March20

HIGH SCHOOL DAYS!

Last night I went with my sister to see a play that her friend's son was in.
It was a high school play (and yes, I knew what I was getting into when I
went) It turned out to be a fun night, being there and watching those kids on
stage...all the nervousness, and energy and (I know firsthand!) the belief that
this show is "Broadway material" made it cool to be there. It brought back so
many memories of when I was in high school and how seriously we prepared I'm
talking 2-3 MONTHS of rehearsal for a 3 day run! (or if it was more serious
we got TWO WEEKENDS!...But that's only if it was a sold out hit) We built
sets, we had the nervous auditions where we had to wait outside the choir
room (because our teacher wanted us to KNOW what a "real audition" was
like) I remember we did Cats, Diary of Anne Frank, Arsenic & Old Lace (that
was my senior year play and my friend Jeremy Inman directed us) Musical
Highlights of Rogers and Hammerstein and the countless other one-man shows,
and "Night of One-Acts" we had. I miss the simpleness of it all sometimes.
Having drama class and sitting in that classroom that had been transformed
into a "black box theatre" so we could have authenticity when we worked. I
loved every minute of it. When the play was over, my sister's friend turned
to me and said "I can't believe how you all just memorize lines like that and
get out there, it's amazing, I couldn't do that!"...She was so proud of her son
and I thought she was great for supporting him like that and bringing us to see
his show. I think that's something kids really need when they do something
like this, support from family and friends. I can only hope these kids that I
saw last night will always remember the joy in acting and being together like a
family, and that it's not about being the "best actor" to know that just
getting up in front of your family and friends, and going out on that stage
takes A LOT more courage than most people have and they should be proud of
that fact.
-- Carla