This weekend, a friend of mine asked what my favorite play was. I proceeded to rattle off three little known new works - two plays by CalArts playwrights and an off-Broadway play that ran 6 weeks in a 50 seat theater in NYC. My friend then followed up with, "what about more mainstream plays or musicals? Any current favorites?"

"Not really. I haven't seen anything mainstream or broadway in a while."

My friend laughed.

"Are you a theater hipster?"

The question made me laugh - then think. Yeah. I HAVE been a bit of a theater hipster lately. "I only see plays you haven't heard of. My favorite play is this obscure work you definitely wouldn't know. I like classics - but only when performed or examined through an experimental aesthetic."

Grad school has turned me into a snob. (Don't worry though - I haven't adopted skinny jeans yet, and I can't really grow a hipster stache.)

On one hand, I'm pretty proud of my new hipster status. New works excite me. When asked my "dream role," I no longer answer with a role from Les Mis or any big play, I say "originating an exciting role in a new play." My aesthetic and theatrical imagination has been expanded and I feel proud that I am more aware of works and plays that haven't yet exploded into mainstream popular consciousness.

At the same time, I have to remind myself not to turn into a theater jerk. I have peers who sneer and turn their noses up at Newsies or Mary Poppins or any musical really, and I have been caught lamenting how there is always a 184267473795th production of Annie going up instead of a more exciting piece. But I need to remind myself that to many people, Annie IS exciting and new - because they have never seen a play before. And the more strange things I like doesn't have to be everyone's cup of tea.

For now, I will proudly wear the theater hipster pants, but still be proud to wave the Disney-Broadway musical flag. (Just no skinny jeans. They make my butt look big.)