There truly is something so different about being on the stage. I’ve been involved in theatre since I was 6 years old. I’ve helped backstage before in the crew, but nothing compares to the feeling of being on stage. I have learned so many lessons and life skills because of theatre. Theatre has taught me communication skills, how to work under pressure, and, most importantly, in my opinion, self-confidence.
I am an introverted and pretty soft-spoken person; I’m the opposite once I’m on stage performing. I’m no longer myself and become a different character. Even in a performance such as a dance recital, I am able to connect to the song and become a character. Something clicks when I step onto the stage. Though I still may be a little nervous, it’s as if I reach a flow state and my mind goes blank. I envision a void, and anything I do is just an instinct that I learned from rehearsal.
I find it funny that I’m perfectly fine on stage, but am terrified of auditions and performing alone in any other setting. On the stage, I am blinded by the stage lights and can’t see the audience clearly; I love it. I will never see a majority of those people in the audience ever again. They’re just strangers who enjoy the performance and then go about their night. When I’m auditioning, the lights are on, and I can see the faces and reactions of everyone watching; however, with the house lights off, nobody’s face is clear. I can hear them laughing and cheering, but I can’t see their physical reactions. The anonymity of the crowd feels more like a shield and less like something to be scared of.
I am almost always thinking about the future and past, but on stage I am living in the moment. To me, the stage feels like my own personal bubble. It’s my way of escaping reality and anything that may feel like a burden, even if the thought of not doing a good job causes me stress. I genuinely feel like a different person, or as if I have an alter ego that comes out. I become carefree, eccentric, and outgoing. Once I step off the stage, I become myself again. I suddenly go from eccentric and outgoing back to introverted and quiet; I feel as if I am Jekyll and Hyde.
I love the feeling I get from being on stage. Being confident and the opposite of myself really makes me feel like I am doing a good job. The stage holds a lot of power; it can be used to bring stories to life, connect with the audience on a different level, and, most of all, transform a person’s confidence.