Being a kid who is a part of theater isn’t as easy as it sounds or looks. It’s draining, fun, memorable, hectic, and so much more. I’ve been doing theater for 8, almost nine years. It has changed my life like no other. I’ve made many friends, many of whom I’ve lost or gotten close to. My first show was Lion King Jr. I was nine years old and had no idea what I was doing. My sister inspired me to audition for plays. I’ve been in 20 shows my whole life. I don’t want to pursue theater when I’m older, but I love doing it. I go to Christian Arts and Theater, otherwise known as CAT.

The audition process

You have to be 8-18 years old to audition. Audition is like trying out for a sport. It is so nerve-racking and scary, but trust me, it’s not bad. You have to do 1 minute of a song. It has also to be karaoke. It’s okay if you mess up, voice cracks, you forget your lyrics, or you sing the wrong lyrics. Just keep going, and don’t show it on your face. If you keep going without showing emotion, there’s a 1 and 2 chance you just made the show. After everyone sings, they tell you about the information about the dance audition. Honestly, the directors mostly look to see if you can dance. Dancing is crucial to theater. They do a dance audition to see how you can dance, how you pay attention, and how fast you can pick up choreography. The song that they choose is a song from the show you’re auditioning for. After dance auditions, a few hours later, the cast list goes up. This is where it is the most nerve-racking. The cast list goes up if your number is there; good job! You made the show! If it’s not. There is always another show. Thirty minutes later, the callback list goes up. Callbacks mean you’ve been called in to read, dance, or sing for a part. Always be prepared for every detail, even if it’s a character, not your gender. Bring water and do your best! The next day, the cast list goes up, including the leads, featured roles, and ensemble. 

Rehearsals and tech week 

Rehearsals are Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. If you called to go to rehearsal, bring water and your script. Rehearsals can last 30 minutes to 7 hours, depending on the scene, dance, or song you are learning, and always bring snacks if rehearsals are long. Tech week is the most stressful week in theater. This entire week is not about you. It is about backstage, props, makeup, hair, etc. Always tell makeup, hair, and costume ladies that you have a quick change. Always worry about yourself and no one else. Tech week and rehearsals interfere with school, friends, or your job. Go over your dances, songs, and scenes if you have nothing to do. Always bring homework also. So many kids get behind in school because of theater. Try not to get behind because it will be hard to catch up.

Lessons

Being a part of theater also requires voice, acting, and dance lessons. You can’t get better without doing lessons. It is essential and will also make you grow into a fantastic dancer, singer, and actress. You have to set aside time to do these things. It can be a minimum of 30 minutes.