Scratching the Theater Itch

Hello, tender friends!

Here’s a fun fact that I’ve touched on lightly on here at times: my friend Gini and I competed at the STANJ (Speech and Theater Association of New Jersey) festival in high school. I never considered myself “funny,” but our theater teacher pushed us hard to take a comedic improv slot. I wasn’t comfortable with it because I considered myself a “dramatic actress” and had those dramatic 90s eyebrows and black eyeliner (top and bottom lids!) to match my persona.

But I also felt I had nothing to lose. Gini was incredibly experienced and had been in professional theater since age 8. We were dear friends by then, and I knew we’d both rescue each other onstage if it was necessary.

We accepted the challenge from our drama teacher.

No, we didn’t win (not in that category, at least), and this isn’t a story about discovering I was a comedic prodigy. But I did get some laughs.

If you’ve never experienced it, let me assure you: audience laughter is a powerful drug. I was hooked.

They love me! my ego rejoiced. I lived on that memory for a month. Could I get good at this? I wondered. Could I provide respite from the harshness of life for other people?

I didn’t have any delusions about my talent. I was keenly aware of which kids had a real shot at working in professional theater after highschool, and I knew I wasn’t among them.

But still, that memory has followed me my whole life.

I made them laugh!

Next post I’ll share how I’m scratching the itch to make them laugh as an adult. (And yes, this will eventually link back to the Lord!)

Oh, and some unrelated notes: it’s cold in the morning and at night, aka sweater weather…

but still gets warm enough on some afternoons to do our homeschooling lessons on the porch.

Okay, that’s all for today, tender friends! Thank you so much for stopping by, and thank you to the new friends! I definitely did not expect to get any new followers off of the post about treating Rocky mountain spotted fever, but I’m so grateful to connect with like-minded people!

Thanks again for stopping by, and thank you for sharing!

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  1. Debi Walter

    I love this Stacey. High school is the time to explore all kinds of talents. I was in a Jazz Ensemble—16 total, 4 singing each harmony. I loved my time performing and singing four part harmony.

    As an adult I sang on the worship team at our church and loved it. But then God told me it was time to do what He had called me to do. It was sad to close that door, but much more fulfilling to serve in an area God had created me to do.

    Thanks for sharing and for triggering such a great memory.

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    1. Stacey

      Thank you for sharing, Debi! A jazz ensemble sounds like so much fun! It can be sad when God tells us to leave something that we love, but I’m with you that it’s much more fulfilling to know that you’re where God wants you to be.

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  2. Debi Walter

    It really is, Stacey. And look where you are today? Much for which to be grateful.

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  3. Regal woman@TransamEagle

    That sounds like fun, laughter is good medicine!

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    1. Stacey

      God’s best medicine, Teresa!

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