I have a great relationship with a pair of black ankle boots. I received them six or seven years ago; I was a junior docent at Rock Ledge Ranch Historic Site, and during our fittings for period clothing, a friend of mine had bought an extra pair of boots that didn’t end up fitting her. Since I also needed boots, and they were just my size, she made an impromptu gift of them.
Shoes are always important when acting. As you’re trying to create a character, so much of their personality will develop in their posture and the way they walk. During rehearsals, you want to get into your costume shoes as soon as possible, and in auditions, you’ll want to wear something that reflects your monologue. These boots have been a go-to for me while performing because they’re basic (not distracting), they have a slight heel (giving me a strong stance), and they are timeline-ambiguous (fitting into most play settings).
The boots have taken me through a lot of various jobs, related and unrelated to the theatre. I’ve washed dishes, stocked freezers, and rung up purchases in those boots. They’ve been with me during set construction, costume stitching, green room managing, and backstage teching. They’ve gotten covered in mud, kitchen grease, and paint, but they’ve held up beautifully. I’m looking forward to walking some more theatrical, hard-working miles in those shoes.
Audrey A McGee 
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