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my first performance was in a small A/G church in hamilton, nj during Christmas. 150-200 camera-shooting parents and relatives were in attendance. i had a small role: a tree-decorator, lamb, or something. throughout the years, my roles would be a bit bigger, a few solos here and there. looking out into the crowd, performing, stage lights resting on me, it was really fun. at the time, i thought it was just an activity, help out the church, share the Gospel of Jesus with strangers in a fun way.

i didn't know it would be so important.

my first taste of seeing a performance was at Sight and Sound in lancaster, pa. Noah was playing so my family made a day trip while on our way home from TN. the costumes and vivid colors of the stage caught my eye and captivated me until the very end.

still, i didn't know it would be so important.

june 06, my parents surprised me with tickets to go see Phantom of the Opera in nyc. a limo would take my mom, grandmoms, and me directly to the theatre (or anywhere we wanted to go, which was to olive garden then the theatre). i soaked up the royal treatment and was ecstatic to see the performance. i had already seen the movie and listened to the music, oh, five billion times, so i knew practically every song by heart. the 'music of the night' (or in our case, the afternoon) softly played in my mind for days and days.

i had a feeling it would be important.

another broadway show grabbed my attention: beauty and the beast. yes, it's a disney show, but it's my FAVORITE disney movie of all time! i HAD to go see it. for days upon weeks upon months, i begged my parents to get tickets. christmas came and YES i got them! my aunt, cousin, grandmom, mom, and i went (limo-less this time) on the train, nyc bound. beauty and the beast was amazing. didn't realize it could be so powerful, but a few tears were shed.

i sort of knew it would be important.

may 18, 2007. performing arts living room, LCA, my first high school performance. it was a hodge-podge of carol burnett sketches, my best friend had her first solo, and it ended with a christian skit called The Artist. the evening began with me and my friend dressed in very ugly dresses and makeup, Wallflowers. (i had very looong eyelashes, dark eye makeup, and a line of lipstick from my lips to the side of my cheek). everyone seems to remember it because of this really funny new yorker accent i did. after that, did a quick change into black skirt, white button down shirt, hair pined up in a bun, makeup perfect (believe me, it was a pain to try and get as much heavy makeup off as possible). from a desperate, single 40 yr old woman to a primmed and polished wife in Guess What's Coming to Dinner (son brings home a mermaid for a fiancee'. oh the horror!) after that, a quick change to hiker shorts, socks, sneakers, polo shirt, with a HUGE sombrero on my head, hair in pigtails. Alice Portnoy and the Bank Robbers. i was alice, a mischievious little girl, threatens bank robbers with blackmail if they don't comply with her wishes of getting as much money raised for the fireside girl's annual mexican fiesta. another quick change happened. flowy white skirt and blouse, hair down, barefoot. getting ready to be the Kneeler for The Artist. basically, i worship man instead of the One who created him. i was the one who began the doubt-in-God snowball effect. i think i did the most changes out of everyone. but it was fun.

i know for a fact it is important.

i can't get enough of theatre. i want to live and breathe the stage every single day. i want to feel the total serenity of an empty theatre right before a performance. the light tapping of my shoes as i walk, feeling the vibe. you know the excitement is there, perhaps hiding under the seats, waiting to mingle with the actors' and audiences' emotions. i'm aching to be on stage! i think we're planning another trip to nyc to see Little Mermaid and Mary Poppins. hoping to see Wicked very very soon. as for my career on stage, let's hope and pray an actual musical will take flight during senior year.