Tarzan: My First Professional Show!

Over the summer I performed in my very first post college production at Mountain Movers Theatre in Louisa, KY!

We for sure trashed that camp.

New Beginnings

I booked Tarzan from doing UPTAS in 2024. At my callback, I knew instantly that it was a company I wanted to work for. Kim was so kind and genuine! I was just hoping that they would like my materials enough. I was so joyful when I got the email! However, the excitement quickly turned into nerves, as they tend to do for me. I am notoriously bad at transitions and I would be away from home for a whole month, performing in my first professional show! While I had worked at a resort the previous summer for 3 months as an entertainer, doing an actual production outside of an education setting is so much different to me. I was so scared it would feel like the first day of college all over again!

New Friends

While I wasn't necessarily wrong, it was the "college" like feel of this contract that made me have so much fun! I was in a room with four other girls my age, and we all got so close so fast! Everyone in the house got pretty close, actually. It was so refreshing for me! This was my first time, besides college, where I felt like I had made true friends. We went out to karaoke bars, escape rooms, the movies, and of course, Taco Bell after an exhausting show. The people I met here were so top notch. We need a reunion soon!

New Skills

I have always felt the most comfortable with my musical ability. Acting is something I developed a loved for while in college, and dancing is something I like to do but struggle with in professional settings! All that to say, I was excited to jump into music rehearsals for the first day but was on edge for the everything else. The music rehearsals were a blast! ( thank you Phil Collins). It was a surprise to learn that I was chosen to do the one of the small solos in the show! The meter of this solo was difficult, and it felt out of time with the underscore, but with much practice I got it in the end and It became my favorite moment to do in the show.

Moving like a gorilla proved to be more of a challenge then expected. We practiced as a company at first, going in lines, practicing moving low with both hands and feet. By the middle of the run, my hips were struggling! I learned that warming up everyday actually IS important. Who would have thought!

Thanks to our amazing choreographer Melissa, the dancing was so. much. fun. And doable for everyone!

I even got to practice new makeup techniques with this contract. Gorilla makeup is no joke! With the help of our costume designer, Ryann, everyone eventually got the grease makeup to stay!

I am so incredibly grateful for this contract and all of the people I met here. It was the first time I proved to myself that I could book a show outside of college! Being in theatre means constantly having imposter syndrome, always waiting for the next thing after a gig, not knowing if you are actually good enough to get booked again. I think this contract really gave me some confidence. Thanks Mountain Movers!