Out of Office: Ben Nelson

I first got into it because [our community theater] was doing the show “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat,” and my daughter wanted to be in it for the children’s choir. … I would kind of just hang out and watch the show unfold. Then, the director came by, and she said [they] could really use a baker. … I was kind of nervous. I’d never been on stage before, and she [said], “You’re already coming to all the practices, you might as well be in the show.”

The next year, they did “Annie,” and my daughter was like, “Dad, do ‘Annie’ with me!” I said, “OK, fine. I’ll do ‘Annie’ with you.” And then the next year, they did “Chitty Chitty Bang Bang,” and my whole family did it. My wife and all five of my kids were in the show … It became a really fun way for our family to spend time together.

It feels so good when you get the applause and you get the laughter, and that’s the payoff. It’s the enjoyment of knowing that you’ve created happiness and joy for other people. … Everyone’s going through challenges and struggles, and the magic of theater—especially live theater—is you show up and you transport people to someplace new and a fun experience.

It’s great to be a part of things. … We all have these virtual friendships and these social media accounts that are all about connecting us, but the real connections happen when you put yourself out there with other people who are putting themselves out there. … It’s a special thing when we get out of our comfort zones and we try new things. That’s where growth happens.