One of my favorite college acting professors continually reminded us that "theatre is the mirror of society". The statement seems simple enough, and I thought I understood it the first time I heard it. However, I never really "got" it until I graduated and began participating in real-life community theatre.

The truth is, that theatre shows us who we really are: good, bad, beautiful, ugly, and sometimes somewhere in between. When we take on new characters we start to experience parts of ourselves that we never knew were there to begin with, we cannot help but to gain compassion and tolerance. We begin to understand the capacity within ourselves, both for great goodness and great evil. "Theatre people" are (and have been called) a lot of different things, but they are the most welcoming, loving, and passionate community that I have yet to find. I think it's because we have started to understand that deep down we're all alike.

This is why it's so important to participate in community theatre. Theatre has the power to unite people from all sorts of backgrounds and walks of life: It is "the mirror of society," showing us who we truly are. We all have things to share and things to learn from one another. I am convinced that theatre is one of the most powerful tools for strengthening and building communities. When we laugh and play together, cry together, get frustrated together, fall in and out of love together, we forge lasting bonds.

Now that I've written a lofty expose on the utopia that I call "theatre," I'll give some practical suggestions for getting involved. The internet is a great place to start.

1. Most community theatres have websites that often post upcoming auditions. Most companies will want you to call and set up an official audition time slot. (Some simply ask that you show up between such-and-such a time).

2. The next step is to prepare for the audition. Sometimes casting notices will describe exctly what they want to hear/ see from you. This could be 16 bars of a song, a short monologue, a reading from the script, a dance audition, or any number of other things. If you're uncertain about what is expected of you, call the theatre and ask!

3. Go to the audition and give it your best shot! If you get cast, congratulations! If not, try again for another play or for a different theatre.

4. Make connections. This is possibly the most imprtant suggestion of all. In community theatre, what often happens is that directors will pre-cast their shows from the pool of talent that they already know. For this reason it can sometimes be difficult to break into the theatre scene, even in the smallest of communities! This is why you simply have to keep on auditioning, sharpening your skills, and making connections.

If acting is not your thing, your managerial, electrical, masonry, painting, costuming, make-up, lighting, technical, or production experience (to name a few) would also be warmly welcomed and greatly appreciated. It's a wonderful way to connect with other people, make new friends, and most importantly, strengthen your community. Even if direct participation in community theatre is not your thing, you can still support your local theatres simply by attending productions! After all, theatre would not exist without an audience.

Learn more about this author, mary-claire.
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