Show of hands – who out there auditioned to be in their school play? Who was stage crew?
I think the world is divided into two distinct subgroups – cast or crew. The two years that there was a teacher at my high school who was willing to mount a musical, there was never a question – I was crew. Stage manager, in fact. Although for the life of me, I don't really remember my job.
All I remember is the feeling of being part of something extraordinary … something bigger than me and my adolescent angst … something beautiful and communal … with music!
To this day, I remember every song from "Bye Bye Birdie" (not so much "Teahouse of the August Moon" - whose idea was that?) And I remember those days and nights of being on stage crew with incredible fondness and gratitude to the teacher who took it … and us … on.
I love Broadway musicals. And I love school plays. So it has been with great anticipation that I have waited for my daughter to start middle school and join the school play, something she had indicated great interest in as well (for I would never force her into doing something that was my idea. At least, probably not.)