The Acting Project

Curtain Call

19

Curtain Call

The adrenaline rush you get when the lights pour down and the people cheer. It means the end.

By now the whole cast and orchestra had showed up. We started rehearsal.

Rehearsal went great. Everyone did a great job and my voice wasn't being stubborn and acting up on me. Oh and I remembered my lines YEAH! Sometimes when i get nervous I say someone else's.

It's 40 min until the show and I'm in full costume and make. It's set in the 1950's. I play a teenager rebel. It's confusing to explain but the play is awesome. We have great dance numbers and songs.

"FIVE MINUTES TILL SHOWTIME PEOPLE!" Shouts the stage manager. I walk to my spot. I have to walk through the aisle in the audience. Then I walk up the stage. I am in character the whole time. Sometimes when someone in the audience is staring at me I will say in character "Eh! What you looking at?" Poppin my gum.

The music starts and I'm on the stage. I see the rest of the cast in the wings and I hear the rest of the music star. It will play for a few minutes or so. I always say a quick prayer before the curtain rises. Applause starts before I even start to sing.

I'm the first person you see. It's just me and my single spotlight. I start my songs and the words coming flooding back to me. It's about dreams and how not everyone gets theirs, but my character will push through to get hers.

The 2 and ½ hours goes by fast. Next thing I know curtain drops and everyone is getting ready for curtain call.

"Great job, John." I give him a quick hug. "You were spectacular." I kiss his cheeks showing a pair of bright red lips. He will curse me out later for it.

"Me? You were great!" He smacks my butt.

"Thanks we better get to our spot." The cast walks out then John the crowd half standing all clapping. The curtain goes down and everyone walks off stage and I stand their. The curtain rises and I walk to the edge of the stage to take my bow. We all line up and do a group bow. The curtain goes back down. The whole cast cheers and hugs and goes off to their dressing rooms. I go back to mine and take off my wig.

I keep my costume on so Camille and Piper can see me in it. Any moment now. They can be so slow. But knowing New York they probably saw someone they know or are in the extremely long line for the lady's room. The director comes to my dressing room and tells me I was great and he can't wait to see me tomorrow. I hear a knock at the door. I run to the door excited to see the girls to get their opinions. I have a big smile on my face.

"So did you-...Harry?" There he is, again.

"Hi." I see him standing there nervously.

"Hello." I say barely opening my door.

"You were amazing. And these are for you." I open the door all the way open and he hands me the bouquet of flowers.

"Lilies, my favorite. You remembered?" He just smiles and flashes his pearly white and dimples. "Why are you here?" I pull myself back to reality.

"I came with the guys. I saw you on GMA."

"Oh. You saw that? I was tired of all of the rumors and lying at all of the interviews. I'm sorry, I should have asked you first." I feel guilty; I never asked how he felt about it.

"Don't apologize; I would have done the same. Anyway, did I tell you, you were amazing?" He smiles.

"Yes and thank you again." I walk out to the middle of the stage. The audience and cast and most of the crew had cleared out. The curtain was up so I went and sat on the edge of the stage. My feet were dangling over the edge of the stage hanging down where the orchestra would be. I was still in my costume. Leather pants, extremely tight! My shirt that makes my chest hang out and high heels. Harry sits next to me and just smiles.