The Cast List
Peter wasn’t sure what he was doing here. He was a mess with nerves and was 90% sure he’d forget his words mid-audition, but he needed another elective and everyone in the theatre class had to audition.
“You know we could boycott this show. It’s totally sexist!” MJ complained beside him.
“But you gotta admit that the soundtrack is kinda fire,” Ned said from his other side.
Peter was too terrified to respond. He was almost up. Ned and MJ had already went. Oh God he was freaking out, they had just called the girl right before him.
He’s almost positive that his song was one of those overdone songs that people tell you not to do but he felt too much like throwing up to care.
“Hey, Peter? You can do this,” MJ whispered.
“No, I can’t!”
“Yes, you can. Let yourself get lost in the song, make the words mean something to you and you’ll be fine.”
“But—,” he was cut off by his name being called. “Oh, God.”
He carefully walked onto the stage and smiled nervously. “Hi, I’m Peter Parker I’m 15 and I’m going to be singing Waving Through a Window from Dear Evan Hansen.”
He took a deep breath and took a step back like he practiced. He let MJ’s words flow through him. He could do this.
“I’ve learned to slam on the brake,
Before I even turn the key.”
He let himself briefly become Evan, he felt the words he was saying, the struggle to fit in, to feel like you belong. For a moment he felt as if the words were his own.
“Before I make the mistake
Before I lead with the worst of me.”
How scared he is to mess up, of everything that could go wrong. Doing everything he can to avoid screwing up.
“On the outside always looking in
Will I ever be more than I’ve always been?”
He let himself wonder, was this his chance? Could he be part of something bigger than himself?
“Can anybody see, is anybody waving back at me?” He finished his cut of the song, “Thank you.” There was a brief silence before the room was filled with applause. He quickly returned to his seat.”
“Dude, why didn’t you tell me you could sing?” Ned whisper-yelled, Flash’s name being called in the background.
“I can’t?”
“You definitely can! That was incredible.”
Flash was the last audition of the day and then the director, Mr. Crowe, went on the stage. “Thank you, you all did amazing! The cast list will be up first thing Monday morning.”
Everyone talked until the bell rang, Peter practically floating. Something about performing like that felt incredible.
Peter has completely forgotten about the cast list until Monday morning rolled around. MJ and Ned were bouncing (even though MJ would never admit it).
“Peter, c’mon!” MJ yelled grabbing his sleeve.
“Where are we going?”
“To check the cast list!”
They practically ran all the way there. Peter made it to the door first, fighting his way through the crowd. He scanned the list starting at the bottom, he was starting to think he hadn’t been cast when he spotted his name, right at the top.
Cast List
Peter Parker………………………. Seymour
Michelle Jones………………….. Audrey
Betty Brant……………………..... Crystal
Cindy Moon………………………. Ronnette
Lindsey Knight…………………… Chiffon
Eugene Thompson………………. Orin Scrivello and Mrs. Luce
Ned Leeds………………………... Mr. Mushnik
Damian Smith……………………. Audrey II
Abe Brown……………………….. Patrick Martin
Luke Conway…………………….. Wino and Customer
Frankie Conway………………….. Bernstein and Skip Snip
Rachel Lorenzo…………………… Puppeteer
Gavin Smythe…………………….. Puppeteer
Congratulations! A select few other students will be chosen for ensemble. After school rehearsals begin Tuesday.
“Oh, God,” Peter could already feel how this was gonna go wrong.
“I’m playing a chick?!” He heard Flash say from somewhere near him.