ChickSpeak

by Alison Grieb, Delta Chi - LaGrange

I am a junior with a theatre major and music minor. I work mostly in musical theatre, but I love all areas of the theatre. I am currently working in two shows. One is a musical called “I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change,” and the other is Tennessee William’s “Cat on a Hot Tin Roof,” where I am playing Sister Woman.

This summer was the most amazing experience. I guess I should start with how I got the job. I went to a huge cattle call audition in Natick, a city outside of Boston. It was called the North Eastern Theatre Conference, and producers from all over the country were there. They were all looking for actors to stock their summer shows with, so a majority of the people trying out with me were college students. There were about 700 - 800 people auditioning. I had two minutes to show all of the people casting these shows a song and a monologue. Then I was done. When call backs were posted, I was asked to go and read for several different roles at different companies. After getting several job offers, I chose the Papermill Theatre in Lincoln, N.H. I was hired as a children’s theatre actor.

I drove up to New Hampshire after I got out of school and started working. Though it was a lot of work, it was the most fun I have ever had. There were four other children’s theatre actors. The five of us were there for nine weeks. Every week, we would go out on tour and perform the show in 10 different venues. At night we would come back to Lincoln to rehearse the show for next week. There was never any downtime. We performed for children ages infant to 12-years-old. The scripts and music were all original and written by our two directors. The plays were about an hour long and were so well written that they kept the attention of both the kids and their parents.

This job was such an amazing opportunity because I want to go into the arts after graduating. Breaking into the theatre is all about experience and who you know, so I wanted to start my career before I graduated so that I could be sure to have a job after I got out of college. This summer taught me so much about professional theatre and how fastpaced and fun it can be. I was sure that I wanted to go into theatre since I was a little girl, but working this summer made me 100 percent positive that’s where I belong.

I joined KD my freshman year of college because I knew where I belonged. I went to the recruitment parties and felt at home. The KDs were smart, fun, personable and everything that I wanted to be as a college student. They had a huge presence on campus, and I knew that it was the group for me. My favorite KD memory is big sis night. I love my big sister with all of my heart. She graduated when I was a freshman, but we forged a relationship that is unlike any other. I was in her wedding and sang as she got married. It was the most wonderful feeling.

I have learned so much from KD. Being secretary taught me so much about business and time management. I have also learned many invaluable lessons through sharing experiences with my sisters.

I love music and theatre, and I can’t wait to use it after I graduate. My life is so hectic! I am always running either to rehearsal or an audition. It is the most incredible feeling to know that I have all of my sisters backing me up, and that I can help them whenever they need it. Kappa Delta is something so strong in my life, and I don’t think I would have been able to do what I have done without the support of my KD sisters.