|
My Hello Dolly Experience! by Justin (age 15)
|
 Josh, Chris, Me, and Matt |
In Victor J. Andrew High School's production of "Hello Dolly," I was one of the waiters and "guy" where they needed guys. Andrew’s a high school located in Tinley Park, a small suburb in southern Cook county. It was my freshman year so I didn’t get a lead...wait until next year!
I had a lot of fun preparing for the musical as well as performing it. We spent three months learning the steps and the music. The last week of practice has been nicknamed “Hell Week” for as long as anyone can remember, and it's a very fitting name. That final week before production we practice from right after school to 11 pm. Not only were we at school all day, but the guys were in practically all the scenes so we never got to take a break. Let’s just say we had to get used to doing without a couple hours of sleep.
Performing was great. After hearing the jokes over and over again they lose their humor. But when you’re on stage and the crowd’s laughing and really getting into it, you really feel good. And the applause was terrific all three nights. You never know how the crowd is going to react so some parts are really up in the air, but these audiences did everything “right” I guess. At some parts, we wait for applause and laughing and if we don’t get it we’re thrown off but the audience was always on cue.
The orchestra and crew did a fantastic job. They don’t usually get that much credit and it’s a shame because without them we wouldn’t have a show...everything really starts with them. No set, no music, no musical.
|
All in all, it was very cool. I made a lot of new friends and
learned a lot about hard work and determination.
| 
|