For many people one of the more difficult things to do in life is get up in front of a large audience and speak or perform. Performing and speaking are exactly what students in the theater department are faced with every time the curtains open.

Theater students dedicate hours to perfecting their crafts, something Amy Virginia Buchanan, Stillwater, Okla., junior, believes is overlooked.

“People think it’s easy because of the classes we take, like movement,” Buchanan says. “What they don’t realize is that it’s a complete and total psychological reevaluation of not just yourself but everyone around you and every character that you play. It’s taxing, it’s difficult, and it’s a lot of hard work.”

Dennis Christilles, associate professor in the department of theater and film, says that the unseen hard work in theater is also what draws “easy” criticism from people.

“A lot of people don’t realize the long hours the students put in,” Christilles says. “If the play is very good it looks easy, effortless. But it takes a lot of time.”

The long hours spent rehearsing can cause additional stress as students must also worry about their education. Buchanan says the hardest thing for her is balancing her major along with school and a social life.

“Being a theater major is kind of like having a major job, if you’re fortunate to get cast,” Buchanan says. “Your evenings are completely taken up, along with the weekends. You try to fit rehearsals with studying and friends; it’s a challenge.”

However, juggling theater, sleep, school and friends can only be maintained for so long, and eventually something has to give. What to sacrifice is an easy choice for Ann Sitzman, Praire Village, junior, and it’s not theater, friends or school.

“I just don’t sleep,” Sitzman says. “Theater always comes first for me. My gen. eds are important, but theater is why I pay so much money to be here. I stay up really late doing homework.”

One thing that Buchanan, Sitzman and Logan Walker, Garden City senior, have in common is a passion for acting.

Buchanan has been involved in theater since sixth grade when she took part in school productions and then moved on to community theater. Originally a student at the University of Oklahoma, Buchanan transferred to KU after her freshman year, during which she contemplated quitting theater.

“I thought about changing majors because I didn’t really like it that much,” Buchanan says. “But after coming here and getting to experience the theater department at KU all the doubt went away.”

Sitzman became involved in high school theater at the suggestion of a drama instructor and has never looked back.

“One of the teachers said, ‘come do theater for us, just for fun’,” Sitzman says. “I did and I ended up really liking it. It’s what I love in the world; my passion. It’s pretty much what I want to do for the rest of my life.”

Walker, who has been acting since middle school, says his sights have always been focused on theater.

“There have been points that it’s been hard,” Walker says, “but it’s just such a natural high to me that there’s nothing that can stop me from acting.”

Theater is not solely actors on a stage, but also a vast array of people doing various behind-the-scenes jobs like lights, set building, sound crew, makeup and wardrobe.

Acting isn’t for everyone and sometimes the behind-the-scenes jobs are more appealing, Sitzman, a lighting design major, says.

“Acting does not move me,” Sitzman says. “I like to watch the changes, the textures, colors and see what I’ve thought ‘come to life’. I like to explore the way light changes the way actors look on stage.”

The majority of stage actors dream of one day headlining a Broadway play—the culmination of all their hard work—but Broadway is not the only destination for actors. For Walker, just getting the opportunity to act in any capacity is enough for him.

“What I’d really like to do is find an acting agency that will help me get on stage somewhere and do that for as long as I can,” Walker says.

Walker may not be sure where theater may take him, but Buchanan says she would one day love to act in London. While studying abroad in London in 2006, Buchanan says she watched a woman deliver an act that has been a huge inspiration to her, and afterward got the chance to meet her.

“She played a small part but gave a beautiful performance; just flawless,” Buchanan says. “I got to meet her and her family and it’s cool because I got to see that it’s possible to have a successful career in theater and a family.”

Sometimes inspiration can come from an unlikely source. Tim Curry’s performance in Monty Python’s Spamalot is one that Walker admires and says he would one day like to emulate.

“He’s amazing and I really enjoyed his performance,” Walker says. “It was ridiculous, it was so hilarious. I want to get to that point where people can just sit back and enjoy something I do.”