#89: Dreams Don’t Die (they sure don’t)

Thursday 10/31/24

Theatre is the long game. A life in theatre is THE LONG GAME. 

Last night I was scrolling Instagram and saw a post with a face I recognized. Not a friend, but definitely a face I knew. I said “oh that's XX XX XX”. It was a post of him dancing from Bucks County Playhouse. The caption read “we care congratulating Willie Clyde Beaton II on their broadway debut in A Wonderful World”. 

I stopped COLD in my tracks. I saw this person audition for 4 seasons at the Mac when I was monitoring. I’d never forget his name; it was so distinct. He was sweet and would bust his ASS in the dance calls. Some years he’d get cut, some years he’d stay to sing, some years he was in finals. But, he never got the job. 

The last time I saw him audition for us was the spring of 2023 for that summer. I’ve seen him at other auditions over the years. I never forget a face and I remember the name of everyone I’ve ever met. It’s a curse really. No one ever remembers me haha. 

All this to say, one year you can be rejected from summer stock and the next you can be in the original cast of a brand new broadway musical. It was a thrilling and affirming post to see. 

Of course, there is amazing theatre happening all over the country at all different levels. However, for most (not all), Broadway is the ultimate dream. I get so emotional when I see people making their broadway debuts - the same way I get emotional when I see kids cry during their final performance of their high school musical. 

I believe in dreaming big but also being realistic. It’s good for me to keep students comfortable with rejection… lord knows I am certainly comfortable with it. I’ve had years of practice. But sometimes I think in my effort to protect them, I forget that there are exceptions to the rule… that dreaming big isn’t a bad thing - it’s what keeps the cogs turning. 

Today is a great day to remember to dream big. Willie made it. He did it. He didn’t book summer stock but he booked broadway. And that’s showbiz, kids. 

Dreams Don’t Die,
Julie