There are few highs more exhilarating than the thrill of an opening night. I am so excited that I get to open Tripartite Time tonight, a show that I’ve been rehearsing with three other actors for the past month. The show is quite a challenging and evocative piece, and I’m proud with how far I’ve come as an actress during this process.
Though no matter how many times I perform, and as much as I
love it, I can never seem to combat the nervousness and anxiety that hits me right before I go on. My stomach has been flipping all day, but a yoga class this morning really helped me center myself and relax a bit. Aside from the usual butterflies that I get while thinking about performing in front of other people, I also have a rather odd anxiety for this show in particular. We are performing in the Bridge Theater at Shetler Studios, and the dressing room is a small space directly behind the stage. So, there is no bathroom in the dressing room. And we have no intermission. This, quite honestly, scares the hell out of me. It’s a short show, and I know that I’ll probably be fine, but it is definitely a concern that I have never had to deal with before. I never realized how important an accessible sink and bathroom is backstage before I’ve had to deal without having one during tech. Yikes.
This is my third show in New York since moving here in September, and it’s definitely the one I’m most proud of. I feel so honored to be working alongside three other amazing actors as an ensemble cast, and have learned so much about improving my technique and craft from our director. The language of the play is also quite classical, though it was written recently and is a brand new show. Using the classical language and exploring it has really opened me up to not being afraid of a show that isn’t necessarily contemporary. I’m so excited to bring Tripartite Time to life in front of an audience tonight, and have a good feeling that this is a great step for me as an actress and is propelling me in the exact direction in which I want to be going.
-- Jacqueline Chambers
**photo of Bianca Christina, Chris Lowe, and Jacqueline Chambers, courtesy of Norm Roumanous
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