My View from All Sides of the Stage

My View from All Sides of the Stage

I’ve been a part of shows since the age of 5: acting, directing, stage managing, and playing in the pit. I’ve seen the stage from all sides, and each one holds its own place in my heart.

I began by acting, starting first with school shows in elementary school and then continuing on to community and local theatre now as a junior in high school. Acting gives me a rush of adrenaline like no other. Standing on stage in the blinding light is where I feel most at home: safe, yet exposed. As an actor, I have learned how to be part of a team, how to commit myself to a project, and how to be confident in myself. The stage is a place free of judgement, a place where self-expression and exploration is encouraged and fostered. I have found myself inside of the characters that I have played, and applied the emotion and experiences from my life to my acting. Being an actor has taught me to play, to experiment, and to understand humans and their inner battles and successes.

In seventh grade, I was in a show at my local acting studio when the stage manager asked if I would help assistant stage manage the younger kids’ production. It came to me as a surprise, for I had never considered being behind the scenes instead of onstage. But, I immediately agreed — I’m always looking for new challenges. Every day before the rehearsals for the show that I was in, I went to those of the younger kids’ and learned how to help them backstage, manage the props, and coordinate scenery shifts for the performances. I learned how to lead and take control in unpredictable situations. I improved my quick-thinking and problem solving, and was able to help a final product run smoothly and seamlessly.

So, in eighth grade, I knew that I wanted to lead again, but on a larger scale. I decided to direct a musical. After pitching the idea to my advisor in school, I coordinated auditions, cast the show, choreographed, musical directed, produced, and directed the full musical production of “13.” And two years later, I decided to direct again. This time was with elementary school students, and the show was “Peter Pan Jr.” Directing both of these shows allowed me to create. It  taught me how to extract the creative ideas that I formulated in my head and portray them to an audience; I was able to tell the story that I wanted to tell. I learned how to lead and work with different types of people, how to cooperate and advise, and how to illustrate my ideas in a work of art. And, it taught me the true meaning of appreciation; these actors and crew worked to create a vision that I desired to create. Their hard work and dedication was inspiring.

This past fall, I continued my journey when I decided to play cello in the pit for “A Christmas Carol.” It was a completely different experience than any of the others, but my experience acting and directing helped me immensely to be able to succeed. I was, once again, a part of a team, committed to creating a work of art, a message to the world. I was part of a single sound, unseen, but heard and felt. And, from this, I learned about being humble. I was part of a group of professional musicians, unseen in the pit, yet creating this music solely to inspire others. It was their gift to the world, and I am fortunate enough that it was able to become mine as well.

I’ve seen the stage from different angles, and they have all taught me the same thing in their own ways: be a team player, be a leader, be confident, be appreciative, be humble. Not just in theatre, but in all aspects of life. My experiences from all sides of the stage have shaped me as my own individual person, and I am eternally grateful to have been able to experience all of them. Try new things, put yourself out there, and remember that there is always more to learn.

The cast of Peter Pan, directed by Talia

-Talia Hankin

Junior at Newtown High School

NPT Youth Board member