*9.08.09

Madi Ward was shaking. With each deep breath she tried to calm herself down.

“Oh God,” she whispered. “I think I’m next.” She gripped her audition form tighter.

“Sarah Gaines!” Ms. McIntyre called.

Madi let out a sigh of relief. It wasn’t her turn.

An air of anticipation filled the performing arts center. All of the initial frenzy was over but the performers could still feel its effects.

“I get nervous every time,” Olivia Hebert spoke softly to the girl on her left, “It’s awful but it’s also fun.” She mused through her monologue, A Visit to the Archive, once more.

Carson Rahrig took her place in the spotlight, performing a speech about romance. When it was done she stepped down proudly.

No matter what, a moment of applause would follow the actor off the stage. Each time the fellow auditionees spoke nothing but positive words.

“You did awesome!”

When all twenty-eight actors had finished, the pressure was released. Each left the auditorium anticipating the announcement of callbacks the following morning.

*9.09.09

Twenty-four hours later, the remaining nineteen congregated in the theatre hall. The mood was considerably more uplifting than before. They were thrilled to have made it this far.

“Mary, you’re adorable,” Olivia complimented.

“Not as adorable as you, because I haven’t got a sweater vest!” Mary Elise Eastham returned.

“Aw! Just gimme a hug!”

Kat Elvrom led the way into the PAC. Talk of the evening’s improv show was circulating. Morale was high.

After everyone took a seat, Ms. McIntyre entered the theatre.

“Alright, let’s get started,” she announced as she proceeded to call roll.

When everyone was accounted for, she set the scene.

“They’re from Brooklyn. They’re fast talking. They’re Jewish,” she said.

For a quick second, smiles overtook their determined faces. But they focused again and dispersed with scripts in hand.

Nick Jimenez and MJ Johnson went at it. Sarah and Madi did too. Each role was a conflict and the actors put themselves in the roles of their characters. Hunter Canedy and Wyatt Zalatoris finished early and discussed stage direction.

“Hey, you guys! We’re going back in!” shouted Darius Moore. The fifteen minutes was up.

Hunter and Wyatt took the stage first. They shouted and emoted as brothers, Stanley and Eugene, until their excerpt was finished. The usual applause emboldened the performers as they walked off the platform.

Next was Madi and Sarah. Then Carson and Sophie Smith. Eventually every group performed and Ms. McIntyre began to switch roles and direction.

She decided to place all 14 girls side by side.

“I’m trying to see who makes a family here,” she explained.

She turned to deliberate with Mr. Ferman. After a minute of discussion she looked back toward the girls.

“Alright. I’d like to see if any of you would be willing to dye your hair a slight variation for your role,” she inquired. “Now, I’m not talking anything drastic—“Immediately every hand rose. Each of the girls, vying for one of the four roles would do anything to be in the show.

It came down to two of them.

“I want to have a talk with you guys,” McIntyre said dolefully. “There’s a reason why you were called back today.”

She reminded everyone that it was a small cast. She reminded everyone of the merits of crew. She acted as though the choice was killing her. Her last words that afternoon were that everyone would leave except for Mary and Konnar Hunter. The actors left subdued but hopeful that they would return a part of the production.

*10.6.09

Practice picked up immediately. The first rehearsal started the following day and after nearly a month of convention things began to come together. Pieces of set lay about the stage. Kat stepped over a few props, seated herself on the couch and then analyzed her script. Wyatt joined her and did the same. The rest of the cast gradually filled the set as the clock ticked closer to three.

Sophie and Hunter argued like usual. This time they disputed his weight and then whether or not Ferman would show up. When everyone arrived Sophie initiated the day’s warm-up by bringing the cast into a circle.

“Reach for the sky!” she shouted.

All arms went up, fingers wiggled. After a few seconds of towering stretches, by command, their arms plunged toward their feet as they attempted to sweep their fingers across the ground.

“Lean over your left foot!” Sophie commanded.

“Just a liiittle,” the cast echoed.

“Lean over your right foot!” And their bodies swung to the right.

“Just a liiittle.”

They repeated the exercise several times and they rested at center.

“Swing! Swing! Swing!” Their arms swung. ”All the way around!”

Legs flailing, hips rolling, lips buzzing, they continued to do all sorts of acts to shake off jitters. Slow and drawn out, the cast delivered an array of vocal warm-ups to bring out their characters’ Brooklyn accents.

After fifteen minutes, the ritual came to an end. The troupe was remarkably calmer than before and an unexpected seriousness seemed to overtake them. Suddenly the tranquility was broken.

“Places!” Ms. McIntyre shouted.

Everyone scrambled to assemble the unfinished stage, arranging makeshift tables and other props. Soon the cast members were in their places and acting out of the script. They utilized every second. Again and again, parts were reenacted. Although, at most times, the characters were yelling, the actors were focused and collected. That is, until Sarah’s voice cracked.

“Eugene!” She chirped.

They tried to keep composed but couldn’t help but laugh, even Ms. McIntyre.

“Her voice is like a train whistle!” Hunter exclaimed.

“Alright, cut.” McIntyre chuckled. She reminded them how to control their voices. Sophie sat smiling in the audience. She wouldn’t perform for even half an hour today. With minimal lines in act two, she observed and read along to the play. The cast continued to recite their dialogue, always making adjustments under McIntyre’s direction. Their emotions drained, the day’s two-hour rehearsal came to an end. They would return every weekday, persistent as their first performance date neared.