Ever since I learned how to talk, I had a special knack for performing. My toys and I would reenact scenes from my favorite movies, I'd put on a show for my family after dinner that I dubbed " The Morgan Show", and I would force my family and friends to make up dances and songs along with me. My life changed when my parents took me to see " A Christmas Carol" at a local theater. I saw Tiny Tim come on stage and my eyes lit up. I had no idea that a kid like me could perform too. From then on I was hooked. I had caught the theatre bug and there was no way I could get rid of it.
I started acting lessons at the age of 5 and I loved it. But it wasn't enough. By the age of 6 I had been cast in my very first show. Joseph and The Amazing Technicolored Dream Coat. I was chorus kid #1. I loved every minute of it. From the late night rehearsal's, the costumes, the singing, the dancing, and all the way up to opening night. At this point, I knew that I was destined for the stage. Despite the fact that I couldn't read yet, I kept auditioning for shows. I got in to a lot, but some I didn't. My 6 year old self had a hard time understanding why I didn't get in. I played a lot of chorus roles, but every so often I would land a lead. I eventually did learn how to read and I eventually did learn how handle disappointment. My life continued like this for quite a while. My mom would take me to auditions, and voice lessons, acting lessons, performing groups and rehearsals. The other kids in shows became my best friends, and the adults became my second parents. While my friends from school were off playing baseball and taking gymnastics lessons, I was doing show after show after show. And that was just fine with me. I loved it.
I like to say that I hit my peak at age 7-12. During this time I was doing a few shows a year, even getting paid for some. I was cute and tiny and could carry a tune. I stood out as the only kid amongst the cast of adults that I very often worked with. But as I grew older something changed. I no longer stood out. I wasn't cute or tiny. I had to start working to get roles. And I did. I would go to auditions and there would be a line of girls who were my age and could perform too. And I once again had to learn all about disappointment . But I still got to be in some amazing shows.
I did shows all throughout high school as well. Honestly, It had just become part of my routine. But for some reason I decided long ago that I was not going to study theatre in college. Even though theatre is a big part of my life, I have so many other things that go into making me who I am. I love reading, writing and history. I have always had a huge interest in the injustices of the world . I wanted to study those things . When it came time to think about college and to think about what I wanted to study people started asking me " Oh! Are you going to major in Theatre?" People are always so shocked when I tell them that no, I am actually a political science major. They couldn't understand why someone who has been doing theatre her whole life didn't want to study it. I tell them that theatre is a big part of my life, but if I let it become my whole life, I'll grow to hate it. And I don't want that to happen.
The roles I've played, the songs i've song, the people I've met, and the things that I've learned have meant so much to me. And I plan to continue doing it when I can. But it's time to put my heart and soul into something else for a while.
