The word Theatre comes from the Latin word Theatrum meaning “play-house” and as theatre has developed, the word play has become very important to the artform. Play is in everything we do, we literally perform plays. As an artist, I believe that bringing in bringing the aspect of play to the forefront of whatever I do, whether it’s doing a black box drama or performing a kick line in the final minutes of Spamalot, everything deserves to be fun. And maybe that’s a better way to put it, fun. I believe in bringing fun into everything I do, playing at every single moment.

From building sets to being on stage, I believe in bringing a fun, welcoming environment to everything I do. While in the shop and teaching its never, have. People never have to do something, if they want to do something else they can do it! People won’t have fun if they don’t want to do something and I’ve learned, if you aren’t enjoying what you’re doing, its going to be an overall worse product.

When it comes to the stage, it can’t always be fun right? Huddling on stage with the rest of your family while you’re running from Nazi’s in The Sound of Music isn’t fun. Well why not? You can still be serious while having fun, you can still be sad while having fun, you can still experience the spectrum of emotion while having fun. Take the joy and excitement you’re feeling and filter that into the experience happening on stage.

Everything deserves a chance to be exciting. Everything deserves its chance to be the moment. Everything deserves the chance to be fun. Go into everything you do with an open mindset, a mindset that is willing to play and I’m sure, that your work will benefit from it. Go have fun!

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Riley Chang is a current student at Colorado Mesa University pursuing a BFA in both Acting and Directing and Theatre Design/Technology with and emphasis in Technical Direction and Sound Design and Audio Engineering. He has been seen in previous shows at Colorado Mesa University such as Tartuffe, No Exit, Amadeus, Three Sisters and Knives in Hens. His designs have been seen and heard in shows such as No Exit, Three Sisters, Knives in Hens, Elephant & Piggies, "We are in a Play!" as well as Supercat and Reptile Robot in the Tremendous Tickle Trouble with Birmingham Children's Theatre. Riley is currently located in Grand Junction, Colorado, working mainly around the western slope as a Lighting and Audio technician, Technical Director and overall Theatre Technician!