A few years ago, serendipity intervened, and I was asked to portray the pictured character, Kactus Kate, in a musical called Wagon Wheels West (WWW).
I was 43 years old.
As a self-proclaimed “shy extrovert” (that is a whole other story), I would have to step WAY out of my comfort zone....
Every year, the parents get together for “FUN-raisers”. Most of the time, these “fun-raisers” raise funds for items that the school needs and cannot afford to purchase.
As an active volunteer at the school, I was involved in many of these volunteer opportunities. However, I had never ventured into the fun raiser known as the “parents play” (appropriately not shortened to PP).
One year that all changed.
I was asked to participate in the chosen musical, Wagon Wheels West. With a cast of 36, they needed quick extra cast members to make this production happen. No audition. No prior experience needed. No talent.
Even I could do that, right?
OMG. My fantasy come true!
Seriously.
I have ALWAYS loved musicals. When younger, I would sit and watch black and white or color ones on re-runs. Top Hat, The Sound of Music, and Fiddler on the Roof just to name a few.
I would go frequently to the local theater . I would sit, anticipating, in my seat awaiting the curtain's rise from the floor. When the orchestra began, I would let the music and settings wash all over me until I felt like I was living that musical.
I was Dolly Levi. I was a member of the Chorus Line. I had the “Memory”. So, it isn't a far stretch to say that I have always wanted to be in theater.
Being shy and NOT being able to sing was a pretty valid excuse that held me back. (Duh!) So, the “tragedy” of not having enough parents volunteers became my “comedy” and dream come true.
I carelessly stepped into evening and weekend rehearsals.
One small Step For Me...One LARGE STEP For My Small Mind.
I had no idea that I was leaping into a fantastic personal growth phase that I would experience from this single small step.
I played the (chomping at the) bit part of Kactus Kate. Okay, it might'a been Cactus Kate, but I always considered the role spicier than that. A character named Kactus was much more exotic.
Ooooh.... I was an official cast member! I had a copy of the script. I even had this on the front of the notebook holding my script:
There we were, all 36 of us in a small music room every weekend.
(In keeping with my belief that you sink to your lowest level of humor) My very juvenile humor found others like me. We sat in the back drinking, laughing and trouble making. I felt like I was in the Breakfast Club.
Believe me, there were THOSE in the room who did not appreciate our laughter, giggling, whispering or anything that we non-actors were doing. My oh my! As support against the thespians, we had each other, and we did what we wanted to do.
I was re-living a summer sleep over camp. How many times do you get a chance at 40 something to have teenage silliness again?
It was da'bomb, baby!
Before we knew it, it was opening night.
Lights on.
Running toward the stage with 35 other parents to belt out Wagon Wheels are Rollin'. I felt electrifying energy in everything that I did that night.
Scene 1-Strong Spotlights on Me standing there with the broom. My eyes gaze starkly into the audience. Sweeping (which, btw, I had to be taught how to do). I uttered the first words. Nerves. Memories of the director saying “don't worry and don't get nervous. Everybody knows that the first person on the stage is a nobody”. Though some people would derive displeasure from that statement, it allowed me to gain great confidence!
That night, we, as a collective and cohesive group, overcame obstacles. Missed cues, the loft being on fire (okay, this didn't happened, but the smell of fire was strong and we were worried), concerns over the fact that we had never really gone through the entire play before.
Guess What?
We did it!
AND I did it!
I was changed forever....
I learned that if you step outside of your box, you will not regret it. You will be one step closer to becoming the person you never knew was inside of you!
I was 43 years old.
As a self-proclaimed “shy extrovert” (that is a whole other story), I would have to step WAY out of my comfort zone....
Every year, the parents get together for “FUN-raisers”. Most of the time, these “fun-raisers” raise funds for items that the school needs and cannot afford to purchase.
As an active volunteer at the school, I was involved in many of these volunteer opportunities. However, I had never ventured into the fun raiser known as the “parents play” (appropriately not shortened to PP).
One year that all changed.
I was asked to participate in the chosen musical, Wagon Wheels West. With a cast of 36, they needed quick extra cast members to make this production happen. No audition. No prior experience needed. No talent.
Even I could do that, right?
OMG. My fantasy come true!
Seriously.
I have ALWAYS loved musicals. When younger, I would sit and watch black and white or color ones on re-runs. Top Hat, The Sound of Music, and Fiddler on the Roof just to name a few.
I would go frequently to the local theater . I would sit, anticipating, in my seat awaiting the curtain's rise from the floor. When the orchestra began, I would let the music and settings wash all over me until I felt like I was living that musical.
I was Dolly Levi. I was a member of the Chorus Line. I had the “Memory”. So, it isn't a far stretch to say that I have always wanted to be in theater.
Being shy and NOT being able to sing was a pretty valid excuse that held me back. (Duh!) So, the “tragedy” of not having enough parents volunteers became my “comedy” and dream come true.
I carelessly stepped into evening and weekend rehearsals.
One small Step For Me...One LARGE STEP For My Small Mind.
I had no idea that I was leaping into a fantastic personal growth phase that I would experience from this single small step.
I played the (chomping at the) bit part of Kactus Kate. Okay, it might'a been Cactus Kate, but I always considered the role spicier than that. A character named Kactus was much more exotic.
Ooooh.... I was an official cast member! I had a copy of the script. I even had this on the front of the notebook holding my script:
There we were, all 36 of us in a small music room every weekend.
(In keeping with my belief that you sink to your lowest level of humor) My very juvenile humor found others like me. We sat in the back drinking, laughing and trouble making. I felt like I was in the Breakfast Club.
Believe me, there were THOSE in the room who did not appreciate our laughter, giggling, whispering or anything that we non-actors were doing. My oh my! As support against the thespians, we had each other, and we did what we wanted to do.
I was re-living a summer sleep over camp. How many times do you get a chance at 40 something to have teenage silliness again?
It was da'bomb, baby!
Before we knew it, it was opening night.
Lights on.
Running toward the stage with 35 other parents to belt out Wagon Wheels are Rollin'. I felt electrifying energy in everything that I did that night.
Scene 1-Strong Spotlights on Me standing there with the broom. My eyes gaze starkly into the audience. Sweeping (which, btw, I had to be taught how to do). I uttered the first words. Nerves. Memories of the director saying “don't worry and don't get nervous. Everybody knows that the first person on the stage is a nobody”. Though some people would derive displeasure from that statement, it allowed me to gain great confidence!
That night, we, as a collective and cohesive group, overcame obstacles. Missed cues, the loft being on fire (okay, this didn't happened, but the smell of fire was strong and we were worried), concerns over the fact that we had never really gone through the entire play before.
Guess What?
We did it!
AND I did it!
I was changed forever....
I learned that if you step outside of your box, you will not regret it. You will be one step closer to becoming the person you never knew was inside of you!
