Why You Should Get Involved in Community Theater

Imagine a recreation that offered creativity, well-suited roles, opportunity for friends and romance, high-stakes projects that don’t take too long. That’s community theater. Fleshing those out:

Escape. Even in a behind-the-scenes role, you get to step out of daily life into a different, often more exciting role and world.

Easy to find a role that works for you: tickets (box office and online), usher, concessions, marketing, costumes, light, sound, stage managing, photography, directing and, of course, acting.

Cool goal. It’s exciting to prepare to perform.

Type of theater. Community theaters range from edgy to classic. I am involved in a reader’s theater group in which we perform great scenes from iconic movies and plays, in costumes, with props, but holding a script so we don’t need to memorize. This Sunday, we’re doing a scene from each of these:

Annie Hall. Who’s afraid of a spider?

Educating Rita. A student tries to breathe life into a tired professor.

The Fault in Our Stars. One has cancer, the other a secret.

The Importance of Being Earnest. Behind the upper-crusty politeness….

When Harry Met Sally. Beware the hypnotist.

Broadway Bound. Is he cheating?

To find a local community theater, just google “community theater” and the name of your locale. The theater’s website may list roles they’re soliciting for, but most theaters can always use people. Don’t be afraid to reach out.

I read this on YouTube.

Marty is a long-time community theatre actor and director. His real job is career and personal coach and author of 34 books including How to Do Life. You can reach him at mnemko@gmail.com