BWW Blog: I Was A Part Of That One Terrific SISTER ACT! The Casting Call

It's a custom for my troupe to announce the upcoming season at the end of the year banquet. The tension in the room was thick as everyone waited in anticipation. The season was always something that was announced last. And finally, my teacher walked on stage with a folded paper in her hands and announced the last production of my senior year was Sister Act: The Musical. I was undoubtedly excited but the thought of there not really being a part that I saw myself in lingered in the back of my head. It wasn't until I was rehearsing my pieces for District Competition that I saw something in me. I was inputting my ideas on blocking, what props we should do so essentially, I was doing what a director would normally do. That's when I realized that I really don't want to be in the show, I want to help be the vision that bring it all together.

Let's get something straight. I did not want to be the "Student Director" because I thought that I wouldn't get the part I wanted if I had auditioned for the show. I have always had a genuine interest in what a director does, and I thought that this would be a great way to make my directorial debut. So, I put my eyes on the prize. I had my mind set on getting this position as soon as the applications for a technical position were posted.

The last day before winter break, the list was posted. I was the student director! When I woke up Christmas morning, one of the first gifts I opened from my mother was a DVD for Sister Act, the original 1997 film with a sticky note attached to it that read, "Study Up!"

What I found most interesting about this whole endeavor was the entire casting process. Along with my teachers, I was the one who got to choose who played what roles. I inputted my vision into what I thought was the perfect cast. The day of auditions was tense for everyone but me, I was mostly excited. I sat next to my teachers in my turtleneck and blue jean outfit and I took notes as people sang their 16 bars. The call back list came out the next day and with the incredible amount of talent that was showcased at callbacks, my teacher and I concluded that we should double cast many of the roles.

I enjoyed being apart of this process because I was once on the other side of the table auditioning. Being able to see everything that goes into making the perfect cast was truly magical.

IMAGE FROM: https://www.evangel.edu/campus_blogs/2013/10/31/theatre-life-behind-scenes/

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