Audition

“Oh, I’m from Duke.”

“Duke…University?”

“Yeah, that’s right.”

“Hm, I didn’t even know they had a theater department.”

“Oh, they do. One of the best, really.”

The lively rhythm of stiletto boots echoes from down the hall. Those in the holding room brave enough to talk immediately end their conversations to hear the next name. The door opens, and everyone looks up.

“Catherine Smith?”

Turns out the young lady sitting next to me is Catherine Smith.

Flipping open my book, I briefly skim over my monologues that I’ve rehearsed at least a thousand times, and hum my 16 bars. I feel confident, but confidence is no guarantee of success.

“Excuse me, Paul?”

I raise my head to see the same stiletto boots as before right in front of my Timberlands.

I quickly meet her stare and nervously smile. “Ye-yes?”

“We’re running a little early, if you’d like to go now.”

I make as nonchalant of a glance as I can at my watch and manage to croak out a “Sure.”

Before I know it, I’m walking down the hallway to the audition room. The audition room.

“So, where are you from, handsome?”

How can she manage to smile and make conversation? Is she nuts?! I’m scared out of my mind but I can’t show that because if I show that I’m nervous then they won’t call me back and all my work will be for nothing and I’ll be a total failure and I’ll disappoint Jeff and Dana and Jules and everybody at...”

“Duke.”

“Oh, Duke, that’s nice! Didn’t know they had a theater program.”

I chuckle, genuinely this time. “That’s what everyone says.”

“Well, I guess now’s the time to change that. Whenever you’re ready, and break a leg!”

In front of me is the door. The door to the theater. The lion’s den…

I take a deep breath and find my smile again. I open the door to the stage, and behind me it shuts.

This scenario is what I expect I’ll face when I audition for graduate programs in acting next year. You get five, maybe ten minutes, and this small amount of time afforded to you by the audition committee will either convince them to call you back or send you straight into the reject pile. I stay sane by reminding myself that, yes, it is possible to not only be called back but to be admitted as a full-time graduate student. Dozens of students do it every year, so why can’t I?

The first time I stepped on stage for an audition was when I was a freshman in high school. I had just finished track practice and was just about to step outside to wait for my ride when I overheard singing coming from the auditorium.

“I am sixteen, going on seventeen, I know that I’m naïve…”

“Who’s singing The Sound of Music?” I whispered to myself.

I walked into the auditorium and saw a long row of people sitting in chairs onstage, watching two actors sing through the number. “Is this an audition?” I nervously approached the stage just as the two actors finished, and I heard a woman ask, “Would anyone else like to sing that number?” I almost raised my hand, but as I had no idea who she was or what this was all about, I hesitated. She sat down and starting giving out directions to the row. I nervously approached the stage and asked a friendly-looking gentleman at the table what was happening.

“We’re the Saline Area Players, and we’re holding auditions for The Sound of Mu—”

“Can I audition?” I heard myself ask.

“Uh, sure. Let me just ask the director.”

The director looked in my direction and then motioned me to come on stage. I walked on in my track clothes, carrying my CamelBak and quite possibly drenched in sweat, getting a number of confused looks from the individuals seated in front of me. The director asked me if I could sing anything. “Well, I’ve been singing Sixteen since I was three. I think I could do that.” She laughed and asked me to introduce myself.

“Um, hi. My name is Paul Popa, and I just came from track practice and um, well, I heard you guys singing and now I’m here.” Everyone laughed, and I sang.

Whether it was my charm, talent or dashing good looks, I was cast.

A few individuals are drawn to the performing arts, and for whatever reason, I am one of them. Perhaps it’s the bright lights or the timeless lyrics of Oscar Hammerstein II. Maybe it’s the joy that comes with discovering yourself through the portrayal of others. Is it the music? The book? The memories? Maybe it’s all of the above, or none of these at all.

Whether it’s the American Repertory Theater or the local community theater, I guess I’ll have to remember that I’m here because I love theater. I know I have the passion, the talent, and the charisma to win over an audience and persuade them to come with me on a journey. If I can convince even one member of an audition committee of that next year, I’ll have succeeded, whether my name happens to be on the callback list or not.

Paul Popa is a Trinity junior. His column runs on alternate Tuesdays.