“Rent”: From My Perspective
The process of making Rent has been a whirlwind since the show was selected last May. The Galloway theater staff, cast and crew worked tirelessly to make Rent what it was. Last October 14, auditions were held. I remember walking into auditions wide eyed and high strung. I had no expectations for a callback, much less a lead role. I thought my audition went well, but I was not expecting anything but ensemble. Honestly, I was just glad to return to the theater after nearly two years of absence.
The day after auditions, Ms. Pitchford, Director of Arts and High School theater director at Galloway, pulled me aside to discuss callbacks. I was taken aback as I was not expecting to even be considered for a lead due to seniority. She said she had given me a callback for the role of Angel. Frankly, I was terrified. I knew what that role meant, what it was. I would have to dress in drag and perform in front of the whole school…and my parents. I have never had reservations about a role before. A lifelong theater kid, I’ve always been happy to have a lead or a feature, but this was a special exception. The things that this role entailed were terrifying and I didn’t think I would be able to successfully take on that part. Ms. Pitchford was extremely conscious of my comfort level and feelings, and for that I am grateful beyond words.
The following day, I went to meet Ms. Pitchford to discuss. On the way, I passed by Liza Tewari, one of my best friends from the production. I told her I wasn’t going to do the callback and she told me I would regret it if I forgot the opportunity. Having the chance to have a lead as a freshman was something I couldn’t pass up, she said. I talked to Ms. Pitchford and she ensured that my comfort level would be a priority. After our discussion, I decided to try the callback. Despite my reservations, I did the callback to the fullest and the following week, when I flipped the cast list, I saw my name listed as “Angel Dumont Schunard,” I had gotten the role. In shock, I went to hug my friends, who were extremely supportive during the process. My friends are the reason I was able to do this show and enjoy it to the fullest.
As the rehearsal process progressed, I learned to love my role, and myself even more. I can’t even begin to imagine where I would be if I had not decided to do the callback and I’m immensely grateful for the opportunity Ms. Pitchford and the entire theater staff provided me. Everything was going perfectly as March came to an end. The show was in a good place and we were all excited to share our story with the Galloway community.
Then the unthinkable happened. On the morning of our original Town Hall preview performance, the cast received a text that the performance had been canceled due to Covid-19 positives within the cast and crew. Soon after receiving this message, everyone who was a part of rent gathered in the theater. We were informed that in all likelihood, the show would be postponed. We, as a cast, were heartbroken. There was a risk that the endless labor we had put into the show may not be able to manifest itself onstage, at least not anytime soon. All of the anticipation we had accumulated crashed. I had slept, ate and breathed Rent for nearly the entire school year and having the rug pulled from under us was crushing. After days of uncertainty, we were able to find a postponement date for the show. As hard as it was to move the show, the end product was definitely better because of it. Having theater taken away from us made us appreciate our passion so much more when we were able to return. Any tumultuous experience between friends creates another layer of bonding and trust, and that’s exactly what that difficult time did for the cast.
When the show rolled around, I was terrified. We performed a preview at town hall and the thought of going on stage in front of my classmates in thigh-high heels was pretty nerve racking. As the show weekend grew closer, my nerves stalled until opening night. As I entered the stage for pre-show opening night, I was as nervous as I’ve ever been. Despite some sound issues on Thursday, we had an incredible show. I was proud of myself, but even more so, I was proud of the product we created as a whole. Our entire cast was so talented and the show was so well received. After we closed on Sunday afternoon, I was so gratified and euphoric. All of the hard work we had contributed for the past several months had finally come to fruition and I couldn’t have been happier. Truly, the process of creating this show was so rewarding and life changing. I have no doubt that I would not be the same person I am today without this experience.
By Sawyer Sugarman