Shelby Sees The States!: Another Opening, Another Show!

It's already Sunday night?! Where did the time in this past week go??

These past couple of days may very well be some of the most magical and rewarding days of my life thus far- I opened my first national tour! Seeing it in writing is so surreal and amazing and something I only dreamed of!

Ah!!!! Emotions have been at an all time high and many exclamation points have been used. But seriously, I guess these past couple of days have deserved a lot of them (!!!!!!!!!!!).

Friday morning we opened our show at the Mohegan Sun Arena in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, to a very enthusiastic crowd of toddlers and their parents. Nothing melted my heart more than listening the youngest audience members whole-heartedly squeal for their favorite characters, and yell out a number like their life depended on it. And talk about an energy boost! There's nothing like live theatre and finally adding an audience, and it's even more rewarding when the audience is so wide-eyed and eager to participate. I was actually pretty nervous to open this weekends' shows- like, more nervous than I've been for a show in a long time. But considering the audience is made up of the least judgmental and friendliest faces out there, it seemed like a silly thing to be nervous about!

After a successful first few shows, today was like a second opening for me. I was able to go on with another friend in the show for the first time- I am friends with one of the Sesame Street Muppets and the live, human character in the show! I have never understudied a role before, and I was nervous to open my usual track the other day- today was like, those initial nerves times a million. Needless to say, many deep breaths and prayers were completed backstage (in addition to drinking about two full bottles of water. After the show ended I sprinted to the bathroom). Once again, there was an incredible audience to work with, and it was so neat to see the show from a different side.

As nervous as I was, I got through it (insert praising hands emoji here). Even as I write this, I can't stop smiling from the rush of a new challenge and how rewarding the whole experience was.

When I was little, I remember my parents taking me to Sesame Street Live. I was a huge fan (and let's be real, still am), and nothing was more magical than hearing my favorite characters sing beloved songs and appearing right before my very eyes. I was decked out in the latest 1990's Elmo fashion, I got the giant coloring book program and an Elmo flag; three-year-old Shelby was having the time of her life!

Sesame Street Live was my very first theatrical experience. As I watched the tiny faces in the audience today, I realized that for so many of them, this is their first theatrical experience too. Doing live theatre is rewarding enough, but knowing that you're having an impact on the next generation is truly gratifying. I'm so excited and thankful to be able to share the songs and characters I've loved with a fresh-faced group of little theatre-goers. Hey, I've come full-circle!

If I could go back in time and tell my young self that someday, your favorite TV show characters would be your coworkers, she probably would be in so much shock and amazement to believe me. Hey, I still feel bursts of that amazement. I once was one of those bright-eyed kids belting my ABC's in the audience, and now I'm on the opposite side. Today was one of those days that reaffirms why I do theatre. This career is so much more than singing and dancing- I get to brighten faces, share smiles, and make new memories, just like performers years ago did for me. I couldn't ask for a more humbling experience, and "what more could a music teacher want?!"

Peace & love,
Shelby

#shelbyseesthestates

City #3- Wilkes- Barre, Pennsylvania