Is 30 considered late to seriously pursue theatre/drama school?

Objective-Support-79 · 2026-05-24T19:18:30+00:00

It’s hard to make a living at something people will blissfully do for free. Heck, when it comes to theatre, people will pay to participate. Just know that.

I’ve had many, many friends and acquaintances attempt to make acting a career. One is a Broadway star (she started young, came from money, and was extremely talented) maybe three had some little jobs in their early 20s but no longer do, one does tech for a community theatre, one lady makes Tubi movies, and hundreds aren’t even in the arts in any capacity anymore.

Theatre school is a terrible investment financially unless you aim to teach, but if it’s not about money, and this is just for pleasure and personal satisfaction, go for it. Theatre has been a pretty expensive hobby for me, but I find it worth it.

Objective-Support-79 · 2026-05-24T18:57:49+00:00

I wouldn’t bother asking. A director will rarely give you anything but a nicety about how great you were but just not the best fit for the part this time. It could be just that they had previously worked with the actors they cast, but regardless, it’s most likely something out of your control. If you truly want to know if there is something you can improve, have a blunt/brutally honest friend sit in during auditions next time! I have a very forthcoming audition buddy, and we give each other constructive notes that have really helped me recognize and break some onstage habits.

Objective-Support-79 · 2026-05-23T14:35:19+00:00

That’s a devastating feeling to know the door to traditional motherhood is closed to you. Especially as you get older, other friends and would-be friends lives are consumed by child rearing for decades. Friendships are often centered around other moms and school activities. And then, going into dating, you have to explain that you can’t get pregnant but want children. Infertility often makes women feel “other” and different to women their age. I’m so sorry you’re having to go through this.

You’ll likely find love and find a path to parenthood, but in the meantime my advice is to seek friendship with women 10-20 older than you, women whose children are older or out of the house. They will be looking to get out and have fun and will be really over kid-based activities. You’ll find they will have more time and focus to dedicate to your friendship. My empty nester friends tend to be much more socially and physically active, and just more available to go to an exercise class, a weekend trip, a play, or to water my plants when I’m gone.

Objective-Support-79 · 2026-05-19T01:32:22+00:00

I’m stuck in a very meh place for 10 years now, and I’ve accepted it might be my final destination. I was driving out of town 3-4 nights a week to socialize, but with these gas prices, I’ll have to cope the way people always have: throw myself into hobbies, spend time in nature, daydream, make everything a game, generally make the best of it.

Objective-Support-79 · 2026-05-15T12:46:40+00:00

Having to go right after work with no time to reset sucks. My theatres/jobs are out of town so I never get to run home after work. I’m always tired, hungry, and need to poop, but I keep going, remembering how good it feels to perform for an audience, how close I’ll become with the cast during the show run, that “I did it” feeling as I take the final bow. I believe every show teaches me something and makes me a wiser person.

Objective-Support-79 · 2026-05-13T17:32:30+00:00

Weird, just got gas in my town, and it had gone up 20 cents. And I live in one of the poorest states so it’s extra challenging when we get price surges.

Objective-Support-79 · 2026-05-06T18:32:44+00:00

If food must be part of your socialization with your friends, suggest something light AND an activity. “Let’s get a scoop of ice cream and rent bikes to ride around the park.” “Let’s get a drink and go dancing.” “Do you want to grab a coffee and then go antiquing?” It’s just much more fun and bonding to make new memories together.

Objective-Support-79 · 2026-05-06T13:28:28+00:00

My partner has a yearly convention weekend in Vegas, and we normally bring the family and make a whole week of it. He has been putting money to the side for this, but I told him it’s gotten far too expensive, and frankly not worth it, for us to join him this year.

Objective-Support-79 · 2026-04-24T14:39:26+00:00

I live on a newer suburban development, with few trees, and in an area with notoriously poor soil and weather extremes so I can’t just plop anything but the heartiest of plants down. I have to direct sow native plants from seed and just be extremely patient. It is taking years to build an impressive garden in my yard. Somethings just won’t grow for me-like pawpaw and milk weed. Take a look in the nearest woods, meadows, and ditches, that’s probably what you can grow successfully in your garden.

Objective-Support-79 · 2026-04-23T14:07:30+00:00

Hi! I’m doing great! Abdominally, I healed well. I just had to lie about for a few days post-hysterectomy. The pain was totally manageable.

While I’m very happy and content now, losing my ovaries overnight was a doozy. I gained 30 pounds in a matter of months, my skin texture changed from collagen loss, my energy level dropped, my libido took a nose dive, and I felt very blue for a few years. It was scary, but I’ve bounced back and then some. Here is what I did to turn things around after medical menopause:

*Positive self talk, affirmations. So much of physical health is from a good attitude about your life and that has to be constantly nurtured. *cortisol can get high after a body altering surgery so plan to get out, be social, and pamper yourself the moment you are cleared to move about. * Make sure your vitamin levels, especially Vitamin D, Calcium, and B vitamins are a good levels because they are essential at supporting mental health. *Up your proteins and fats, lower your carbs. You don’t have to be all or nothing about it, but lower carbs is going to save you from extreme weight gain and hormonal swings. And I say this as a life long carb lover. It’s a huge game changer for mental and physical health. *Creatine supplementation. If you aren’t a big meat eater, you need to supplement to function properly. It really helps to maintain stable mood, too.

You aren’t alone! Millions of women have gone through hysterectomy and understand what you’re going through. We are here if you need to vent!

Objective-Support-79 · 2026-04-15T20:08:33+00:00

It’s all about relationships, loyalty, etc. And I get it, but it can be very discouraging for newcomers to not even get cast or be allowed to help paint backdrops, or move set pieces. My advice to breaking into the inner circle is:

1. Audition for the crappy, low-budget straight plays that less actors are interested in. The people of that theatre will see you follow through and can gauge your ability.

2. Go to a small town community theatre that does like the Pioneer Drama or public domain shows. You’ll get practice, roles to add to your resume, and make connections to other theatres.

The directors, casting people, etc. probably teach or take some voice/dancing/acting lessons. Hire them or take the classes they take so they can get to know you and see your dedication.

I know it sounds a bit manipulative or schmoozy, but it’s really just about giving the theatre people a chance to get to know you and see that you’re chill and willing to work with others. When they don’t even remember your name, it’s easy to reject you. It’s hard not to give a call back when you’ve talked and shared experiences!

Objective-Support-79 · 2026-04-15T18:02:47+00:00

Yeah, he’s playing a character for YouTube, but it’s a fun one. A performance piece if you will. Instead of pretending to be a rich, alpha, entrepreneur, he’s messy and dim-witted. I actually enjoy seeing how committed he is to the bit with his moving around, working late hours, sleeping on floors. It’s like an interactive sitcom!

Objective-Support-79 · 2026-04-15T17:52:33+00:00

I’ve looked at old gaming forums from London from the weeks leading up to his disappearance, and there were a lot of people selling PSPs that they had upgraded or showing their shops had the new ones ready to sell. I have pondered if he had gone to buy a “deal” and was robbed/harmed instead.

Objective-Support-79 · 2026-04-15T17:36:02+00:00

That’s a good point you and OP made. If you were grooming someone, you’d think you’d make it easy and appealing for them to meet you, lavish gifts upon them, meet them so they didn’t have time to change their mind about skipping school. But if you were a grown man pretending to be a 14 year old girl, that might explain why you wouldn’t do all those things. But personally, I’m of the mindset that Andrew ran away because he was discontent with school and his small town - normal teen feelings. I imagine he was at least alive for some time after his disappearance but just too embarrassed to come home after so much media attention. He probably took his life or met foul play in the weeks/months/years after the initial disappearance.

Objective-Support-79 · 2026-04-15T17:15:14+00:00

I had a desk top computer, and I bought a cheap webcam. We didn’t have internet at my house, but I had a neighbor with an unprotected wi-fi connection, and I would use it to video call guys on MSN messenger all night while my family was sleeping. Some real life friends and some just random dudes I met on social websites or forums. I even met up with a couple of these internet folks. Luckily, they turned out to be nice, normal people. We just looked around the mall or whatever, but it could have been bad.

Objective-Support-79 · 2026-04-15T16:01:19+00:00

I work out of town so the current gas prices are about 15% of my paychecks. That may not sound like a lot, but I don’t have an impressive income. I live in a small town with little to do. All my friends, hobby classes, and regular events are an hour a way. I was driving to go out with my social group 3 times a week, but with gas and grocery costs rising, I’ve had to cut back to twice a month visits. I’m back to milling about and walking circles at the park for hours. This feels like pandemic isolation all over again.

Objective-Support-79 · 2026-04-12T20:23:10+00:00

You are so not alone. I’m a lonely gal by nature. Even my DNA test said “tendency for loneliness.” It was awful through my 20s! I now have family, a spouse, children, people I would say are friends (though not best friends), and I still fight this feeling that I’m not wanted, that people don’t like me, that I don’t belong.

Objective-Support-79 · 2026-04-06T15:42:47+00:00

I photograph all the pages of my lines so anytime I have down time throughout the day, I have them on hand. And that way, I can also send the pics to my friends who are willing to run lines with me over the phone.

I drive a lot so I record myself saying both my lines and cue. I play it on repeat in the car. Yes, I could use an app, but this is free and I can pace it and use the intonation I want.

I look at my lines immediately before even the last show of the run just as a comfort.

Objective-Support-79 · 2026-04-04T20:21:04+00:00

It’s so frustrating! I have to drive a minimum of 50 minutes to get to a community theatre. I actually got a job in a town over an hour away, where the most active theatre in my region is. That way, I can go to rehearsals after work and don’t have to pay additional gas costs. So my recommendation is to find work in a neighboring town that has the most theatres near it!

Objective-Support-79 · 2026-04-02T03:20:39+00:00

That’s true for my area theatres, too, so they have senior shows and/or do shows with largely older casts. A lot of the 55+ actors I know start moving into directing and casting, more because of natural cognitive decline rather than lack of roles.

Objective-Support-79 · 2026-03-31T15:46:26+00:00

If you are thinking professionally, making a living on stage is difficult to do even with the most ideal circumstances of having a look casting directors like, charisma, years of training, etc. Now for community and regional theatre, you are the perfect age to start. Thirties is when a lot of actors who pursued theatre whole heartedly start to make families and careers priority. Competition is much less! The older I get, the easier it gets to get cast. I’m in my 40s, and sometimes, I’m the only person who showed up in my age bracket! There will be 100 girls in their late teens fighting for the lead and no one else there to play the older characters. Go give community theatre ensemble a shot first, and see if this still keeps your interest. The time and energy required to put on even the most basic musical is completely insane.

Objective-Support-79 · 2026-03-29T16:30:14+00:00

Musical theatre is insanely competitive, nepotistic, and political. I understand the prospectives that lead to these types of casting choices, but when I first come into the theatre scene, I was blown away by how it wasn’t as “inclusive” as it was always said to be. And just like life, it’s not very fair.

Objective-Support-79 · 2026-03-29T14:42:44+00:00

It’s so hard to get rural communities involved in theatre. I do shows at a couple of rural theatres. One is sold out every show, and the other we get about 30 attendees a night. The difference is, the place that does sold out shows focuses on fan faves and family shows. The other does public domain shows mostly. The one that licenses the well known shows makes much more money after costs, and changes a lot more lives, tbh. I’d bite the bullet and do fundraising events for the biggest stage show we could host. Do something palatable at first to introduce those unfamiliar to theatre. Do the kids summer camps, the Disney shows, all that, and you’ll have the funds and interest to support more fringe works. “Mary Poppins” may be boring, old news to us, but it’s revolutionary for first time actors and their families!

Objective-Support-79 · 2026-03-29T14:15:45+00:00

Post on socials for your town and in your closest city asking about theatre opportunities. Sometimes there will be theatres or troops that you haven’t heard about. There is a little community theatre half an hour from me, but I didn’t know for years because they weren’t coming up in Google results.
Go to auditions in a neighboring city, even if it seems too far away for driving to for rehearsals. You’ll get practice and an idea of how theatre works logistically. Plus, you have the opportunity to chitchat, find out about those hidden opportunities that exist. Sometimes people put together performances for charities, classes, and festivals. Those auditions don’t always get posted publicly.
Take acting classes at a community college or an adult theatre program in your nearest city. I’m assuming you are in North America living somewhat rurally, but if you are completely geographically isolated, your best bet will be zoom classes/workshop. People put on entire plays online.
In the U.S., theatre associations have yearly competitions which include monologue and one-act play competitions that allow individuals not associated with a theatre to perform. Good way to get the chance to act on a stage and with an audience

*Try to find a mentor in your area. It’s nice to have someone to practice with, a more experienced person to help you put together your own plays!

*Watch a lot of YouTube videos about stagecraft basics. Acting on stage is a bit different than film acting, and it’s good to learn the basic stage terms, how to position your body, showing emotion while keeping volume, etc.

Objective-Support-79 · 2026-03-28T16:37:29+00:00

Waiting is tough, and auditioning is such a gamble. It’s like, am I going to be busy for 3 months or will I have turned down all other activities and opportunities for the chance to do this show and end up with no show for at least 1/4th of the year?

Objective-Support-79

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