PPD Research

Why Am I So Tired??

This was the question I have been asking myself for the past few days since our amazing performance of The Wiz. If you missed it, you missed one of the most amazing shows since Wicked! I can't say enough how amazing it was to be on that stage showing that over the past three months I have learned so much. It was an experience that I wouldnt trade for the world. But I could go on for years about that. What I am really here to tell you about is part of a cycle that every actor or performer goes through, PPD also known POST-PERFORMANCE DEPRESSION! I made it capital for emphasis.

You may be asking yourself what that is, well I was in the same boat as you are until I found this website

http://blog.chambermagic.com/how-the-world-works/lonely-court-jester

It is a man by the name of Steven Cohen's blog. This was helpful in two ways. First it gave me a chance to see how this habitual blogger works his magic (Pun intended he is a magician). It was cool to see how he expressed himself so freely and I was able to feel all the emotions that were flowing through him when he wrote this post. Secondly, it gave me some insight as to what Post Performance Depression was and it felt good knowing that I was just going through a cycle that all performers have. After the show, performers tend to have some tired or, in severe cases, depressive moods. I have been feeling this same feeling in many ways. First and foremost I am overcome with joy at how well the performance went and the relationships I created through this process. I think it was one of the most rewarding experiences of my life. This feeling is being battled against by the feeling of emptiness now that The Wiz is out of my life. Although I had such a great time doing the play, I am worried about whether or not I will be able to maintain connections with my new friends and continue to appreciate and act upon the musical part of who I am. I can already feel myself starting to slip back into the old mold and as much as I dont want to, pushing the musical side that I have built over the past three months away and returning to jock status. This is a terrifying feeling and I hope to try and eradicate it sooner rather than later. And so PPD, you have afflicted another performer.
-Frogger