The Freshman Experiment

Hurray—the first part of my hell is officially over! I just got home from a show (the first of the three different shows that I’m doing in three weeks). It was a one-night musical revue but we did two performances, one at 8pm and one at 11pm. The process for this show was really casual—I only had a couple of rehearsals for the numbers I was in and honestly I just wasn’t that invested in making this show great. However, tonight before the show, I started getting really, really nervous. One of the songs I sang was the first in the show and it’s one the most difficult things I’ve ever had to sing—I’ve never heard a song that’s faster or has more words. So many words. So many words that I could not remember. In fact, prior to the first show tonight, I had never remembered or recited them perfectly. But I did it right in the shows, so I guess the nerves worked! Even though this production didn’t require nearly as much effort as the other two that I’m involved with, I’m glad it’s over because at this point, any free moment I can get is heavenly. We are officially within one week of my directorial debut and I am freaking out. I know that all I need a really good, long, intense cry. I’m not sure exactly when it’s coming, but I’ve been feeling it accumulating for the last few days. Those around me– beware. There will be a freak out and it will be scary. I’m really happy with our show, though, and I think it has amazing potential. There’s one sort of problematic actor, but we’re dealing with it. I’m having another student director, a friend of mine, come watch our rehearsal tomorrow and I’m very excited to get feedback from her. At this point, I really need someone who’s not as emotional connected to the production as me to judge what we’re doing. Should be exciting…

Today I had an audition for another summer theatre program, and it was literally the most awkward audition I’ve ever had. Here are some highlights:

I walked around the building for maybe 10 minutes trying to figure out where to go to sign in. This is all while being observed by a handful of attractive 20-something males who were waiting for a class.

The cd that I brought to use in the audition with my piano accompaniment didn’t work. After the auditioner and I tried to figure it out for maybe 8 minutes, as well as the secretary trying, it was deemed hopeless and I had to sing a cappella.

Singing a cappella wouldn’t have been a problem if there had been any sort of piano or anything to get a starting note from. Unfortunately, there was nothing. Somehow I got incredibly lucky and chose the right key (or something very close). Otherwise, it could have been disastrous because my song goes very high and if I had chosen a key that was too high, it would have been ridiculous.

When I went to do my monologues, he asked me what the name of one of the characters was and even though I had done the monologue for months and had read the play numerous times, I completely blanked. EMBARRASSING.

The good news—I got in! I guess the auditioner had a weird love of awkward people because he accepted me on the spot. I’m incredibly happy because this was one of my top choices for summer programs. I still have another audition tomorrow and an interview on Monday, but I’m just really relived to know that I’ll be doing something I enjoy for the summer and I really think I can grow from this program.

Seriously, though. The most awkward hour of my life. And that is saying something.