The theatre family…

As I wrap up another production here at W&M, I am reminded, “THIS is why I do theatre.” Last weekend, I performed in the controversial and undeniably emotional play, When the Purple Settles, written by one of W&M’s own faculty members, Francis Tanglao-Aguas. Being involved in main stage theatre productions is so fulfilling to me, and I have dedicated a lot of my time to the W&M theatre department. The tight, close-knit community formed during a show is unlike any other bond that can be formed through involvement in clubs or other activities.

Most people fail to realize the type of time commitment and dedication that students put into theatre productions. Students spend hours almost every day of the week inside the theatre rehearsing, building, sewing, writing, singing, dancing, just to make sure that the performance is displayed at its highest potential. It’s the most cliché theatre line in history, but whenever I’m working on a show, “I can’t, I have rehearsal” is the line I say more than any other. My non-theatre friends just can’t seem to understand why, or more fittingly how, I can spend so much time on theatre with all the other things W&M and Williamsburg have to offer.

But theatre has been a great opportunity for me to meet a lot of other students with the same common interests as me. I admit, when I first decided I was going to try out for a production at W&M earlier this year, I was extremely nervous. I had always loved doing theatre in high school, but I wasn’t sure if it was something that I still wanted to do in college. After much pressure from friends and family, I auditioned for the fall musical. And I made it! It was such a great experience. I was able to learn new things about productions – and in a more professional setting than high school. The technical aspects, the backstage traditions, the rehearsal process, the cast dinners and parties; I loved it all. I loved it so much that I was convinced I wanted to make theatre my second major. I couldn’t believe that I hadn’t realized sooner that theatre was such an important part of my life. I just couldn’t give it up in college.

My favorite part of W&M theatre is the community. I would even go so far as to call it a family. Spending an extraordinary amount of hours with people for weeks at a time will do that to you. Not more than a week after the final performance and I already received an email about scheduling a reunion. I can’t wait!

– David Mendler ’11