Viva La Vie Boheme!

The first music I ever remember hearing was my dad's cassette tape of the Phantom of the Opera soundtrack. He would play it almost every time we were in the car together, and my sister and I would sing every word. I only understood the basic gist of the story, but I'll never forget when we took a family trip to New York and we saw Phantom live. That trip, we also saw Cats. And so my love for musical theatre began.

It wasn't until high school that I really dove into theatre. I saw Freeman's production of Hello, Dolly! as a freshman which blew me away. I had no idea that kind of talent existed in high schoolers. So sophomore year, I took a speech class with a fellow named Dustin who mentioned auditions for the musical 42nd Street. I had seen this as a traveling show when I was a youngster and I was vaguely familiar with the songs. I didn't have work that afternoon after school so I replied with "I have nothing better to do," and auditioned that afternoon.

I was shocked to have gotten any part at all, so I was very pleased when I was in the ensemble. In those months of rehearsals, I felt like I was emerging from a cocoon. I became 100% comfortable with these new friends of mine. We were all equally weird, and I liked it. I could write 20 pages about how 42nd Street is the best thing that ever happened, but I digress.

After that production, theatre was like a drug. I signed up for classes in it, I auditioned for everything, I worked backstage. I would do anything I could to just be near the stage. However, in every story, there is always a villain. My personal villain was Mrs. Spears. Like most theatre teachers, she had her favorites. And she had her least favorites. No one quite understood how or why certain people were in these categories, but I was definitely not her favorite. So I watched the same people get leads and I just hoped that by the time I was a senior, I would get a role that at least had a speaking role or solo. I got greedy. She never cast me as anything decent. I always got the shit roles. After the senior musical where I was essentially not cast, I went to college and realized that my future would only involve attending shows and not participating.

So for the next 4 years I only attended some productions.

But a week or so ago, I was checking my mail when a flyer caught my eye. "RENT AUDITIONS." And for whatever reason, I took the flyer off the wall and put it in my backpack. In that split second I just decided that I was going to go for it. Now to be honest, I ended up going back and forth between auditioning and not. After all, I am a student, and a science major at that. I remembered how much time musicals take to put together and I was afraid my grades would suffer. I also tend to go out of town or have a certain visitor from UVA on the weekends, so I knew that would change. My dear friend, Cara, who I met when we both fell in love with theatre during 42nd Street, changed my mind. And so I went to my audition.

I was cast. But not only was I cast. I was cast as a speaking role. A lead. THE lead that I've always wanted. Maureen.

Maybe I'm not any sort of huge talent. Maybe I'll even botch the role. But for the first time, I at least have a chance to prove myself. For that in itself, I'm willing to make all of those sacrifices that almost stopped me from auditioning. I'm going to put everything I'm made of into this role, and I can't wait.



Take THAT, Bitch Spears.

Viva la vie boheme!