By Lindsay Hawthorne

Most people would say that Drama is nothing like sports, but actors and actresses do share a lot of the same qualities as athletes.

Students of the theatre show as much dedication as athletes. A drama group must rehearse for months before a show, in much the same way athletes go through weeks of practice before games and meets.

Both the worlds of athletics and drama are very competitive, and those participating in them must practice diligently to perform their best.

And first, they all must beat out the competition to show their talent in the best roles, whether they are playing characters or positions.

“Hollywood and Broadway are the most competitive fields out there,” argues Drama student Mary Fitzgerald.

“There’s no guarantee that you can get a job, if you’re trying to get into the professional field of acting. There’s thousands and thousands of people out there who want the same thing.,” continues Fitzgerald.

This dilemma is one illustrated by many shows, including Woodland’s most recent production, their rendition of the play Stage Door, the 1936 play co-written by George S. Kaufman and Edna Ferber. This drama follows the story of young women trying to become actresses, outlining the uncertainty and competition that comes with pursuing a career on the stage.

However, there are also a lot of films documenting the competitiveness of sports, and how hard it is to get on to the pro-teams and break records. These two worlds that seem so different to those who do them can be said to have more in common than commonly realized.

While the primary focus of the theater is to entertain, drama can also be a competition.

The annual Halo Awards are an example of this, putting the pressure on high school actors and actresses to be the best in Connecticut Much like sports teams are honored to make it to the NVLs, drama students are honored to be nominated for the Halo Awards.

Judges come to productions of high schools across Connecticut and choose whether to nominate anyone in the show for awards.

The Awards are held at Warner Theater in Torrington, where hundreds of students and family gather for the event. Each school performs one song or scene from their show, and in between performances, the winners are announced, while the drama students sit impatiently with clasped hands in anticipation.

Being a sports star and putting on a show both require so much dedication that the actors and athletes involved have to really love what they do to make it.

Whether it’s on the field or the stage, those who want to win must perform their best.