Dear Lisa,

First of all, thank you. Thank you for helping me these past almost seven years. I don't think you know how much you mean to me. So here is my thank you from me to you.

I met you just 7 short years ago during my first summer camp, "There' s No Place Like Oz." I remember JT coming up to me all the time telling me how much I was going to love you. I didn't really think much of it 'til I actually met you. I thought you were this super cool, outgoing person who just loved music. Well, after summer camp was over, you asked me to be in "Gloss" and I was so honored. During that short period of time that I was a part of the girl group, you taught me that I had a voice. You showed me that singing was more than just opening your mouth and sounding good. You showed me that it was about passion and performing. When you are singing, to give it your all and have no regrets about your performance. Let's skip ahead a few years to 2014. You told me during voice lessons that you were trying something new that summer. You were creating a summer intensive for the older kids who were already trained and didn't need a basic theater class. I was elated because that meant we could do a lot of different and fun things that we could never do with the younger kids. Then you told me the show and I think I almost peed my pants: "Hairspray Jr." You knew that Tracy was my dream role and I would have done anything for that part. *Spoiler* My dream came true! I also knew that playing Tracy was also one of your biggest dreams too. You trained me from February 'til June singing "Good Morning Baltimore" over and over again, but something just wasn't clicking. I had the notes and your critiques but I was so afraid to perform the song. One day, it just came to me. I told myself that this was Lisa's dream role too and she wasn't afraid of anything. I also went back to that day when you said that singing isn't just opening your mouth and sounding good, it's about performing. So, I came to the studio with all the confidence in the world and I just didn't sing the song, I performed the song. I wanted to do it for you. I knew that you would never get the chance to play Tracy and I wanted you to be proud of me. It must have worked because you trusted me with your dream role. I hope I made you proud that summer because you were my inspiration when I was performing. Thank you for being my mentor, my inspiration, but most importantly, a friend.

Forever Your Tracy,

Alyssa