--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Although I performed in high school, my…" description: "\"Although I performed in high school, my first real experience with theater was performing with a student-run organization at Vanderbilt University call..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1a8/nancy-allen-59406_actor_although-i-performed-in-high-school-my-f_2767031.jpg" --- # Although I performed in high school, my first real… ![“Although I performed in high school, my first real experience with theater was performing with a student-run organization at Vanderbilt University called The Original Cast where I learned that I loved performing and especially loved theater people.” quote by Nancy Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1a8/nancy-allen-59406_actor_although-i-performed-in-high-school-my-f_2767031.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1a8/nancy-allen-59406_actor_although-i-performed-in-high-school-my-f_2767031.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1a8/nancy-allen-59406_actor_although-i-performed-in-high-school-my-f_2767031.jpg) > “Although I performed in high school, my first real experience with theater was performing with a student-run organization at Vanderbilt University called The Original Cast where I learned that I loved performing and especially loved theater people.” [Nancy Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-allen/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Her first real theater experience came in college, where she discovered a passion for performance and community. **In simple terms:** College theater sparked her love for acting. Key Takeaway Pursue what truly excites you. Themes discovery community passion Mood reflective encouraging Type motivational inspirational When to use this quote - college productions - community theater - networking events - creative workshops Key Concepts career beginnings student theater artistic identity Questions to Reflect On - What moments in college shaped your artistic path? - How can others find similar fulfillment? A Different Perspective May overstate the ease of finding passion early. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Actor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actor/) [Experience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/experience/) [High school](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/high-school/) [Organization](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/organization/) [Original](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/original/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Running](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/running/) [School](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/school/) [Students](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/students/) [Theater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theater/) [Theatre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theatre/) [University](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/university/) [Vanderbilt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/vanderbilt/) ## Related quotes > [Most of my experience in theater while I lived in Delhi was outside of college.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richa-chadha/most-of-my-experience-in-theater-while-i-lived-in-delhi-was-outside/) [Richa Chadha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richa-chadha/) > [I prefer the paycheck of television and the experience of theater.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deirdre-lovejoy/i-prefer-the-paycheck-of-television-and-the-experience-of-theater/) Deirdre Lovejoy > [Theater is the most enriching and thrilling thing to do as an actor. It trumps movies and all that other stuff. People say, 'You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-rudd/theater-is-the-most-enriching-and-thrilling-thing-to-do-as-an-actor-2/) [Paul Rudd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-rudd/) > [I love the experience the theater creates for a community of people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-binder/i-love-the-experience-the-theater-creates-for-a-community-of-people/) David Binder > [ It was a weird moment in my life and a weird experience \[doing a theater\]. It made me think, "Gee, I don't know if… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodie-foster/it-was-a-weird-moment-in-my-life-and-a-weird-experience-doing-a/) [Jodie Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodie-foster/) > [My dad worked at a mechanical factory for 35 years. I grew up in Union City, NJ. My mother is a social worker. My…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bobby-cannavale/my-dad-worked-at-a-mechanical-factory-for-35-years-i-grew-up-in-union/) [Bobby Cannavale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bobby-cannavale/) > [I studied theater in college, and I absolutely knew that I loved acting, and I knew that I loved theater.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hill-harper/i-studied-theater-in-college-and-i-absolutely-knew-that-i-loved/) [Hill Harper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hill-harper/) > [Growing up, the dream was to be on Broadway. I always loved theater.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-worsham/growing-up-the-dream-was-to-be-on-broadway-i-always-loved-theater/) [Lauren Worsham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-worsham/) > [I'd always loved the theater, and I began by writing plays. I work in the theater a lot in the UK, and I've worked…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucinda-coxon/i-d-always-loved-the-theater-and-i-began-by-writing-plays-i-work-in/) Lucinda Coxon > [When I was a little girl, I loved theater a lot and I was always playing and making my own worlds.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-ratajkowski/when-i-was-a-little-girl-i-loved-theater-a-lot-and-i-was-always/) [Emily Ratajkowski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-ratajkowski/) > [Sir Larry could be very strict and a disciplinarian, too. He had many faces; he wore many hats. But, ultimately, he loved the theater…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-jacobi/sir-larry-could-be-very-strict-and-a-disciplinarian-too-he-had-many/) [Derek Jacobi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-jacobi/) > [I loved being in the theater. It was a place of enormous excitement and happiness and safety and respect and dignity. It was a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-grey/i-loved-being-in-the-theater-it-was-a-place-of-enormous-excitement/) [Joel Grey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-grey/) > [I was a theatre brat, growing up. I have loved theater, performing, as far back as I can remember.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-zane/i-was-a-theatre-brat-growing-up-i-have-loved-theater-performing-as/) [Billy Zane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-zane/) > [My mother was a failed actress, but that was our bread and butter - what we loved most to do was to go to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cynthia-nixon/my-mother-was-a-failed-actress-but-that-was-our-bread-and-butter-what/) [Cynthia Nixon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cynthia-nixon/) > [I'd just sort of gravitated toward the arts, and I had always loved music and really loved theater, even though I didn't want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patty-jenkins/i-d-just-sort-of-gravitated-toward-the-arts-and-i-had-always-loved/) [Patty Jenkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patty-jenkins/) ## More by Nancy Allen > [The more you work with anyone, the more comfortable and safe you feel. The more you have an understanding.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-allen/the-more-you-work-with-anyone-the-more-comfortable-and-safe-you-feel/) [Nancy Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-allen/) > [The three theater peeps I would love to dine with are Mel Brooks, because he is so funny; Stephen Sondheim, because he is a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-allen/the-three-theater-peeps-i-would-love-to-dine-with-are-mel-brooks/) [Nancy Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-allen/) > [If I could play any role in any musical, it would be Desiree in 'A Little Night Music' - Oh my, it is perfection.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-allen/if-i-could-play-any-role-in-any-musical-it-would-be-desiree-in-a/) [Nancy Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-allen/) > [I knew I wanted to pursue a career in the theater the minute I graduated from college having not pursued it! So I went…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-allen/i-knew-i-wanted-to-pursue-a-career-in-the-theater-the-minute-i/) [Nancy Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-allen/) [Explore all 5 Nancy Allen quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-allen/) ## More Actor quotes > [I actually think acting is a form of self-hypnosis. You have to be hyper, hyper aware of what's going on around you. You have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julianne-moore/i-actually-think-acting-is-a-form-of-self-hypnosis-you-have-to-be/) [Julianne Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julianne-moore/) > [When you step out and do a song in a musical, the easier thing to do is make it funny. But when those transitions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelli-o-hara/when-you-step-out-and-do-a-song-in-a-musical-the-easier-thing-to-do/) [Kelli O'Hara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelli-o-hara/) > [I once told someone I could act. They totally bought it. I've been getting away with it ever since.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/akshay-kumar/i-once-told-someone-i-could-act-they-totally-bought-it-i-ve-been/) [Akshay Kumar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/akshay-kumar/) > [There has got to be a way for me to have a role on TV or in film that is just as normal as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adeel-akhtar/there-has-got-to-be-a-way-for-me-to-have-a-role-on-tv-or-in-film-that/) [Adeel Akhtar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adeel-akhtar/) > [I love casting against type and doing things you wouldn't expect, because I think you get more interesting performances that way. Hollywood loves to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-s-goyer/i-love-casting-against-type-and-doing-things-you-wouldn-t-expect/) [David S. Goyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-s-goyer/) > [I'm an actor, so I'm never going to feel like I've done enough.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/italia-ricci/i-m-an-actor-so-i-m-never-going-to-feel-like-i-ve-done-enough/) [Italia Ricci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/italia-ricci/) > [I am tired of our characters being so incomplete. When do we ever save the day in a film? When does a Latino actor…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esai-morales/i-am-tired-of-our-characters-being-so-incomplete-when-do-we-ever-save/) [Esai Morales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esai-morales/) > [When I was 13, I auditioned for the theater school, and I was there for four years. In the meantime, I did my first…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ana-de-armas/when-i-was-13-i-auditioned-for-the-theater-school-and-i-was-there-for/) [Ana de Armas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ana-de-armas/) > [If you stood me in a costume next to a computer graphic of the same-looking character, I think there would be a difference. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warwick-davis/if-you-stood-me-in-a-costume-next-to-a-computer-graphic-of-the-same/) [Warwick Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warwick-davis/) > [failure in the theater is more public, more brilliant, more unreal than in any other field.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lillian-hellman/failure-in-the-theater-is-more-public-more-brilliant-more-unreal-than/) [Lillian Hellman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lillian-hellman/) > [I'm a character actor - always have been, always will be - and historically, character actors don't come into their own until later in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-potts/i-m-a-character-actor-always-have-been-always-will-be-and/) [Annie Potts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-potts/) > [Actors don't hate acting. Most people don't hate acting! Whether you're a child mucking around with your friends or a grown up being paid…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liv-hewson/actors-don-t-hate-acting-most-people-don-t-hate-acting-whether-you-re/) [Liv Hewson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liv-hewson/) > [It was only when I went to acting school that I was like, "You are absolutely such a pigheaded freak show that you thought…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giles-matthey/it-was-only-when-i-went-to-acting-school-that-i-was-like-you-are/) [Giles Matthey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giles-matthey/) > [I never planned to do female roles. It just happened. I was typecast.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/divine/i-never-planned-to-do-female-roles-it-just-happened-i-was-typecast/) [Divine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/divine/) > [Once I committed to acting, this has been it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernie-hudson/once-i-committed-to-acting-this-has-been-it/) [Ernie Hudson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernie-hudson/) [Browse all 21,590 Actor quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actor/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Although I performed in high school, my first real experience with theater was performing with a student-run organization at Vanderbilt University called The Original Cast where I learned that I loved performing and especially loved theater people.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Nancy Allen" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-allen/although-i-performed-in-high-school-my-first-real-experience-with/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Actor" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-allen/although-i-performed-in-high-school-my-first-real-experience-with/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1a8/nancy-allen-59406_actor_although-i-performed-in-high-school-my-f_2767031.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1a8/nancy-allen-59406_actor_although-i-performed-in-high-school-my-f_2767031.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1a8/nancy-allen-59406_actor_although-i-performed-in-high-school-my-f_2767031.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Although I performed in high school, my first real experience with theater was performing with a student-run…” — Nancy Allen", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Nancy Allen", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-allen/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Although I performed in high school,...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-allen/although-i-performed-in-high-school-my-first-real-experience-with/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-allen/although-i-performed-in-high-school-my-first-real-experience-with/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```