Act in a play

So long story short, the lead is better, some of the cast was getting a little nervous about a change late in the game, and I said that if they wanted me to NOT understudy then they should not feel bad about asking me to step down. So I’m not the understudy any more.

Which sucks. Hard. But it’s for the good of the show; me being an understudy was supposed to make the show more stable, not less. I just…I’m really disappointed. There were actors I was really looking forward to working with, and when I told that I wasn’t going to be working with them they said that they were disappointed. Which is supposed to make me feel better, but makes me feel worse instead, because I kind of feel like I threw my opportunity away. I just felt that it would be better for the show if I just said “don’t worry about it,” which is very selfless of me and exactly the kind of thing I would do. I just wish that I was more selfish and tried to hold on to the part. Because I would have really loved to do it. And it seems like other people would have loved me to do it, too.

Ah well. Can’t do much about it now. Just go forward and try to enjoy myself. After all, I didn’t really lose anything? Right?

So the first month (or so) of rehearsals have gone pretty well, and I’ve been enjoying myself immensely. The cast (well, most of the cast) are great and I really enjoy working with them, and it’s fun working with my pal the Ninja and making the part our own.

Today, though, I got a bit of news. The guy who is playing the male lead has thrown out his back and had been suffering with The Flu (no, not H1N1, just regular), and had been having a hard time at rehearsals. Today the director pulled him and me aside, and she said that she wanted me to be the understudy for him. Which is, let me say right off the bat, AWESOMETACULAR. Because that was the part I auditioned for in the first place, so yeah, I was thrilled. This is just a lot of stuff for me to process, and it’s going to be a lot of work. And really, learning the part in 1 month, I’m pretty sure I can do that. I just hope I can show off my hard work with at least one performance. Because that would be awesome for me. I don’t wish the guy ill, you understand. I just want to do it once. That’d be nice for me.

So yeah: big change coming for me. Lots of work for me to do. I’m really excited!

When I was in junior high and high school, I acted in a number of plays. I did school plays and performed in a community youth theater group. My performances ranged from adequate to notable (I even got a nice mention in the big local paper for my last play), but then I got older, went off to University, and hadn’t acted in a play since. But then I got asked to audition for a play at the local community theater, and actually got cast!

I’m a little nervous about my first rehearsal tomorrow, but I think it will go okay. I’m more worried about balancing the fairly intense rehearsal schedule with my work schedule, without also losing my personal life. My wife is supportive of me, and I’m sure she’ll be a godsend, but right now, I don’t know how the hell I’m going to get through the next few months with my sanity intact. It’ll be a challenge, but I hope it’ll be worth it.