3 Things I Learned From Being A Replacement In A Show
Recently, I was asked to replace an ensemble member for my school's production of Once Upon A Mattress. Being added halfway through rehearsals and 2 weeks before tech week, I ended up having to learn all choreography, blocking, and music in 2 days in order to jump in as soon as possible. While it was stressful, it gave me a new perspective of working in a show, specifically in these three aspects:
1. Hard work gets you places. I thoroughly believe the main reason I was chosen out of 25 other students was because, after not being cast initially, I worked 10 times harder in my other theatre classes. In the director's class, I participated more and was extra prompt with assignments; in the choregrapher's class, I upped my energy and stopped making excuses; and in showcase (the program for those who don't make it into the show), despite already being the overachiever, I worked even harder by helping the teacher and making several suggestions. After being told my dance audition was the main reason I wasn't cast, I went from having dance 0 times a week to 3, along with taking an acting class. I'll be the first to admit that in the previous show, I was not the most confident or social person, which did not go unnoticed by the teachers. However, I learned that teachers also notice when you work hard. While it is certainly safer to work hard from the beginning, it is never too late to change your reputation if necessary.
2. You are here to play a part; that does not reflect you personally. I once had an improv teacher that said "people pay to see you play a part. They don't want or expect to see your normal self; they see enough of that in real life." My biggest obstacle as a performer in previous shows was worring too much about how people viewed me. However, replacing a male in the ensemble taught me that you are easily replaceable. Nobody expected me to live up to a certain standard (or be as manly as the guy I replaced); all I had to do was learn my part and make it my own, just like everyone else. If I didn't pick up on things the others already learned, I now knew that learning them could take a day if I wanted it to. I didn't have castmates or teachers to go through this with since they were busy with the rest of the cast; I had to rely solely on my own choices.
3. Your castmates are always there to lend a hand. The first thing I did after being cast was go to the dance captain and other good dancers for help. However, the cast has its own work to do, and doesn't have the time to teach every number in 2 days. Stressing out because I knew it was my responsibility to learn and I couldn't keep relying on teachers, I hesitantly talked to castmates about it. I am usually very shy about talking to people I don't know very well, so I was surprised when everyone I approached was more than happy to explain things or teach me choreo or blocking. It became even clearer to me that an ensemble is a unified group, and once you open yourself up to others, it becomes easier to work with them. Being the new member made it easier to interact with people onstage since I was required to improvise with whoever I was put with. Although I won't always be the replacement, it helped me become more comfortable making decisions and interacting with others in future shows.
2. You are here to play a part; that does not reflect you personally. I once had an improv teacher that said "people pay to see you play a part. They don't want or expect to see your normal self; they see enough of that in real life." My biggest obstacle as a performer in previous shows was worring too much about how people viewed me. However, replacing a male in the ensemble taught me that you are easily replaceable. Nobody expected me to live up to a certain standard (or be as manly as the guy I replaced); all I had to do was learn my part and make it my own, just like everyone else. If I didn't pick up on things the others already learned, I now knew that learning them could take a day if I wanted it to. I didn't have castmates or teachers to go through this with since they were busy with the rest of the cast; I had to rely solely on my own choices.
3. Your castmates are always there to lend a hand. The first thing I did after being cast was go to the dance captain and other good dancers for help. However, the cast has its own work to do, and doesn't have the time to teach every number in 2 days. Stressing out because I knew it was my responsibility to learn and I couldn't keep relying on teachers, I hesitantly talked to castmates about it. I am usually very shy about talking to people I don't know very well, so I was surprised when everyone I approached was more than happy to explain things or teach me choreo or blocking. It became even clearer to me that an ensemble is a unified group, and once you open yourself up to others, it becomes easier to work with them. Being the new member made it easier to interact with people onstage since I was required to improvise with whoever I was put with. Although I won't always be the replacement, it helped me become more comfortable making decisions and interacting with others in future shows.
It is not everyday that you get the opportunity to be in a cast if your audition wasn't where it should be. It was surreal but so beneficial to realize and learn from my mistakes and then get to fix them. However, things don't normally work out that way, and despite this miracle, it has become more important to me than ever to work hard so your audition is amazing - take classes, be the overachiever, and practice. Only you can give yourself the help you need to become a better performer.
- Julia Levine
Sophomore at Trumbull High School/Regional Center for the Arts
Co-Chair of the NPT Youth Board
