3 A. M. Writer- 𝚁𝚎𝚊𝚍 𝚊𝚝 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚘𝚠𝚗 𝚙𝚎𝚛𝚒𝚕

Highschool Musical: What Happens Backstage Stays Backstage

I was in the theater program at my high school. I thought I would enjoy it more than I did. My program in middle school was excellent and I was hoping it would be the same in high school. The shows we did in middle school were funny, unique, and most importantly enjoyable to watch and act in.

Now I didn't want to crush my theater teacher's illusion/bubble of thinking that I enjoy the shows we were doing. I didn't and I wish I had had the heart to tell her. All of the shows we did in my class that year had been depressing and unnecessarily dark for no good reason. Mind you, I watch all kinds of scary and depressing media so I think of all people to know the limit it'd be me. There was one exception to the dark rule, however that show that we did was meant for third graders so I'm not sure that it's even on the same scale as the others.

"Are you sure you're not just wanting to do a comedy or a romance?"

Katy is very observant. I'll give her that. It's true, it would be nice to have some variety. And I have no complaints for the kids that were in my class. They'd all been very nice and we worked together relatively well. I say relatively well because there have been a few occasions where we get into arguments, but what group doesn't?

The plays had mainly been about death, depression, and murder. Believe me, I think that it's good to talk about these things in their place and we do need to talk about these things. I suppose I feel like that with all of the sadness that's been happening around the world and in our daily lives, would it not be better to bring in a bit more joy? Maybe an underdog story would be refreshing? Or a happy story about a couple who do end up falling in love instead of one dying? I don't know, these are just ideas.

"So you mentioned the kids in your theater class? Any interesting stories from backstage?"

Katy. I know you are being nice. I know you want me to share about a specific someone, however I feel like they deserve a whole separate chapter to focus on them. It's only fair, is it not?

I do, however, have a few stories of the backstage drama that has occurred without our directors knowledge. These were stories I swore to my classmates I would not say to anyone, except that I never said I wouldn't type them up...

If you were to go backstage and into the dressing rooms around thirty minutes before a show, you would swear on your sweet mother's life that we were a cult. We're not, but I have no excuse good enough to convince you otherwise. We had quite the lengthy list of traditions that we did every time we're about to perform. This includes several vocal warm-ups that require chanting.

Yeah, you read that right. Chanting. Straight up, cult-like, chanting. It's really an experience the first time you walk in when you're not quite sure you're in the right place. I think I should describe some of them so you get what I'm trying to say.

The first one we do is called "There Are No Bananas In the Sky". It requires each member of the troupe to crouch in a circle. One person goes in the middle and begins the call and response. We're not allowed to do this vocal warm up unless it's before an actual on-stage performance. It goes like this, each line said as a call and response.

There are no bananas in the sky, in the sky

There are no bananas in the sky, in the sky

There's a sun and a moon and a coconut cream pie

But there are no bananas in the sky, in the sky

Ok, it doesn't sound that weird on its own, but trust me this thing gets weird fast. Remember how we were crouched down? Yeah well we repeat this chant, escalating in volume until we're screaming and jumping around. I remember the first time in Freshman year when I walked into the Seniors teaching this chant to the other Freshman. I was late and I didn't know what was going on, but I knew that my group had enough chaotic energy to be screaming so I followed the noise. I thought they had all been possessed until one of my friends called out my name to join. I'm not usually nervous around Senpai, however this was terrifying until I got the hang of it.

We also have another chant that talks about how we ran over our dog again with a lawn mower. Yeah, that one is special. We're allowed to do that one everyday if we feel like it.

There was one occasion that comes to mind since we're on the topic of crazy events in the theater. I didn't want to have to write this one, but I feel like I need to. It's not exactly funny I guess, more on the interesting side.

At the beginning of the year we got a script for a show called "Let the Right One In." If you've heard of it, good for you. I'd never heard of it and neither had my aunt Emmie, who watches plays like life blood. It came from Sweden or Poland or something like that and it had been translated into English. It was one wack play. It was about this boy who runs into a monster girl who drinks people's blood. (She's not a vampire though, idk how that works) She saves him from his bullies, she kills a few people, etc. Like all high school plays I've ever been in, the kid is in an abusive and neglectful family situation. All in all, it was a really sad show.

I wish I could say it was a tear-jerker, but it wasn't. It was just confusing. I had one role in the play but we had to switch characters around since we were doing the show with our upperclassmen. I suppose it's because of my short height that I was cast as the monster girl. I was really excited for the role because I got to do the scene where I kill a guy by jumping on his neck and sucking his blood.

This called for some serious stunt work, which I hadn't done before. It was physically exhausting. Every day I'd meet up with my friends for lunch panting and groaning from pain and the bruises I had on my arms and legs. It sounds odd, but it was fun! I learned how to pull myself up on someone's back and fall safely to the ground.

The boy who was playing the guy I had to kill was really tall and really skinny. I didn't have a lot to work with when it came to having help strength wise. I looked really strong on stage when I pulled myself up and attacked a guy, bringing him to the ground, and being able to act after falling like seven feet. (from where my head was it was about that height)

It took a lot of work, blood, sweat, and well no it didn't take tears thankfully, but the rest is true. I feel really proud of that moment because it showed that I could learn a lot and be comfortable in moving outside of my comfort zone.

"Wasn't there also something special about that scene you did? Something more emotionally exciting?"

Katy I swear. Stop poking me. Yes, there was also something else cool about that scene.

I had to do a confession of love scene immediately after I killed the boy, yes. If that's what you mean then yes. It was with a guy I did have a slight crush on. He had to tell me he loved me and that he wished he'd been the one to kill the man instead. It was thrilling to do that scene with someone who might have actually liked me back. I think, though, that we should save some of these epic stories for another chapter. Yes, Katy, I'm saving them.