It all sounded like a good idea... until I got into the room where I had to show off my dance moves.
It had been over 20 years since I had been on stage, and I was worried about teaching myself to sing again when I should have been more worried about dancing. In the audition, our choreographer started stringing dance moves together so fast my brain wasn’t following, and I was sure my 40+ year-old body would struggle even more.
Let’s back up to how I got into this position, I blame my family and peer pressure. My daughters had seen a Decatur Underground post about auditions for one of our favorite shows, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. Both of my kids knew they would try out, but they wanted me to do it with them. I was hesitant to perform again, but they all teamed up and had my wife join in to pressure me into doing it (spoiler alert for the blog, I was so happy I joined the show). I worked on my song a bit, and we were ready to go try out for the musical.
I am in the audition room, laughing at the thought of dancing like I am being shown, but I did my best, and the choreographer, directors, and leaders of the Decatur Underground Theater were all nice and very supportive. This is something that I learned that day and keep learning every rehearsal or DUT event. The cast and crew of DUT welcome anyone that wants to be in their troupe with open arms and makes people nervous about performing feel like they're part of the family.
I did this show to be on stage with my family but also gained a new one in the process.
I would wholeheartedly tell anyone thinking about trying out for a show with Decatur Underground Theater to take the leap and audition.
Sharing the stage with my children was an experience I will not forget and something I hope they remember as they grow up. I also loved that I got out of my comfort zone and performed in a musical after 20 years of just being a spectator. We are in the middle of rehearsals for The Secret Garden The Musical right now, and I am having the time of my life trying to get better at this whole singing and dancing thing.
If you always wanted to be in a show, don’t miss trying out for the next musical, I am sure Bye Bye Birdie will be just as great of a time.
Ryan Rinchiuso, Cast Member: The Secret Garden - Major Holmes
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