Being the lead in a play or musical is the ultimate role. You have the chance to be a role model for many people younger than you and chances are they will look up to you. It is way more than just getting up on stage and performing, you can inspire people through your portrayal of a certain character.
One of my favorite roles I have ever played is Tracy Turnblad in Hairspray. After trying out for several different productions of the show, and being beat out by older girls, I finally got cast as my dream role. The theatre company wanted to do the show with actors who were the actual age of the characters, something that isn't done a lot in musicals in Chicago. By playing this part, I was embodying this amazing person, though she was made up. I was often told that Tracy and I were very similar, I like to think that is why I got the part. There were many kids who were younger than me in the show and I felt like I owed it to them to be a good role model. I made sure to learn every person's name in the show, usually the leads only talk to each other, not the rest of the cast. I wanted to make everyone feel important, as all parts mattered.
In middle school, I played the lead every year in the school musical, but my favorite was Adelaide in Guys and Dolls. I have to say that I think I was one of the best 12 year olds to ever play a 35 year old woman. We performed a show in front of the entire school and I was so thrilled that my teachers, friends, and classmates got to see me perform. From the first audition and callback, where I was auditioning against girls who were older than me, I knew that I had the part. Just because I was the lead, didn't mean I was only friends with the other leads, I was friends with everyone. In high school, it was a similar story, but my favorite musical was my senior year. I played Rona Lisa Peretti in The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, the character who drove the show. The cast was a small cast, with many good parts and we all got along really well. My freshman year, I got to get up on stage and belt my face off as Mayzie in Seussical.
I have learned a lot from working on musicals and plays. In order to start getting leads, you need to work really hard and not be afraid to start in the ensemble. Make sure you always practice and put a lot of energy into performing. Have fun! Performing gives me such a rush.
One of my favorite roles I have ever played is Tracy Turnblad in Hairspray. After trying out for several different productions of the show, and being beat out by older girls, I finally got cast as my dream role. The theatre company wanted to do the show with actors who were the actual age of the characters, something that isn't done a lot in musicals in Chicago. By playing this part, I was embodying this amazing person, though she was made up. I was often told that Tracy and I were very similar, I like to think that is why I got the part. There were many kids who were younger than me in the show and I felt like I owed it to them to be a good role model. I made sure to learn every person's name in the show, usually the leads only talk to each other, not the rest of the cast. I wanted to make everyone feel important, as all parts mattered.
In middle school, I played the lead every year in the school musical, but my favorite was Adelaide in Guys and Dolls. I have to say that I think I was one of the best 12 year olds to ever play a 35 year old woman. We performed a show in front of the entire school and I was so thrilled that my teachers, friends, and classmates got to see me perform. From the first audition and callback, where I was auditioning against girls who were older than me, I knew that I had the part. Just because I was the lead, didn't mean I was only friends with the other leads, I was friends with everyone. In high school, it was a similar story, but my favorite musical was my senior year. I played Rona Lisa Peretti in The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, the character who drove the show. The cast was a small cast, with many good parts and we all got along really well. My freshman year, I got to get up on stage and belt my face off as Mayzie in Seussical.
I have learned a lot from working on musicals and plays. In order to start getting leads, you need to work really hard and not be afraid to start in the ensemble. Make sure you always practice and put a lot of energy into performing. Have fun! Performing gives me such a rush.