Personal Narrative: The Play

As the audition approached, I avoided it as much as I could. I was so preoccupied with making sure my mom knew how much I did not want to audition that I barely prepared. The week of, I was so overcome with anxiety and the fear of making a fool of

The teacher introduced me to her students. Then she stepped back and gave me her classroom’s center stage. “Wow!” “Now that was something.”

During my junior year, all high school students of the Coachella Valley were given the opportunity to audition for the All Coachella Valley Honor Band, with a guest conductor H. Robert Reynolds. This was a significant educational opportunity I took advantage of. The audition consisted of a couple of scales, and excerpts from the music that was going to be performed on the day of the concert. When the day came I sat in front of the judge with my music and clarinet, where my nerves began to rise. Before I began to play my heart began to pound along with my hands beginning to sweat. Throughout my audition I had a few mistakes,but I stayed persistent and completed my audition. After I finished my audition, the judge said I had done great, I was

I had been in band for about two years and today was the day Mr. Heggins would put us to the test that determined if he would let us try out for honor band or not. I was excited, but also very fearful. What if I didn’t do well and had to hear him say “maybe next time” I was tired of hearing that. I had worked so hard and I just wanted a chance to audition. To be able to audition for honor band would be great, just a chance, and if I didn’t make it, there was always next year, I just wanted to try.

I woke up and took one bite out of my pop tart but that one bite was all I could eat. My legs were shaking, and my heart was pounding. My dad told me, “It is a true honor to even make it this far so go out there and have some fun.” Once I heard this statement, I knew I was ready to go. I arrived at school and boarded the bus. The car ride was an hour and fifteen minutes of hearing the squeaking of the wheel on the bus. My teammates were getting their heads ready for the big game.

By morning, my stomach still churned. On the car ride to school, I shuddered as I thought about what was going to happen to me. Maybe I would have to sit alone at recess. Maybe nobody would trade their lunches with me. The thoughts were so horrid I couldn't bear to think about it.

Three days after the cast list came out there was a first readthrough of the script. When i first showed up my drama teacher, Mrs. Carrie Jo Vincent, said something that sent shivers running down my spine. “Dylan, can I talk to you for a second?” One of the single scariest phrases to ever hear from a teacher, mind you. What follows was one of the most humbling moments I have ever experienced. Mrs. Vincent did not spare my feelings in the slightest. “How dare you think you are that important,” and “You got one lead, you are not entitled to anything.” I couldn’t help but leave that conversation with my tail between my legs. Mrs. Vincent had effectively destroyed this ego that I had let myself build up, and thoroughly showed me that I was not more important than anyone

"I’m so nervous,” I complained to my mom as we walked into the Waukesha Civic Theatre. “What if I’m not good enough. I haven’t even prepared that much!” It was a crisp September day and some leaves had already started changing color. On the way home from school my mom told me about a play that the theater puts on near us every year and thought I would be good for it. Since I had only heard about the audition that day, it gave me a few hours to pick my song and be prepared for whatever part they wanted me to read. The next song that came on the radio was the song “Edge of Glory” by Lady GaGa and because it was in my vocal range I thought it would be good for me. Little did I know that this audition would change my view of theater.

I thought I had it all down until that very moment. Its casting night for the middle school play. Me as an 8th grader went in pretty confident, and I was determined to get a part. Even though last year for me as a 7th grader didn't go quite well for me. I kept working hard for the next year, to make my skills better.

Four, maybe five German soldiers surrounded me. They were moving in faster than a pack of starving wolves, and I was their downed prey. There were flying bullets, dark smoke, and explosions everywhere. I was oppressed and knew that this was finally it. All my hard work was about to disappear into a plume of smoke. I commenced raising my rifle, and then in the midst of this chaotic scene there was this ever so subtle giggle over the headset. I look upwards dumbfounded to see a firestorm of bombs hailing all around me, and enveloping my entire section of the battlefield obliterating everything. It was my brother Chase piloting this monstrous desert-sand colored beast of a bomber, which just unleashed utter devastation on the opposing

I started to doubt the video. I mean we laughed at it, but would anyone else? I had seen so many other videos that week and none of them got much of a reaction from the class. A chuckle, maybe, but nothing more than that. I expected the same. So the day I showed it in class, I just said my name and pressed play. Honestly, I just wanted to get it over with. There was a few chuckles before, “I won’t miss you anyway, you trick”, the class erupted. There aren’t words to express how good I felt in that moment. That day and all week, I was overwhelmed with praise, from some people I didn’t even know. By Friday, all of Mrs. Freda’s classes had seen it and I became somewhat a celebrity, Andin too. All anyone talked about in class was our video; every other video was compared to it, but none of them came close. The most profound thing I remember is that everyone kept asking what’s next. “Are you going to be in the play?” “Are you going become an actress, now?” I never thought about becoming an actress before. Yet, I found myself really considering this path, but I wasn’t going to dive in. I wanted to prove myself, one video wasn’t enough. I convinced Andin and together, we set to work on a 2nd script which we shot over the summer. We put both of the videos on YouTube and the 2nd, The Housewives of Rome 2, got twice as many views. I couldn’t believe it.

After weeks of preparation, the cafeteria and lobby by the auditorium were transformed into a detailed airport scene, successfully setting the mood for the show. The actors and actresses managed to switch into numerous different costumes throughout the course of the show, sing every key flawlessly, and put on a great show. The spring musical was also the last AHA show that the seniors were be able to participate in, making the Sunday show a special one. “It's very bittersweet saying goodbye to this family that I've been a part of for the past four years,” said Jessica Boccassini ’18, who is a member of the ensemble and also the Dance Captain/Student Choreographer. “On one hand, it's difficult to imagine my life without seeing everyone at rehearsal everyday. On the other hand, I'm so proud of how much everyone has grown and developed their skills over these past few years and I'm excited to see what new and exciting performance opportunities my future

As the day progressed to an end, the earlier decision of omitting the after-school auditions was upheld. Likewise, the next day was spent contemplating whether or not I should act on this opportunity or not. The chance for the fourth period audition as also passed up with the decided mindset that I would not be auditioning for the

As I stepped into school next morning, I felt sweat accumulating on my palms; felt my heart beating rapidly; felt the anxiousness developing in my soul. Walking speedily to the door of the theater, I yearned for this brittle, edgy sensation to terminate. One instance, I felt hopeful - “Of course I made it.” The other, I felt hopeless - “I performed horribly. I am not getting in.” Slowly I approached the theater

In reality, though, I had made friends mercifully early on in my freshman year. The theatre teacher’s office was a sort of haven for kids who could perform perfectly timed, immaculately annunciated dialogues onstage, but often struggled to remember their own name when it came to talking to people in real life. I fit in perfectly.