My four years in high school have been made up of seasons. Seasons of friends, of moments, of experiences.
Anyone who knows my last name, knows music runs in my veins. I've love everything music has to offer, and I grasp at any chance to become a part of it in different ways. I knew I would be in band for the long haul since fifth or sixth grade, and I chose the clarinet early on. I couldn't figure out how to play the flute, I didn't have the lung capacity for any lower brass instruments, and honestly, trumpet players just seemed too snooty. So clarinet it was, and I've stuck with it for nearly eight years. When I came to high school, I knew all about the musical from my older brother. I remember seeing The Music Man, Oklahoma, The Sound of Music, Brigadoon, and Crazy for You, long before I was a registered freshman. I fell in love with theater from these productions at Central.
I had briefly met Mr. VanDyke the summer before my first year, and Daniel encouraged me to take his Stagecraft class. I did, and I had a lot of fun. What I wasn't expecting was for him to approach me and ask if I would be a Student Manager. I knew Daniel had been one and liked, but I hesitated. I didn't know if I could rise to the challenge and do well enough. As you all know, I hate disappointing people. But I accepted, and once again I had fun. There were bumps, hits, and misses, but I'm glad I said yes. Annie Get Your Gun was a great experience, full of people who changed my life and whom I'm still close with.
The next year, for Into the Woods, I not only met new friends, but bonded with ones I already had. Because the cast would be so small, many people weren't able to be on stage, but plenty still helped by being on crew, or in the pit. Carrie was able to play flute that year, and her, Tabby, and I had such a wonderful time. Jessica was also there, making it all the more special. The music was amazing, the set was incredible, the cast was so talented, and I loved the beautiful story it told. Pit was even nominated for a Blue Star, along with set design and others that I can't remember, and won the award.
Les Miserables was a big undertaking, but I faithfully signed on to pit again anyway. Mr. Verbick is a wonderful conductor, and could take on this challenge. I was a tad lost on the story for awhile, because it could get pretty confusing, but in the end, everything pulled together and told the sad tale exquisitely. The cast was immensely talented, and it was sad to see those seniors go. Pit was once again nominated, but didn't end up winning.
Junior came to an end, and I spent the summer of my life with everyone I loved. I didn't want to believe I would soon be a senior, but I did start putting in big effort to make all my moments count. There was no way I would simply float through my last year of high school and not take in all the memories being made.
Therefore, when I heard the musical would be Thoroughly Modern Millie, a show I didn't recognize at all, I sucked up all the preconceived notions I had and signed up for the last time. With Mr. Maxwell directing, I knew we would be buckling down to work right off the bat. During the rehearsals before we played with the leads, I was concerned about how little confidence I had in playing my part. But once we got set up in the theater and watched the show from start to finish, I loved the story and the songs that we performed. Even despite the fact that Daniel came back and also played in pit this year, I had fun. And I made a lot of memories.
And so closing night came, a little later than expected, and with it the nervousness about senior circle. We have a tradition in Central Theater that after every closing night of the spring show, everyone in the company sits in a circle in the gym (our "backstage" to the theater) around the center of the court, which bears an Indian head. I was on the fence about giving a speech the whole night. Not many people know who I am, because it's always felt like the pit isn't truly a part of the company. Sure, I was pretty good friends with a few of the cast members, but not like the other seniors, who are much more of social butterflies than I am.
But, to my own surprise, I summoned the courage to stand up and make my way to the middle of the circle.
I was not expecting the reception I was given. I mean, everyone claps and cheers for everyone, but everyone also knows that they just have to, even for the people they don't know or like. I was expecting the standard applause when I stood up, but not the cheering from all around the circle. There were the ones I knew, of course, but there were also the ones I knew but didn't know they knew me, you know? I looked to all of the faces and realized that I do belong here, as much of an outsider as I felt. I began my speech, somewhat rehearsed, mostly off the cuff, and in the end when I had nothing left to say, I said what I could only feel. That I could never imagine standing there, where so many others did. Where my brother did. Where so many of my friends who had to graduate and leave did. But, I said, I'm so glad I made it here. Thank you all.
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