American actor Stephen Lang, who has starred in movies like "Avatar," frequently talks about how much more exciting performing on stage is for him than in other settings. He has stated in interviews that there is no other acting experience like taking the stage in a theater.

Consider yourself a circus acrobat getting ready to execute a risky act far above the spectators. Waiting for your turn and the moment when everyone is watching you must be both thrilling and terrifying. When Lang talks about enjoying the stage in spite of its intimidating nature, he means this. Theater demands that actors deliver their lines and emotions in real time, without the safety net of multiple takes, unlike film or television, where performances can be shot in segments over days or even weeks.

According to Lang, live performances have an unfiltered, instantaneous quality that intensifies the joy and the fear. Every show is different, and the unpredictability of audience responses adds even more challenge and excitement. There is nothing like the adrenaline rush that comes before curtain call; it's a combination of excitement and anxiety that only theater can offer.

This quotation demonstrates Lang's profound admiration for the art of live theater acting in spite of—or maybe even because of—the strong feelings it arouses. The intensity, spontaneity, and connection with a live audience create an unmatched sense of accomplishment and fulfillment, which is the core of why many performers are drawn to this form.