Donna Klein

Last time, I touched base on the importance of community theatre in rural communities. It connects people across the miles and brings them together for live performances that include their friends, neighbors, and family.

Acting isn’t for everyone. Being on stage can be terrifying and panic-inducing – kind of like the monster in the old Bugs Bunny cartoons who suddenly figures out there are “people out there” watching everything they do. It’s outside of many people’s comfort zone, yet it may be a secret desire, something to try, perhaps it’s on a bucket list.

I discovered performing at age 11. It was the first time I sang in front of people. At first, the room was silent, but then the applause started, and I felt I could do that forever. It made people happy, which made me happy! I discovered acting at age 12, when I first performed in a school musical.

Acting was a huge part of my high school identity. I was in so many plays (summer school and high school spring musicals) that by junior year, I was asked not to audition for the Junior Class Play, so I didn’t. When one of the actors had to back out two weeks before opening, guess who was asked to replace her? I’m grateful it was a small part!

After nearly 30 years of raising children, then moving to a new community that to me was basically “in the middle of nowhere,” finding a quality theatre program was unexpected but welcome. It took a little more than that to get me up on stage, however. It had been such a long time! I was way more comfortable sitting in the audience.

So, what’s it like to be an actor in a play, and why might you want to try it for yourself? Big, starring roles often come with their own back story, if you dig deep enough. Smaller roles leave a lot to the imagination. Big or small, stepping into someone else’s shoes, creating their story, then speaking their truth can be a lot of fun! It lets you forget about your own cares for a while and live in a separate world fueled by your imagination.

When “playing” with others, I’ve found the biggest challenge isn’t so much the words and the sheer number of them you might be required to remember, but remembering that everything in the story is part of a conversation. Monologues are conversations with yourself as your character, and asides are conversations with the audience. All conversations put together tell the story. The words might not always match the script, but if you find yourself in the correct conversation and give the right cue line for the next person to speak, all is good! There are even tricks for learning lines, which can help calm the nerves.

I’ve found that acting requires you to put on thick skin during rehearsals and production. There is a lot to remember and many places for missteps. You’ll hear feedback from the director and maybe from your fellow actors. I’ve found that as the group moves along, we lift each other up so everyone can shine. We help each other learn lines, help each other on stage as needed, and encourage each other to do our best in each performance. We truly become bigger than the sum of our individual parts, acting as one unit for a mutual goal.

Acting allows for a special intimacy between the actor and the audience. They are not there to see perfection in your performance. They are there for the experience. They are there for the shared community. The little quirks that make each performance unique fuel the need to come back and see the play again. Oh, how we laugh at things that happen onstage and backstage that end up as inside jokes only known to the cast and crew, and sometimes to that night’s performance!

I’ve acted in plays where I’ve had no lines, one line, and lots of lines. I’ve been in the chorus and have sung solos. Each one was a special experience that made memories I would have no other way. I cherish each moment and each character. I cherish every person I’ve interacted with on a play. I’ve learned so much about working in a group, leadership, and response-ability; knowing I’m able to fulfill my obligation to the production.

If you’ve ever thought about acting in a play, I encourage you to make 2026 the year you give it a try. You may be bitten by the acting bug, but it is more like a kiss, and the feeling can last a lifetime.