My Theatre Experience (By Shouri)

One snowy day in February 2014, my life changed forever. 

It was the first time I succeeded an audition and got into a professional show in downtown Springfield, The Jungle Book.  

Of course, I didn’t know anything about it, nor was I even sure in myself. But everything had changed. Before I knew it. It was February 24th, my birthday, and the day of our very first rehearsal. The next day, I got all my required materials, the most important being the pencil and the paper. That day I was introduced to a family of people. Opening night had arrived, and what happened at 5:30 on April 18th, was one of the most magical things I could remember. My director called me out to the stage and the seats, and we talked. We walked and talked about what it means to be on this stage, what it means to have a passion. Before I knew it we fast forward to April 2014, it was strike, the last performance of the show, it was time to say goodbye. I cried so much after that. That’s when the first lesson adjusted itself into my mind. Everything has to end at some point, it told me. It’s my choice how to treat that last time.

December 2015, the second audition. This time, it was a musical. Dr. Dolittle Jr. I was more worried than ever before. Although, being worried at an audition has become a common thing in my life nowadays. We walk up back to the lobby, I have a callback. I learn I was the ONLY one called back for that part. A part of me started celebrating as soon as I learned. I got the part. Many old friends had returned, and many new ones were made. And just like before, it all ended in a flick. Again, I cried. That’s when the second lesson came in:  There is nothing wrong with missing someone or something more than usual. As my director put it in her last email to us, It’s not goodbye. Just a little distance.

2016 was by far the most magical year of all, 3 shows. It started with a lead, from my previous directors from my first show. Blather, Blarney and Balderdash. I loved it all. My old friends were back after a two year hiatus, and MANY new people whom I shared the same interests with, had become my friends. It was the hardest to get over, but I was already eyeing a new opportunity, the Muni. The biggest, greatest, most magical theatrical experience you can get. Auditions were in a month. I worked my butt off. At last it was the day, and what happened at 11:30 that day gave me a heart attack. I got called back for not only one, but TWO shows for their summer season. I celebrated and partied. The next day in the afternoon, I got the call. I made it into the first show of the season, South Pacific. My brother on the other hand was not forgotten either, he was selected for the last show of their season, The Little Mermaid. That summer was one to remember. The lights, the stage, the 1500+ audience every single night. Even the food was so stinking awesome. It was the greatest summer by far. All new friends, all new directors, all new people to add to my theatre family. And that summer was the one that felt like the shortest to me. 

It was August 2016, and school started again, and so did my regular school-year show season. Then came the MOST, and I mean flustering and sweating at auditions kind of most, agonizing audition ever. But as all happy endings, I got the part. Music Man Jr. here I come! I was an Indian playing a chubby white guy. I had my own song, and all that jazz. There I made some of the best friends one could ask for. A mentor too; a 23 year old man that I could call a friend. On closing night, I even added my own improv comedy in what was meant to be a serious scene, and they LOVED it. 

After it had ended, I learned my third lesson: Passion has a limit. 

I had an audition just two weeks later, and for the very first time, I didn’t make it. I learned and realized my fourth lesson real soon, Not everything goes your way, or as you planned. 

Here I am now, preparing for my next audition in April, taking a good break and focusing on school. What I want to take from these three amazing years is that self confidence is a gift. Passion is a life you can make. 

I need to thank everyone so, so much for what this has brought to me.

It brought me a family. 

It brought me a home away from home.

It brought me theatre.