Getting up in front of a live audience is hard.
Memorizing lines and inhabiting characters. Mastering the art of confidence and vulnerability.
I never harbored secret dreams of becoming an actress. My stage experience consists of a few school concerts, some skits and Princess No. 12 in a Sapulpa High School production of "Once Upon a Mattress."
My older daughter is another story. She's been my drama queen since she was little and hasn't been afraid to put herself out there -- singing at her elementary school talent show and joining the choir.
Her dad and I have encouraged her, enrolling her in improv class and summer camp at Clark Youth Theatre. All of this has only fed her love for performing.
In December, she decided to try out for the Clark production of Shakespeare's "Love's Labour's Lost." Callbacks included a song, which thrilled her.
Not only did she end up with a small speaking role, but she's also part of a singing trio for the show-within-the-show.
Luckily my daughter won't have to worry about me becoming a stage mom. I am more than content to watch her live or die by her performance. And we'll only pursue it as long as she's interested.
It's been a long process of rehearsals and homework and eating early dinners.
Now, after almost two months of rehearsals, "Love's Labour's Lost" is hitting the stage for six performances over the next two weekends.
It's been fun seeing my 13-year-old with her hair curled in period style and watching her learn to walk in heels.
I'm glad it's not me up there in front of the stage lights. I will have enough butterflies in my stomach just watching from the audience.
For more information on Clark Theatre, find them
on Facebook or
on the city of Tulsa website. Colleen Almeida Smith is a Tulsa World assistant editor and mother of a second-grader and a seventh-grader. Follow her on Twitter at twitter.com/colleenalmeida.
