<p>A longtime friend of our family has been a working actor for over 20 years. He often reminds my S that as an actor auditioning is his full-time job…that not being chosen for a role is simply a training ground for future roles. For the first-time in seven years and over 20 shows my S did not get the lead in the school play. He had specifically been told by the director and producer this play had been selected for him and the score was being keyed down to accommodate his vocal range. He too was affirmed by all in the room that he nailed his audition…fast forward to the cast list and he was not cast as the lead. I have to say as hard as it was to watch him process the news, I believe it to be the best “training” he has received in preparation for college and his future endeavors. </p>
<p>At his Hartt School audition he was so encouraged and motivated by the late Kevin Gray…he challenged the students to embrace perceived failure, to learn to celebrate it and use it as motivation. Those words made a profound impact on my son - something he wrote down and said he wanted to remember always. They were made even more impactful when the news of Kevin Gray’s death came very shortly after. As he goes from being a big fish in a small pond to a small fish, it seems vital for him to learn to give himself fully to any role regardless of size. I’m sure the days are coming quickly when college begins when he will face the reality of a cast list without his name.</p>