If anyone remembered from last year, I was involved in my school's musical of "Shrek." That was a success, and it was so much fun.

So much that back in December, I auditioned for "The Wizard of Oz," and I was casted as one of the ensemble members.

Before I explained the four months of practice, let me give a little backstory. The teacher in charge of the school musical, called POP (meaning Panthers On Parade), who was also my English teacher in my junior year, was moved to the middle school. The same year, she decided to retire from directing in POP. So the direction was given to another teacher in school, the one in charge of the fall play. Unfortunately, and I don't know the full details as I don't have him as a teacher, he began to go through personal problems near the end of his production of the fall play, and it got so bad that he resigned from directing the musical. As a result, on short notice, my former English teacher was asked to direct the musical one more time, and she accepted. 

Skip the auditions, pass along winter break where I got a message from my neighbor where I learned the munchkins are played by the younger students, those attending the middle and elementary school, as my neighbor's older daughter, eight years old and in second grade, was casted as a munchkin. Then we had our first meeting, I met up with friends who were casted and I spoke to my neighbors for a bit, the meeting began, and we met the teachers (although I already knew them). The music director last year retired, so the middle school music teacher became the music director this year. Afterwards, practice began.

The scenes are practice chronologically, so only the people who had to show up were the people needed for that scene, and the Munchkins had to practice their scenes once a week due to them being relatively young. The next three months was all of us practicing our songs, and the main leads knowing their lines and what to do. When we did everything, we put it all together and fixed errors that were made.

Then, it was April, and it was the last week to practice. I had to come to school at 5 or 6, and the practice was over at 10. That week, I noticed, when I did the curtain call, the last part of the musical, my emotions were falling apart. When I sang, I felt the need to cry. I was reminded that the end was coming, and unlike last year where I was completely okay, I did not want this to end. 

Friday night and Saturday night were the shows. On Friday night, the teachers gave their speeches on how proud they are of us, how we pulled everything together, and my teacher, the director, reminded us that we were family. We always helped each other. We cared about each other, and we showed nothing but kindness to each other. Then it was Saturday night, and the leads gave gifts to the teachers for all the hard work, and a few of us seniors gave speeches to the rest of the cast and crew.

Something I learned last year was that Saturday night, the last night to perform, is the most emotional night for us, not only because it was the last time we will perform, but it was also the last time the seniors would ever perform in POP. Although it didn't hit me so badly last year, it definitely hit me hard this year. Last night was my last time performing in school, as well as the last night for the girl playing Dorothy, the boy playing the Tinman, the boy playing the Lion, and the two other ensemble girls with me. 

Six of us seniors gave our speeches, myself included. Everyone else had written their speeches down, while I just winged it and said exactly what came to mind (I actually forgot I had to do a speech, but I told the others I can easily come up with something, and I did exactly that.) Everyone was more heartfelt and inspirational, reminding everyone to always do their best in the musical. I told everyone to always try hard and to do things they might not have thought they'll enjoy, as I told them I wasn't doing the musical productions as long as the other seniors have. I have also thanked my teacher because last year, it was really because of her that I joined POP. Last year, in class, as she was teaching, my teacher had also told my class to go outside our comfort zone, and to do things you never do because unexpectedly, you might enjoy it. That gave me the motivation to come up to her right after class, ask her for the audition materials for "Shrek," and audition for it. 

I had my last performance last night, and my friend and I were ready to cry during the certain call. Neither of us wanted it to end. Fortunately, it ended great. Like last year, the show was a success. Everyone enjoyed it. The cast celebrated it with a party last night. Then we returned our costumes today in the morning. My teacher thanked me for the note I wrote to her and told me she'll see me at graduation. 

Being apart of the musical was so much fun. Now it's over, but I'm glad to be apart of it the past two years. 

Wow... Reading this, I must admit... It is kinda sad that it had to end, but the experience is possibly going to be well worth it. And besides, while all good things have to come to an end, the memories of them will always remain in your heart and soul.

And I bet you knocked their socks off in a way when you want, but not so much as to overshadow the main cast.