It’s rare that I get scared before a play.

Anymore.

It’s weird. Because I used to get that flutter of nervousness before going on stage.

The sweaty palms. The shallow breathing. That percolation of unease in my belly.

The anxiousness…

That darn nagging thought: Will I remember my lines?

But I had a break from acting for about four years.

And when I came back to it, I found that I wasn’t stressed before I went on stage.

One of the reasons I wanted to get back to acting was to exercise my memory muscles. Is that the reason for my calm before the show starts?

Part of me sees the process as exercise.

And I’m often excited before going on stage. But it’s all positive feelings. And focus.

I also find that I think of myself as a part of the whole, as opposed to an individual standing out. Even if I’m doing a monologue or alone on stage.

It’s hard to explain.

Does this lack of fear make me less of a performer? Does it make me a better performer? I have no idea.

But there are so many things to juggle when you’re acting in a play. So, I find it helpful not to have to worry about the pre-show jitters.

P.S. This applies to me performing in plays. My acting. Singing is a different matter. I have had some pre-show jitters before singing in the choir!