In high school we had band geeks, debate queers, cheerleader sluts and drama fags. Hey, it's high school, what are you going to do?

Anyway, to this day when someone busts out with a sentence like, "I'm really looking for something organic in this scene," it's usually met with, "Shh! The drama fag is talking."

I'm proud to be a drama fag. At least it wasn't a band geek. Tee-hee.

What were you? Are you a drama fag? Did you always want to be one? Do you like the smell of spirit gum? Did you wake up every morning with raccoon eyes because you couldn't get all of your eye makeup off at night? Are you a boy who knows how to put on mascara?

Can you quote Shakespeare at a moment's notice? Are you often found pondering over Christopher Durang? Do you know the difference between Madame Butterfly and M. Butterfly?

Drama fags of the world, unite! (Okay, all you band geeks and debate queers can bond together here, too. Remember, I was also a Chess Dork. That's the lowest of the low. Okay, and I was the Latin Club President. How's that for full-on dork? I was a Latin Dork. I was also a Yearbook Bitch, but that's a completely different story...)

-- Anonymous, September 01, 1999

Answers

You forgot the kids that dealt with their weight problem/lack of popularity/bad hair/lack of tan (delete as applicable) by going all gothic.

I was a bit of a Drama Fag, right before I realised I couldn't act wet in the shower (I quote you on that one over and over, Pamie.)

-- Anonymous, September 01, 1999

When I was in high school I REALLY wanted to be a drama fag. But the teacher who ran the drama club had favorite kids, who got all the parts in every play. Every time there were auditions, he would come to me and tell me he really wanted me to audition, because he had a great part in mind for me. I'd audition, everyone would tell me how great I did, and...I would get no part. Well, no, I once got a no-line walk-on. But I'm not bitter. Not the least bit. I went to Emerson College after high school, and it's chock full of drama fags. Big musical theatre department.

-- Anonymous, September 01, 1999

um, yes.

except that i don't act. i have the worst case of stage fright in the entire known universe. so what do i do? i tech. mostly, i'm a props bitch, and i'm a damn good one at that. but i also haul 300 pound zooms through catwalks at 2 am because they needed help hanging lights, produce shows that can't find other producers, build sets, take sets apart, light design (on rare and "only as a favor" occasions), and date stage managers.

i hypothetically cast shows that haven't been proposed yet, buy harold pinter plays used at book stores, throw food at my cohorts at dinner, frequently say "this is the kitchen. the kitchen is where we ... look at kitsch", work on three or four or five shows at once, read oscar wilde for fun and profit, know the difference between fresnels, scoops, radials, 6x9s and zooms, and lust after a new sound system.

and have decided that upon my ascent to richness and fame, i'm gonna build my high school a black box theatre. because they need one. because EVERYONE needs one.

hi. i'm a drama fag. and proud of it.

(my "clique" on campus is the drama kids. i know there's another carl who reads these boards sometimes [hi, helene! i'm class of '02] and i'm kind of wondering if they were just as weird when she was there as now. we're attention starved. our motto is "pay attention to meeeeeeeeee!" we're going to put it on t shirts. i think all drama fags are like that. center of attention, baby.)

wow. that was long.

-- Anonymous, September 01, 1999

uh.. watch those band geek comments, missy. I was one up until Junior year in high school.

But those drama fags.. nothing like 'em. Man, at carnegie mellon, they were all over.

Actually, I was friends with Yancy Arias, who went to CMU. Yes, I'm name dropping because actors are hip.

-- Anonymous, September 01, 1999

I was in high school, but then I went to college and developed a severe case of stage fright and general paranoia, which has never gone away.

Which is fine. I had fun in drama class and drama club, but I was terrible.

-- Anonymous, September 01, 1999

I was and still feel I am a drama fag. I loved it. It started with the part of the Kolo Kolo Bird in the Elephant's Child in third grade. Actually, if you ask my parents, I was always putting on a show. There are audio tapes floating around their attic of me hamming it up and forcing my kid sisters into different productions (usually involving Smurfs). I was heavily involved in productions throughout grade school including participating on the Speech Team and the Park District's Footlighters Children's Theatre. I loved it all. It was great. Then in High School I found stiff competition for parts. I didn't mind, but it was hard on my mom, "You never get a good part anymore." I still loved it, especially Theatre for Children during the summers.

I stopped performing during college. I knew I was good enough for High School, but not good enough to make a living off of it. It was fun while I did it. My husband is constantly telling me to go for it again. When I go see theatre I am practically jumping out of my seat. ME! ME! I want it! ME! Life is short. I know I should go for it. Just some community stuff to get it out of my system.

I also was involved in Concert Choir and was a DJ in our radio station. I met a lot of great people, a lot of odd people and a lot of freaks. I am still in contact with most of the freaks who are now my friends. What can I say?

I envy you, Pamie, for doing what you lovefollowing your bliss. I think it's great.

-- Anonymous, September 01, 1999

I'm a director and an actor in my dreams. But currently I work for a pro-basketball team with the promise of designing and directing their game "shows"...the rock and roll spectacle I always wanted to try...ooooooh. Don't know anything about basketball...but I'm learning really fast.

I acted a couple of times in University (Drama major): Agnes in Agnes of God and, Lizzie Borden in Blood Relations. And it's weird, I meet people now who say stuff like, "hey you were in (blah blah) right? oh my god, you were so scarey/made me cry/real"...and I did those shows, um, 5 years ago. Who knows, maybe their drama fags too?

I would die without theatre. End of story.

Blisters, bags under the eyes, hungry, bruised, show-romance, who gives a crap how much it murders us....lights up....and it's all there.

I trained in a black box, lovingly named The Black Hole Theatre Co., a thrust stage, intimate and self-contained...and you're right, every school should have a black hole/box. I dream of winning the lotto or making it big and giving back to it some of what it's given me. Impossible. It's given me toooooooo much.

You go Pamie.

-- Anonymous, September 01, 1999

Hey, I'm new here. Hi:)

Well, I guess I'm a debate queer. Never heard that expression before (by the way, I'm a junior in high school). I like to tell people I'm the queen of the dorks: captain of the speech and debate team:) I wouldn't have it any other way. I adore s and d. I'm on the speech side of things, meaning I'm in Oral Interpetation, meaning I "orally interpret" selections from books and (whole) poems (this year: _Black and Blue_ by Anna Quindlen and "Cantos Three" from _Dante's Inferno_). Its a lot like drama. I guess I'm a drama queen:) I idolize old actresses from the '40s and try to be them. To last year's Valentine's Dance, I strutted around wearing a red nightgown from Victoria's Secret (it looked like a dress) and a black boa. Anyway, this is really long. Okay, gotta wrap it up. I really love speech and if I could do it for the rest of my life and support myself, I would in a heartbeat:)

-- Anonymous, September 01, 1999

I was never a drama fag.

I was the rare species Cheerleader Virgin.

Although now I wish that I would have been a little more slutty. I believe it would have saved me some of the pain I later went through with Cool Guy Jock turned Steroid Pumping Gym Bunny.

I was always interested in theatre, but the drama fags at my school were so intense and great. I was intimidated and never made the effort. Now it seems like I have to run from the drama in my own life!!!

I had the wonderful fortune of having a Yearbook Bitch for an enemy. If there was a picture of me that made me look fat and ugly, that BITCH put it in.

-- Anonymous, September 01, 1999

...drama fag?...need you even ask?...here's a toast to the rejection-junkie collective!...goddess bless us [with fabu roles] every one...

-- Anonymous, September 01, 1999

We actually called them "play fags," and I was one of them from Grade 4 through Grade 11. I quit after that because the theater director was a Nazi, and I didn't feel like kissing his ass anymore just to ensure that I would get the part that was reserved for me when he chose the show. And I wanted to get into politics in my town, which I did. I don't know what we called ourselves. Political-Wonks, I guess.

But the best night of my life was when I was organizing a rally for the local Democratic party, and I dropped in at a play practice and asked to address the kids there (which the Nazi made me do outside but he listened in). Anyway, just to make sure he knew that he was not as important as he thought he was, I made sure to mention that I had just talked with then-Governor Clinton in the past week about youth participation in the campaign. The theater Nazi looked kinda peeved at me showing him up, but it was fun.

Life of a play fag scorned.... :)

-- Anonymous, September 01, 1999

Not only was I a drama fag, but I was president of the drama fag's for the last 4 years I was in high school.

Now later in life I still am a drama fag as I am in the process of writing, directing, and acting in my own film. You can read about at my website http://www.yauh.com the August 11 journal entry.

What is it that drives us to do these things? You know, I was asked recently what I was going to do if the movie was a flop and nothing ever came of it. I responded without hesitation saying, "I'll make another one.".

For me it's not for fame or fortune, rather because I enjoy it. I played music for a long time. When I started playing music, I wanted to be a rock start and get all the girls, but after playing for a long time and not ever acheiving commercial success on a grand scale, I realized that I play music because I loved playing music, and no matter if I "fail", as long as I enjoy doing it.

Pamie, I think it's obvious to everyone here that you enjoy what you do, either that or you are the most idiotic glutton for abuse I have ever witnessed.

Todd

-- Anonymous, September 01, 1999

I was a total drama fag in high school. I really loved acting and I know I was good at it. I lost interest after some bad stuff that happened in our theater department and now I have no motivation to get back into it. There was nothing else like it on Earth though.

-- Anonymous, September 01, 1999

oh yah! total drama fag here! where else can you have a "showmance" or stirm off like a diva cause a cast member doestn know their lines a week before opening. i teach high schoolers how to be drama fags now and i love it.. theatre opened up a great big old world for me. i have been in a jillion shows since the fourth grade. i am THE worlds most kickass Random Villager Number Four in like any show you throw me in!

-- Anonymous, September 01, 1999

I didn't really consider myself a theatre fag (that was our term) until college, and then I realized that I wasn't half as devoted as others. See, I went to a very small high school- 59 in my graduating class- so when we did shows we delved into a lot of different social groups. Sure, there were the hardcore folks, and most of them were also on the Speech and Debate team (founding member and VP and Pres. last 2 years of h.s.), but we had the quarterback of the football team play Bill Sikes in 'Oliver!' for Christ's sake (notice I included the '!').

In college, it was a whole new ballgame. Somehow I ended up a frat-boy stoner and a theatre fag, which I think was unheard of at my school until then. Both groups are very insulated, though. I ended up spending more time in the Drama Dept., and believe me when I say that all Drama Dept's are big incestuous families. I even dropped by last week when I took my girlfriend to visit my old college town. The scary thing is, some of the same folks are still there. They haven't been able to escape the gravitational force.

-- Anonymous, September 02, 1999

When I was in high school (which makes it sound like I'm a hundred, but I'm not) we called ourselves drama geeks. Not very flattering but nonetheless that's what we were. I have one of those typical high school/college resumes...I was Glinda in The Wizard of Oz. I was in West Side Story. I was nearly raped in Extremities. I wrote terrible one acts and had them performed. I played the mom in Bye Bye Birdie. I've been in Godspell (is there anyone who hasn't?) I somehow managed to escape being in Grease.

Now I manage and direct drama geeks. I work with a fifty member traveling teenage show choir who are the despair and joy of my life. I am directing Antigone starting in three weeks and some Shakespeare in the spring. I can sing more Broadway songs than I can name and (though I'm not a dancer) know dance routines to most of them.

I tear my hair out and stress and obsess over every production I'm in charge of. It's a stunningly beautiful thing that is impossible to understand unless you're there--and I wouldn't be anywhere else.

Melissa

-- Anonymous, September 02, 1999

God love the high school drama fag. that was me, sucked into that horrible land of backstabbing and backstaging, and upstaging, and other stagings. love acting, miss the stage, but somehow just dont miss the people. that was it. backstabbing: the drama fag hug was one where one hand was always making a mock gesture of the bare bodkin. at least i was a guy and the competition wasnt so bad. i do respect those who stick with it though: pamie, you certainly have more that just the drama bug. (does this drama FAG business have anything to do with that damn Thespian title that every highschooler loves to link with lesbian?) Love the drama queens out there, love the techies with thier fresnels and their rolls of tape, love all those who create our collective dreams. love-j

-- Anonymous, September 02, 1999

Oh, yeah...

There were a total of 3 male actors in my high school, me being one of them. So I adored being in drama, and I played the whole "drama fag" thing to the hilt.

In college, I decided that I'd become an engineer, so besides two bad auditions (for musicals, no less), I gave up the whole theater thing.

Years after college, I started writing, and got hooked up with an improv comedy group. Initially, I just wanted to write skits for them, but they convinced me to try a couple of their exercises, and I got hooked. Four years and several tours later, I was sorry to see my improv group go.

I didn't do much performing for a year after that, until I went to an audition for a community theater show on a whim. I got cast in a comedy, and haven't looked back.

Since then, I've written, produced, and directed my own full-length comedy, been to a couple of theater competitions, and many many plays. I'm now planning on moving to Los Angeles to try and break into the movie biz. (As a writer, not an actor.)

-- Anonymous, September 02, 1999

*sigh*

let's see, i was in the drama club in elementary school, then i had to wait until 11th grade to get into drama class in highschool and then i kept at it all through highschool. but i had several problems 1. the teacher, who we all adored, would never give me a part; he played favorites and also -- here comes number 2. i was terribly shy and just couldn't let go and do the damn stuff. it's funny - in front of family and friends (or anyone who knows me) i'm scared stiff - but i'm ok with strangers. you'd think that would mean no stage fright - since the whole audience is strangers right? not in highschool.

i, of course, worshipped my drama fag older sister and wanted to be just like her. having stage fright made that (painfully) impossible. hi fiona.

so i went into tech. lived and breathed musical theatre for a couple of years. survived my year of tech in college - and moved on to journalism because the tech program nearly killed me.

i've thought about taking a couple of classes or just going out and auditioning - but i still get this knot in my stomach that is part fear part paralyzing anticipation. i get so excited i want to puke. so no go yet. but awhile ago i decided that i'm not going to have regrets in my life - and i know that if i don't try it, just once, i'll be kicking myself forever...

i'm a shakespeare freak though. love it. completely. totally. is it the costumes? the men in tights? nope - the language. it's just beautiful to me. and i'm a sucker for anything beautiful. probably why i don't know diddly about serious theatre. which of course means i'm not REALLY a drama fag. just a wannabe ;p

-- Anonymous, September 02, 1999

What am I?

I play lead trombone in the Senior band, I reinstated and edit the school's newspaper, I sing in the choir, I am a loyal member of the rowing team, am on the swim team, the field hockey team, and tried debating, but it interfered with my yearbook schedule.

I don't dress like anyone. I have turquoise streaks in my hair. I read, and used to write, but don't much anymore because everything I churn out sounds melodramatic.

I think I'm going to grow up to be calm and happy with cute little kids with pigtails, but I have to get through highschool and find out what I'm going to do with my life first.

-- Anonymous, September 03, 1999

Hell yeah! Drama fag, that's me. Ben Nye will be the namesake of my firstborn. Dusty costumes that never fit. Dinners at fast food places because you had rehearsal- before it was an everyday occurance and your mom would still get mad that you didn't have a balanced meal. Weekends building the sets. The person in every cast that you hated but ended up loving. I miss high school theatre more than just about anything. Of course, I was a cheerleader too, so it's easy to put theatre above that.

-- Anonymous, September 05, 1999

I am a definite theatre fag! I was the Theatre Club president my senior year of highschool, and had the great oppurtunity to go to State my junior year. I can quote Shakespeare and my boyfriend can apply his own mascara (also a theatre fag) I am currently a theatre major in my freshman year of college. Love the theatre, who needs drugs when you've got opening night, love the rush. Lifes a stage. -g

-- Anonymous, September 05, 1999

I'm a bandie (first clarinet sophomore year baby, yeah.) (also sometimes band fag here too) a Latin dork and a computer lab nerd. Not a drama nerd too much though. I tried out last year and did not make it...my drama teacher's big on musicals, so I'll probably end up in orchestra pit until senior year when we should be doing a normal, non-singing play.

-- Anonymous, September 08, 1999

I was a total drama geek in high school and college. While I could act, I really prefered directing and especially the tech stuff.

After college, I haven't been doing it because I've been adjusting to the 40-hour work week... I think now, after three years, it's probably time to get back into it. I'm looking into volunteering to help build sets at a new local community theatre.

Theatre is so addictive. Once you taste it, it's always in your blood.

-- Anonymous, October 01, 1999

nope. i was never a drama fag, nor a band geek, nor a debate queer, i wasn't a jock and i HATED the cheerleader sluts. no offense, mis. i was that girl who was always slightly strange and hiding in the art department. ever see "she's all that"? that was me. only i wasn't quite as strange and i didn't have the most popular guy in school converting me in the prom queen. nor did he fall in love with me. ah, well. i am still that off-beat girl who is constantly in the art department. :) and i like it that way. :)

-- Anonymous, October 01, 1999

here in good old Nebraska, we've got the Pom Squad whores, the cheerleading sluts, drama geeks, band nerds, and all that good stuff. I'm not full fledged drama geek (most of them are cliquish: I've got OTHER friends, too) but I'm geeky enough to be pretty pissed off when someone mouths about the shows we're doing. I put the smack down. Yo.

-- Anonymous, October 02, 1999

Hey, I was a theater, debate, chorus and chess geek! (Well, that's what we called 'em all. A geek was a geek was a geek. Except very occasionally they did say theatre queers instead. But not very often. Took too much thought.) Mostly only during my senior year in high school. Also a tiddly-winks weirdo. (Don't ask. Although we did finish third in the state!)

Drama geekhood ended the first time I actually had to go on stage with, like, people out there. Forgot my second line. (Not the first, but the second. Not pretty.) Instant panic. Decided that being a backstage grunt was a much better thing to be, after that.

-- Anonymous, October 02, 1999

Well, I am a drama geek and still wallowing in the drama geekhood that is in high school. My senior year, I am currently theater president, making me the presiding drama geek of all residential geeks. There aren't that many labels here actually at our school- we have bonded more and more over the years now that, even though labels exist, they don't stop us from hanging out with each other. I, for instance, have always hung out with the anti- social debaters and choir girls. Our theater department brings about many from different crowds come musical though is typically small.

-- Anonymous, October 04, 1999

hmmmmmm. how does one go about answering the question that sums up one's entire life.

drama fag isn't even the half of it. i remember seeing the magic of a high school production of the wizard of oz where glinda's pink bubble (a light gel) circled the room before landing onstage and she magically appeared (stepping from behind the curtain at just the right moment). i was eight and i was hooked.

though i didn't actually get to do the "Drama Fag" route while in high school. there was no club, simply one class a year. and you had to take the class to do the show. that is until my senior year in high school when the only guy was the only guy and wasn't any good. so hello tekay on stage at school!

i was a BAND GEEK extraordinaire. except that wasn't a bad thing at my school. 300 people out of the 1300 people who went to my school were involved in the marching band. it's what you did in my small town. and that doesn't even count the other 200+ people who were invovled in the other bands on campus.

my extra-curricular list was a mile long. anything that i could do that kept me away from home became a top priority. Who knew that i was going to be a future business leader, home-maker, scientist, teacher, christian athlete.

so yeah. i do theatre. means a lot to me.

-- Anonymous, October 12, 1999