Annie

There were about 3 adults there. 6:30 p.m. I filled out my form and kicked myself for forgetting to bring my resume when I read "please attach resume." I sat there and sang the song in my head over and over even though there was no way I could ever forget the words. Annie was my all-time favorite musical. I watched the VHS of the Carol Burnett version in my aunt's room repeatedly and can sadly say that I fast forwarded through all the Carol scenes. It wasn't until I was older that I appreciated her much more in that movie. I was obsessed with the Annie tour in 8th grade when they showed the audition process to find the next broadway Annie on CBS. And then remember when they kicked Joanna Pacitti out and she ended up coming to perform at 3 LIttle Bakers. Oh yea, I was there. And she was awesome. And I wanted to be Annie. But as you can see, I knew I'd never be cast as Annie. So when the tour came around, I noticed a small part that Sutton Foster belted out. The Star to Be. And I had to be that part. I had to. Why was that cut from the movie? I thought. Usually when you ask someone what his/her dream role is you hear answers like, "Eponine" or "Maria." Not "the star-to-be from Annie" b/c that response is usually followed by, "what role is that?"

I was getting that really bad itch to sing again. I needed an excuse so I searched the websites for upcoming auditions and found ANNIE. The Delaware Children's Theatre was having auditions this month and I thought awesome. Ima go. I went on the adult night but still had to wait for several young girls to sing through Hard Knock Life 50 times. "'stead a' treated WE get tricked, stead a' kisses WE get kicked!" was what I heard as I sat in the waiting room for over an hour. I peed 5 times. And each time it was like I had never peed before. I got this, I thought. Sonny had helped me sing through it and I had no problems, even the 20th time through. He gave me some background on the original singer and how she ended up becoming a lead on broadway. Apparently, right at her height, she ended up getting breast cancer and dying. "Sing it for her," he said.

They called me in. Greeted everyone and then handed the piano player my music. Mrs. S walked over, "You sure you don't wanna sing for Grace or Lily?" "No I'm sure." "Are you sure?" "I'm sure."

"Oh I have this music already, we'll just use mine," the piano player says. "Plus I think yours is in a different key."
OH SHIT. Wait what? I scanned my music and then his. "Umm I..." I stuttered. His music was a whole step higher and my eyes went straight to all the high E's. "Umm I didn't know..."

"Ok I want you to sing this whole section. Start from the beginning here at N-Y-C. You ready?"

I climbed the stairs and got onstage. I better get out now. I am NOT makin' a full of myself. "Um I think I thought it was in a different key..." I muttered.

"That's ok. Let's just try it anyway."

Shiiiiiiiiiit.

So I started, "N-Y-C...." it was a blur and as I tried not to pee my pants I made it to the end and thought, "well here goes."

By some grace of God, I was able to belt the note. "it's nnnnnnn-YYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY-cccccccccccccc."

I walked off the stage to some random "very nice"s and "very good"s but I was shaking and trying to walk steadily out so I could leave ASAP.

"Dude that sucks when that happens." Tori says.

"Right?! I'm usually good about getting the right key! Wtf!"

So I sat down for about 20 minutes until I stopped shaking. And stared at the wall. "It sounded good from out here," ppl were talking around me. "How did that happen? Is it really that high?" I thought. "I don't remember singing in that key to the soundtrack on my way over here...


Well, needless to say, I put that one out of my head and focused on having a commitment-free fall.



6 days later my phone rang. I got the part.