This weekend marked one week since the Christmas show I was in. It was truly and amazing experience to be on the palace stage. First off I'm going to start to give you a run down on tech week.

If any of you are involved in theater you may know tech week or in other words "hell" week! Why? Because this is the week where you either watch the show really take life or you will see it crash and burn. We start on Tuesday, we rehearsed our last time at Fieldcrest and this rehursal was not much of an indicator as most of us were quite comfortable there. Wednesday was our first night at the palace and we only ran Act 1. We left at 9:30 p.m, and it was not necessarily a long rehursal but we did get a lot done, maybe not on stage but off stage. My dressing room consisted of my mom in the show (Marilyn) my sister in the show (Maddi) and my aunt in the show (Janet).

During our breaks this night Marilyn and Maddi and I would sit down there and really just get to know each other better. We talked about everything under the sun. We had some much needed vent time, some time to just let our shoulders down and exhale."Mother cannot guide you. Now you're on your own. Only me beside you. Still, you're not alone." This quote from the song "No One is Alone" seemed to be a topic that came up within the dressing rooms quite often. Most conversations quite comforting.

Thursday was our longest

night i believe. Our whole cast had finally come and now it was a matter of figuring out the logistics. We didn't get off the stage until 11:45, quite a late night to say the least. Why did this take so long? Because to be honest we had never run the Second Act. It was a night to start

and stop. I loved every minute of it though, being on that stage was so amazing! Friday was our dress rehursal, we ran the show twice. The first time we ran it, it was HORRIBLE! So we ran it again, and naturally the second time was much better. After the show Maddi and I went to Marilyn and Kevin's house for the night. Marilyn made us some hot chocolate and then we all sat down to watch "Drop Dead Gorgeous" and I haven't laughed that hard in a very long time. Maddi and i ended that very late night with a long talk about life and everything the stage means to us. I cherish conversations like this because i love learning life lessons and helping Little Maddi well she's not

so little anymore.

Saturday was an amazing day! The first show was my favorite though, because I just felt 100% into character, and i just loved the feeling i had on that stage. Like nothing I had ever felt before. After the first show we all hung out in the dressing rooms, and i was almost about to fall asleep when Maddi and i got the news there was a talent agent at the show. That day they told both of us that they were interested in us. Deborah shared in our excitement, but it soon wore off as i began to think of leaving all of these inspirational people. We finished the last song and I swear i left my heart on that stage. You may think i'm being dramatic, but it's only the truth. You can ask anyone at dinner that night, i was very distant because i couldn't stop thinking about the stage and how i felt on it. Apart of something, i felt like i finally fit in somewhere. I felt loved, by everyone who surrounded me, and i loved them more than anything for the lessons they taught me, and the laughs and tears we shared. And at midnight we all split our separate ways.

Without a doubt Sunday was the hardest day. If you left people who were like you're family, and you didn't know when you would see them again how would you feel? Why am I writing this? Because of a comment that really shook me this week. How can you not make a connection with your cast members??? Making friends is something that i know is hard for people and for the first time i really connected to this cast and i would hope people could understand that! The day after a show stings because you will miss all of the fun of just being on stage and because YOU MADE FRIENDS IN THE SHOW THAT YOU MIGHT JUST MISS! Though i wouldn't expect everyone to understand, you know if you have to hate on me because i had one down day then go for it, it might hurt for a day or two but you will get over it all. Until you have been in a show like this, you may never know what the day after a show feels like. So i would love it if you let me feel my feelings and let me get over it on my own or at least with the help of my family! Lecturing isn't going to change anything!

I miss the stage still, but i am over those feelings about the people because i know i will see them again soon. I had an amazing time on this show and i want to thank everyone who has believed in me and kept me going! YOU are the reason i keep going! Much love!

**NYC BOUND**