When You Receive That Life-Changing Role | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Entertainment

When You Receive That Life-Changing Role

Literally everything changes

6
When You Receive That Life-Changing Role
Jessica Pinero

Those who are deeply involved in the world of theatre will tell you that contrary to popular belief, it is not an easy road. Audition season is always a stressful time for actors and your mind can go 100 different ways in terms of performing the perfect audition song and/or monologue. This isn’t just true in the professional sector of theatre, but also college and even high school theatre.

Audition season is also a time when tensions are high and drama may or may not arise (depending on where you are). It’s not a guarantee, but it can happen and audition season is a typical breeding ground for drama. I personally have come across actors who expect the best role for themselves every time and get very upset when they don’t get it. Everyone knows actors like that; they don’t understand the concept of starting from the bottom and slowly improving until you are possibly given a big role. I compare it to going up the stairs. You cannot just jump ten steps to get to the top, that’s extremely difficult, so you must go one step at a time and learn more along the way.

In high school, my stair analogy was very much in play. I joined my high school’s drama club during my freshman year because I couldn’t wait to get an opportunity to perform and get over my fear of people watching me (a fear that I have gladly gotten over). I really didn’t know what to expect in terms of my high school acting career, therefore, I would have been happy to accept any role in any production.

Unfortunately, I’d gotten my first rejection after my first high school audition. My school did a fall play and a spring musical and the fall play at that time had a small cast and I was surrounded by many talented, experienced actors. I was sad at first, but figured that I still had a chance with the spring musical. Well, the musical audition season came along and bam…. I’d finally gotten chosen to be part of the ensemble for Avon High School’s production of Grease. I was so excited and on the weekend of performances, I had an absolute blast and vowed to continue auditioning for every show in later years.

And that I did. I happily kept accepting smaller roles for fall plays and ensemble roles for spring musicals. It was fun no matter what. Then came my senior year of high school. That’s when I finally started moving up the stairs.

The fall play for my senior year was a comedic farce with a cast of about six people (three women, three men). I was a little nervous because I remembered the last time I auditioned for a show with a small cast. Nonetheless, I went in and did my absolute best.

After two days, I received the news: I got the lead role.

I was so happy that I remember crying. I’d finally gotten noticed and gotten the chance to challenge myself as an actress. The show was so fun and interesting and fast forward to performance weekend and I was overwhelmed with the positivity from my family and friends and strangers. It was life-changing and it lead to another big role in the spring musical after that.


I guess my point is that once you start working, never quit. It will pay off at some point. The result could be life-changing and could spur your confidence and skill. The world of theatre is certainly not the only world in which you won’t know what could happen, but the best defense against uncertainty is to be prepared, perhaps overly prepared at times. You never know what could come out of a certain experience and just remember that you cannot just jump a few steps to get to the top. You have to go one step at a time.
Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Adulting

18 Things I Want To Do Now That I'm 18

I'm technically an adult, so I'm legally required to live a little, right?

1153
Happy Birthday Cake

For the entirety of my high school career, I was always seen as the goody-two-shoes. I never got in trouble with a teacher, I kept stellar grades, and when I wasn't doing extracurricular activities, I was at home studying. Even when I did go out, it was usually with a bunch of fellow band geeks. The night would end before 11:00 PM and the only controversial activity would be a fight based on who unfairly won a round of Apples-to-Apples when someone else clearly had a better card (I promise I'm not still holding a grudge).

Now that I'm officially an adult, I want to pursue some new things. I want to experience life in a way that I never allowed myself to do prior to entering college. These are the years that I'm supposed to embark on a journey of self-discovery, so what better way to do that than to create a bucket list?

Keep Reading...Show less
Featured

10 Life Lessons from Christmas Classics

The holiday classics that shaped my life

702
10 Life Lessons from Christmas Classics
Flickr

The holiday season is full of stress, debt, and forced conversation. While we rush through the month of December, it's important to take a step back and enjoy the moments before they're gone. Most families love to watch Christmas movies, but these beloved films provide more than entertainment. Here are 10 life lessons that I've learned from the holiday classics we watch every year.

Keep Reading...Show less
Featured

15 Mind-Bending Riddles

Hopefully they will make you laugh.

199827
 Ilistrated image of the planet and images of questions
StableDiffusion

I've been super busy lately with school work, studying, etc. Besides the fact that I do nothing but AP chemistry and AP economics, I constantly think of stupid questions that are almost impossible to answer. So, maybe you could answer them for me, and if not then we can both wonder what the answers to these 15 questions could be.

Keep Reading...Show less
Entertainment

Most Epic Aurora Borealis Photos: October 2024

As if May wasn't enough, a truly spectacular Northern Lights show lit up the sky on Oct. 10, 2024

20645
stunning aurora borealis display over a forest of trees and lake
StableDiffusion

From sea to shining sea, the United States was uniquely positioned for an incredible Aurora Borealis display on Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024, going into Friday, Oct. 11.

It was the second time this year after an historic geomagnetic storm in May 2024. Those Northern Lights were visible in Europe and North America, just like this latest rendition.

Keep Reading...Show less
 silhouette of a woman on the beach at sunrise
StableDiffusion

Content warning: This article contains descriptions of suicide/suicidal thoughts.

When you are feeling down, please know that there are many reasons to keep living.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments