Donna D. Donna's Personal Narrative
By pretending to be someone else, I had started to discover who I really am. When I was nine years old, I was in my first play, the middle school production of Annie. Although I did not have a speaking role, I still managed to find my voice. By performing in Annie I became a braver and different person than I was before.
As a kid, I had always wanted to be in a play. So, of course, when I heard that I was eligible to audition for Annie, I jumped at the opportunity and begged my mom to let me audition. For weeks I was preparing, watching and re-watching Annie over and over again. Running throughout the house singing all the songs from Annie. Pretending I was an orphan by sweeping the floors, and whenever my mom would ask me to do something for her, I would keep claiming that it was “A hard knock life.” At last the day finally came, the day I was anticipating to come for weeks, audition day.
The whole day, and when I say the whole day I mean the whole day- on the bus, in class, at recess, in the cafeteria, and waiting for the announcement to come on over the intercom signaling the end of the school day- I was on my toes ready to audition. Or so I thought. Later that day, as I stepped into the theatre, a sense of dread clouded my thoughts. I began to wonder, “What did I get myself into.”
The auditorium was packed, to say the least. There were kids ranging from age nine, like myself, to fourteen. I was smaller than all of them. They looked like giants to me. When I was younger, I was even shorter than I am now. All people who were to audition had to wait in line to turn in their registration form. When I was next in line, I was terrified. I gave the person who was sitting there, who I later learned was named Kandyse, my registration form and a shy smile. She smiled back at me and gave me my number to audition with, the audition song, and a pack of scenes that I would later audition with.
After that I slowly walked through the auditorium. I saw my friends Abby, Erin, Jess, and Kaitlynn. I ran over to them and put my bag down next to theirs, happy to see a familiar face. We were then given time to have snack and look over the scenes we were handed in the beginning. I sat with my friends in a secluded corner of the lobby and snacked on a granola bar as we read through the scenes. Some girls, about one year older than us came up to us and asked us if they could run through the scenes with us. We said yes, of course, not knowing that we would later become great friends.
At last the time finally came to audition the first part, the song. As everyone went ahead of me I was becoming more panicked by the second. After all, I was the youngest one there and had never done anything like this before. All the older kids were so talented, I was beginning to doubt myself. It was now my turn to sing. I stood up shakily, and made my way to the stage. I took a deep breath and began my song.
After I finished, it was silent for two seconds, which for me seemed like eternity. Then, all the kids auditioning clapped for me. Even people I didn’t know were clapping for me and telling me what a great job I did. I did not expect this reaction from everyone. In all honesty I thought I blew the audition. The applause echoing throughout the theatre was proof that it wasn’t true.
After a restless night, the day we got our parts had finally come. I was hoping I was going to get a part, but anyone who has done the plays before knows that was not going to happen. Everyone who was originally at auditions was back and anxious to find out who they were going to be playing in Annie. The names and their roles were getting called and my anxiety was increasing steadily by the second.
“Donna DeChambeau,” Mikki’s voice rang through the auditorium, “Orphan.” I was disappointed to not get a “lead” but I would later learn that this role was the best thing to ever happen to me. Our first rehearsal was minutes after everyone had cheered and congratulated each other on their parts. It was mostly singing at first. After learning the well known song, “It’s a Hard Knock Life,” we got up on the stage to sing it. As I walked up onto the stage the blinding, sweltering stage lights shone onto me. It was fun, singing with a group for the first time. Singing with people who shared the same passion as me. I think I really just loved being apart of something. I mean, I was never the most athletic girl, I will still trip over what seems to be nothing, but turns out to really just be my feet. Anyone who is a part of drama knows that for a fact. I was never really a part of a sports team but, this was like being a part of a team. They had my back, and I had theirs.
Even with no lines, I was still acting. I was playing the role of an orphan, a girl who was abandoned. As an actress it was my job to bring that role to life, even if it was hard. It was fun being on stage with my friends, who had now become more like my family.
Next step was to buy my costume for the show. It was a pretty basic costume, your usual shirt and pants. I remember telling everyone I saw, proudly, that I was going to be in a play and was buying my costume. Meanwhile, my mom tried to pull me away. The people usually smiled,or laughed at the cute nine year old girl who was so excited to be in a play.
We had multiple rehearsals and I was beginning to open up more, even becoming friends with some of the “big kids.” The play was really coming along, we were interacting well together. In one of the scenes, I remember, some of the other kids and I formed a “braid train” and did each other’s hair.
After multiple demanding rehearsals, it was tech week, and we had our very first dress rehearsal. I got to be in my orphan costume while we did a full run through of the show. It was fun, I felt like I could really play the part, now that I looked it. After our dress rehearsal, we had our cast lunch, pasta, with both casts. I enjoyed having lunch with my cast who was now my family.
After two days, the day everyone had been waiting for was here, our show day. I showed up at the middle school to get prepared, mostly everyone was there already, smiles on their faces, getting ready for tonight. I entered the library, where we were meeting, and everyone greeted me with a smile. It smelt strongly of hairspray and makeup.
“Hey, Donna,” Kandyse said. “Let’s get your hair and makeup done, but first go put on your costume.”
“Okay!” I responded as I grabbed my costume off the clothing rack.
When I came back Kandyse was waiting to do my makeup. “Ready?” She asked. I nodded my head and went over to her, carrying my makeup bag.
After ten painful minutes of getting my face prodded. My makeup was done and it was my hair’s turn, which wasn’t much better. When all that was over with I looked like a rag doll. I had my hair in pigtails, which were teased and looked as if I hadn't brushed my hair in months. Freckles dotted on my face, which my mom told me I looked even more cute than usual. Some dirt blotches on my face, that made me look like I had just come through a chimney with Santa Claus. After waiting for a few more hours it was show time!
The auditorium was packed. It was extremely loud with everyone chatting before the show started. I was more nervous than I had ever been before. My stomach was churning and I was playing with my fingers, trying to relieve my stress. Then, as Mikki walked up on stage the murmurs slowed to a stop as she started speaking.
“Good evening ladies and gentlemen. Thank you for coming out tonight. Our kids have worked long and hard on this production and are very excited for you to be here. Now, sit back, relax, be transported to another world. Ladies and gentlemen I present to you, Annie!”
As she finished her speech and walked away there was an odd silence as we all got into places and the curtain opened. When the curtain was fully open, the blinding lights went up, and away we went. As I was singing, acting, and dancing, my nerves went away and I lost myself in the show. It was at that moment that I realized, this is what I want to do when I grow up.
The final song was sung and the audience cheered louder than they had all night. It felt amazing, all of the audience cheering for me and my cast. In that moment I was filled with immense pride. All our hard work had paid off. I was sad when it was over, but then I realized two things. One, auditions for the next play, Grease, were right around the corner. And two, I still had one more show, we got to do it all over again tomorrow.
By the time we took our final bows, I realized that joining the play, becoming part of the drama program, was the best thing I could have done at nine years old. I used to be a shy girl who would barely talk to anybody, but joining the play had changed that. I had found a family, my home away from home, and now that I am thirteen my cast is still my family and I wouldn’t have it any other way.