BWW Blog: Nanjibah Khan - The Theatre is Magic

Theatre was something I knew I was interested in ever since I was little. I joined the drama club in fifth grade, but I was a shy little flower back then. I didn't think I was good enough to continue theatre when I reached the sixth grade. But when I saw the performances my school put on, I was amazed. The costumes, the dancing, the singing. I was drawn to it. So the next school year right after that, I knew I had to join them. I couldn't stand and watch anymore. I wanted to be on stage. I wanted to wear the costumes and dance with the ensemble and sing my heart out. I had to be a part of what I was tragically missing!

Joining theatre once again is something I absolutely do not regret doing. I got over my shyness and I quickly began to love to sing and act and dance in front of people (even though I have two left feet.) I loved the excitement that boiled inside of me as I put on my costume and did my makeup, knowing that in only a few minutes my friends and family would be able to see me do what what I enjoy so much. I began to love the thumping of my heart as I stood backstage, about to get on stage to perform. And I loved going on stage and having the time of my life even more.

Theatre is a ton of work, I know that. I'm definitely aware. The endless rehearsals and the workload of memorizing lines and blocking is tiring, I know! I could hear my brain saying, "I told you it'd pay off," whenever the audience reacted with applause or laughter. And I knew that it was worth it when I got to work with the best people in the world to make something beautiful - and terribly entertaining.

I still remember the first day of drama class in seventh grade. About a week before school started, I had looked up online how to fit in with theatre kids. I mean, these kids had been in this class since a year before. What if they didn't like me? What if I was the most horrible performer there? I was nervous and for the first two days, I was horribly uncomfortable. Everyone had already formed their own little groups. I was an outcast, even though I had friends in the class. But after only about two weeks, that classroom felt like home to me. And that's exactly when I knew I belonged. That's the moment I realized that the theatre world is like one huge family.

There's this ritual we do right before we do a show where we all hold hands and say this whole speech together. One of the lines in that speech is, "There is magic in the theatre, and the theatre is magic." And after these years of doing theatre, I've realized that those words are so very true. No matter how tired and frustrated you get during rehearsals, you can't help but feel the magic inside of you in the form of an adrenaline rush when you get up on that stage and shine. I am so thankful for being able to take part in such a wonderful experience and to be able to cooperate with so many amazing people!

The theatre is magic, and once you take part in the theatre, the magic ends up living in you - endlessly.

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