1. Auditions

Arguably the most horrifying 2 hours of your life. Being able to just barely hear the other auditions and thinking “oh my god I'm not that good”. Once you finally step into the room, almost forgetting to breathe, and once the music starts it sounding like its a whole octave higher than anything you rehearsed for. And then getting into the dance portion and thinking “can I even move like that??” And of course, being absolutely mortified to do it in front of everyone else. Starting to dance and getting off by a second, thinking that it is the end of the world.

2. Three Very Busy Months

Making it was such a relief, but getting the schedule? Not so much. 3:30 til when every night? I'm sorry but, Saturday rehearsal!? When am I supposed to sleep? Maybe I'll just do homework in between dance rehearsal and vocal rehearsal. I guess there's always lunch time. I have half an hour between school and rehearsal- that's enough for 5 pages of homework and something to eat, right?

3. Picking One: Sleep or Grades

With what seems like a million rehearsals a week and teachers not being nearly as lenient as they are on athletes, it seems like it's one or the other:a good night's sleep or a B+ in Biology. Either way, you know you still have two more weeks of this and can't imagine how you're going to survive.

4. (If You're a Girl) Having To Use 5 Million Hair Treatments After Frying it For a Week

Tech week. The words strike fear into the heart of any actor or actress, but especially to those with hair and makeup that has to be done everyday for a week. Oily skin? Sorry, you're probably going to have a million breakouts by opening night. Dry skin? Say hello to peeling makeup and itchy patches. Not to mention the hair. Straightening, curling, temporary dying and more. After the week is over Argan oil hair masks are going to be your new best friend.

5. The Indescribable Feeling After a Performance

Going on stage in front of your family and friends and absolutely killing a number is probably the best feeling in the world. The claps afterwards? Indescribable. Then there's curtain call: your very own 15 minutes of fame. Ask any fellow theater-geek and they will tell you how amazing it feels to end a show feeling good about your performances.

6. The Bittersweet Feeling of a Show Being Over

All the rehearsals and meetings and auditions. Every sleepless night, every long Saturday, every day spent with your fellow cast-mates is over. Sure, you're free. You can have a life again. But what do you even want to do with that life? Expect a month of "musical-withdraws" and relating everything in the real world to a song from the show. But it sure was worth it.