Go see live productions. Now. Yes, that is an order.
I read an article a while back that said that LA Theatre was dead. Fuck that. It is very alive — and it’s brilliant. It’s the roots and the foundation of what we all love to do, and what we all fight to achieve every day – an honest, genuine performance. Theatre is magical. It’s different than watching a movie or TV show — it’s in your face — brave, naked, and raw, and there’s no take twos. We can get lost in this big city and lose sight of the original art form we aim to succeed in, but if you take the time to sit back and watch, support live Art, you will be changed, and you’ll re-ignite the fire inside you that made you want to chase your dreams.
There is also huge merit in DOING Theatre. I am actually very lucky in that I get to perform on a stage daily, doing Educational Theatre. Recently however, I booked a job on top of my full-time gig, and was part of a show that ran for 9 months on the Macha Theater stage. I think in doing it every day I forgot how much I loved doing Theatre. It was a way for me to reconnect with my base line artistic self and to challenge myself to push further as an actress. There may not be lavish paydays or movie premieres, but all that is outweighed by the live audience and their real time reactions to my performance. Theatre is Performance Training for actors like Football Camp is Performance Training for athletes; not only does it stretch your muscles and build your endurance, but it adds to your resume and skill set.
It’s an incredibly encouraging, moving, and awe-inspiring experience to watch someone do what they were put on this earth to do. Every time I’m cast in a play or I support the Arts, I am reminded of my wide-eyed and driven 20 year-old self, and why I left everything to follow my heart. The sheer act of doing what you love, what you’re good at, and inspiring those around you, makes all the hardships, the tears, the heartbreak, and the bullshit, WORTH IT.