Student Blog: Confidence Found in Pre-Show Rituals

It’s no secret that theatre is an innately superstitious art form. Most people I know have specific pre-show rituals that make them feel like they can ensure a good upcoming performance. I have a few pre-show rituals as well, but my favorite is before every show I sing “Let Me Entertain You” from Gypsy. Whether it’s in my head or whispering it, I am immediately transported back to being an 11-year-old running through the song before the show started. 

Gypsy was my first ever musical and let me tell you, it was so amazingly special. Going through the song before every performance I do is a reminder of where I started and it feels so special. Everything I do now is because of that show, and I like to remind myself of that. 

I was likely the youngest child in that cast, being barely old enough to audition (you had to be 11-years-old and I had turned 11 two weeks before the audition). Everything had to align perfectly for this to come to fruition, and yet, it all did. For instance, I had a dream at 10-years-old that I was in the hit TV show Stranger Things so, I woke up that day and decided I was going to become an actress. I then went to school and announced that I was going to become an actress and my “Best Friend” at the time said “good luck with that” - welp, that wasn’t very encouraging. But, I wasn’t willing to give up on my newly found dream of becoming an actress. I went online and immediately started figuring out how I could become an actress. My friend, (not the one who said “good luck with that”, but instead a supportive friend) told me about auditions at our local theatre for a musical and I immediately decided that was my way into acting. 

After school I told my Mom and Dad that this was something I wanted to audition for, and they agreed, so I started prepping. I had been taking voice lessons for a few years already, so I went to my voice teacher for help and rehearsed that audition for 2 weeks straight. At the audition, I was so scared I was shaking, but I went in and sang my heart out. Then, we had a dance call and I broke out into the splits in the first second of improv - I don’t know what I was thinking, but apparently it worked because I got the role of Baby June! I was so thrilled. I would walk or ride my bike over to the tennis court by my house at 7AM to rehearse the dance and my cartwheels almost every morning. I was extremely dedicated! 

I had such an amazing experience doing this show. I was one of about 7 or 8 children in the cast and we all got along very well. I got along with the adults well too - they were all very kind, funny, dedicated, and talented. My director, also, was one of the kindest and most loving people I have ever met. She loved theatre and it really showed. It was her first time directing and you would have thought she had directed a million shows - she paid so much attention to detail. It was seriously an incredible experience, honestly, perfect, hence why I want to relive it every show I do and I will continue to do so. It brings me back to where it all started, back to my young self who knew nothing about acting but decided this was her path anyway - and she was right. 10-year-old me taught me that even when others doubt you - even those closest to you - you have to keep trying and believing in yourself. You know you best! 10-year-old me had the most confidence in herself, she never gave up and never thought anything but that she was going to be a star - and I like to channel that energy before every performance. 

I highly recommend finding something that sparked your joy in performing and remember it before every show. It’s truly a beautiful pre-show moment that is uniquely yours.