Beyond the Spotlight: A Theatre Student's Journey Offstage

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Writing about these experiences, helped me pull out lessons from these experiences and really develop a more solid mission for my theatre journey.

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Writing about my experiences studying theatre in college and everything that I have learned along the way is something I never envisioned myself doing. This last semester, I took an Introduction to Dramatic Writing class. During the first month of this class, I struggled a lot. I did not understand the concepts in class and would get deducted points for not following the instructions when I thought I had. I did not envision myself as a writer because of how much I was struggling in this class. After a few assignments came back with less than stellar marks, I decided to reach out to the professor. I explained how much I wanted to improve my writing as I really wanted to share my experiences through writing. I had great ideas for stories but I was struggling to comprehend the formatting and structure of dramatic writing. My professor met with me a few times to help clarify the instructions and she let me revise my previous work. I met with her at least once a week and my writing began to improve. It became a lot easier to write out my ideas and thoughts on paper.

The biggest thing I have learned from writing about theatre for Broadway World is that it can be hard to see how theatre fits into the bigger picture of my life (and the lives of everyone who loves it) when I am focused on studying for one class, or locked in to rehearsals for one show. Writing about these experiences, helped me pull out lessons from these experiences and really develop a more solid mission for my theatre journey as I started to see theatre as my teacher for life, not just a career path. For example, in my last blog, I had talked about my experience at a recent audition for a musical. I was excited to be cast in the show. I had attended the initial rehearsals, and started reviewing the script. A few weeks into rehearsals, my director announced that they had to change the rehearsal schedule from the weekends to weekday evenings. This conflicted with my work schedule as I was hired as a New Student Orientation Leader for Texas State University. I talked to both my supervisor and my director but even with a modified schedule, I would be mising over 80% of the rehearsals. Although it was a very difficult decision, I ultimately decided that my work came first and I had to tell my director that I was no longer available to do the show. This was hard for me to accept as I was excited to see my friends from the previous summer again and my Best Friend was cast as the lead in the show. They were very understanding about why I had to leave the show, and I am definitely going to see the show to support all of my friends. Initially, I thought that giving up a show that could potentatially go on my resume over a job was the wrong choice. I worried that it would hurt my reputation with the director, show designers, and fellow actors who I would want to work with again one day. After going through training this week for my job, I realized that this is going to benefit me more than I evere thought it would. I will learn about connecting with others, leading a student group full of incoming freshman, and develop my leadership skills. These are all things that will help me grow as a person but also are vital to a successful career in theatre.

After writing about my disappoint of having to leave the show, I realized I was not just writing about how it can be hard to have to turn down a performance opportunity. I was writing about a balance I would have to make throughout my entire life. As a performer, there will be lots of opportunities to perform but not all of these opportunities will be advantageous to my journey. It is also a balance for every theatre professional to balance our love of our chosen career path, and making our financial ends meet. This was my first lesson in having to make this really difficult choice to turn down a show due to a job obligations, but it will not be my last. Luckily for me, the money I earn this summer will still be dedicated to studying theatre. I decided to use the money to study abroad in London and Stratford upon Avon to take my Shakespeare requirements next summer!

When I initially started as a student blogger, I thought it would be fun to share my passion for theater with others, and write about some of the fun things I was learning and doing. I did not realize how many lessons I would learn about life as I wrote about my theatre experiences. As I go into the summer working as a New Student Orientation Leader, I am still sad that I had to back out of the summer musical, but I want to use what I’ve learned about writing and my exepreinces this year to always remember to look for life lessons and opportunities for growth, even in the least likely of places. My heart is always in the theatre, so I can not have a theatre-free summer. In addition to working as an NSO Leader, I started a certificate program at Julliard in Vocal Performance. There are always ways to live out our passions, even if the most obvious door closes. Look for a window, because you never know where it might lead. I am excited for what this summer and the rest of 2026 has in store for me.

As the semester comes to a close, I wanted to reflect on what I've learned as a Student Blogger with BroadwayWorld, specifically in terms of discovering myself and my values through my writing.

While that uncertainty hurts the Type A side of me, the fear is motivating, and I find it to be extremely helpful to be somewhat on the side of the unknown.

Something that I feel is overlooked for actors is developing skills aside from acting. There's the pressure to just choose something and stick with it. I decided to share my experiences of trying things other than performing and how they have benefitted me, both as an actor and as a human.

Writing about theatre has not made me an expert, but it has made me a far more attentive observer, and that has been the biggest surprise of all.

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_Originally reported by [BroadwayWorld](https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/Student-Blog-Not-Every-Role-Happens-Onstage-20260528)._