That's showbiz, kid. (or - it's the Hard Knock Life).

This weekend my little Thing 2 got her first taste of the highs and heartaches of showbiz.

Before I tell you about that though, let me bring you up to speed.

Since the time both of them could toddle, my girls have been living-room performers - dressing up, creating bizarre and hilarious characters, singing, dancing, and producing elaborate 2-person summer shows complete with choreography, costume changes and Playbills (sorry, family only).

When Thing 1 entered middle school and finally had the opportunity to audition for a (real) school musical, she threw herself at the chance and became the most amazingly talented Munchkin Coroner (with braces) that The Wizard of Oz has ever known. Since then she's not only continued to be a part of her school shows, but has become involved in a fantastic little community theatre and has had the opportunity to be part of the ensembles of 'Sweeney Todd' and 'Les Miserables' (to name just a few).

She's been bitten.  Hard.  That showbiz bug has wormed its way into the depths of her soul and become part of her blood.  It's like a drug, though, that darned bug.  It can take you to euphoric heights and drop you to abysmal lows.  And she's certainly experienced them both.  Take last week, for example.

This fall her high school is doing "Sound of Music"*.

*Something you should know that will help this little story make a whole lot more sense is that I am one of those "Sound of Music" freaks who have been obsessed with the movie and music since birth.  My sister and I must have acted out every scene a million times for a span of about 6 or 7 39 years (I'm not kidding.  Just last summer as we were riding bikes we reenacted the 'Do Re Mi' bicycle scene with The Things - speeding up, falling behind, and all the while singing our hearts out - loudly).  I, obviously, introduced my girls to the movie and the music in utero and they've both grown up loving it every bit as much as I do.  Okay, now we can continue...

Since Thing 1 always - always - pretended to be Leisl when we she acted out 'Sound of Music' (even when she was as small as Gretl), she of course was absolutely aching to get that role in her high school show.  She worked all summer on that part, and because she completely embodies the character herself, went into her audition full of confidence ("...besides what you see, I have confidence in me!").
You can imagine the high she was feeling, then, when she not only received positive feedback from the director but got herself a callback for her dream role (okay, her dream role is actually Elphaba, but Leisl would definitely be in her top 5).
And you can imagine the abysmal low that came 24 hours later when, after an audition she felt was solid, she not only didn't get cast as Leisl, but instead found herself a lowly nun, doomed to a chaste life (in this show, anyway) of learning hymns in Latin and singing from the theatre balcony (where she can throw paper balls at Leisl.  Just kidding).

Disappointment.  Heartbreak.  It's certainly not the first time she's experienced it in her 5 years in theatre.  You set yourself up to take a pretty big fall every time you audition.  But if your blood is pumping with the showbiz bug's venom, you do it time and time again.

Which brings me (finally, you say) to Thing 2.

As with pretty much every other aspect in their lives, she's following in her big sister's footsteps (Exhibit A: Her debut as a singer/actor was in her 5th grade performance of The Wizard of Oz.  Best Scarecrow (with braids) ever) and has been anxiously awaiting being a 6th grader because it meant that finally she'd be able to be in not only school shows, but participate in the community theatre that Thing 1 has had such fun performing with.

This fall that community theatre is doing "Annie"*.

*Something you should know that will help this little story make a whole lot more sense is that I am one of those "Annie" freaks who have been obsessed with the stage play and music since I was 10 years old.  I must have choreographed and acted out every scene a million times in my bedroom after school (when you're a kid growing up in a world without internet or DVRs or Nintendo you become creative.  Imagine that).  Believe me, I know I'm in the minority and that there are millions of people (you may very well be one of them) that abhor "Annie".  Not me, sister.  I know every single word to every single song and pretty much every line (and how it should be read) in that show.  Don't judge.
Okay, now we can continue....

All summer long, Thing 2 talked...and talked...and talked...about (hopefully) being an orphan in "Annie".  Her first show! Her first audition - ever!
You can imagine the high she was feeling, then, when she not only received positive feedback from the director but got herself a callback for the honest to goodness lead role of 'Annie'.  Leapin' Lizards!
And you can(not) imagine the abysmal low that came 24 hours later when, after an audition she felt was solid, she didn't get the role.

And here's where that damned showbiz bug leaves his mark.

Because she got a fantastic role (especially for her very first show).  She was cast as one of the main orphans and will have a few lines and even a small solo (I think).  Unbelievably fun! Huge accomplishment (especially for her very first show)!  But unbelievably hard to swallow when, just for a moment, you could picture yourself in a red curly wig (or dancing in a gazebo with a Nazi soldier).

I think I can understand the despair they both have now experienced.  It's probably like being given a small sip of Dom Perignon, and then handed a glass of Andre.

But here's the point I'm getting to.

Even after the disappointment and heartbreak and the purging of the mental images that have become larger than life, they pick themselves up, dust themselves off, and start all over again (and have an absolute blast doing it).

And I cannot tell you how much I admire them for that.

Thing 1 has gone through the bug's detox several times, and even though it would be so much easier on the heart to say, "Nope. This hurt too badly. I'm never setting myself up for this again.", she doesn't.  And the reason?  Because it's worth it.  Simple as that. Once you've been truly bitten, the pain and disappointment you might have felt in the beginning pale in comparison to the way you feel when that curtain opens...the music starts...and the audience applauds - no matter what your role (or so I've been told).

And Thing 2?  She's already making jokes about bursting onto the stage when Miss Hannigan holds Annie back and says to Grace, "Annie? Oh no, you can't take her" and screaming, "Take ME! You can take ME!" - and talking...and talking...about what line she hopes she gets to sing in "Hard Knock Life".

Character building? No question.

They aren't giving up.  And one day it will pay off.

So the bug's venomous bite is (slowly) healing and the euphoria and excitement is starting to (once again) infiltrate the blood.

And it's a drug this stage mama approves.