What is your name and grade?
“Uhm.. I’m Riawna. Mew. Senior, from Southbank.”
What role are you auditioning for?
“I am auditioning for the role of Betty Rizzo.”
What makes you the right choice for this role?
“I’m from Southbank. Who better to play the bad girl with a reputation, than an outsider.. with a reputation. Right? Especially opposite a Northlake sweetheart like Sandy. Rizzo’s always been who I was drawn to and I relate to her most of the Pink Ladies, basically.”
Do you have previous theatre experience?
“Do mandatory childhood plays count? Though, it wouldn’t be my first time on stage, having been part of the choir and dance team some years back sometimes resulted in getting tapped on the shoulder for stuff like this.”
What song will you be auditioning with?
“I will be singing Bound to You by Christina Aguilera from Burlesque.”
Riawna took center stage, obvious nerves kicking in as her hands fiddled with her pant loop. Okay, so she wasn’t one to be on stage in this medium often. But the girl was talented, something she was confident in. Maybe knowing that some Northlake kids would probably not be the happiest if a Southbanker like her could land the lead, she had chosen to go out for Rizzo instead. That, she figured, was a better fit role for a SOBA kid anyway. As she took her place on stage, those thoughts ran through her head. As the music began, the tiny girl cleared her throat and inhaled deeply, and began to sing, low at first.
“Sweet love, sweet love, trapped in your love / I've opened up unsure I can trust / My heart and I were buried in dust / Free me, free us.. / You're all I need when I'm holding you tight / If you walk away I will suffer tonight..”
Her voice progressively grew louder as she gained confidence in her voice, soon filling the room. She did not mimic Christina, but nailed the same power behind every word.
“I found a man I can trust / And boy, I believe in us / I am terrified to love for the first time / Can't you see that I'm bound in chains? / I finally found my way / I am bound to you, I am bound to you”
Finally looking out to those watching her, Riawna swayed to the music just enough to show movement in the dramatics of the song she sang. Every note hit, as she appeared to have an effortless time doing so as the powerful bridge approached.
“Suddenly the moments here, I embrace my fears / All that I have been carrying it all these years
/ Do I risk it all? Come this far just to fall? fall”
The brunette had expressively belted the end of the bridge, full of emotion as she graciously walked across as to command the audience, pausing only as to pick up power in her voice in order to accomplish the closing of the song, and hopefully having impressed. It was evident the emotion in her face was real, or at least very well appeared real.
“I can trust And boy, I believe in us / I am terrified to love for the first time / Can't you see that I'm bound in chains? And finally found my way / I am bound to you I am / I am I'm bound to you”
Her voice fading with the last line, the Southbanker once again inhaled deeply and returned to a fidgety state as she waited for reaction. She had in fact near blacked out as she sang, taking a moment to realize that she should probably thank the array of folks watching for their time and the opportunity. Which she graciously did. It was a rare sight from her. Once given the clear to go, Riawna took a a small bow and once again thanked for the opportunity, rushing off of stage and down the auditorium steps.
