After rediscovering her love of theater, columnist Erin Davoran is performing in the satirical science fiction musical this weekend.
What’s your major? That’s one of the first questions we ask each other in college, like it defines us. I’m a journalism major pursuing a screenwriting minor and a diversity studies certificate. In some ways, that does define me.
You can probably learn a lot about me from what I’m choosing to study at Ohio University. Our majors, minors, certificates, specializations, etc. are there to make us knowledgeable and prepare us for careers in our respective fields. But being a certain major or pursuing a certain field does not define or encompass everything we are and everything we love to do. Our studies should not come at the expense of everything else we love.
I gave up a lot of my hobbies for a long time to focus on my major. And, yes, journalism is one of my hobbies. I’m one of those people who wants to do what I love and love what I do. But eating, sleeping and breathing journalism became arduous. I missed everything else that I did for fun, such as sports and theater. Especially theater.
I was a theater kid in high school. I gave up volleyball for it. I was in as many shows as I could join and loved every role — big or small — in which I was cast.
When I got to college, I figured I had to give that up because it wasn’t what I was planning on doing professionally for the rest of my life. Stupid freshman me.
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Last year, I went back to it. Not for my career or resumé, but for me. For fun.
I joined the Lost Flamingo Company, the student-run acting troupe on campus. I was cast in August: Osage County, a very dark comedy about the craziest family in Oklahoma. I LOVED it.
I forgot how therapeutic and fulfilling being in a show can be. I forgot how much of a kindred spirit I find with other people who love and live theater. We all understand the same show puns, sing the same Broadway songs and idolize the same stars, such as Ramin Karimloo, Audra McDonald and Nathan Lane. It’s amazing.
Even though I was taking a ton of credit hours and busier than ever, being in that show last semester was just what I needed. It also helped that my cast and directors became a family, which isn’t uncommon, but also not a guarantee when you perform a play or musical.
This week, I’m performing in my second LFC production: The Rocky Horror Picture Show. Rocky is unlike anything I’ve ever been in before. If you’ve seen it or been in it, you know what I mean. If you haven’t, come see us! We have two more performances: Thursday and Saturday at Jackie O’s Pub & Brewery.
It’s an illogical, sexual show that is just so much fun. I play Dr. Scott, an old German man in a wheelchair who ends up in lingerie and high heels at the end, just like everybody else.
The show definitely pushes all sorts of boundaries, including my own. The risqué nature of the show means that we as a cast have to take risks and be vulnerable.
Being that exposed, you have to be surrounded by positive, supportive people. And I am. The Rocky family is loving and supportive and weird. Just as I’ve come to expect from the theater.
By the time this is published, we will have performed our opening show on Wednesday. I hope it went well and that I didn’t wheel off the stage or suffer a nip slip in my corset. Even if that show and the two to come are disasters, this experience would still be worth it to me. Rediscovering my love for theater and its people was worth it.
Do what you love and love what you do, whether that’s your major, job or hobby. It’s what makes you you.
Erin Davoran is a senior studying journalism. Has college helped you rekindle your passion for something? Tweet her @erindavoran or email her at ed414911@ohio.edu.
