1. Since everything was on a strict budget, costume malfunctions were common.
2. And the set budget usually wasn't much bigger, which led to...setbacks.
3. You had to adapt all your character choices to your school's stage, which probably wasn't very big.
4. As a result, it's possible you have some literal scars from your time in drama club.
5. Most props were homemade, so they were sometimes more fragile than your acting instincts allowed.
6. And when something inevitably went wrong, you had to react quickly.
7. And quietly pray that your co-star was on the same page.
8. Oh god, harnesses.
9. HARNESSES.
10. Everyone's still trying to forget the harnesses.
11. But even when everything went horribly, ridiculously wrong, you COULD. NOT. LAUGH.
12. You undoubtedly had to deal with an overzealous costar.
13. And that prima donna who got cast in the lead part, every time, no matter what.
14. And that one absolutely insane director who everyone both loathed and adored.
But despite their insanity, they knew how to put on a good show.
15. And, occasionally, a new, young director who had lofty ideas that never worked out.
16. And the older, jaded director who had one story about almost "making it," and never fully recovered.
17. You all depended too heavily on the organized and coolheaded stage manager.
Who was probably only a sophomore.
18. And if you were on crew, you secretly thought all the actors were absolutely insane.
And secretly knew you were the glue holding the whole production together.
19. You experienced "cast drama."
Prop sword fight, 10 minutes, the girls' dressing room. Bring a second.
20. Especially when the romantic leads inevitably hooked up.
21. Which all made for one colorful, splendid mess of a cast party.
22. But despite all the craziness and frustration and potential injuries, you were still a diehard drama nerd.
23. Because you loved it.
24. And you knew that your theater family, though insane and dysfunctional, could never be replaced.
25. But above all, you did it because you knew the show must, well, you know.
