Would you say the same thing if the OP played varsity football or basketball for all 4 years of high school but was NOT applying as an athletic recruit? FWIW: A student heavily involved in theater, doing 3 or 4 plays/musicals per year, spends about 15 to 20 hours per week in rehearsal and performance – probably the same time (or MORE) than a student heavily involved in varsity sports. All of that commitment, and devotion leaves very little time during the school year to devote to additional extra curricular activities – and I think AO’s understand and appreciate that fact.