Come on, she told herself. Come on, come on. Be brave. You can do this. You were born for this. And it was true. Since she could remember, Maureen Johnson had lived in the spotlight. Her name, she knew, would one day be on everybody's lips. This was her shot.
Broadway. The word hung heavy in her mind. It was the ultimate success, the most brightly glowing light in Maureen's world. It scared her shitless. The thing about being a performance artist was that getting in was the easy part – she worked for herself. She told herself that she was good enough and the audience accepted. That was it. Auditioning was her greatest fear.
Be brave. She told herself again. If you have confidence, they'll feel it. Connect. God, COME ON! Remember who you are! With a deep breath, Maureen pulled open the door and stepped into a small, cool lobby. A few other actors sat around the room. Some mouthed silent words, home had their eyes closed in calming concentration. All of them held tightly to crisp, white pieces of paper; their music. Fuck.
The one thing she'd forgotten. On the day of the biggest chance for a break she'd ever had, Maureen had forgotten her music. She glanced at the clock. Five minutes to three; five minutes to her audition. Not even Joanne could make it there that fast. Maureen considered bolting, leaving the studio, leaving her chance and fleeing the whole idea. She stood in the doorway, terrified, contemplating her fight or flight options, when a pretty blonde glanced up at her and smiled hugely. She motioned Maureen over to the seat beside her.
"Your first big audition, am I right?" asked the woman.
Maureen nodded heavily. "I'm going home," she said, her eyes suddenly spilling over with her own realization. "I forgot my music. I'd make a fool of myself if I went in there."
The other actress shook her head in disbelief. "You're really going to give up so easily? You stuck me as a brave one. Like you were born in the spotlight."
Maureen sniffed and shrugged.
The blonde woman grinned again. "I saw some of the other girls here look you over. That's good. It means you're competition." She watched Maureen's eyes flash with something other than tears at her words. "Honey, if I know anything from experience, if you walk out now, you'll never come back. Come one. Be brave."
Maureen stared at her. The woman was like her inner voice.
"You know anything a cappella?" The woman put her hand on Maureen's shoulder; it was calming. Maureen thought, and then nodded.
"Than sing! It might be a bit…unorthodox for an audition, without a piano, but it might get their attention. Don't give up before you've tried."
Maureen sniffed again.
"And stop that sniffling. You don't want your throat to close up."
Maureen smiled at the woman and took a few deep breaths. She felt that she might go overboard and start hyperventilating as the receptionist at the desk by the studio door called her name.
She stepped into the room, her heart pounding louder than her character shoe heels across the wooden floor. Four people sat at the table facing an open stage area. Maureen held her shoulders back and smiled. Be charming, her head told her. Be brave.
"Your name, please?" asked the only woman at the table.
"Maureen Johnson"
The woman pulled out Maureen's headshot and set it before her. "What will you be singing, Ms. Johnson?"
Maureen swallowed hard. "My own song, Over the Moon. A cappella. "
The woman took note. "And what part are you auditioning for?"
This time Maureen smiled. "The lead."