When a Freshman Gets the Lead Role...

Ephrata High School

Chris Peterson, OnStage Blog Founder

Let me know if this has happened to you: you're a senior in high school waiting for the cast list of your last spring musical to be posted. 

When it goes up, you race to find your name, hoping it's somewhere at the top. 

After all, you're a senior. You've been in virtually every production since freshman year. You've joyfully accepted every ensemble or supporting role, hoping it scores points to ensure a lead role in your last year.

You start reading the list, and your heart drops. Not only are you not cast in the lead role, but the role went to a freshman—a freshman!!!

This happened at my school, and it practically started a riot within the department.

Now, you can react to this news in a couple of different ways. First, you could get angry, become bitter, and stew about it for the rest of time (because, honestly, some do). Or, you could look at this as a teaching moment where roles are given to those who fit them best and nothing, not even being a senior, should make you assume you're going to get a certain role. 

If you're wise and want a future in this industry, go with the latter. 

Don't get me wrong, not being cast sucks. But if you want a career in the performing arts, you won’t get many roles. And you're going to lose them to people who haven't put in the years of work you have. It's the nature of the business. 

So, while you may feel miffed by not getting that lead role your senior year, use this as a teachable and motivational moment to feed your career hunger for years to come.