I think it is safe to say the Center for the Arts is unlike any other building on Elon University's campus. Every time I walk through it, I swerve through bouncing groups of singers, dancers, musicians or performers. Am I angry? Do I walk around them as if it is the greatest inconvenience of the world? No way. I am full of pure, tremendous jealousy.
The last time I was involved in any kind of theater was in the fifth grade and I’m pretty sure I was a tree. Obviously, my theater knowledge is very limited. But after two years of reporting on dozens of Elon productions, both student-directed and faculty-directed, I can say it with full confidence: I am so jealous of their work and wish I had just a fraction of their talents.
I recently saw two of Elon's productions — “Dog Sees God" and "A Man of No Importance” — in the Black Box Theatre. The actors and actresses possess unimaginable passion, determination and loyalty to their characters. Within a single hour, they can bring out real emotions and propel the audience to interpret the production in whatever way they choose.
Theater truly is a reflection of real life. Through my time as an audience member, I have discovered the truth theater indiscreetly reveals. After every show, I talk to the audience members and rarely get a simple, “It was a good show,” or “I liked it.” The responses are usually more along the lines of, “That was an absolutely amazing production, I can’t wait to tell my mom, dad, uncles and cousin about its super awesomeness. I’m seeing the later show, too. And the one tomorrow.”
Personally, I always leave the theater in the same way I leave a movie theater. The characters and what they stand for affect how I act for the next hour or so. I am inspired to learn more. But there is a difference between theater and movies — theater is much more personal, and there is the lucky chance you might know one of these incredible people on the stage. How cool is that?
To all you theater people: please, please, please keep on theater-ing.