I have been a dancer since I was three years old, following my older sister’s footsteps and proudly wearing her hand-me-down tap shoes. So naturally, when I saw her start theater, I knew I’d inevitably follow her down that route as well (though I didn’t start until high school). Although initially I thought she was against the idea of sharing her hobby with me, she grew to love the moments we got to share on stage. It was such an honor getting to watch her senior year musical — not from the audience — but on the stage with her.
After we graduated high school, we diverged — she focused on dance, and I focused on theater. She got into a Modern Dance program, and I got into a BFA Acting Program, which put me at a roadblock. It was for a prestigious acting program, and I had received the scholarship to attend, but ultimately decided to come to Hopkins, agreeing with myself to pursue my theatrical interests as an extracurricular. At least, that was the plan.
I had done a gig before at a local professional theater as a role in the ensemble my junior year of high school, and the next thing I knew, I was getting an invitation from the director to audition for a one-man show at this professional theater. I had seen the casting call but didn’t think of auditioning, thinking I was too young, but apparently, that wasn’t the case. That was also the summer I booked my first contract as an assistant choreographer. It seemed as if the more theater I was doing, the more roles and contracts I was booking. That’s when it hit me — this wasn’t a hobby anymore, this was becoming a career.
Don’t get me wrong, I love theater. I mean, there is a reason why I still do it as much as I do. It’s how I met my friends, and spending such an immense amount of time delving into a character and their intentions is wonderful. However, having an extracurricular that is now a potential career path creates a complicated dynamic between the two. Sometimes, I feel a profound level of pressure to do another production, to take on another role, solely for the purpose of having another credit and skill set on my resume. Because of this, theater isn’t a source of relaxation for me anymore; it’s a source for networking and gaining new skillsets.
This year, I have made it a goal to limit the theater I do. It doesn’t mean auditioning less per se, but rather, auditioning with more intention. Sure, I could apply to countless casting calls, but frankly, that's tiring. I didn’t want to become one of the many artists who feel the need to chuck themselves into their next production, solely for the idea that if they don't, they’ll soon be forgotten. Instead, I’m making it a goal to audition for what shows or roles I truly love. I’ve already booked my third summer contract as assistant choreographer at my local theater, and frankly, coming into a season of shows I truly love with a dream-team production team, I couldn’t be more excited.
Finnigan Keane is a sophomore majoring in Archaeology and Environmental Studies from Margate City, N.J.
