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I’ve been in a few church drama productions, and I’ve learned quite a few things from being in them. Today is the day after the most recent production, and it has spurred me to share what I’ve learned.

Listen to the director. Don’t talk, use your phone, or otherwise not pay attention while the director is talking. If you don’t pay attention, you won’t know what you’re doing and it sometimes distracts someone else. It also irritates the director.

Listen to the director even when no one else is. That way at least you will know what you’re doing. But it does you no good to know that unless you actually do what you’re supposed to do.

Do what you are supposed to do, even if it feels awkward, stupid, or too loud. You’re going to feel awkward and stupid. You’re going to feel too loud. But trust the director: You’re not. As long as you are doing what you’re supposed to do, then you aren’t actually awkward, stupid, or too loud.

Learn to ignore distractions. In rehearsal you might learn to listen to the director over at least a couple people chatting, and you might learn to watch the director when someone is playing on their phone. During the performance you aren’t meant to be distracted by or look at the audience. Be aware of them, yes, but don’t get distracted by them. In essence, do what you’re supposed to do without letting something or someone distract you.

Pretending to act and react a certain way can teach you about how someone else thinks or feels. Through acting, you may learn some important information or advice on a better way to think about and interact with the people around you.

In-front-of-the-scenes people and behind-the-scenes people are all equal. The show does not go on without everyone working together. You are all a single team working to tell a story.

I’ve been thinking about it, and some of these things are parallels for other life principles. So take some of these and add a little drama to your life!

But only the good kind of drama.