When I checked the cast list the evening of March 10, my nerves were all over the place. Did I get the part? That’s all that seemed to race through my mind. The Google slideshow took a moment to load, making my nerves spike even further out of control. Suddenly, the page loaded. I took a deep breath, trying to calm myself and then looked at the names listed on the first slide:
- Charlie Brown- Landon Hasbrouck
- Snoopy- Angelica Cressley
- Lucy- Ava Weatherbee
- Shroeder- Luke Hurd
- Linus- Joseph Johnston
- Sally- Clara Harrington
My heart stopped. I did it. I got the part. Was this really happening? A broad smile spread over my face when I heard a voice beside me.
“So? What did you get?” I turned to my mom who seemed to be just as eager as I was. My smile widened.
“Sally. I got Sally.”
From then on out, I worked my hardest to perfect the role of Sally Brown. I listened to the soundtrack often and studied my lines and monologues until I thought they were good. However, in the process of turning into Charlie Brown’s annoying little sister, I grew very close to her as a character. She will always have a special place in my heart. I tried to embody the spirit of the original actress on Broadway, Kristin Chenoweth, gave Sally. I have loved Kristin Chenoweth since her Glinda era in A”Wicked,” but when I discovered that she was Sally’s original actress on Broadway, I freaked.
I knew I had to do the character and Chenoweth justice in this performance. So, I worked until the first show came. The minute the curtain opened, it felt like a fever dream. It seemed to go by too fast, and during the curtain call of the final night, I found tears rolling down my face.
It’s been an amazing experience to play this part, and I would do it again in a heartbeat. I’ll never forget all of the memories created over these last few months, and I hope this story inspires others to keep pushing forward and to never give up. And that…is my new philosophy!
