Most of us have gone to a play and seen actors perform on stage in a play. Sometimes it could be a good performance, and sometimes, it can be the complete opposite, but nevertheless, it is always a roller coaster ride for a person who is responsible for bringing the production together. Performing on stage is the most thrilling and eventful thing I have ever done in my life. As both an actor and former stage manager, I’ve familiarized myself with most things that happen in theatre, and there is never a dull moment. Rehearsals are always interesting and a lot of work, but at the end of it all, it is worth the stress.

                When the fresh cast list for this year’s performance first comes out from the printer and is posted on the bulletin board, it finally time to start rehearsal. The rehearsals are always really hard and the first few weeks are always chaos. Actors run around like wild animals and never take things seriously, while stage crew, who is normally given little time to pull things together, paces back and forth looking for things that have to be done. Conversations are being held all around me and gossip is starting about who has what part, and who shouldn’t have gotten it. Costumes and props are being brought in and thrown everywhere so that we can organize them later in the order in which they are used in the play.

When first walking out on stage, you can notice that it is dusty and unkempt, especially in the prop room, which can always be seen with benches, tables, and other large stage décor cluttering the walkway. Loud, angry screams are being shouted at the actors to stay away from the velvety curtains, so as to keep them looking perfect when the performances start. Actors who are just learning his or her dance have poor form and wobble when holding his or her pose. There seems little hope that anything will be done in time and the struggle to keep up is upon us. When there are a lot of people on stage, I can always see people walking into each other and grimacing in pain when someone’s feet are stepped on. With the exceptions of the few talented and trained performers, everyone on stage appears to be a beginner and the director looks like she will not be able to get us in shape in just months before the shows start. The boy who is in charge of pulling the curtain normally tends to miss his cue, which only leads to the loud screams from the director about remembering to do what he has to do. Nothing pulls together and there is little hope that the play will be any good.