BWW Blog: Alyssa Sileo - #JustStudentActorThings

Rent taught us young theatre-aficionados our first BIG number. "525,600 minutes...how do you measure, measure a year..."

I believe sometimes we wish there were 525,600 more minutes.
I don't think any school career can be more dynamic, unpredictable, or zany than one largely spent in a theatre, black box, or drama classroom. Combine the trials of growing up with the hustle and bustle of the stage and you've got yourself a heck of a time.
My most favorite memories of my first two high school years include the times my friends and I muddled through shows and rehearsals, joking and learning along the way. The bonds we form and traditions we develop are some for the books.
I've realized there's some behaviors that lots of my peers share, regarding the harmonization of school and theatre.

Here are some scenarios that I think all #studentactors and #youngtheatrelovers can relate to.

1.) Having homework is bad enough--but having it during tech week is a tragedy.

2.) Running lines while doing laps in Gym class.

3.) Rejoicing when the next reading material in Literature class is a play.

4.) Using a musical soundtrack like fuel to get through anything.

5.) Turning vocabulary words into a song.

6.) Turning science terms into a song.

7.) Turning mathematical formulas into a song.

8.) Either breaking out into song at the mention of a particular word (drama class) or resisting the urge to break out into song at the mention of a particular word (regular classes).

9.) Missing your favorite TV shows because of rehearsal.

10.) Missing school events because of rehearsal.

11.) Missing sleep because of rehearsal.

12.) Doing well in History class because of Hamilton, Hairspray, West Side Story, Newsies, The King and I, The Sound of Music, Fiddler on the Roof, and Les Misérables.

13.) Running out of highlighters for other classes because of your voracious highlighting of your lines (and sometimes doodling in your friends' scripts.)

14.) Using a notebook or a mini whiteboard to communicate with classmates and teachers while on Vocal Rest.
15.) Missing classes because of school-day matinees.

16.) Eating a lot of take-out during tech.

17.) Requesting songs from musicals during Semiformal, Homecoming, and Prom.

18.) Having a blanket and pillow in your locker that you need for those tech-week naps in the house seats.

19.) Calling drama class not a class but your favorite time of day.

20.) Being able to say that your school career was full of unbelievably silly, serious, and sentimental times on the stages that you made homes.

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