-
shelleybrill shared a letter in the
Chasing Your Dreams group 1 year, 9 months ago How I surprised myself when I became a stripper in a high school play
Shelley BrillI remember when I was a little girl, about 8 years old I watched a movie with Marilyn Monroe. I thought she was so beautiful and glamorous. I decided I wanted to be an actress. This was the very last career suited for an extremely shy child who never spoke to any adults except her parents. But something about being on stage or in front of a camera excited me. My child’s mind told me I could be someone else on stage and be liberated from my timid personality.
In 4th grade, I tried out for the class play and to my surprise, I got the lead. In high school, I was in chorus and performed in two plays. Amazingly, this shy 17 year old was chosen to play the role of a stripper in the play Gypsy. At first I was terrified to go on stage in a bikini costume in front of 1,000 people, but my high school drama coach insisted it would all be ok and I would be a big hit. When opening night came, I went out on stage as Electra, the stripper. I shook the light bulbs on my body. Well, this was definitely my glass ceiling and I shattered it. I was never shy after that night.
I did not go on to be a great actress, but I did have a 40-year career in pharmaceutical sales, which required me to be very outgoing and confident. Sometimes life prepares you for your future without you even realizing it.
Your life’s events are so pivotal and amazing.
Shelley,
The allure of the theater is something I also share. Like you my very shy and timid personality kept me from being very popular at school. After high school a local theater company was doing a production of The Phantom of the Opera. I decided this was the time I would step out of my shell. I remember clearly a few of the people who were also audtioning for the role of the Phantom snickering at me behind my back. What they didn’t know however, was a shared love my Mother and I had for the Phantom. We even got to see it live with the original cast once.
Not many people know I can sing, fewer still know exactly how well. I ended up winning the role and did several performances. The mask the Phantom wears struck a symbolism with me. The duality of who I am fits into the perspective playing the character bore for me.
More recently it alluded to the growth I’ve been experiencing in my personal life. Through Christine the Phantom sheds he desire to stay hidden in the dark and longs to see the light. The same could be said of me recently.
I really enjoyed reading your letter. It brings back some fond thoughts that I need to think of more often in the future. I think the stage is where some of us end up finding who we are by playing someone else. It unlocks the idea of the limitless potential we hold.
Thanks for sharing this with us!
-Roger
Subscribe or log in to reply
What you said about life preparing you for the future is 100% correct. It may not be immediate but it slowly exposes you to things outside of your comfort zone to get used to. Thank you for sharing
Subscribe or log in to reply