Are Theatre Friendships Genuine or Just for Show?

by Chris Peterson, OnStage Blog Founder

Is loyalty still alive in theatre friendships, or have we all become too quick to chase after the next shiny spotlight? I've been thinking a lot about this lately, especially after some recent experiences that left me wondering.

Theatre friendships tend to form quickly and deeply. Maybe it's the intensity of the rehearsal process, the shared stress of opening night, or the vulnerability required to perform. Whatever it is, these bonds can feel unbreakable—until suddenly, they're not.

I've always prided myself on being a loyal friend. If you're in my circle, I'm your biggest fan. I'll be there, applauding from the front row, helping you network, promoting you, and genuinely celebrating your wins. That’s why it hit especially hard when someone I trusted showed me just how fleeting loyalty can be.

I recently found myself caught off guard by a friend—a friend I genuinely believed had my back. I'd gone out of my way to recommend them for jobs, talk them up to colleagues, and support their career every chance I had. But then, scrolling through social media, I saw them liking posts that openly mocked me. It felt like betrayal—casual, subtle, yet deeply cutting.

Sure, it might seem silly to care about social media likes. But anyone who's spent time in our world knows the weight these small gestures carry. A like or a comment isn't just passive engagement; it's a signal. It's a silent nod of agreement, support, or even complicity. To see someone I'd championed participate in my own ridicule felt awful and made me question every moment we'd shared.

Maybe the theatre industry just naturally breeds fickleness. Everyone's hustling for their next big break, looking for ways to climb higher. Perhaps friendships sometimes form more out of convenience than genuine connection. But does it always have to be this way?

I refuse to give up entirely on loyalty. Because for every person who's disappointed me, there are plenty of others who've stuck by me fiercely. They remind me that authentic friendship isn't impossible—it's just rare, valuable, and worth nurturing.

It might be time we start asking ourselves some tough questions about loyalty. Am I giving the loyalty I hope to receive? Are my friendships built on something deeper than mutual convenience? How can I make sure my relationships remain authentic, even when the industry pushes me toward superficiality?

Maybe loyalty isn’t gone completely, but it definitely feels harder to find. For now, I'm holding tighter to the friends who've proven they're real, and I'll be a little more cautious before giving that trust away so freely again.