The Happiest I’ve Been

Anyone who has been involved in musical theatre knows that with the closing of a show comes post-show depression. I’m still working on getting over that.

Clearly, that’s going really well for me.

I realized recently I never actually told you guys from start to finish how I found myself back in musical theatre after 6 years of dedicating much of my life to sports.

This past Easter, I went to see a local production in the area with my parents. Coincidentally, a coworker of mine was in that show. While at this show, I saw that Rent was among the list of upcoming musicals in our area. I had an “awww, man, that would be awesome” moment, as playing the role of Mimi has forever been a dream of mine (long shot, I know. I can’t help the blonde hair and light skin). I later told my coworker how much I missed the theatre, and he encouraged me to audition for Gypsy. I feel like it was divine intervention that landed me the role of Dainty June. I was so, so thrilled.

My rehearsal schedule was busy, but I found myself looking forward to my nights at the theatre. That’s the thing about musical theatre for me — my life revolved around field hockey for so long, but I still dreaded practice. In the theatre, I want to be there all the time. Practice is fun. For the most part, I never want to leave.

I couldn’t tell you the last time I had worked on my vocals. My last voice lesson had been in 2006. I haven’t done any sort of choreographed dancing other than zumba in just as long. But I threw myself back into it, and I like to think it was all good enough. I enjoyed every single last second of it, but not just for the stage.

The friends I have made through this experience are what made the show so wonderful. I can’t put into words how much richer my life is with their company.

(and here’s my shout out to Dana, wielder of the green hat, who internet ninja-ed her way to my blog)

We got me a big T.V.!

And played very inappropriate, hysterical games of telephone pictionary.

For the record, I was not the artist behind any of these except the bottom left.

They bring out some of the best in me.

Dance moves, light-up dreads, and all.

Recognize some of those faces? My other amazing friends even traveled from near and far to come see us in the show. I was so touched. There’s just something about seeing your new and old friends enjoying time together.

And although the show is over, I see the people who have become some of my closest friends all the time.

And I wouldn’t have it any other way.

Since taking a leap and trying something new, I am the happiest I have been since moving to Virginia Beach. I don’t know what took me so long.

And I got to smack a cow butt.

So there’s that.

Tagged as: dainty june, gypsy, musical theatre, new friends