The Best, Strange Experience

Recently I just wrapped up my first college play, Woyzeck.  As confusing as the source material was, and as grueling as the rehearsal schedule seemed, I wouldn't trade this experience for anything in the world.  In just a month, my entire outlook on college and my future has changed.  Things seem obtainable and considerably brighter now.  I have spent the past month, 4 hours a day, six days a week, with the same 14-ish people.  These people have all become so close to my heart.  We have shared stress and laughs, and have had deep conversations intertwined with endless Vine references.

When I walked into the first rehearsal January 8 I didn't know what to expect at all.  I did not know a single person in the cast, and I was very aware that I was one of only 3 freshmen.  To add to my nerves, I had only done one straight-play before in my life.  I am a very music oriented girl, so not relying on music to push a story is seriously scary to me.  To be honest, it was scary for the first couple of days.  I was definitely anxious, as I usually am around strangers, but I realized pretty quickly these people all meant well, and wanted to do well, just as I did.

As rehearsals went on, I got closer to this cast, and learned how to add depth to a character that is in like, 8 scenes but only has 10 lines of dialogue.  That is a unique challenge.  What do you do when your character doesn't speak, but makes up a lot of the friendship the main character relies on?  I still really don't know how to do this fully, but I have learned that I am good at pursing my lips to show disgust so that is a positive... I think.

Most of my story does not live within the physical aspect of this play, but what I have gained from it.  I never imagined I would get cast in a show my freshman year.  My amazingly gifted, understanding, and artistic director Christopher Staley took a chance on me.  I don't really understand why, but I am thankful he did.  He saw something in me that I still do not necessarily see.  My other cast mates accepted me into this program graciously.  Most of them had already worked together in one way or another, so I was afraid I would feel like an outsider.  That could not be further from the truth.

Maybe this is going too far, but I feel as though I have found a new family here at Pitt.  The older students have been the best mentors and my fellow Pitt Stages newbies have been alongside me all the way.  They are all my friends. No person in this cast is the same.  We have STEM majors and art majors, athletes and study bugs, freshmen and super seniors, air pod users and regular ear bud users, yet we all combined to make a piece of art.  This show is quite the ride, as anybody who saw it can tell you, and we all stuck through the twists and turns together.  After all, how many people can say they were in a show that involved a murderer singing a karaoke cover of Tequila after watching his wife have an affair with a guy wearing a horse mask?  That stuff bonds a group of people together.

These students have gone above and beyond their call, and that should be noted.  I feel as though I am not alone in my Pitt theatre journey anymore.  Our show closed today and before we even wrapped up, I had some of them offering to carpool me to various local auditions, with others offering to help me audition prep, and still others offering me internship advice.  Everyone in that shared dressing room (so college I know) is there to help one another, even when our required time together is over.

I am forever grateful that my start in college theatre happened in this show, with this cast.  Further more, I am forever grateful that my family, friends, and former director made the drive to Pittsburgh to watch.  That is a 2 hour drive for a < 2 hour show.  I would not still be pursuing my passion if it weren't for all of you and your support.  I look forward to my future, and know that it is bright, and will remain bright because of you guys, my cast, my director, and everyone involved somehow.

So much love forever,

Sam Rose