08/25/2026
What I learned this weekend from performing in MIMPA's pre-professional production of Anne of Green Gables…
Community theatre really is community.
It exists in the intersection of performers, crew, volunteers and audience—all bringing different ages, experiences, talents and personalities together to create something none of us could create alone.
And perhaps that is one of the reasons the story of Anne of Green Gables continues to resonate more than a century later.
Anne arrives in Avonlea as someone who doesn't quite fit the mould. She is imaginative, outspoken, emotional, wonderfully imperfect—and determined to belong without losing who she is.
Over the past few months, and particularly this weekend, Avonlea taught me a few things.
Old and young can work beautifully together.
When we stop defining people by age and instead value what each person brings, everyone has something to teach—and something to learn.
Confidence comes from competence, and competence begins with courage.
You have to be willing to try something you're not particularly good at before you can ever become good at it. Sometimes courage is simply walking onto the stage and giving it a go.
Humility is good for us.
If ever there is a moment when we forget that we are, in fact, fallible humans, stumbling on stage in front of an audience will be sure to remind us! And then you get up, laugh, learn and carry on.
Taking care of each other matters.
Sometimes that means fixing a kiddo's hair or costume before they run onstage. Sometimes it's stepping outside for a few minutes with a friend who needs to decompress. Sometimes it's noticing that someone needs encouragement and quietly offering it.
Every small act of kindness counts. And perhaps this is why community theatre can become a little addictive. For a brief period of time, it becomes a microcosm of the world as we would like it to be.
Different generations. Different personalities. Different abilities. Different life experiences.
We don't always get everything right. We make mistakes. We occasionally miss a cue—or stumble spectacularly! But we respect one another, take care of one another and keep moving toward a shared goal.
Much like the community Anne eventually finds in Avonlea, belonging isn't about everyone being the same. It's about creating a place where our differences are welcomed and everyone has something to contribute.
Maybe that's the greatest lesson I brought home from Avonlea:
Community isn't something we find. It's something we create—one courageous, imperfect and compassionate interaction at a time.
Thank you to the directors, cast, crew, volunteers, families and audiences who created our little Avonlea together. ❤️
