Growing up with two actor parents meant that I spent a lot of time around the theater. I remember spending more time at the theater than I did at home. I would fall asleep on couches in green rooms or front lobbies, across rows of seats, or even on the floor in the aisles.

I can’t remember the first time I performed on stage. I remember the first show I did, but I don’t remember my first time actually performing. I honestly don’t even remember what I enjoyed about it. I’m not sure if it was the thrill, the praise, or just being able to be involved in something that my parents enjoyed so much, but once I started I never stopped. I’ve taken a couple of breaks, but always knowing I’d be back.

I went to a performing arts high school, the Academy for the Performing Arts in Huntington Beach (APA), and I loved the classes, but I couldn’t stay away from community theatre. I ended up doing only one APA show in the two years that I spent there, but I continued doing community theatre shows.

The big hiatus that I took was during my college years, though I still sprinkled a few shows in there when I had the time. As much as I was working, going to school, and having zero time to myself, I just longed to be back on the stage.

So here’s the thing: there are many reasons why people enjoy doing theatre. Some people enjoy the thrill of being in front of an audience, the attention, the applause. Some love the experience of building a character and finding the backstory and getting all of the creative juices flowing. Others just enjoy the ability to create a scenario for audiences to escape to and to be there to make them laugh or cry. While all of those are great and powerful reasons, that’s not why I act.

I enjoy acting because it’s an escape from myself. I’m of the generation of the over-educated and under-paid. I work three jobs and I’m still going to be paying off my student loans forever. I come from a family with a history of mental illness, and I struggle with some really difficult bouts of depression. BUT, when I’m on stage, performing as a character, I’m free from all of the debt and depression and any other worries. As soon as I open the script, Noelle’s problems drop to the floor and my character is alive.

For me, stepping into a character is natural. The things that come out are sometimes out of my control and can even be a surprise to me. The voice, the walk, the reactions are all the character’s and not my own. It’s very freeing. Every time I get to play a new character it’s like meeting a new person. I read the script and go through rehearsals learning what that person would or wouldn’t do, how they would respond, what they would think when presented with different opportunities.

These experiences are really fun for me because I’m able to step in and out of character (generally) easily. It’s also what I enjoy about switching between characters. My most fun recent experiences were while doing Titanic: The Musical and The Jury Room. In Titanic, I played two characters (with 11 changes between being pregnant and not pregnant) and I had so much fun making the two characters different from one another. As far as The Jury Room, one of the greatest things was how completely different my character was from who I am as a person. I heard so many fun stories from friends in the audience who took no time in relaying to other audience members how much I am NOT a stereotypical “dumb blonde” in my daily life.

Honestly, I’m not sure if any of this makes me a good actress, or just proves that I’m super bipolar and can channel it into my acting, but I’ll take it! It may be different, but I really enjoy it, and I wouldn’t give it up for the world.

So, tell me: why do you do theatre? Or if you don’t, why do you enjoy going to see it? Tell me your stories and share your favorite characters in the comments!