Why I Don’t Like Being The Lead
Written By: Renee Norris
When I was in eighth grade, I auditioned for my first musical. It was the high school production of Oliver! 8th graders got to be the orphans- and I got to do toe touches and flips and dance and hang out with a whole bunch of other eighth graders. The day that we learned the choreography for “Food, Glorious Food” I knew I wanted to do this for the rest of my life. Then on one fateful day, I was approached by the Director and Music Director and asked to audition for the role of of Oliver. Apparently, the boy playing Oliver came back from Christmas break with an older voice. Well, after auditioning with a few other high schoolers, I landed that role.
The lead role in the high school musical, and I wasn’t even in high school.
Everything changed. Now I’m spending my rehearsals with juniors and seniors and getting thrown around the stage and memorizing chunks of lines and songs and not getting to do toe touches and flips. I learned a lot. I watched, in adoration, the process of the high schoolers- my brother included- as the Artful Dodger! My brother, with his Cockney dialect, suave character choices, and epic dance moves, was a master of musical theatre in my eyes. Plus, EVERYBODY loved him.
Ok, I thought, I have to do this forever.
“Theatre people are THE BEST.” While I was a satisfactory Oliver- I was a way better chorus member. I had my moments- real tears for “Where is love”, competent with the stage combat, and off book almost instantly. But, I longed to be in the middle of the offstage fun.
The years to follow allowed me so many ensemble featured roles where I got a taste of a little bit of both, and that balance was really fun. Then, at 17 years old, we moved to Texas, and I was accepted into a gifted and talented summer program at CATS. This time, it was the production: The Unsinkable Molly Brown. And I wanted the lead role. I was obsessed with Debbie Reynolds. Even got to meet her in person and wanted to follow in her footsteps. I was ready to play that tomboy turned princess. But, I was cast as a saloon girl. High kicks and fun tricks. Those three weeks were intense. Singing, dancing, acting classes all morning and rehearsal all afternoon. The evenings were filled with social activities and adapting to a new home. I started to notice, in rehearsals, that the leads weren’t having near as much fun as we were. They weren’t getting to go to Six Flags and Hurricane Harbor and Mr. Gatti’s. They were trapped at their host families‘s houses studying their lines.
Here’s the thing- don’t count how many lines you have unless that’s a memorization tactic.
Don’t quit a show because you deserve the lead- the character you are playing is the lead of their story on that stage.
The greatest gift that came from earning the role of Oliver, was getting to watch the older kids respond to direction with grace and excitement- that wasn’t happening in the 8th grade ensemble rehearsals. To this day- if I am not in a scene, I sit near the director and take in the process. And when I am backstage, I savor every moment- (unplugged just like in 1986) completely invested in the people and the story I am taking onstage.
