I’m burned out right now. Not the kind that comes with some big dramatic moment, just the quiet, heavy exhaustion that sits in your chest and makes everything feel harder than it should.

Balancing the daily schedule of a full-time college student is rough, and adding a Work-Study program, clubs, honors associations, rehearsals, shows, events, and hopefully some socialization time just makes the days seem endless.

When I stepped off the plane into New York City’s electric pulse, I had only two things on my mind: the city and the version of me that comes alive there.

Much like theatre, traditions can tell a story. This may be why they take such a prominent role in a specific show or theatre group before a performance. Stakes are always high before opening night, and having tactics to bring calmness and let nerves out in the space is ideal.

Theatre traditions shift at different stages of life. At times, mine meant being backstage before performing, warming up, or applying stage makeup on myself and friends. As I got older, it meant watching the kids I directed from the wings with pride and hugging them after their bows. Now, I stay involved by seeing as much theatre as possible. While I love going to shows with friends, there’s something special about being alone—about having an experience that is both singular and shared. And while I cherish the traditions I grew up with, I’ve come to value this new one just as much.

Every cast I’ve been a part of has had its own version of these rituals. Sometimes it’s a group warm-up that turns into chaos. Sometimes it’s a pep talk that starts serious and somehow ends in tears from laughing too hard. Sometimes it’s just the quiet moment right before places are called, when the whole dressing room shifts and everyone suddenly realizes, oh wow, this is actually happening.

What's better than being a frustrated dance captain? An acknowledged frustrated dance captain.

With the end of the year quickly approaching, it is important to discuss the somewhat controversial topic of burnout in the entertainment industry.

In a world of multi-hyphenate artists, being talented isn't enough. You have to be distinct! Learn how to bridge the gap between 'what you do' and 'who you are' with these five essential steps for building a sustainable creative brand.

Coming into high school, I knew immediately that I wanted to be a part of the drama club. As the social media manager and eventual president of the club, I felt a great responsibility to make this brand-new theatre program one where everyone felt like they were part of a family. While some traditions were thoroughly thought through and planned, others blossomed from the regular tasks we had to do to put on a show.

Every episode, my final question is always “What advice would you give to younger artists wanting to pursue a career in acting?” Now that I am almost to 100 episodes with Behind the Curtain, I have heard all sorts of advice.

Take a very, very deep breath. Hold it. And let your mind leave everything else at the door. This is just one of the things I do to prepare myself for a performance.

Tradition and routine are essential to effective performance, as understanding your process is a crucial step for any individual in the entertainment industry.

As 2025 comes to a close, I’ve noticed that the instinct to look ahead feels less urgent than the need to pause. Broadway doesn’t move in neat yearly cycles the way we often pretend it does.

When it comes to being part of a show, there are many things that I have to do before a show starts out of habit, and even out of superstition. Here are some of those things!

Audition season will arrive soon enough. When it does, what matters isn’t how much you pushed yourself beforehand, but whether you arrive with enough steadiness to respond rather than react. 

One of the most wonderful parts about being a part of the theatre community is meeting the incredible people involved in it including incredible exchange students who I have been lucky enough to call my friends.

Thinking about 2026, the first year that I’m going into not being a teenager anymore, I feel like it’s becoming more important to me now than ever to make a name for myself.

December is a month that always inspires thoughts of tradition. So, in honor of it, I would love to showcase some of my favorite traditions (and routines) that surround theatre! Theatre invites so many traditions and tt is always fun to hear other people's perspectives!

I absolutely love winter break, having a few weeks to hang out at home (or wherever) is wonderful. Yet, I often find myself with a good amount of free time. Over the past four breaks, I have curated a list of ongoing tasks that I can always turn to if I want to continue to grow over break!

What do you do when it’s finally time to open a show? Here are the rituals and routines I rely on for success on opening night.

I often think about the traditions that my future students will do before, during, and after shows. Then, I reflect on the traditions I still carry with me that I used to do with my theatre friends while we were in shows together.

This blog explores Francis Ford Coppola’s profound legacy at Hofstra University, tracing how a theatre student-turned-legendary filmmaker helped shape the department’s culture and traditions. It highlights Coppola’s impact on student-led productions and his creation of Poo-Wah-Bahs, a ritual that asks you to slow down and recognize the work of each individual player. Nearly 70 years later, this tradition continues to unite generations of Hofstra theatre students. Through personal reflection, the piece examines how legacy, community and creativity converge in one of the department’s most cherished rites.

As they say in the beloved musical Funny Girl, “people who need people are the luckiest people in the world.” I have always believed that being bitten by the theater bug is one of the greatest gifts I could ever receive.

The brief in-between space is where preparation meets presence for me, and where my nerves begin to fade. It’s the place where I get to step fully into my work, remembering everything I’ve learned and prepared for, and leading with confidence and love for what I do and the stories I get to tell.