12 Rules Of Life We Can Learn From Theatre

By Megan Minutillo

1. Make a choice, and own that choice. If you want to move, move. If you’re full of emotion, express it. Theatre is a series of choices, and so is life.

2. Remember that it’s ok to laugh amidst the drama. Even the darkest stories have a bit of light – and that’s true in life, too.

3. Try – especially after you fail. It’s natural to be afraid to fail, but it’s also ok to do so. For through failure we become better.

4. Don’t be afraid to stand in your light. Stand tall, stand proud.

5. Speak with intention. That’s a cardinal rule in theatre, and it should carry into our daily lives, too. Choose your words carefully, and mean what you say.

6. Collaboration is key – it takes a village to put on a theatrical production. Again, collaboration is something to extend far beyond the rehearsal room. How much more positive would our lives be if we knew how to collaborate with one another in instead of competing?

7. Listen. If we listened as we did onstage, I imagine that there would be far fewer problems in this world.

8. See the humanity in the story. The heartbeat of humanity pulses with the desire to be seen, to be loved, to be heard. So see people, hear people, love people – with their flaws and all.

9. Know where you’re coming from. And recognize where others are coming from, too.

10. Be polite to everyone you work with – whether they’re onstage or off. One of my favorite Maya Angelou quotes encapsulates this best, “I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” This is true onstage, and off. Simply put, don’t be the jerk in the room.

11. Constructive criticism is a real thing – it’s intended to help you improve. Recognize that there is a difference between constructive criticism, and just being mean for the sake of being mean.

12. Live outside your bubble. The best performers are soaking in life in all it’s forms – for that makes the richest performance, and, it makes for the richest life, too.