6. Break a Leg
A large sized crowd of about sixty kids had shown up to audition for the talent show. About twenty had shown up claiming they wanted to help with back-stage work. The stage was set-up with instruments, microphones, and a boom box with several speakers surrounding it. Ms. Mipla was impressed with the turn-out. She grinned smugly as she stood in the school's auditorium on the stage. She looked out at everyone who had come and cleared her throat. The kids hushed and looked at her to see what she had to say. You could feel the anxiety and tension in the air.
"Welcome everyone, to the auditions for this year's music talent show!" she beamed, "I'm so pleased to see how many people turned out for this event, but of course not all who audition today will make it. Only twelve groups will make the cut. The results will be posted outside my office on Monday. We will have musician audition firsts, then move on to dancers, and finally our singers will perform. Feel free to leave after your audition. So, any volunteers to go first?"
A few hands went up as whispers of friends encouraging each other to go filled the large room. Ms. Mipla searched the crowd for her first volunteer, "How about you?" she pointed to Rosa who hadn't even put her hand up.
"Me?" All eyes turned to her.
"Yes, you."
"But I didn't even volunteer."
"So? You're going to have to go eventually, so why not now?"
"Um, ok," she warily stood up and walked to the stage. Aware of all the eyes on her. She carried a bass shaped case with her.
"What instrument are you going to play?"
"The bass."
"Good. You will be judged by me, the band director, the dance team coach, and the principle, Mr. Comiss," she pointed to the judges table, each of the people she mentioned were sitting there. They smile and waved at Rosa. Ms. Mipla turned back to her, "What song will you be playing for us?"
"I'm going to play the bass solo from Liar by Queen."
"Excellent, a classic," Ms. Mipla joined her fellow judges, "Begin whenever you're ready."
Rosa looked out at her friends and classmates. She took a deep breathe and took out her bass. Ms. Mipla nodded for her to begin.
"Great job, Rosa," Rosa nodded, and quickly left the stage, "Who's next?" Ms. Mipla looked out at the students. No one raised their hands, why bother if she wasn't picking people who raised their hands? "You," she pointed to a girl with short, blonde hair and dark blue eyes.
"Ok," the girl bounced up and hopped onto the stage, a little too enthusiastically.
"What's your name?"
"Holly. I'm gonna play the trombone for you guys!"
The judges smiled at her enthusiasm, "Great. And what song?"
"It's a song I wrote. I never did give it a name."
"Interesting. Let's hear it."
Holly put the trombone to her mouth.
"Lovely, who-"
"You should let my best friend Miranda to go next."
Ms. Mipla looked at Holly. "Ok. Holly's best friend Miranda you're up!"
Miranda trudged onto the stage as Holly skipped off. Miranda sarcastically thanked her for volunteering her to go next. Miranda waited in the middle of the stage.
"Well, Holly's friend. What are you playing for us today?"
"The keyboards. I wrote a song by myself also."
Ms. Mipla nodded, "Impressive. We're ready when you are."
Miranda silently walked to the keyboards set up on the stage and began to play.
"Alright, we've seen sixteen musicians. We have one left. I believe it's..." Ms. Mipla looked down at the sign-up sheet, "Miss Charlie Craihg."
A tall girl with long, wavy, brown hair stepped up to the stage. She had a pair of drum sticks in her hand.
"I see you'll be playing the drums?"
Charlie nodded, "Yup." She spoke with an air of nonchalance, as if she did this everyday and no one was staring at her expectantly.
"Well, let's hear it then."
Charlie paced over to the drums set up in the middle of the stage. She silently counted in her head.
"Fantastic! I think that's all of our musicians. Great job all of you. The results will be posted on Monday and we'll organize the bands at our first meeting next week on Friday. You can leave if you want, but feel free to stay and watch the rest perform," Ms. Mipla picked up a different clip board and looked at the list, "Next we have our dancers. You all will perform together on the stage to three different songs. Try not to bump into each other. Will all of our dancers please come up to the stage?" A small crowd came up. "Only thirteen people?" She shook her head, "Dancing is hard to do I guess. Well, let's see what you've got. The songs you'll be dancing to are: Watch Me by Hot Rush, Watch Me Move by Fefe Dobson, and We Are Young by 3OH!3," she studied the dancers reactions which were a mixture of confidence, fear, and excitement. Ms. Mipla joined the judges and the music began to play.
Ms Mipla sighed, "Thank you." The dancers fled the stage. Despite her warning a few dancers had gotten carried away and bumped into each other, some dancers had fallen, and some just weren't good, "Looks like we may be a little short on dancers for the show," she quietly mumbled to the other judges who nodded solemnly. Ms. Mipla walked onto the stage, "Alright, last but not least, our singers," she looked down at her list, "and boy do we have a lot of you. Which means most of you are going to get cut. So be prepared for that and if you don't think you can take it, leave now," she frowned and shook her head as a few kids sneaked out of the room, there were still plenty of people left however, "Let's get this started. First on the list," she paused and looked at her list again. She grinned when she recognized the name and searched the audience for the person, "Sydney."
Sydney jumped up to the stage and smiled at Ms. Mipla, who smiled back. "Hello again."
"I thought you would come. I'm not surprised that you want to sing. Are you ever going to join our choir again? Our soprano section just isn't the same without you."
"Sorry, I don't have room for it in my schedule."
She shrugged, "Oh, well. That's a shame. Let's hear it!" Ms. Mipla sat back down.
Sydney walked up to the microphone in the middle of the stage and nodded for Ms. Mipla to begin the track.
GOT DYNAMITE
Sydney; I can take your hand and lead you to the water
I can make you feel what you don't feel but you know you wanna
find out how to crack me
Log in try to hack me
Underneath the surface
there's so much you need to know
And you might feel like you're drowning
but that's what I need to let go
Tell me what you got to break down the walls
You just might need Dynamite
Tell me what you got to break down the walls
Kick senseless my defenses
Tell me what you're gonna do
I need you to light the fuse
Tell me what you got to break down the walls
You just might need Dynamite
Got Dynamite?
I can't paint this picture
just so you can hang it
I can't wait for you to understand if you just don't get it
find out how to crack me
Log in try to hack me
Underneath the surface
there's so much you need to know
And you might feel that you're drowning but that's what I need
to let go
Tell me what you got to break down the walls
You just might need Dynamite
Tell me what you got to break down the walls
Kick senseless my defenses
Tell me what you're gonna do
I need you to light the fuse
Tell me what you got to break down the walls
You just might need Dynamite
When the walls come crashing down
I hope you're standing right in front of me
Where my past lies all around me
Cause all you need to save me is to intervene
and make the walls come crashing down
Go-got Dynamite
Tell me what you got to break down the walls
You just might need Dynamite
Tell me what you got to break down the walls
Kick senseless my defenses
Tell me what you're gonna do
I need you to light the fuse
Tell me what you got to break down the walls
You just might need Dynamite
Got Dynamite
Ms. Mipla grinned, "Excellent." Sydney grinned at her and jumped off the stage. Ms. Mipla glanced at her list and cringed at how long this was going to take. "Let's see here... Next we have Johnny."
A few more singers went up and down the stage, some with talent, others, not so much. Ms. Mipla was proud that her choir students had all tired out, but some of them were only meant for a chorus. Ms. Mipla sighed, comforted in the thought that there were only ten people left. "Next is… Oh! A group. How interesting. Cade and Lisa please make your way to the stage."
Two girls paced up onto the stage.
"So, which one of you is Cade and which one of you is Lisa?"
The one with black hair stepped forward, "I'm Lisa and this is Cade."
"Now why did you two want to do a group instead of solos?"
They shrugged, "Just wanted to, I guess." Lisa spoke again.
"Well, sing then!" Ms. Mipla sat down and started the song.
99 TIMES
Lisa; So, you see
You've got me back again for more
Cade; And it seems
Your song is in my head
This is war
Lisa; Mystery; how I could feel you breathe me
I was sure you would keep
Every promise; you would keep
Every word, Well,
Both; I try to put your stories in line
But nothing adds up right
For every 99 times
You looked me in the eye,
You looked me in the eye
And swore you weren't lying
Well, I was so blind
I never saw the signs
I'm getting out tonight
And you're not invited
Cade; Its a shame
That you left me hanging like you did
Lisa; It was brave
But it was much more foolish
Don't you think? Don't you think?
'Cause
Both; You know I wont be satisfied
Until you realize
For every 99 times
You looked me in the eye,
You looked me in the eye
And swore you weren't lying
Well, I was so blind
I never saw the signs
I'm getting out tonight
And you're not invited
These things are all so typical
These things are unforgivable
I'm gone and you're invisible now
Don't let me catch you followin'
Don't ask, cause I'm not offering
You've caused enough of my suffering
For every 99 times
You looked me in the eye,
You looked me in the eye
And swore you weren't lying
Well, I was so blind
I never saw the signs
I'm getting out tonight
For every 99 times
You looked me in the eye,
You looked me in the eye
And swore you weren't lying
Well, I was so blind
I never saw the signs
I'm getting out tonight
And you're not invited
"Amazing, you're voices blend so well together," Ms. Mipla spoke as the two girls rushed off stage. "Who's next?"
More singers went until they were down to the last one. Ms. Mipla frowned at the unfamiliar name on the list. "Um, Miss Joleena?" Joleena stepped onto the stage, "Are you new here? I don't think I've seen you around before."
Joleena nodded, "Just started this week actually."
"Great! Welcome to our school. I'm sure you're gonna love it here. I'm so glad you took an interest in this. It's a great way to meet people. Start when you're ready." Ms. Mipla sat down and played the song.
HALO
Joleena; Remember those walls I built
Well, baby they're tumbling down
And they didn't even put up a fight
They didn't even make up a sound
I found a way to let you in
But I never really had a doubt
Standing in the light of your halo
I got my angel now
It's like I've been awakened
Every rule I had you breakin'
It's the risk that I'm takin'
I ain't never gonna shut you out
Everywhere I'm looking now
I'm surrounded by your embrace
Baby I can see your halo
You know you're my saving grace
You're everything I need and more
It's written all over your face
Baby I can feel your halo
Pray it won't fade away
I can feel your halo halo halo
I can see your halo halo halo
Hit me like a ray of sun
Burning through my darkest night
You're the only one that I want
Think I'm addicted to your light
I swore I'd never fall again
But this don't even feel like falling
Gravity can't forget
To pull me back to the ground again
Feels like I've been awakened
Every rule I had you breakin'
The risk that I'm takin'
I'm never gonna shut you out
Everywhere I'm looking now
I'm surrounded by your embrace
Baby I can see your halo
You know you're my saving grace
You're everything I need and more
It's written all over your face
Baby I can feel your halo
Pray it won't fade away
I can feel your halo halo halo
I can see your halo halo halo
Halo, halo
Everywhere I'm looking now
I'm surrounded by your embrace
Baby I can see your halo
You know you're my saving grace
You're everything I need and more
It's written all over your face
Baby I can feel your halo
Pray it won't fade away
I can feel your halo halo halo
I can see your halo halo halo
Ms. Mipla grinned, "Beautiful. You-"
Sam, Fred, Joe, and Holly fell through the stage door and landed in a pile on top of each other. It happened so fast, if you blinked, you missed it.
Ms. Mipla glared, "What's going on here?"
They all blushed and quickly stood up.
"Sorry, Ms. Mipla, we were talking outside and I tripped and-"
"I don't want to hear your excuses, just make sure it doesn't happen again. Though, I can't let you go unpunished for this. Holly, your chances for getting into the show are going to be lessened because of this. As for the rest of you, you will be helping out backstage with the show." The boys groaned. "You must be at all practices and rehearsals from now on. Got it?" They nodded. Ms. Mipla turned back to Joleena, "Anyway, you were great. You should consider joining our choir, we could use a strong alto like you."
Joleena blushed, "Thank you," she left the stage.
Ms. Mipla stood on the stage and addressed everyone still left. "Remember everyone, the results will be up Monday and our first practice will be that Friday. You all did well and I congratulate you all for having the courage to try out. See you next week."
