While in high school, I had continued taking dance lessons, and also began taking voice lessons. I auditioned for my first musical - Jesus Christ Superstar - the summer after my freshman year. I was only 14, and was lucky to be the youngest person cast in the show. I performed in several more shows while in high school, competed in voice competitions, and performed with two choirs at my school. One was a traditional choir, and the other a song and dance group, enrollment was by audition only, and only 8 women and 8 men were accepted each year.
It isn't surprising then that I chose theatre as my major in university. I started at Michigan State in 1997, and was lucky to be cast for a musical the first semester of my freshman year - I didn't learn until later what an honor this was, especially considering there were only 7 people in the cast. I met my dear friend, future roommate, and future bridesmaid Celia Alcumbrack in that production (of a show called 'Quilters'). I was in a number of shows at MSU, including 'Forum...', 'Mikado', and 'Evita'. I also danced with the MSU repertory dance company.
I realize all this may seem irrelevant, but I include it as an example of the effect Phantom had on my life - I'm sure, had I never discovered it, my life would have gone very differently!
It was also during my time at MSU that I connected with another group of phans - the nutty bunch at the Phantom of the Opera Discussion Board. Of course, we all just call it 'the board'. I started posting on that board in the spring of 1999, and have been on there ever since - in it's many incarnations. This is a great group of phans - they're such a blast! I made a number of phriends on this board, and have had some very amusing adventures with them! One of them even turned out to live only 10 minutes away from me! Thanks to everyone on that board for being so fun, and for putting up with me (particularly all my off topic posts and mentions of another famous masked gentleman, who I will not name, but his initials are JM...)
Of all the phriends I've made on this board, I ought to particularly mention my partners in crime known as the Phan Quartet - myself, Angel (who lived near me), Crysania (aka Michelle), and Rookie (aka Georgia). I've had some interesting times with this group! I guess I'll share a few examples....
In October, 1999 Angel and I bought tickets on a whim for a matinee of the US Phantom tour. Of course, the performance was in Green Bay, WI, while we were in Michigan, and the show was only one week away! It became apparent that Angel wouldn't be able to go, and fortunately Crys was willing to step in and use her ticket. That meant driving up to Angels dorm and then driving the six hours (one way) to Green Bay with me the next day - even though she had never met us before! Fortunately, everything went well and we all got along great! Crys and I encountered a family at a rest stop somewhere outside Chicago who were acting very strangely - staring at me and whispering. I was wearing my Phantom jacket, and as it turns out, they thought I was a cast member! Maybe someday....
I'd better slip this story in as well, although it isn't a phan quartet story. In September of 1999 I was lucky to attend the 10th anniversary celebration for Phantom in Toronto. It was a terrific weekend! I saw a matinee on Saturday, and the evening show on Sunday. I happened to meet two phans in the alley after the Saturday matinee - one who recognized me from seeing me in the alley before, and turned out to also be from Michigan. The other was dressed in black, and looking rather grumpy, and didn't really join in the conversation until he noticed I was wearing a Phantom jacket. I guess that meant I was a good enough phan to talk to! Little did I know I would one day marry this man! Of course, Jeff really is very friendly and nice - I didn't mean to make him sound unfriendly - but I do have to tease him a little bit! He also offered to try and get me tickets for the evening show (exchanging a ticket I hadn't been able to use) - but it didn't work. Though he was able to help me upgrade my seats for the next days anniversary show! There was also a brunch the morning of the 10th anniversary (which he had organized) for phans and cast members. It was a blast! I got to wear my Victorian clothes to that nights performance as well. We had such a blast in Rat Alley after that show! Everyone was taking pictures (go to the PhanPics section to see some of them!), talking and laughing - I was so sad it was my last time seeing the show in Toronto. I was unable to make it to closing night due to scheduling conflicts with the MSU dance company - our choreographer for a ballet piece was flying in for that weekend (only one weekend!) to set the piece, and I couldn't miss it....