So, a couple of weeks ago my friends told me about Wolftrap (an outdoor concert hall type place) auditioning teens for extras in the traveling production of Les Miserables. I was thrilled when my parents let me audition! I even had my mom take new headshots (she’s an amateur photographer and she’s done them before) and did everything I could to get ready for this audition. The night before my friend calls me and asks if I can give her a ride and we could audition together saying it would make it generally less scary. I was a little reluctant at first because things are already competitive between us and it would be terrible if one of us got in and the other one didn’t. But I said yes any way, because she really didn’t have any way to get there and I knew we both could use the support.
We get there at 9, but we got a little lost since it was in a huge mall, so we didn’t get in line for registration until about 9:15 and registration started at 10. We waited in line for a long time and it was a little awkward because we were so nervous. But around 10:45, we got our numbers. We sort of had to do a wiggle dance to get all our nervous energy out (the other auditionees didn’t care, but we were getting strange looks from the other mall goers. We went in with a group of twenty and we sort of lined up in a semi-circle. The man who was judging us was the music director for the traveling production. He had us sing At the End of the Day once all together in our line, then once all together traveling and acting around the room, then he listened to us individually. Both my friend and I were called back and we practically ran out when he dismissed us and bolted to the bathroom so we could jump up and down and cheer with out rubbing it in every ones’ face. We weren’t called back until noon, so we went up to the food court and tried to eat (neither of us were hungry, but we hadn’t eaten anything all day.
At 11:45 we got back in line, but ten minutes they told us the director and workers were eating lunch so the call back would be at 12:30. My friend and I went to H&M to kill some time. When we got back in line, people were a little friendlier. Conversations were flowing and people were singing. The environment was a little more relaxed. But, by the time we were about to go in, we were tired! All the adrenaline from the first audition had whipped us out. Around 1:30, we were called in again. He asked where his 1st sopranos were so he could here us sing the descant part to At the End of the Day. I immediately raised my hand and was ready, but my friend (who normally is a soprano, but would rather belt) didn’t step up. When she thought that he was only listening to soprano ones, though she raised her hand. He listened to each of us individually and I nailed it. When my friend went, I could tell she was nervous and she didn’t sing out loud enough at the higher part. He sent us all out and told us he would call the numbers he wanted to hear again later. My friend was a little nervous since she knew she didn’t nail do it perfectly. A few minutes later, he came out and called 27 numbers. Mine was one of them. My friend’s wasn’t. I felt terrible, but she gave me a hug and a “Good Luck!” and I went into the audition room one last time. People started doing the math instantly, some (rudely) out loud. They were taking 18 of us – 12 boys and 6 girls. There were 12 girls and 15 boys in the room. I tried to stay focused even though I felt bad for my friend. We sang Master of the House a few time and then he gave asked us to sit down (much to every one’s relief). He told us how the rehearsals were going to work and gave us a little pep talk about how proud he was of all of us and to stay passionate. He told us he would contact us by Monday to let us know either way. I was one of the first ones to leave the room and I found my mom and friend. It was an awkward ride home, but my friend slept most of the way.
Even though I was disappointed for her, I was really excited I got a final call back! It really went well and I think I have a good chance. I’ll let you all know as soon as I get the info!
