Editor's Note: This important blog segment was written in early summer but was lost in e-mail. It has been rrecovered for publication now.
NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- Suddenly everything has stopped spinning; I’m a little dizzy but my vision is beginning to clear. The whirlwind that was sophomore year has come to an end, and looking back, so much has happened.
Before this school year I actually thought to myself that as for “peak moments” in my life so far, the best I had was walking. But this year has been a peak year for me; it’s been absolutely incredible.
If I could summon up this year in one word, it would be, “drama.” Not the kind that starts arguments or gossip, more like the rush of adrenaline as the curtain opens and the smile when the audience stands and cheers. Theatre has become my only thing and my everything. I could list the wondrous moments that seemed never-ending this year but I’ll just describe the highlights.
I’ve created a “Top 10” that sums up what this year was to me and what was most important:
10. Haunted Forest/TOTS EAT
• We, (the drama program), raised almost 4,000 pounds of food for local food banks in all our combined efforts around Halloween. For the second year in a row, we held what we call, "The Haunted Forest."
We chose a theme, (this year it was horror films), utilized our thespians to become the creepy characters, and created a scary, (but safe), place for the community to enjoy. We charged one non-perishable food item to enter the forest and had a huge turn out! About 40 businesses set up what we called, "Trunk or Treat," and gave candy to the children. In addition, we did a school food drive. On the night of Halloween, we had almost 20 drama students go dressed up to local houses and instead of asking for candy, we asked for non-perishable food donations.
At our District level, we were named "Most Caring Troupe" for raising the most money for Broadway Cares: Equity Fights AIDS and at our State Festival we were named Most Caring District.
9. Grades
• The transition from a freshman to a sophomore could literally be measured by the increase in homework. I didn’t expect the work that came with the AP and honors classes I took this year and it wasn’t easy keeping up. Countless nights went without sleep so I could keep my head above water in terms of the workload.
• I found out I’m No. 2 in my class right now. That’s the biggest amount of motivation I could have asked for. I’ll have to step it up for junior year but I’m up for the challenge. I’ll do anything for a speech at graduation.
• I found out I’m No. 2 in my class right now. That’s the biggest amount of motivation I could have asked for. I’ll have to step it up for junior year but I’m up for the challenge. I’ll do anything for a speech at graduation.
8. Moments with Friends
Cheyenne Drews is shown here at States with Brian Dunn and John Walker.
• Tennessee with my best friend Haley and her family was amazing. The sights were beautiful, the food was delicious, and the people were always friendly.
• The State Level Theatre Competition with my big drama family and the “adventures” I went on with two people I respect very much; Michael and Brian.
• Real conversations that kept me sane with Kathryn and Maxine.
• Growing closer to people I’d never expect and appreciating my wide range of friends.
• One Direction concert with Haley. (EEEP!)
7. All Star Cast Member Award
• An award given at the District Level for Theatre to one cast member per one act play. The honor of receiving it came as the biggest surprise to me.
6. Initiation
• Officially receiving the title of “Thespian” in Troupe 1903. Although it seems like so long ago, it happened just before winter break.
The crazy week of dressing up was one of the most exciting I can remember. Thank you, Stephanie; my forever big sister.
• Initiating my first little sibling, Alesha, who I could not be more proud of and who I know will shine in our troupe.
5. Performances
• Superior ratings on both my duet with John and ensemble with Leah and Fatima at the District Level.
• Superior on my duet at State, my very first time going.
• The experience of State was unforgettable. Everyone there is kind, crazy and more passionate about theatre than I can describe.
• The shows "Almost Maine," "Rainbow" (student-directed one acts), and "Alice" were enriching and spectacular in their own ways.
4. Club Member of the Year
Shelby Keel Yant and Michael Nguyen are shown here at the Florida State Thessbian Festival. Michael and Cheyenne Drews tied for troupe Club Member of the Year.
• Each year our Troupe nominates and votes on a Club Member of the Year. It is arguably the biggest honor a drama student can receive as their name goes on a permanent plaque in the lobby of our auditorium.
One of my best friends, Michael Nguyen, whom I nominated myself, and I tied, for the first time in our school’s history, as Club Member(s) of the Year. As in two tributes survived the arena.
3. Internationals
• At the State Level Theatre Competition, our school’s one act play, "Emotional Baggage," received an invitation to perform and teach a workshop about mask work which we used in our show at the International Festival. In the State, we placed 4th and the honor of the invitation was extreme and a first for anyone in our county.
• The $20,000 needed for the week in Nebraska was fought for long and hard. Every single day, I, along with others, was on the phone, writing letters or e-mails, or physically fundraising at a festival. We performed our show countless amounts of times trying to fundraise more money.
• When you act, you depend on words and facial expressions to portray your character and emotions and define the difference between the actor and the character. With, “Emotional Baggage,” this safety net is torn away because you use your body alone to show struggle and triumph and the contrast between the two.
No matter how experienced or inexperienced an actor might be, “Emotional Baggage” is that experience that changes the way you approach other roles and even yourself in normal, day-to-day situations.
Personally, I have pushed myself to break from my traditional way of acting and my comfort zone of characters I relate to. This show was so much more to the actors in it than just a performance.
It lasted from September to May with all the performances we did in the craziest of places, but every second was worth it because we became so close and so reliant on each other. I’ll never forget it.
2. Disney
• We never did reach the $20,000. But we did raise more money than our Troupe had ever had and just as our hearts broke, a new opportunity came in the mail. The cast and crew of "Emotional Baggage" received a special invitation to do a workshop at Disney with Broadway choreographers.
• In two hours, we choreographed the scene and song of “Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious” from Mary Poppins. We came knowing only the lines and had a mini audition for each part. Michael and I got Jane and Michael; the two children Mary Poppins is the nanny of.
The role of Mary went to the talented Ashley Faulds, Mrs. Corry, (the shop keeper), went to Shelby Yant and Bert the chimney sweep went to Stephen Gold.
The remaining people received ensemble, each with a character description of their own. It was the most intense two hours I had ever spent but the whole time I couldn’t stop thinking about how much I’d love to keep doing it.
• The rest of the day we spent at Disney being crazy drama kids in a theme park. It was perfect.
• We owe so much credit to our director, Kendra Blazi, and her husband for how much they pushed us and the opportunities we received this year.
Mrs. Blazi worked tirelessly on so much and deserves much more than the mere, “thank you”, we can give. But, just for the heck of it, thank you for giving so many people meaning to their day and hope for their future. And for being so much more than just a teacher.
1st Place...
Cheyenne Drews, in the back middle, celebrates with friends after learning their play, "Eotional Baggage," was good enough for Nationals.
The journey of "Emotional Baggage" began at Districts. I know without a doubt in my mind that it was there, at Districts, when we heard we received Straight Superiors and 1st place in the entire district of 32 schools, that our lives had hit a moment we didn’t have words for.
It would be the first time our school would ever be able to take a one act to State. We were a public school that didn’t even fund our program, yet somehow the judges recognized our talent regardless.
I’ll never forget the feeling; the feeling of flying fearlessly into a beautiful unknown with the best companions imaginable. As if it wasn’t obvious, this year was all drama and I regret nothing. I’m now the treasurer of Troupe 1903 and next year I intend on running for president.
Acting is something that makes me happier and more comfortable than anything else I’ve ever experienced. It is the source of my biggest aspirations. This year didn’t go without struggles as no year ever has.
Acting is something that makes me happier and more comfortable than anything else I’ve ever experienced. It is the source of my biggest aspirations. This year didn’t go without struggles as no year ever has.
For the third time, Haley and I ran for president and vice president of our class and I felt conflicted with hurt and excitement when she won and I again was defeated.
I know dear friends who lost parents and my own family welcomed new additions and mourned for lost faces. I saw relationships around me waver, but come out stronger in the end.
Budget cuts once again found their way to our school but I know Cuda Country won’t lose its spirit. For me the most bittersweet moment was graduation.
From drama alone we lost 18 of our best as they graduated and now are moving forward with their lives. It’s hard to imagine shows without the people I look up to as inspirations and lunches spent without friends I didn’t go a day without seeing. But the truest relationships can withstand the test of time and space and I don’t intend on losing anyone.
I wish them the utmost luck in a future that may look hazy now but will clear and become something beautiful. I have no doubt in my mind they’ll amount to something larger than life and every moment of it I’ll be cheering them on.
It wasn’t an easy year by any means, but it was a part of life and a part of growing up and next year we’ll enter the hallways as upperclassmen.
Closing this school year, the realities of life are beginning to show themselves.
The inevitable goodbyes, the hurdles you can’t jump, the equations you can’t solve, the people you can’t beat, the words you regret not speaking and the moments that make it all worth it have only just begun. We’re not finding ourselves, we’re creating ourselves.
These are the years before we know who we’re supposed to be, where one text could be anticipated as if it were the cure for cancer, one social network could absorb a mind for hours, one person could mean the world, and one decision could be the loss of it.
We’re going to make mistakes; we’re going to get to the point where we feel like everything is falling apart, we’re going to experience love and the emptiness of not having it, and the craziest part is, we’re going to look back and say these were the best years of our lives.
We’re going to make mistakes; we’re going to get to the point where we feel like everything is falling apart, we’re going to experience love and the emptiness of not having it, and the craziest part is, we’re going to look back and say these were the best years of our lives.