BWW Blog: Cheyenne Dalton - The Best Thing About Being a Theatre Major

I bet you think I'll say "built in friends" or "fun classes" or "hanging out in the green room" or "doing shows," and while all of those things are great and mostly true, none of those things are the best thing about being a theatre major.

In what other major can you learn a plethora - a wide range - a resume's worth - of information just by going to class and rehearsals? In what other major can you learn not only your focus, but also other focuses? In what other major can you graduate from and know what everyone else in your industry does? All of these things are applicable to being a theatre major. I know how to make a costume from a pattern, hang and focus lights, design and build a set, design, set up, and run sound for a show, make a prompt book, do research for every area of theatre, analyze scripts, build props, and practically everything else - including acting and dance classes.

Because we are in a curriculum at Auburn University, where we take a wide range of classes, we can tell you what everyone's job is in the theatre, and we grow to respect everyone and their positions. It's comforting to know that we can talk about what everyone is doing, learn and educate ourselves about their jobs, and come to production meetings with upfront knowledge about how to handle problems. We know where boundaries are and should be set, where job lines are drawn, and where we can help out.

I can't imagine being in a major that I didn't get to see and talk to my professors about serious question I have, or in a major that I didn't know every single person in it. It's not a family like most people think, but a collective. A team. No one person's job is better than another, and I truly believe that everyone feels that way. It takes all of us to make the show happen - and we all know that in Auburn Theatre. As The Drowsy Chaperone approaches quickly, it's comforting to know that we are all about to put our best foot forward for the production - in every aspect. It's comforting to know that we all love what we do.

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