The view from here is pretty

What is it about an empty stage that calls a desperate performer? The energy an actor feels when standing on the apron of a stage is enough to overcome anything else. No matter how bad your show may be, or how stressed you are from tech week, or how evil your dance captain is being about nailing that stupid left pirouette that you fall out of every night, that's why you do it. For the adrenaline you feel when you stand there onstage. 

There's two different, but equally beautiful circumstances for the perfect view onstage. The first- a full house. Personally, I love the moment when you first walk onstage and can steal a glimpse of the audience for only a moment. You look at all those faces and just think, wow, all these people are here to watch me. Yeah, maybe not particularly you, but look at all the people who paid money to come see you onstage.

There's always a moment in each show. You know the moment, the one you've been waiting for. The impressive synchronized dance sequence in the opening number, the tight harmonies by the ensemble during the main ballad, the cool dynamic full cast involvement in the act one closer. That moment where you're just hoping that the audience will love. You wonder what they're thinking. You think the critics will love this. Or my friends will think this is so cool. That moment you look forward to in a show, and, even though from where you're standing, you can't make out faces, you can just picture 500 wide eyed smiles sitting in front of you. 

If that doesn't just excite you, I don't know what does. 

Of course, although us extroverted theatre people love the energy we get from a full house, a completely empty theater can be one of the most beautiful things in the world. There's so much potential sitting on an empty stage in an empty house. I can't help but think of all the people who have been so happy sitting in those chairs and how many people will be made happy there later. The amount of eternal happiness in one room is overwhelming. 

If you ever find yourself alone in a theater, pause, breathe, take a moment to feel the energy in the room, the positivity that lies behind and ahead. Appreciate the amazing art that has happened in one place, and think of the beautiful magic that has yet to happen on the stage you're standing on. 

The places I've performed never cease to amaze me. I'm still in awe of the history I where I've stood. Next time you're in a theater, just stop, breathe, and appreciate. 

The view from onstage at the National Theatre in Washington DC, which I visited during theater week DC. The stage is home to pre-broadway runs such as If/Then. 

I hope you all liked my first post here as an actor problems blogger! My name is Sierra and I'm psyched to be part of the team. Find me on twitter @SoundOfSierra and please let me know if there's anything you'd like me to blog about. Have a great day! 

•do theatre, not drama•

-Sierra