Raelynn
I woke up to the birds singing and cars racing down the street. Just kidding, I woke up to my siblings fighting. Times like this I wish I was back in my dorm at NYU. But I graduated this spring, so that can't happen.
Though today may be normal for the rest of my family, it is the biggest day of my life. Today I am auditioning for an opening on the fifth national tour of "Newsies." Being in a musical has been my dream since I was little.
Because it was a casual audition, I got dressed in a pair of black capri leggings, my favorite NYU performing arts t-shirt, white socks that went up to my ankle, and my favorite Nike tennis shoes. I threw my Auburn hair up into a high ponytail and slipped in my black Lululemon headband.
I put a bit of makeup on; which was mascara, blush, and lipstick. My mom had made waffles and I ate one. My mom wished me luck and I headed out the door.
When I got to the audition, I signed in and they gave me a script with a dialogue exchange between Katherine and Jack. I quickly memorized the script.
"Raelynn Friar?" A lady called from a door. I stood up and followed her into a room with a table set up with the director and the guy who, I'm assuming, plays Jack.
"Hello Raelynn," The director said. "I'm Mark Mosser and I am directing this tour of 'Newsies.' What's gonna happen is, you're going to tell me a little bit about yourself, and then Alex, who plays Jack, will read his part and you'll read for Katherine. Then you'll sing a solo, which can be whatever song you want. Okay?"
"Got it." I said and took a deep breath. "I'm Raelynn Friar. I'm 22 and graduated from NYU with a degree in musical theatre this spring and I'm from New York City. I grew up watching, going to, and being in musicals. When I was 12, I started getting bigger roles in musicals, like Alice in 'Alice in Wonderland,' Dorothy in the 'Wizard of Oz,' and Jane in 'Mary Poppins.' I was recruited heavily for scholarships and ended up taking a full ride to NYU, where I was a major role in every musical and play during my four years."
Okay. So Raelynn, will you start us off?" Alex gets up and walks over to me./p
"That was some speech you made." I start.
"How'd you get here?" Alex asked as Jack
"Specs showed me."
"He say you could go through my stuff?" He crosses his arms
"I saw them rolled up, sticking out of there. I didn't know what they were. These drawings... These drawings are of the refuge, aren't they?" I pause and stare at the "drawing" I had in my hands. "Is that really what it's like in there? Three boys to a bed? Rats everywhere? And vermin?" I heard Mark scratching something onto the paper he had.
"A little different from where you were raised?" He questions./p
"Snyder told my father you were arrested for stealing food and clothing. This is why, isn't it? You stole to give things to those boys." I put my hand on his shoulder. He turns away as if he were embarrassed.
"Skip to where Katherine asks about the money," Mark said.
"I need to know you didn't change your mind for the money." I stare at Alex, waiting for the answer.
"I spoke the truth. You win a fight when you got the other fella down eatin' pavement. You heard your father. No matter how many days we strike he ain't givin' up. I don't know what else we can do." He walks over to the table and rests his hands on it as if it were the rooftop on the stage.
"Ah. But I do." I say putting my pointer finger in the air like I had an idea and walked over to the table
"Oh come on..."
"Really, Jack? Really! Only you can have a good idea? Or is it because I'm a girl?" I raise my voice.
"I didn't say nothin'..." Alex cowers.
"This would be a good time to shut up!" I say very sarcastically. "The boss-man doesn't have to have all the answers. Just the brains to recognize the right one when he hears it."
"I'm listening." Alex looks at me intently.
"Good for you." I say, sarcasm clear in my voice. "The strike was your idea. The rally was Davey's. And now my plan will take us to the finish line. Deal with it." I finished the scene.
"Wonderful!" Mark clapped. "What will you be singing for us today?"
"I will be singing 'Watch What Happens' from 'Newsies.'"
"Go ahead."
"Write what you know, so they say,
so they say, all I know is I don't know what to write
or the right way to write it.
This is big, lady, don't screw it up,
This is not some little vaudeville I'm reviewing.
Poor little kids versus rich greedy sour pusses
Ha! It's a cinch!
It could practically write itself-
And let's pray it does, cause as I may have mentioned,
I have no clue what I'm doing.
Am I insane? This is what I've been waiting for.
Well that, plus the screaming of ten angry editors.
A girl? It's a girl! How the heck? Is that even legal?
Look, just go and get her!
Not only that, there's a story behind the story:
Thousands of children, exploited, invisible.
Speak up, take a stand, and there's someone to write about it.
That's how things get better.
Give life's little guys some ink, and when it dries just watch what happens.
Those kids will live and breathe right on the page
and once they're center stage, you watch what happens.
And who's there with her camera and her pen
as boys turn into men
they'll storm the gates and then just watch what happens when they do." I do a little fangirl scream.
"Picture a handsome, heroically charismatic-
plain spoken, know nothing, skirt-chasing, cocky little son of a-
lie down with dogs and you wake up with a raise and a promotion.
So, he's a flirt,
a complete ego maniac.
The fact is he's also the face of the strike-
What a face-
face the fact, that's a face that could save us all from sinking in the ocean.
Like someone said, "Power tends to corrupt"
and absolute power, wait! Wait, corrupts!?
Absolutely, that is genius!
But give me some time, I'll be twice as good as that six months from never.
Just look around at the world we're inheriting
and think of the one we'll create.
Their mistake is they got old, that is not a mistake we'll be making.
No sir, we'll stay young forever!
Give those kids and me the brand new century and watch what happens.
It's David and Goliath do or die
the fight is on and I can't watch what happens.
But all I know is nothing happens if you just give in.
It can't be any worse than how it's been.
And it just so happens that we just might win,
so whatever happens! Let's begin!" I finish and am out of breath.
Mark claps and says, "That was wonderful. I love how you captured Katherine's attitude throughout the song."
He looks at Alex and Alex nods. "Raelynn, you are..."
IM BACK! AND WITH A CLIFFHANGER TOO! GEEZ IM GOOD!
