BWW Blog: Christopher Panella - James Corden is Right, This COULD Be You!

WARNING: I am assuming that if you are reading this blog, you have watched the 70th Tony Awards this past Sunday. If you have not, are you even a theatre kid?

This past Sunday was a whirlwind for theatre kids. The Tonys are the ultimate event for every theatre lover, from high school theatre to Jane Krakowski (her split in She Loves Me was FANTASTIC). The 70th was more than just the ultimate theatre event, however. It was an event dedicated to inclusiveness, to embracing yourself and never, even for a second, doubting yourself in this career. James Corden said it last night: This could be where you belong, especially if you feel like an outcast, different, or unique. Everything about Sunday painted the perfect picture of exactly why theatre is the best community. This COULD be you!

Every theatre kid deals with their own individual struggles and problems, from qualities that make them different to simply being more eccentric than others. That's what makes theatre the best community in the world: it's a combination of so many different and interesting people who all understand the struggles of being different and not fitting in. Theatre and its representation of inclusivity is a major reason I choose theatre as my safe zone (I have discussed this in previous blogs) but last night proved that theatre is more than a safe zone. It's a rich, diverse, and beautiful community full of so many different identities. Theatre is for everyone, and it's perhaps the only career that makes an effort to include everyone in new, exciting, and equal ways. From the LGBT community to racial minorities, every sexuality and gender and race and ethnicity is included in theatre, in productions and characters.

The love and safety of the theatre community is something to dream about. When I was child, I spent nights imagining a place where I could be myself, where I could try new things and push myself to new limits emotionally and physically. Little did I know that place I imagined was far from being just an imagination. It was theatre, and it was completely real. It is a place where you can be yourself in all forms. Now, as a somewhat adult who plans to pursue this as a career, I find that the Tonys represent my dream from so long ago that could come true. James Corden is right. Any theatre kid could make it to that point of accomplishment, to the point where their name is called and they give a speech detailing their journey and thankfulness. The Tonys are, in every way, a representation of growth and commitment, and I truly believe that any theatre kid can make it there. Now, making it there won't happen overnight. Take Jayne Houdyshell and Jessica Lange for examples. Houdyshell is 62 and after countless characters, dedication, and hard work, she was graced last night with a Tony that she so deserved. Lange is similar; at 67, Lange has just won a Tony after years and years of riveting acting and beyond stellar characters (sorry, I am EXTREMELY biased towards Jessica Lange, she is my idol). These awards won't be won instantly, they'll take years of forming the perfect character and performance. This only makes it that much more rewarding.

The 70th Tony Awards were incredibly enjoyable, but Sunday's event was far more than just entertaining; it was fueling and inspiring. Watching these hard working performers (remember that every single person in that room was just like you and me years ago) in genuine shock over their accomplishments is a bright reminder: that could be any theatre kid, that could be you.

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