When High School Theatre Is Family

I am glad Natalie has found her people in High School. It's not always easy to do, especially when you have quirks. Natalie has always been theatrical in nature: from a small age, she was drawn to costumes. She had a bunch of them in her closet and many times when we'd run errands she'd be in one, complete with colorful plastic high heels and a crown perched on her head.

She wasn't always sure she wanted to stick with theatre. Auditions are nerve-wracking for her. Oh, she adores being on stage but the process of getting there can be difficult. She second guesses herself. And it doesn't help that auditions are held in front of everyone else so if you see someone have a flawless one, panic can surge throughout your body. 

In fifth grade she tried out for the musical and shook a bit when she got up in front of the crowd. She had to sing a song. Her voice wobbled. She wore a unicorn hat tucked down to her eyes as almost a shield. She was placed in the ensemble and was a little sad she didn't get an actual part, but she still had the best time. (That's her in the pink with her friends.)

In sixth grade she opted not to take theatre classes. She went for art instead. But she tried out for the school wide play, Mary Poppins, and got a callback. She was thrilled. In the end, she was ensemble again, but she still had a fantastic time. In seventh grade she returned to theatre classes and auditioned for the musical. She sang, got a callback, and actually got a part! It was Honk and she was Penny. She was ecstatic. She finally did it! She had an actual part. 

But then Covid hit and everything changed. The play was canceled. In eighth grade the world was still pretty much shut down so there weren't any productions. 

In ninth grade she ended up getting a part for the first play she auditioned for: The Crucible. She was Betty Parris. This was when she started to get close to the other theatre people. Her entire freshman year she bonded with the other actors--she cried when the seniors left. 

(This is her as Betty in the nightgown, and they had to wear masks at this time. She was also in her blonde era.)

She's been in every play her high school has had since she started--sometimes she doesn't get speaking roles, and that's okay. Sometimes the audition process trips her up. She tends to stutter when she reads new things. If they have to memorize monologues, her mind can go blank at the worse moment. 

It happens. 

But even if she doesn't have a big part, she still has her people. They're all silly and enthusiastic and yes, sometimes they get on each other's nerves, but when it all comes down to it, they're family. And when family graduates, there are always tears. Does she prefer to have more lines? Absolutely. Being on stage with words and blocking helps her to combat any fears she might have. 

Natalie recently auditioned for the UIL play, which is the one they compete with others schools with. It was Blithe Spirit, and Natalie was aching to play Elvira, the wife that comes back from the dead. There was lots of competition--and the way this worked was that two people would be given a role and the one that was the best for it would have it for the competition and the other would be the understudy. Natalie was stressed, but determined. She has been an understudy many times for large parts and was hoping it would work out that she would get the part. (She was understudy for Gabrielle in the Cinderella musical and was thrilled when they had an understudy performance so she could go on. She's in the pink.)

She ended up with the part and screamed when the cast list came out. I thought she was wounded, but no, it was a screech of relief. She had done it. She fell to her knees and let out the happiest wail. 

She absolutely loves the old Hollywood era and her character had those old Hollywood vibes. She was in her element. She got to wear a blond wig that reminded her of Marilyn Monroe. This is a picture of her friends braiding her hair so she could get the wig on easily. Everyone in the play did amazing.

But unfortunately, the play did not advance in the competition. Everyone was disappointed, but it happens. Sometimes everything works out. Sometimes it doesn't. 

They got to perform Blithe Spirit one last time at the school over the weekend for family and friends. First the understudies went on and then the main cast. Everyone shined on stage and I felt a twist in my gut to know it was the final time I would be watching. And afterwards, everyone hugged. From the cast to the crew to the directors, there is appreciation all around. 

And as they stepped away from the set one final time, I imagine some felt wistful, but knew they would return to the stage very soon. 

To their family.