Hyperion

So, this year, by some stroke of luck, I found out I could sing. Tuacahn did a production of "Once on this Island." A adaption of The Little Mermaid set in Haiti. At some point before rehearsals started, I heard that Jan really needed more boys. I came up and asked her if she wanted me in it. She enthusiastically said yes, so I got into a musical without even auditioning. During rehearsals, I always sang inside my comfort zone, which is two octaves lower than humanly possible. I didn't think I could sing, I just wanted to be there so I could have an idea of the process. Eventually, I started singing louder, and louder, and higher, and higher. It came to the point where I was hitting every note I should, instead of every note I wanted. When we started doing rehearsals in the amphitheater, I actually started getting into it. I started hitting the higher notes for me (Which I realize now aren't exactly high at all, haha) And then during a run-through of "Pray", I hit everything perfectly, and loudly enough that it was really good. A friend of mine turned to me and said, "Holy crap, Armando! I didn't know you could sing!" Honestly, neither did I. This comment changed my life, because I started singing on my own, in the shower, at church, just for fun.

When the end of school came, I noticed that Hyperion auditions were coming up. I decided to audition, sort of as a joke, because I honestly didn't think I was going to make it. I prepared a monologue, and a song. Mike and Caleb told me that my monologue wasn't the best, because it was "Locker talk." A phrase I'd never heard before. So I changed my monologue last minute, and went in to the audition feeling prepared. So I start my monologue, everything's going smooth, and the words stop coming out of my mouth. I look into my mind for them, but they're running away. I forgot my monologue. They say its OK, and we head onto my song. Same thing, everything going smooth, and then BAM. Its gone. I had forgotten both my song AND my monologue in my first audition ever. The dance audition goes well, I had a lot of fun. Anyway, the sign showing who made it gets posted. I take a look, and my name is on it. I was dumbfounded. I didn't think I would have ever made it in a hundred years. I have no experience, I BARELY found out I could sing, I had never danced before, and I my only strong point was acting, which isn't as big without the other two parts in Musical Theatre. I was really excited.

BUT. This summer came with some news. AJ and Adam Maynes are leaving. I don't even know the situation with Tino, but I hear he's going too. Jake was going to leave, luckily he's not. But with those three leaving, that means three girls would have to leave too. Unless we get some talented juniors and seniors next year... we're going to have to take from freshman. It's going to be an interesting year in Hyperion.

And so we go,
Armando