Every morning I wake up and remind myself how lucky I am to have this incredible opportunity as one of four musical theatre apprentices at Barrington this summer. Having just completed my sophomore year at Syracuse, “Fiddler on the Roof” has been my first truly professional, equity production. Rehearsals have been a challenge — we have much to accomplish in a very short time. Our title as “Musical Theatre Apprentice” is left at the door when we enter the rehearsal space. Our director Gary John expects just as much from the apprentices as he does from the other actors, and treats us no differently. I have never really considered myself a true dancer, but being a part of this production has changed my attitude on the way I look at myself. I have realized I am totally capable of keeping up with more “seasoned dancers” (just wait until you see “The Bottle Dance!”) Being surrounded by such a talented cast has taught me so much from acting, singing and dancing technique to the business aspects of the theater world.
The learning opportunities are tremendous if you keep your eyes and ears open. I often hear stories about fellow cast members’ acting experiences in National Tours, who they have worked with at various regional theaters, or this person’s Broadway mishap. As “Fiddler” is about to open in a few short days I am excited to get an audience in and begin the next step of our time here at Barrington…performing.