Personal Narrative: My Life In Middle School Theatre

The anticipation and nerves didn’t get the best of me this time. I may have been shaking a little, but thankfully no perspiration. Although, when I grabbed that microphone I felt my stomach drop. Then I belted out one of my favorite songs I had learned in church. It was then I realized that performing was my one true passion. Being a little kid, I wanted to be a popstar. The older I got I started to realize that I wanted to perform on Broadway. This little performance changed my childhood dream into a possible reality.

I came into my audition only auditioning for the ensemble, leaving the audition I ended up receiving the titular role of Pippin. There was also a dance audition, where we were asked to learn the choreography to All that Jazz from the musical Chicago, this was a challenging experience because I have had no professional dance training but I ended up doing very well and responding well to the choreographer and her teachings. This whole process helped me to develop my confidence and social skills. The auditions were the most like professional auditions I’ve ever attended, and therefore allowed me to better understand what the real musical theatre industry is like and give me a taste of what it would be like if I continued onto large productions. I was very lucky to receive the lead role, as I didn’t even audition for it, despite not seeing this at the time. There was a long break between auditions and the beginning of rehearsals, almost three weeks. This seemed like a very long period of time due to not being able to tell any of my fellow cast mates that I had received a

I consider my Middle School career to be like climbing a mountain. You start the climb not knowing what to expect, not knowing what types of things you will run into. As the climb progresses, you become more accustomed to your terrain. Through experience, you learn which places to rely on, which rocks and ledges you know you can trust with your life. Throughout your climb, things can get a little rough. Sometimes, you may feel like giving up and climbing back downwards. Other times, you may feel like you have no ledges to help you climb the mountain. However, after the hard climb, the view is beautiful.

My love for Performing Arts began when i was in secondary school in year seven. I was a very shy child and i would not speak much, but when i auditioned for my first musical 'Grease' that all changed . By performing it gave me confidence to approach people in my day to day life which before this i struggled with. Ever since then my passion for performing has grown dramatically, and i continually strive to become a better performer and show the highest standard of work possible.

Once I arrived to rehearsal, we immediately began practicing the most challenging pieces first. After practicing for about four hours, eighteen musicians, eighteen stands, eighteen instrument cases, and a conductor, packed onto the bus. We were on our way to the festival. When we arrived at the festival, we set up our stuff, practiced the introduction and bows. After going through the songs again, I felt like I had played these songs my entire life. It was about three o’clock, we went to the dining hall and had dinner before the performance, since the performance started at seven. After eating, we my friends and I walked around the campus talking. I entered the dressing room and changing into my black dress, and black dress shoes. Once again we went through places and entrances. We all made our way backstage, holding our instruments and music. We entered the stage, bowed and sat down to

Audition day came and I earned a spot in the orchestra but my joy deteriorated quickly when

After living for 16 years, trapped by the chains of Autism, I am especially proud that I have graduated from West Hills High School with a 3.9 cumulative GPA. During my scholastic tenure, I discovered the power of theatre, and with it my aptitude for performing. I was privileged to train alongside actors and entertain audiences at my city’s most prestigious youth theatre program: San Diego Junior Theatre. In addition to my primary passions of singing and acting, I also thoroughly enjoy working in mathematics and social science pursuits.

As I walked out of the theatre, after my audition for the musical Oliver, I knew in my heart that I had not gotten the lead role, and within the next week I found this to be true. I stared at the cast list on my computer screen for what felt like forever, just scanning the names and realizing that my name wasn’t under anything except the ensemble list. Ensemble was what I was always casted under, however this time I just hoped that this fact wouldn’t ring true. I mean, this was a kids show and I resemble a child more than I do an adult, so I thought that this would be my opportunity. As any actor or actress knows, to not get the role you had hoped for is devastating, but any intelligent actor or actress understands that a part doesn’t make a person. I coped with my slight depression and in turn became excited for this new opportunity I was delving into. But as I would later realize, this wouldn’t be as easy as I expected.

Though I didn’t get paid for it, the middle school homecoming dance was pretty fun to DJ!

Though I was fortunate to receive a role in the show, I was yet again disappointed because it was not the role I wanted. Following our spring musical, I had the opportunity to receive a role in every show my school has presented. Unfortunately that was not enough for me because I continued to ruminate on the fact that I was never able to obtain the role I wanted. However, during the process of our most recent production I observed a shift in my attitude toward the situation. After the cast list was revealed and I did not earn the role I auditioned for, I took some time to contemplate on my time in our theatre department. Initially, I considered myself a failure because after three years I was still incapable of securing any of the roles that I desired. However, after a conversation with my parents and the director of the shows at our school, I was able to comprehend why I was a failure. It was not because I was inadequate in receiving any of the roles I wanted, I was a failure because I neglected to understand the lesson that this experience was attempting to teach. Although you may not secure the role of your desire, you as an actor must learn something from every character that you

The first time I ever performed in front of a live audience was in the living room of my childhood home. Before I could even read I was performing the classics. With bold expression, I played the starring role in the Phantom of the Opera. Along with my two siblings, I performed in our version of Star Wars, Psycho, and Pirates of the Carribbean. From the beginning, I revelled in the thrill of the performing arts.

This week I learned as an actor that you are entitled to nothing. That seniority, experience, or anything else doesn't matter. Being allowed to act is entirely based upon your ability to walk into a room and somehow be “right”, a skill I have yet to and don’t know if i will ever acquire. After the break, I really want to talk to you about what's next and if continuing in this class is a good idea. I had very high hopes for this class and this year, and I am currently questioning if I have a place in this class or in this theatre department.

For the next few months all we worked on was our dances for the show, and all the leads had their practices. Every time one of the leads my age mentioned their extra practices or their rehearsals, I thought to myself, I know there will be a next time, and about how I shouldn’t get disappointed. Although I got to do an extra dance with some other girls, it wasn't the same. When I watched them rehearse, I could picture myself dancing up there with the lights beaming down on my face.

Rehearsals rotated between singing, staging, set designing, and acting instruction. In the meantime, we chattered, laughed, learned, and developed addictions to performing. In addition to the technical skills I gained

Then we got our first big gig opening for the act Daya. We stressed a lot about this gig and practiced