Three long months. Three long months of dancing, singing, acting and building. It was musical season. My sophomore year was half way through and we were nearing opening night of our musical, ‘The Wizard of Oz.’ I had been thrilled to be a chorus member in my first musical, but I had no idea how much work was needed to put on a show of this size. There were late night and early mornings, crammed homework breaks offstage and thick globs of stage makeup applied. And yet, that time holds some of my favorite memories.
There is something wonderful about musicals; maybe it’s the joining of so many different areas of art, but there’s a feeling in the air that is brought to life. Those who are involved unexplainably never get tired of hearing the same numbers, and the comedic moments never lose their humor. You see, not only is it the music itself that brings the show to life, but it’s also the people. I made so many good friends during that time. Whether it was while washing paint brushes or complaining about the color green, we always found time to get to know each other.
It was also a show of ‘first time in forever’s.’ We brought in elementary and middle school children to play our munchkins, something we hadn’t done since Beauty and the Beast my 5th grade year. And although they required a team of their own to help get them ready, it was a blast to meet and hang around with them. The awe that shone in their eyes as they watched the rest of the show inspired us to put on the best show ever for them. It was also the first time that we completely sold out since Beauty and the Beast. The Auditorium holds over 850 seats, so selling out is a rare occurrence. I remember the night it happened. Tears streamed down my cheeks as my heart overflowed with joy. I raced down the hallway and hugged every cast member in sight, attempting to spread the feelings I contained inside. To be a part of a historic moment such as that, it’s hard to put into words. That very night I knew where I belonged. Not a second afterwards did I regret my decision of choosing Theatre over Cross Country. I was home.
That night will forever be one of my favorite memories. And although some nights were stressful and mounds of homework always awaited me at home, the magic of the, ‘Wizard of Oz,’ and the people who were a part of it made it worth it.