Participating in high school theatre was more than just being in a club. The long hours of rehearsal every day after school and the hilarious chaos that ensued during these hours made it impossible to want to spend your time anywhere else.
1. Auditions
"Should I sing 'Mama, I'm A Big Girl Now' from 'Hairspray' or 'Adelaide's Lament' from 'Guys and Dolls'?" Perfecting your audition was a huge part of the fun yet nerve-wracking experience of being in a high school show. As was waiting on the long line of other students who were your friends a few hours ago but are now your competition to finally get your dream role of "Plate #2" in "Beauty and the Beast."
2. Checking the Cast List
Every few hours, we would ask the director if the list was up yet. Even though she would repeatedly tell us, "Not until the end of the day," we would still check that hallway between every class. There's no better feeling than belting, "Is that my name up on that list?!" when you finally see your name next to the part you've been dying to play and no worse feeling than seeing it next to "Woman #3." (Unless of course that was who you auditioned for.)
3. Your Director(s)
It takes a lot of patience and bravery to be in charge of a huge group of dramatic teenagers and somehow manage to produce a successful performance. If you're lucky, your director was not only a role model but also a friend. Despite getting yelled at by her for constantly missing your cues and "occasionally" forgetting a few lines, you know you could always go to her with anything.
4. Hell Week
The week before the show is the week that everyone dreads yet looks forward to the whole semester. You're rehearsing until late hours of the night, praying your voice holds it together until opening night, and hoping you have enough time during scene changes to eat something. Nonetheless, this was the week you truly realized that the cast you had been working with had turned into your family and you discover that you wouldn't want to go bat-shit crazy with anyone else.
5. Backstage Drama
Hanging out backstage with a bunch of incredibly dramatic teenagers makes in-cast feuds inevitable. Maybe it was an awkward love triangle like that of Marius, Eponine, and Cosette, or maybe someone continuously stole props and refused to own up to it. Just admit it, you lived for it.
6. Pre-Show Warmups
Every cast had their own pre-show ritual before going on stage. Whether it was closing your eyes and imagining yourself on a tropical island, a vocal warm up similar to that of Sharpay and Ryan, or even playing ten consecutive games of concentration before curtain, this tradition really got you pumped up and helped subside the "I can't do this I'm not going on" nerves.
7. Opening Night Jitters
There's nothing quite like the feeling of wanting to pee your pants while standing on the stage during blackout, staring at the curtain that is about to reveal an auditorium full of people. One second you think you're gonna yak, and the next you're shining like a star and feeling "so much better than before."
8. Senior Sendoff
The most bittersweet part of performing in a high school show was saying goodbye to the seniors after their last show. It was really difficult to see someone who has become a part of your new family leave and it was even more difficult to not cry off the stage makeup you spent hours applying.
9. Cast Parties
If you've ever been to a theatre party, you know that most of the time is spent laughing so hard you'd almost choke on your non-alcoholic drink and pizza or talking to the parents of whoever's house it is. Improv games, reminiscing on ridiculous times during rehearsal, and going to the diner in full stage makeup until obscene hours were the best parts of celebrating a good performance.
10. The Cast (Your family)
Despite the difficult transition of leaving your high school's theatre company for good, you will never leave behind the friends you've made. From stressing over the amount of time spent at rehearsal together to falling over laughing at on-stage mess ups, it is hard to find this kind of unique bond again. Being with the weirdest people in the school every day after school changes a person, arguably makes you weirder, and truly helps you find yourself.
Once you had performed in a high school musical, it was nearly impossible to stay away. You make bonds that you will find difficult to ever match and it is an unforgettable experience.
