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Writer's pictureAnnie Cowden

My First Musical in Florida, and Post Covid!





I'm a bit behind on updating this, but this was a huge deal and breakthrough and dream come true for me.


Toward the end of August, I randomly stumbled across an audition post for the musical Aida at a theatre in Florida. I must have been looking at some auditions on Facebook and saw this. It was at a theatre I had never heard of, in a city I had not heard of.I googled the city, it was about 40 minutes from me. Kind of far, but I didn't see any reason not to audition. There is a song in the show called "My Strongest Suit" that I have always loved and it was one of those musical theatre songs that my heart deeply lit up for when I heard in Jr High and it got me through some times of doubt. It lit up my spirit.


So the audition was like on Monday and I just saw it on Friday. Great so I emailed a coach for some audition song recs because they were asking for a genre I don't normally have. So I learned a completely new song, bought new sheet music, and drove to the audition.


(Side Note: Another update I have not shared is my voice has been less than up to par as of about the last.5 months. I have driven all over Florida to ENT or Voice Therapists to help me. At one point it was so bad that every time I SWALLOWED I was in deep pain. Major voice fatigue, so much that I became anti social besides work because talking hurt me. )


That being said my confidence of my voice was not the height of my life. I sang my audition song, forgot the lyrics on the chorus and made up two sentences. Felt not splendid about it but I did my best. I did my monologue, and they ran me through a vocal scale and I was done! I got a callback, and they sent us some songs to learn, and we learned a dance!


YOU GUYS. I was in love with everything about the people and directing team. The choreographer was just totally amazing and kind and positive, and I just got the clue that he had a long career as a performer at Disney. Same with the director and music director. I had the time of my life in the dance audition! Singing I also did fantastic as far as my parts because I can sing parts so easily, as far as hearing my part and staying on it. Not a problem.


Perhaps a week later I got an email that read: Hi Annie! Thank you for auditioning for Elton John & Tim Rice's Aida at Osceola Arts. At this time, we are pleased to offer you a role in the Ensemble.


I would like you to know, that as my eyes read we are pleased to offer I screamed SO loudly. and kept hitting the floor, and smiling, and screaming literally "WoOOHOOO!!" And I kept reading that sentence over and over again. I screamed for 2-3 minutes staring at the screen.


Then I called my mom in my screaming frenzy and told her I got it, and then to my surprise my scream turned into a cry/sob because my heat was overfilled with gratitude.


I can remember that moment like it was yesterday. The reason I know now why I was crying and feeling the way I was feeling, is because the director, choreographer and music director were former and current Disney equity shows in my actual dream shows that inspired me. That I would watch on youtube for inspiration every day of my life. What I had been manifesting for all these years is to be surrounded by talented, positive, uplifting performers at Disney, and I was now going to be in a show they were directing, and they saw my talent and picked me.


It just kept getting better and better as I learned who was in my cast.

And then I found out I would be doing the exotic solo dance.

Then found out I was dance captain.


It was a real dream come true!!







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