Getting Into Theater: You Have What It Takes

Dim the lights, the show is about to begin! The start of school also ushers in a new year for Glenbard West Theatre.

This season, the main stage promises an outstanding amount of talent and acting unlike anything you’ve seen before. The fall musical Godspell takes the stage November 12th-14th, followed by the winter play, Ovid’s Metamorphoses, running February 11th-13th, and concluding the year with the Shakespearean comedy, As You Like It, April 28th-30th. All of these outstanding productions offer the opportunity for new talent to take their turn in the spotlight and let their personalities shine!

The Theatre Club, which meets on Thursdays immediately after school in the auditorium balcony, is always open for new members to join. Even if you’re not interested in being front and center in a production, there are a plethora of opportunities for other sets of skills. This includes toadies (the tech geniuses behind the scenes), make-up and costuming, set design, publicity, and business.

It is understandable that auditioning can be a nerve-racking process, but Theatre Club treasurer Jacob Kelleher offered some great advice to new members, “For freshman, I’d say the biggest advice I can give is to not be nervous and believe in yourself. So many phenomenal actors and actresses don’t make the shows their freshman year because they don’t believe they can do it and they look nervous.”

This message extends beyond freshman. When going into an audition, everyone gets a little nervous. Even those theatre veterans still get butterflies from time to time- the important thing is to remember to perform to the best of your ability and really show ‘em what you’ve got!
As with joining any new club and coming into a different environment, this can be a little intimidating at times. Not to worry. Here, the Theatre Club is one big family of people doing what they love, and having a great time doing it. That happens to be one of Jacob’s favorite parts.

Jacob says, “I’ve made so many lifelong friends in theatre and I don’t know what I’d do without them. I’ve met some of the best people who care about and accept me. I wouldn’t trade them for anything.”

Theatre Club is looking forward to another spectacular year of productions, and hopefully you’ll be a part of it! Here’s a tip to get you started- don’t say “Macbeth” during a show; it’s bad luck!