Why I love what I love: Part Three

So, I'm about to complete my first year as a theater major. It took me a long time to find a major that I really enjoyed. I started my first semeser as a music major. That lasted one semester. Then, sometime in my soph or jr year, I declared as a human and family science major, because I'm interested in families. I wasn't happy with that either. Mainly because the classes started to get boring after awhile, but also because I didn't really make any friends. Also, during the period between music and human/family science, I considered history and science and psychology.

Then, last spring, I was thinking about stuff I was interested in. I enjoyed doing plays and competing in drama contests in high school, so I decided to look into my school's theater program. I thought about doing theater stuff my fresh year, but  I didn't really know how to get into it or who to talk to. But towards the end of jr year, I decided to finally look into it. I decided to just declare my major to theater after talking to the theater director.

When I  tell people I'm a theater major, they ask me what I plan on doing with it. Acting is my focus. I love acting. I love being on stage. But theater isn't just about acting. Or directing either. We have 4 tech classes in our program. Tech 1 is all about makeup, costuming, and props. I learned how to do a little bit of handstitching, machine sewing, different styles of makeup (old age, gender reversal, restoration period, bruises/scars), and about different kinds of props (I actually got to make a couple props. First, everyone got to make old parchment paper, like the kind seen on Pirates. Then I made a little cloth doll for my project).

Tech 2, where I'm at now, is about lights, sounds, and set design. Right now we are on set design, and have been discussing tools. We did lights first. We were shown how to set up the lights and how to work the light board. We haven't got to sound yet.

Also, our theater department has work call every week. Twice a week we meet at the theater and help get stuff ready for our current production. Right now we are getting ready for Noises Off. Everyone is assigned to a crew. We have lights, costume, props, and set. I'm on set crew. I help build stuff, and do a lot of painting.

So, not only am I learning the impractical stuff, acting/directing, I'm also learning the practical stuff as well.

I didn't realize how much I loved theater until we did our children's show last semester. I wasn't one of the actors, but I was a voice over for a projection (the characters in the show were animals. the farmer and his wife were just projections). Listening to the kids reactions to the show and seeing them after the performances, it was a lot of fun for me. Also, seeing the set being built was fun too. The past show that we did was The Complete Works of William Shakespeare Abridged (you should really look that up if you have never heard of it). I got to work backstage. I had a blast doing that. It was crazy, but a lot of fun. My favorite show. I hope to work backstage for Noises Off too.

I have also made several friends in the theater. A lot of them are a nerdy as I am, so it works out.

I love being a theater major. There are times when I don't want to go, because I'm tired or something, but it has been amazing for me. I love being a part of it.

Now, Amy, what are you going to do afterwards? I'm not entirely sure. I really want to go to Europe and find acting jobs there. However, if that doesn't work out, I will probably go to the east coast and find something. I really don't want to be a big famous actress. Finding a community theater or something like that would be good. I'm thinking about maybe getting a second degree in library studies later on, as a fall back, and because I love books (see previous blog). Right now I am just focusing on theater. I'm sticking to this degree.