2008 is the year that I consider the start of my acting career. In July of that year, a teacher friend and I decided to try out for the Mill Race Players' production of "High School Musical." I had never done anything community theater related. Church and school productions were the only things I had ever done.
When I auditioned, it seemed there were hundreds of teenagers. I was 33! I didn't pass for a teenager, so I was escorted with the other six adults to another room where we read from the script and had to sing. I had never sung a solo in my life!
When the cast list was posted, I looked for my name. I had psyched myself out that I didn't get in. The cast was pretty large, so I scrolled down the list posted on the door. Then my name appeared on the list. I was listed under "Teachers."
I was excited, but nervous. I will admit being Troy Bolton (Zac Efron in the movie) would have been awesome, but, nevertheless, I am not a singer, dancer, or a teenager.
When I arrived at the first rehearsal, it seemed that auditorium was full. As rehearsals continued, I began to witness a lot of talent. I began to learn the names of the leads and their "acting history." I was given the lines of the Karoke DJ and the Science Decathalon Moderator. I was so nervous learning those lines. There were only 10. I learned and gained so much from the direction of John Johnson and Janie Gordon. This is what I had always wanted to do, and it was happening.
When the days of the performances happened, I was enthralled every night by all of the talent. I would stand backstage and watch. I never tired of seeing the musical numbers between Troy and Gabriella or when the cafeteria erupts into one of the largest numbers ("Status Quo") with the culmination in the cake being shoved into Sharpay's face.
The young lady playing Sharpay was Mary Claire King. She had just graduated from Columbus North and was heading to Syracuse University in the fall to study musical theater. I did share the stage with her in the scene where there is a basketball game, auditions for the musical, and the science decathalon. The song being sung was "Bop to the Top." Little did I know how much of an inspiration she would become.
When the run was finished, a cast party was held at the Donner Pool. I wanted to congratulate as many cast members as possible before I left. Mary Claire was one of the last I spoke with that evening. I told her that she was great and that I always find it interesting when someone from the area has studies or is going to study acting. It is her words that inspired me. She told me that she was ready for the challenge and had a lot of hard work ahead of her. When she said that, it opened my mind tremendously.
After I left that day, I thought to myself "Are you ready for hard work? Are you willing to pursue something you have always wanted to do?" It is through a less than five-minute conversation that my world changed.
In 2011, I did the musical "Rodgers and Hammerstein's Cinderella: The Enchanted Edition." My only singing experience had been "High School Musical" and was buried in the chorus. This time, I had a couple of solos. I was so nervous that it is the closest I have come to extreme stage fright. I decided to take voice lessons after that to build my confidence.
After "High School Musical," I had contacted some voice teachers, but they were already at their limit. Once I started getting involved in more productions, I kind of gave it up. After my stage fright incidents, I contacted one that was given to me from a colleague. I called Julianna Drerup, and she said she would be willing to work with me. The first lesson I walked into her home. Right away a picture caught my eye. It was none other than Mary Claire. It was quite the validation that I had made the right decision.
As I began to pursue acting opportunities through various community theaters, independent movies, and movie extra casting companies, I also saw how Mary Claire began to blossom on her own path.
Thanks to social media, I was able to see all of the productions she was a part of and all of the opportunities that she was taking part in, many wish I could have seen.
In 2012, she was cast in the traveling company of the Broadway show "Catch Me If You Can." I was so excited to see someone that I shared the stage with, although in a limited manner, was in a large scale production. On my fall break, I decided to drive to Memphis, Tennessee to see the show. I was so excited to see in the Playbill someone I knew and considered an inspiration. When she came out on stage, I wanted to hoot and holler, but showed restraint. After the show, she met me at the stage door, and we got to chat about acting and catch up on experiences.
As she continued her path which took her to New York City, I was incredibly proud to see someone take on NYC with gusto. It was amazing to see her become a part of an a cappella group called Range a cappella. I was loving it when they got to perform in an Oscar pre-show on E!.
She had posted this past spring that she would be in a production of "War Paint" in Chicago. To be honest, I didn't really pay attention to the story line or production details. By chance, I was going to be in Chicago for two weeks taking classes at Second City. When I was looking at show's to attend, I remembered Mary Claire was in one. When I did my Google Search, Patti Lupone and Christine Ebersole were listed. I double checked to see if this was the production she had posted. It was! I bought a ticket right away.
On July 1, my last night in Chicago, I made it to the Goodman Theater and was directed to my box seat that had a terrific view of the stage. As the orchestra began and the actors began to move about stage, I spotted Mary Claire. I again wanted to hoot and holler and tell everyone she was from Columbus, Indiana, but again showed restraint.
When Patti Lupone and Christine Ebersole made their stage presence, the crowd erupted with loud applause and cheers. I did the same for them but made mine just a tad bit louder to cheer on Mary Claire.
It was a night of magic to see one of my inspirations working with legends of stage and screen and to have such a featured role. I don't think I have paid as close to a production as this one. Again, Mary Claire met me at the stage door, and I gave my congratulations, and we got to catch up.
As I stood next to that stage door, a few things occurred to me. Two people from the same area who had shared a smaller stage eight years before were in one of the most fascinating cities in the U.S. One had worked to a professional level and worked with legends and the other learning from one of the premiere places to study comedy. We had come a long way from Sharpay and Science Decathalon Moderator.
I consider Mary Claire King one of my inspirations. Her words made me think about the possibilities that could happen in my life. Sometimes when people say things to you, sometimes you just move on. Sometimes they make you think. Her words propelled me forward to pursue my acting. I am so grateful that she has always taken the time to answer questions and to just talk to me. The lesson to be learned here is that sometimes the greatest inspirations can happen when you least expect it. Remember that there is always the possibility that someone you meet may inspire you and the path you have always wanted to follow.
