“I can’t. I have rehearsal.”
That has been my line lately, when asked when this article was coming out. Honestly, the word “lately” means “always”. This is what “Theater Kids” do. We are very sorry; we can’t meet with you in the park on Sunday, because we have rehearsal.🙂
I remember seeing this photo on facebook a few years ago and sending it to my acting colleagues.
So it’s true, theater kids myths and memes are accurate. Most of them apply to us, teens in Romania as well, who are just as crazy about our passion as the memes tell, but we do have some of our own, which the internet doesn’t know of yet. So why not take a closer look at some of them?
1) “My shoes aren’t here!” kid
No matter how organized we are, no matter how many times we check if we have all of our props prepared for the show, there is always going to be someone who just cannot find their shoes for the part they are about to play and they start wondering around, asking about people’s shoe sizes. And that leads to our next myth.
2) “No stress for success”
Normally, actors before a show should stay calm and the group as a whole should gather together for a few minutes to connect with each other. Oh, but then there’s the girl who can’t find her shoes or the boy who accidentally breaks a spot light. Poof! There go the supposed silence and their energy. Everybody goes crazy. Luckily, ten minutes before the audience enters the auditorium, the shoes are found at the bottom of a bag and the tech-guy manages to repair the spot light. So thank God, there are two minutes left and the kids finally stay in a circle and the chaos stops. “No stress (two minutes) before success!”
3) “Double casting is the best”
Isn’t it lovely when you share a role with somebody? There’s so much love between the two actors who are steadily asking themselves who is playing at the next representation. Oh, the energy, the tension between the two is fantastic.
Yeah, right. Seriously, now. Get over it. If you happen to be in such a situation, make the best out of it. Talk to each other, talk about the character and help each other evolve and discover things about your part. The tension won’t go away, but at least it will be productive.
4) “Easter holiday”
Or any holiday at all, really. A “theater kid’s” parents are very unfortunate. If it’s summer and they try to plan a beautiful vacation in Greece, I’m sorry, „I can’t. I have rehearsal.” Normal teens always have problems with their parents. Well, double those and imagine our relationship with our parents. “Family meeting at 5 p.m.” Oops, we haven’t finished our general rehearsal, we have a show tomorrow and still wait for our teacher’s feedback. So, mom and dad, maybe next time🙂
These myths might sound stressful, but, really, they make the challenge of becoming an actor more exciting and authentic. Though, hopefully, we will make it at least to one sibling’s wedding.
hARTS magazine 