My dreams of working in theatre are happening right now. I realized that I would be happy working at any theatre, but God has been good and has given me more than I deserve and he's given it to me sooner than I expected. I'm currently working at The Playhouse San Antonio on their production (the Texas premeire!) of The Hunchback of Notre Dame. It's a small theatre, and it's one of the only professional ones in all of San Antonio. It's professional, meaning the director actually has experience, knows what he's doing and is serious about what he is doing, the members of the creative team are incredibly creative and extremely hard-working, and the actors know how to really act and have amazing vocal talents. I got a little taste of working on real theatre productions in high school, but this is so many steps up from where I started in high school. I was almost thrown into this opportunity. I actually wasn't the one who found out about this job or even applied there. A woman from the school district called me about finding a community work-study job and brought up a job opening at The Playhouse for a box office attendant. I said, "Sure, why not?", went in, interviewed with the director, told him what I was interested it, he asked if I'd like to do costumes and wardrobe for the show, I said absolutely yes, and now I'm here. I just can't believe it! I haven't yet been able to wrap my head around what is happening in my life right now.
I LOVE my job. Probably more than I can express. Yes, it gets crazy and it will always be crazy. Sometimes I'll have to wait on actors hand and foot. I have to rush around a lot. I have to take and highlight dozens of notes. I have to know cues and timing. I might have to mend costumes with the very little amount of sewing/costuming experience I have. I have to handle costumes completely soaked by sweat and slobber. But I absolutely love it. What makes it all worth it for me is knowing that I'm helping people, knowing that I'm playing a part in making a magical experience for the audience, and getting to work with all the incredible people around me, who are extraordinarily creative, hard-working, talented, and also just super fun and fulfilling to be around. But listen, the work I'm doing now isn't much compared to a lot of the work that goes into these productions. I'm just a work-study student/intern. I'm just there to fill in some gaps, even though those gaps may be important. I am working hard and helping as much as I can, and it is scary and exhausting sometimes, but I am so up for a bigger challenge. It would be amazing if I ever got the opportunity to work at any other professional theatre, but right now, The Playhouse is where I want to stay. It has become a special place to me over the short period of time I've worked there because of the people, the experience I'm gaining, and the memories I'm making.
Some other things I love about doing this is when the actors acknowledge my work and the crew's work. Acknowledging the crew in general is one thing, but I am so pleased and joyful when actors or others working on the show acknowledge ME and MY work. I can't tell you how much that means to me. The actor I'm the dresser for is one of the sweetest people I've ever met. He never lets me forget how grateful he is for my help. The costume coordinator I work under has told me multiple times that I'm doing great and she's proud of me. The director, who can be harsh and demanding, has told me I'm doing a good job. The stage managers I work alongside are inspiring in their work and persistence and they know that I'm working hard and doing a good job. The actors in general regularly thank me for my work, which, as someone who still gets starstruck over actors and characters like a little girl, is everything I could wish for. What an honor it is to be working with and helping Quasimodo, Esmeralda, Phoebus and Frollo, and to be thanked by these incredible actors is truly a privilege! At my other jobs, I was just mediocre. I was an "okay" employee. I got fired from my last job because I wasn't improving very much, which honestly kind of scarred me and left me thinking I don't have what it takes to be a good worker. So to hear that I'm doing a good job in the industry I'm passionate about lifts my spirits and brings me so much hope and joy. What I also love about this job is that now I have connections with people in the industry, and that could possibly lead to a whole lot of opportunities.
My dreams are coming true. I just wish my friends and family were around to see it. My family and some of my friends get to hear about it, but there's not really anyone. I was trying to think of people to invite to the show and bring with me to the opening show's reception, but I don't have friends around here. It's just me. I tried sharing things about it on Facebook, but it seems like no one saw any of that. Wondering how I'll make friends in this new place is a whole different topic though... It's just, my dreams are coming true, and I want people to know that so they can know that their dreams can come true too. It just takes passion, ambition, hard work, and perseverance. Dreams DO come true, and sometimes they can be just around the corner when you don't expect it.
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