PROLOGUE: A MEMOIR. October 3 2025 | by Joanna Lawrence | Oct, 2025

October 3 2025

**disclaimer: all names except the names of celebrities and places have been changed**

My heart was racing, my palms sweaty, my mind a hurricane of indistinguishable thoughts. What on earth had I gotten myself into?

When I was about eightish years old, the mother of one of my friends, Harper, called up my mom and asked if I wanted to be in a play. She said yes without even consulting with me first. I, of course, was very, very angry. This plan had three major issues: one, I hated being in the center of attention; two, the rehearsal time would take time out of my carefully scheduled appointments with our family couch, and three, I did not want to be in a play! But, whether I was happy about it or not, I was enrolled as Spotlight Acting Academy’s newest student in the 8–10 age group.

I entered this whole experience with a very pessimistic attitude. The studio is just off the Broadway Extension and is basically smack dab in the middle of nowhere; it’s surrounded by a field. As we were driving to the studio, with Oklahoman rolling hills everywhere the eye could see, I said with as much attitude as I could muster, “Lovely location.” I thought I was so cool for my “teenage angst.” and that day in rehearsal, the director and choreographer told us to prepare a one-minute cut of a song from the 80s, and we would sing it karaoke style the following week for auditions.

I don’t know what flipped in my head, but I was suddenly ecstatic at the idea. I came home and immediately made my mom show me songs from the 80s, and after careful consideration, I eventually decided on Girls Just Wanna Have Fun by Cyndi Lauper. Now, I think that it is important to state that when they said karaoke, I had assumed that they would play the original song and the students would sing to it, either that or they would at least put the lyrics on a screen in front of us. So, that is how I practiced. I practiced day and night, only stopping to go to school, and I still practiced then, too.

The day of, the other students, Harper, and I were waiting on the benches outside of the acting room, and Everyone was dressed up in 80s costumes. I never got the memo, but the scrunchy and tie-die shirt that said ALOHA I was wearing fooled everyone. Inside the room, we had a surprise waiting. Miss Maya, the nice, young, red-headed woman who had been introduced to the week before as our Directer, who was named Miss Maya, had been replaced by a scary-looking, balding, older man with wispy white hair and a bright yellow ponytail, the way people who have gone grey have remenants of the (he has since gotten a haircut) and kind eyes. That man was (and still is) the owner of the acting branch of Dance Unlimited, called Spotlight Acting Academy. His name was Joseph Bennett Roberts, or as his students affectionately nicknamed him, JBR. I called him Mr. Jonathan, but have now jumped on the bandwagon and call him JBR and Joseph.

The girl who went first was the amazingly talented powerhouse vocalist, Jessica Spencers, singing Don’t Stop Believing by Journey. I was obviously very intimidated. Also, Miss Mackenzie was playing the instrumental tracks, and there wasn’t even a screen with the lyrics! I mean, who did they think they were?!! A few people went, then a girl was wearing a very neon outfit, including a tutu, and a very high side pony with a huge scrunchy. She sang the same song and the same cut as me! And she even added some choreography. And next, JBR called on me directly after her.

I shakily walked up onto that stage, palms sweating, knees shaking so hard it’s a miracle I didn’t fall flat on my face. Jonathan, probably trying to ease my nerves, asked me if I had gotten my shirt in Hawaii. Probably trying to remind me of a calming vacation. I did not get my shirt in Hawaii; in case you were wondering, I got it at our local Target. And Targets aren’t particularly relaxing. “What song will you be singing?” asked Miss Mackenzie, the music director/choreographer. “The same as her,” I squeaked, pointing to the girl who had gone before me. And, after the longest five seconds of my life, JBR pointed his phone in its BEATLES case at me, and the music began.

My heartbeat was deafening, and I was so shaky and practically dripping sweat, and the cool air blowing against my bare arms and neck was not helping my nerves. But I had tried my best to keep time with the music. I patiently waited for the intro to end. It didn’t seem that long when I had been practicing. Eventually, they had cued me in, and I started squeaking out the lyrics. “I come home in the morning light, my daddy said! Oh, wai, never mind… Mommy dear….. GIRLS THEY WANNA HAVE FUN! Phone rings…. No, wait…………sorry!” I ran to my seat and buried my face in my hands, my cheeks burning. What had just happened? All I remember was my friend’s hand on my back, the embarrassment screaming in my ears. I could feel everyone’s eyes burning into me, my face between my legs, covered by my hands, wanting nothing but to disappear into a deep, dark hole.

I was cast as Mugger/Waitress 3. The show was a toned-down version of what I now know to be an R-rated show set in the mid-80s about a girl who becomes a stripper for money. But, at the time, I thought it was an inspirational story about a struggling “rock club” and people living in poverty.

So, there I was, playing a waitress at this fine establishment, in my heeled boots, crimped and teased hair, leopard print biker shorts, and a huge shirt with the club’s logo, dancing and singing my little heart out and expertly delivered my one line: “How’s his breath?” as I smacked on an imaginary piece of gum.

The show was all songs from the 80s, and Harper’s dad, Carl, drove us home most nights. We would tell him what song we had learned that day in rehearsal, and he would tell us about the song, the band, and some other random facts about the 80s. I soon considered Harper one of my best friends.

Now, it is five years later, and I truly believe theater has saved my life. Now, that scary old man is one of my favorite people on earth, and nights when I get to go up to the studio are the highlights of my week! I am at my happiest during tech week, the week before opening night, where you’re up at the theater, covered in stage makeup and mic tape and sweat, rushing to get homework done during meal breaks and in between scenes because you won’t be home until 10:30, a week straight of show tunes and inside jokes. I would honestly recommend joining community theater to everyone in the world if I could. The family that is a cast is the most amazing relationship. And still, the late-night car lessons have shaped my music taste. I was introduced to the music of the 80’s and 90’s, and I have emerged with some of my favorite songs, such as the Piano Man by Billy Joel (my mom takes partial credit on that one), Every Rose has its thorn by Poison, We Built This City by Starship, and Hit Me with Your Best Shot by Pat Benatar. I used to be a quiet, shy kid, so preoccupied with what people thought of me, always letting my twin speak for me. So, thank you, Harper, for calling me up. And the answer is yes, of course, I would love to do a play with you.

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