Nybol Majok Professor Presnell English 1103-007

RENT: The Musical Alright everyone today is the first day of Auditions, and were hoping to cast a vibrant, serious, and awesome cast for this musical! This musical deals with a series of serious and complicated topics that will require those cast to be totally out of character. It was my sophomore year of high school, and although I was no longer a freshman I still retained some of the characteristics I once had when I first entered. I was still pretty shy around those I didnt know, and had a terrible fear of being put on the spot. Now here I was in the school auditorium that was dimly lit besides the stage, which was the brightest part in the entire room. I sat there in my seat next to my best friend asking myself what I was even doing in there. Kelsey had somehow convinced me that I should try out for one of the lead roles. Granted I knew that I could sing, but I wasnt much of a fan of doing it in front of a lot of people. I wouldve actually preferred a small trivial role, and yet here I was on a Wednesday afternoon, sitting in an auditorium of theatre buffs who were busily chatting away. I looked towards the stage and watched as the curtains were opened, revealing the wooden spacious stage. I watched each person go on stage and do their monologue and solo piece. I observed each audition and thought to myself, how can my audition be better? Before I knew it was my turn. Nervously, I walked up on a stage and performed my monologue, and actually surprised myself when I actually cried just as the girl did in the movie. I then

performed my contemporary piece of music. Now this was the part that made me more nervous than anything. Im a perfectionist and was more nervous about forgetting the lyrics or sounding hoarse since I had sore throat. I belted out the words to Mary J Blidges Im going down with every fiber in and strength in my diaphragm. The glaring lights made it hard to see the faces of the director, panel of judges, and the audience. This made it hard to tell whether or not I was doing a decent job. Once I was done I got off the stage, and stepped outside to get some water. As I was going out a group of girls whod already done their audition told me you did fantastic! I kindly replied thank you. I came back in and sat down and watched a few more people audition before I decided to leave. Nearly a two weeks went by before anyone found out who got a callback, and this was due to the winter break. Once we got back in January, Kelsey and I anxiously scanned the list posted outside the auditorium doors, and bam right smack in the middle was my name. I had a callback to be screened for a lead role. I didnt know whether to be happy or a nervous wreck. Fast forward to one week later and here I found myself with the others who were screening for the lead roles. At the end of the screening Ms. Reinekee (director) announced that she would post the official cast list the next morning. Before I had even got a chance to see the list, Kelsey and several other of my friends texted my congratulating me for getting the part. I was ecstatic and couldnt believe it. I was in a pretty good mood for the rest of the day. The first week of rehearsals was intimidating to me because like I mentioned before mostly everyone in there were theatre buffs. Many in the room were seasoned vets to the school productions. Here I was an amateur who happened to get a role that many

probably would take in a heartbeat. Thankfully I wasnt alone; one of my other friends had also got a lead so he and I bonded with our inexperience. Once I got over the first two weeks of seeming like I didnt deserve the role, I started getting more comfortable around the cast. Eventually we all became like one big family, of course there was rivalry but it was done in a manner that was healthy. Our demanding rehearsal schedules pretty much had us spending more time together than we did with our own friends. What I noticed weeks into this was that I was growing. I was shedding the fears and doubts I once had of myself and becoming more confident. I felt like I belonged in that group, I was a part of the common string that bonded us together. For three long months the entire cast worked really hard to put on a spectacular show. Once we did the final dress rehearsal, those same butterflies and jitters I had before I auditioned started to come back. This time they werent so much from trepidation, but more so happiness. Id gotten so comfortable with the cast and was taken out of my usual comfort zone. Our opening night was packed with parents, students, faculty, and family members. The auditorium was hot and sticky but the air had a fragrance of anticipation and expectations. Everyone in the cast right down to the live band gave the performance everything we had. We managed to get through both acts flawlessly, and had a great first night. We did so well that everyone whod came to see the first night told everyone to come to the last show the next day. The stakes were higher for me the second day because all my friends and family would be arriving to that show. Again we got through most of the play just fine, but with a few minor problems that werent noticeable. Finally the final reprise was sung. I had the last solo in the song and knew that I had to nail it. I belted out that high C note with my all and the next thing I knew the crowd

erupted in joy. The song finished and the cast bowed while the crowd clapped and cheered loudly. When the show was done we all went to the entrance of the school to greet all of the guest. I had so many people come up and tell me how much of an amazing job I did. I had teachers come up to me and tell me how shocked they were to see the same girl who sat in their classroom and not uttering a word come alive on that stage. When all of this was done I walked back into the empty auditorium and suddenly became overwhelmed with a feeling of ambivalence. Yes, I was happy because everyone enjoyed the musical and got so many compliments. However there was some sadness because that would be the last time I would ever perform those songs on that stage. The last time I would be on the same stage with the people Id become so close to. Id only have my memories to retain from that wonderful night. The following week at school, I had all types of people telling me how much they enjoyed the show and telling me I was their favorite from the night. To this day when I see certain people or faculty member they always tell me to sing something for them. I just laugh and decline their request. Im forever grateful for this experience because I got so much more out of it than I expected. My days of feeling socially inept quickly began to wane, as I became more comfortable being taken out of my element. Now whenever I get nostalgic and think back to this experience I smile and play out the entire event as if it just happened.