. Eventually I was indeed notified that somebody had quit, and agreed to be in the show. When there were tech days or full runs, I showed up like I was told.
I actually had more roles this year in One-Act than I had last year, but I still felt slightly as if I was wasting my time. I was the stage left manager, and I wound up helping out with two costume changes and a scene change. Other than that, I mostly just sat backstage and zoned out. If it was a rehearsal, I’d scroll through various apps on my phone, and if it was a performance, I’d just think about other things for a while.
We actually did really well this year! We placed first at subsections, and second at sections. Unfortunately, that meant that we didn’t get to go to state, but we did get medals and a pretty cool trophy/plaque.
The week after One-Act ended I wasn’t entirely sure what to do with myself. I had been spending pretty much every day after school at the theatre. It was really nice and freeing to finally have some free time to do as I please without being around other people. I spent a lot of time sitting on my couch, enjoying the warmth of my favorite blanket, a nice cup of tea, and watching Doctor Who on the TV.
We did wind up going to the state One-Act performances as a team, and that was fun as usual. We’d watch half of the first day, go shopping that night, and then watch all of the performances the next day. It was a lot of fun to see the variety of shows provided by other schools and take a look at how they put on their shows.
The Future
Unfortunately, I still felt often as though my time and efforts were being wasted throughout our One-Act season, so I have ultimately decided that I will audition for one last show. If I get an acting role, great! I’ll see it through and do my best to be a part of the cast. If I don’t get an acting role, I don’t plan on being involved in the show. I just don’t enjoy being on the tech crew as much as I enjoy being on stage. Next year, I’ll come to watch the shows that my school puts on, but I’m not going to attempt to actually be in any of them. It took a lot of thinking (and, admittedly, crying) to come to this decision, but I ultimately think it’ll be for the best.
I’ll miss One-Act a lot. It’s been one of my favorite activities to be involved in over the past few years. However, without it next year I’ll have more time to focus on speech and put most of my efforts there instead. Theatre will always be an important part of my life, but it’s time I put it to the side for a while and focus on other things that bring me joy.
Kirstin Zaske, February 16, 2024