Yesterday Baboo auditioned for his school musical. Now, he’s no stranger to the stage, we’ve had him in a couple of junior theaters and he’s done well, he has some experience. At the last place he attended he played the Beast in Beauty and the Beast, their version of Scar in a Lion King type production, and the Wells half of Wells and Fargo in a musical about the gold rush, but school productions are different. I tried to tell him to do the best he could, but be prepared to not get a part, or at least not more than chorus, possibly to be just on the stage crew.
They’re doing the junior version of Annie at his middle school and he’s in sixth grade. I told him that I thought it wouldn’t matter if he blew everyone else off that stage, that Daddy Warbucks is going to be played by an eighth grader if they are in the least little bit able to pull it off, that’s how school works. Pretty much all the major parts will go to the higher grades, it’s their turn. But still, go try out because it’s good for you to do, that stage there, it’s big, you’ve never been on a big stage like that, you need to see what that feels like, so you’re not intimidated by it, and who knows? You may get cast.
For two weeks he practiced the two songs and two scenes all over the house. Even though he sang the Daddy Warbucks song better, he really wanted the part of Rooster, the part Tim Curry played in the movie. I told him that part’s a comic foil, just get up there and sell it, and by the time yesterday rolled around he was ready…or at least he thought he was.
I told him the stage was big. He’s seen it, but he hadn’t ever stood on it before. I remember it feeling bigger than the stage at the high school, and even with only a few people out in the seats your first time up there? Unnerving as hell.
When he came through the door yesterday he looked ill. I didn’t even want to ask how it went, but I’m the mom, that’s my job, so I did. My boy crumbled. He told me he did horribly, his nerves got the best of him and he blew his audition. I asked him if he got through his songs? He said he did but sounded awful because he got stage fright! I told him I was sure he wasn’t as bad as he thought he was. He was so, he assured me.
But I’m pretty sure he wasn’t. I’m also pretty sure it’ll be a whole lot easier for him to get up there the next time. Even if he doesn’t get cast the stage crew has a lot of fun too.
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the dog ate his spicy chicken sandwich. The kid can’t catch a break. Just turned his back for a moment to give his pop his tomato and poof, gone.
nothing anyone can tell him can prepare ya for the actually being there doing it…
but next time, he will know what to expect and it will get easier and easier for him…
i’m glad he went and did it… it takes courage and he’s got that in spades… 😀