The View of Austin

Chapter One

   4:23am.
I woke up to the sound of a quiet vibrating noise that's known as my phone alarm. I've always been a light sleeper and never had to have a loud alarm. Which, I guess is a good thing? I didn't get much sleep the night before, considering I'm sleeping in a flea bag hotel, and today is the day I leave for New York. I know what you're thinking.  You're probably already bored with my story and listing all the cliché things about this already. But, just hear me out.
   I've always had a passion for acting, always. When I was little I used to preform little shows for my babysitters and family members. Of course, they would tell me i did amazing. Even though I was completely horrible. As I grew older I would sing the national anthem at local football games in middle school, and audition for roles in the occasional musicals. I never really thought I would get anything out of it. Heck, I wasn't all that good compared to the talent my school had. But I guess something clicked with me in my freshman year in highschool when I tried out for the annual fall musical.
   I remember this day perfectly, I couldn't forget it. It was the day that changed my life.
   I walked into the choir room and just expected to tryout in front of the same director that's been directing our schools musicals for 20 years. She would always give me the same roles, I was either a tree, a mouse, or if I was lucky; a townsfolk. She never really liked me for some reason, until I found out why later on.
   This time, it was different though. A fresh face lit up the room when he smiled at me and shook my hand. "Oh my gosh you must be Bennet! I'm Kyle, the new director." Baffled by everything that was going on all I could mutter out was "Yeah that's me-" followed by some random nonexistent words that didn't make any sense. I guess little pubescent me was so caught up in his eyes. I won't lie, Kyle was hot. But also gay and 27.
   We eventually all settled in and Kyle began to run auditions. It went like any other audition, you sang and then preformed a 3 minute memorised monologue. Until it was my turn. Little did I know you were supposed to have memorised anything. As I walked up onto the stage I began to reconsider everything and just give up until i remember the one important speaking role I ever had. It was a melodrama from a play we did years ago when the old director was still, kinda good. "Phew" I thought to myself when Kyle told me to began.
   I sang 15 bars of a Kelly Clarkson song and began my speaking portion. When it was the only thing you ever had to memorise in 10 years of plays, you remembered it by heart. When I was finished Kyle, and everyone for that matter just stood there in complete shock. I didn't know what to think, other than "well crap I did horrible." I almost ran out until Kyle and then soon everyone else started clapping. Did I really do that good?
   Three weeks later call backs happened and I was casted single rolled, the lead. No understudy or anything. As you can imagine I was pretty stoked considering I thought my acting was complete trash. I was also very confused. Kyle basically told me he's never seen such amazing talent at this school and of course, asked me why I've never been in any of the plays before. I guess that's what happens when an old hag of a director hates you. You don't get put on the program.
   Things only got better from there though. I preformed on the nights of the shows, and the next morning people were calling and practically begging for me to be their lead role. I got gig after gig and eventually graduated with a total of 34 Lead roles in community theatre plays from Freshman to Senior year.
   It was graduation day.
After the ceremony was over I was just about to leave when a very classy looking man approached me.
"Bennet Riley" he shook my hand, "I'm Roger Smith and let me just tell you, you are amazing." I devolved quite the Diva attitude from all my roles, but decided to stay humble in the particular situation. "Oh no I'm not but thank you, really it means a lot."
"No Bennet, You are truly amazing. Amazing enough that I want you to audition for the lead role in my musical, Spring Awaking. On Broadway next winter" Ahh yes, Broadway. The place every aspiring actor or actress absolutely drools over. "Br- Broadyway?!" I managed to stutter out. He laughed a little and nodded his head. "Yes Broadyway my dear, here's my card. I hope to hear from you soon."