In 2008, when I first started doing drama, Victory Hall was really just a black box theater. It had a small, carpeted platform on the back wall, and the “backstage” was a narrow, cemented hallway. It had been a long time since it used for theater. However, a teenager named Dori decided to do “Rumplestiltskin” there. I was in it. The version of Rumplestiltskin that was used had extra characters, including Rumplestiltskin’s nagging wife, Griselda. I classified her as “bad guy,” and under no circumstances did I want to be her! I wanted to be the Miller’s Daughter, the “good guy.” As you might have guessed, I was chosen to be Griselda. I cried over that, (I was young,) but slowly I came to enjoy being the “bad guy.” Griselda was fun! The play was Nov. ’08, and the first night was fine. The second night, I goofed up, and was completely hysterical over it, but my parents said they didn’t notice anything. That was my first play. 

In January ’09, when I was nine, my Mom decided to direct Emperors New Clothes. It was pretty much like Rumplestiltskin, where we started off with drama games and then sort of morphed into a play. However, we had a real backstage now, and had more use for a passage on the side of a wall. When Mom asked the drama group who we wanted to be in the play, I immediately knew I wanted to be the bad guy: In this case, Ali-ka-Zoo, the rather stupid swindler. Luckily, I got the part. The performance was in May, and we did fine. There was one little mistake, where we lost a needed prop, but we made do. So the second play was fine. 

In May 2010, my mom had met a woman named Lisa Schneider, who also wanted to direct a play, but would’ve liked mom to help as well. The play was definitely different than the others because first of all, Victory Hall was not a black box anymore! Mr. Langdon Mason had built a real stage. Another way the play was different, was because during rehearsals, we were not allowed to have scripts onstage! And we only had six weeks to rehearse. There would be no drama games, and the most important change would be: It was Shakespeare. 

I immediately knew I would not want to be in it. It was A Midsummer Night’s Dream, and that was Shakespeare, and I KNEW I would not like it. However, at the auditions, Lisa Schneider told me there wasn’t enough people auditioning, would I please try out. I said yes, and was chosen to be Nick Bottom, the vain weaver who turns into a donkey. 

I am so glad I auditioned. The rehearsals went great, and everyone was PERFECT for their role. I began to LOVE Shakespeare. It all made sense! The first night of the show, which was at the end of August, was our best. I forgot a line, but we all helped each other out. The next day, we preformed a few scenes at the Farmers Market, and then on Sunday, the play was sold out. I couldn’t wait till the next one. 

The next one was As You Like It, in 2011. We still had most of the people from last year, buy we also had knew one, and it seemed to give the actors a perfect balance. I was Touchstone, a jester. The performance itself wasn’t as good as Midsummer Night’s Dream, personally, but we still were all great! And at the end, I was much more attached to everyone. The day after the play was over, I felt empty. So I definitely can’t wait till the next one! I love drama, and I love Victory Hall.

And I have to say: Thank you Dori, for starting it all!