FEBRUARY 6, 1981
A Look at the Frightening Experience of Tryouts For the Musical
For all you poor souls who didn't make cast for The Sound of Music, don't worry; you're not alone. You can cry along with 100 others. Don't feel it's the end of the world. You could always go into deep hibernation. I'd like you to go back and reminisce about your tryout.
You sit in the audience watching the terrified nameless somebody sin, and all you can think about is "Am I next?" Many more sing, and you watch their faces and their gestures to see if there's anything you could use.
"You're next." You look around to see whom Mr. Lord is talking to, and you realize that it's you.
You hand to him your audition card that has none written under previous experience and walk up to the front of the room. Slowly you look around and notice no one in the room is talking. They're waiting ...for you. Consciously, you swallow, take a deep breath, nod, and belt out the first note.
Trying not to think about the fact that if you don't make cast your parents will disown you, you try to put in movements and make up the character to whom you're supposed to be singing. But the character isn't as handsome as Captain Von Trapp or as beautiful as Maria. They either look like last year's calendar dog or this year's weather. While you are doing this, you're shaking like a leaf. I don't mean a leaf in a small spring breeze but a leaf in a hurricane. Now, you can't let Mr. Mills, Mr. Lord, and all your friends know that you're nervous, so you move around.
You're done. You finished; your song is done. Hey, look, they're clapping! Now, you're not going to get sick, sit down... good person.
You didn't do such a bad job. In fact, they didn't laugh.
Walking out of Maine West, relief flows through your body. You sang; you really did it. Bet you got the part of Maria; no, try Mother Abbess. Calm down, Liesl is more up your alley. You better settle for a nun.
How long before call-backs are posted? Don't worry about it; you didn't make call-backs. But wouldn't it be nice if you did?
You didn't. You told yourself not to get your hopes up too high. Better start listening to yourself.
The cast list is supposed to be up today. Remember, don't get your hopes up too high. You had to get a part. You've tried out before, so they have to put you in. Right?
You scan the list of cast for your name. Your hopes begin to crumble as you reach the bottom of the list and realize that after all that worrying, all those sleepless nights, you did not make it! Don't fret, you could always work as a poor, unloved nun.
How did you enjoy your little look back on your audition? It was fun, wasn't it? Just think, you get to do it again next year!