Meredith is here today to talk a little bit about her theater experience which plays a very fun role in Kelsey Finkelstein's own freshman year. So, read on and I hope you'll visit Meredith's website for more information about this book or follow her on Twitter!
THEATRE MY FRESHMAN YEAR: SUCCESS, OR UNNATURAL DISASTER??
I started doing plays in elementary school, because that's where they send hyperactive kids who can sing. Since being in plays as a child mostly consists of looking cute and then having people clap, I thought it was a heck of a good time. And as I got older, I realized how much I actually loved musical theatre, and how much I loved being a theatre geek.
I was on a track after that – school plays, after-school classes, and right before my freshman year in high school, I spent my first summer at theatre camp (Stagedoor Manor shout-out!). That summer changed how I thought about theatre (and myself as a participant) in so many ways; for the first time, I was part of a really big community of people who took it seriously and also celebrated it. I was suddenly cool in a way I'd never experienced before. Being a great belter was divine. Being a lousy dancer who tried hard was laudable. Talking about shows was the norm. Getting a good part wasn't showing off – it was being awesome.
That summer was amazing. I'd never felt like I belonged anywhere so completely and easily before, and could let my guard down and be myself - and if that sounds cheesy and like a lame movie, that's totally okay. It's still the truth.
When I started at a new school freshman year, I was still riding the high from camp. At the same time, I was really anxious to be in a totally different environment, surrounded by strangers. All my “I'M GREAT, CAN'T YOU TELL!?” safety shields were up. I'm sure I tried way too hard when I should've relaxed and been myself. But come on – is anyone that self-possessed at fourteen? (Well, maybe Dakota Fanning was. I definitely wasn't.) Even so, I made friends and went to class and had a pretty normal time.
Then I auditioned for the fall play. It was Iphigenia at Aulis, and I was so nervous I thought I was going to die. I HAD to get cast. My reputation with myself was depending on it.
We waited... the cast list went up, finally. And... I got a part. I was cast as Young Iphigenia. I thought I was going to lose my mind with happiness, right there next to the bulletin board.So that's the success part.
Here's the disaster part: I was so happy, and so badly wanted to get back in my theatre camp frame of mind, that I went up to the junior who'd been cast as Athena and said, “You're in my play! That's so awesome!” If you've read the book, you know Kelsey does the same thing with soccer. And you know how it turns out... poorly. Within minutes, the entire school had heard the tale of the freshman who thought it was “HER play.” Not good. Not my intention, and not good at all.
As Kelsey does, I survived being tortured by that girl and her friends for the entire year. The seniors in the show sort of adopted me, so at least I wasn't facing down the junior theatre clique by myself. But it was not fun. It took some of the joy out of it. And it taught me a pretty valuable lesson: school isn't camp. Also: keep your big mouth shut, Zeitlin.
So, success or disaster? I think both - like most things. Or in my case? Like everything.
