It was 6:15 PM and I quickly grabbed a can of Aqua Net Hairspray and sprayed it over my completely unnatural curls. The smell is awful and it destroys my hair, but it brings back an amazing memory from my freshman year of high school. That memory was getting my hair done on the first day of the first big show I had ever been in: Crazy For You. The smell of Aqua Net surrounded me and the smell stuck with me forever. I would, over the next four years, use at least 3 cans of it. Crazy For You was what made high school truly begin for me. Not the first day of school, not homecoming week, but Crazy For You. I will never forget my audition and the absolutely sickening feeling in my stomach wondering what on earth I had gotten myself into. And that is when it all began.
At 6:45, we go through a strange ritual where we rub a Chevron patch that is safety-pinned on an old hat. I've done this dozens of times, it's tradition, it's good luck. The hat belonged to someone whose name I don't even know because it was before my time, but his hat is famous and I have no doubt that the tradition will continue. But tears well up in my eyes as I rub it this time, it's the last time I'll rub it. I will never have a reason to rub the Chevron again, there are no more shows.
Then it was 6:55 and Lilah called "places." It was "places" for the last time and I sneak offstage to listen to the overture. Oh, all of the overtures! An overture is always the first part of the show, it excites you, it makes you ready to give it your all. There are even memories associated with the overtures. Dancing to them behind the curtain and lip syncing with all your might because no one can see you, and even if they could, why would any of us care? We are drama kids who don't care what anyone thinks of them. We are our own person and no one can change that.
7:00, the show begins and everyone hugs me and kindly reminds me that this is my last show. I am well aware that it is my last show, but I find it sweet that they feel the need to remind me. It shows me that they care about me and will miss me, I will miss them all just as much. But no tears now, there is a show to put on!
I finally make my first appearance in the show half an hour later and wear the same ridiculous gold dress that I wore in Crazy For You. It still fits quite nicely, which goes to show that nothing has really changed that much. I run onto the stage laughing and smiling a genuine smile: This is what I was born to do. From the shuffle-steps I learned freshman year to the kick line, the dance is perfect and I love every minute of it.
And on and on the show goes until the curtain call. This is what I have been dreading since I started in the drama department: The last time I take a bow on the Ballard stage. But I take that bow proudly and find that there is a smile stuck on my face. I'll miss the curtain calls, I'll miss it all.
So now, 36 performances, 3 cans of Aqua Net, 27 hangers, 100s of bobby pins and 8 scripts later, it's all over. I've loved every minute of it and I will be sad to leave it, but this is not a bitter end, I am ready to move on to something new and exciting. So, to any person who was in a play with me at Ballard High School, thank you for the memories, they have been such a blessing and have truly changed my life.
At 6:45, we go through a strange ritual where we rub a Chevron patch that is safety-pinned on an old hat. I've done this dozens of times, it's tradition, it's good luck. The hat belonged to someone whose name I don't even know because it was before my time, but his hat is famous and I have no doubt that the tradition will continue. But tears well up in my eyes as I rub it this time, it's the last time I'll rub it. I will never have a reason to rub the Chevron again, there are no more shows.
Then it was 6:55 and Lilah called "places." It was "places" for the last time and I sneak offstage to listen to the overture. Oh, all of the overtures! An overture is always the first part of the show, it excites you, it makes you ready to give it your all. There are even memories associated with the overtures. Dancing to them behind the curtain and lip syncing with all your might because no one can see you, and even if they could, why would any of us care? We are drama kids who don't care what anyone thinks of them. We are our own person and no one can change that.
7:00, the show begins and everyone hugs me and kindly reminds me that this is my last show. I am well aware that it is my last show, but I find it sweet that they feel the need to remind me. It shows me that they care about me and will miss me, I will miss them all just as much. But no tears now, there is a show to put on!
I finally make my first appearance in the show half an hour later and wear the same ridiculous gold dress that I wore in Crazy For You. It still fits quite nicely, which goes to show that nothing has really changed that much. I run onto the stage laughing and smiling a genuine smile: This is what I was born to do. From the shuffle-steps I learned freshman year to the kick line, the dance is perfect and I love every minute of it.
And on and on the show goes until the curtain call. This is what I have been dreading since I started in the drama department: The last time I take a bow on the Ballard stage. But I take that bow proudly and find that there is a smile stuck on my face. I'll miss the curtain calls, I'll miss it all.
So now, 36 performances, 3 cans of Aqua Net, 27 hangers, 100s of bobby pins and 8 scripts later, it's all over. I've loved every minute of it and I will be sad to leave it, but this is not a bitter end, I am ready to move on to something new and exciting. So, to any person who was in a play with me at Ballard High School, thank you for the memories, they have been such a blessing and have truly changed my life.
1 comment:
Hey Holly, just proving that I've read your blog. That's a really sweet note you wrote, kind of sad but kind of nice that everything came full circle for you. I'm going to really miss acting with you...but then we've got "Earnest" to do in the summer, so we've got at least one more show together!
-Dan
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