Magic is occurring in the auditorium. The curtains open, and the lights fade to blue. An ogre runs upstage. The music starts, and the others on stage begin to sing. I can relax for 3 minutes.
Shrek The Musical was my first ever musical. My first show ever.
I was the Prop Master and in 7th grade. I organized all the props from the show's beginning to the end. It was boring when I wasn't doing anything and had few responsibilities just sitting there, but I made it the most important job ever. As Prop Master, I talked to actors backstage, fixed a few broken props, handed out props, told parents they "couldn't go through the actor door," and watched an actor's pants rip right before the show. Next show though, I would have front-row seats to magic as the Light Board Operator. I would control every light in that auditorium, making magic. I was so excited to create magic and be useful.
Just kidding, there was no show. COVID-19!
In 8th grade, we had a small show following COVID-19 guidelines. I met this intern who taught us how to operate the lighting and sound boards. The first day, he looked at me and asked the director, "Can she fully participate in this?" seeing that I was in a wheelchair and very small, not tall enough to see over the booth. Either way, he taught me to run the soundboard in two weeks, and then I performed three shows. It was fun to do soundchecks on my little raised ramp and yell, "NEXT" at every actor like a cranky CVS cashier at 9PM.
This is what I was made for.