A truly trying experience as of late has been my ensemble appearance in Lane Community College's summer musical Hello, Dolly! The show is a mesh of both experienced theatre people from schools and the community, but thrown into the mix are also a great deal of people that are really much more musicians than actors.
Some thing I've discovered about musicians: There is a right and wrong way to do things in their mind. Flexibility therefore is an issue and adding character... sometimes difficult because it might mess with the completely accurate way to sing.
All of this makes me appreciate theatre. There is no "wrong" way to interpret a character as each actor might go about it differently. We all have different methods and different "notes" will be hit. Music somehow seems to be laid out much more cut and dry. Who knew?
Some things that make me realize why I am in the profession of theatre:
It allows for artistic creation
There is usually an end product in which to see the result of your work
It involves collaboration with other artists
It makes people think
It makes me think
It gives me an outlet of sorts
It makes me happy
When I watch Slings and Arrows I usually think, "Right on! That is totally how I feel"
Because art is dying and I think that is wrong and am willing to fight that fight
