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In usual fashion, the pre-assigned assistant director rises froht in front of the stage: a bubbly, petite girl na curls that fraein shortly Unlike last year, they will not be closed auditions, e in front of everyone else “Don’t be afraid,” she adds cutely, perhaps for the benefit of the freaked-out fresh their intent to audition “We’re all very supportive here And it’s a great way to get to know one another! We e for a short scene read from one of the sides we’ve prepared from the script It’ll be fun! Now, for a few house rules Goodness, I feel like it’s opening night already!” she adds as a giggly aside to Ms Joy, who only returns a distracted chuckle in reply “First, do turn off your cell phones Second …”

As she continues explaining common open-audition etiquette, the doors to the auditoriuht froht down that light until the doors sla everyone’s attention his way Even Ta, and as if prompted by the new arrival, she says, “And fifth rule, please don’t let the auditorium doors slam shut As they are … clearly … loud,” she adds as a joke, but no one laughs

No one laughs because they’re all staring at the newcomer

Especially me

Vann, standing in that aisle with a hundred eyes on hiives the auditoriu in the back row as I am, he doesn’t seem to noticelost nearly everyone’s attention at the surprise arrival, Vann slowly cohtfully choose a seat somewhere in the fifth row

Kelsey grabsto audition?? To which I shrug, just as bewildered,on him even as Tamika calls out the first nain I watch as Vann fiddles with soot on today, which I noticed in chemistry class earlier—and doesn’t payThere are a nue, but h to hit the back row, as I can obviously attest to One girl seeh personality to fill a stadium, a total character actor, but even she doesn’t seem to impress Vann, whose attention is still fully focused on whatever he’s fiddling with in his lap There’s also a cute sophoreat voice and clai, but Ms Joy makes a funny aside that she “veheuy’s ears see ashamed for some reason And still, Vann doesn’t look up

Until the next nae: “Donovan Pane?”

When Vann rises, I realize only then that he was sketching this whole time He stuffs away his sketchpad, then for sos his backpack over his shoulder as he heads up to the stage Faces and eyes and opened mouths follow him from all over the auditorium, wary, curious, or uncertain With a loud thud, he drops his backpack at his feet after placing hiht at the lip Then, without any pro from Tamika or Ms Joy at all, Vann announces in a crisp, clear voice: “I’sley”

“Vann, is it?” Ms Joy nods and appears to cross her legs, her angry bush of hair leaning to one side “Alright Are you reading from scene one or scene two?”

Vann shrugs “I don’t know Whichever”

Ms Joy pierces him with silence, then turns expectantly to Tamika “Well, you heard the man Give him whichever” Tamika, impenetrably cheery, hops out of her seat and rushes to the front of the stage to provide Vann with a side—an excerpt of one of the scenes He crouches down, takes it, then rises up and proceeds to stare at the sheet of paper, silent Everyone waits Not a sound touches the stillness in the whole auditorium

Kelsey and I share a look and seem to ask the sa the whole scene first?

Ms Joy, perhaps just as intrigued as any of us, allows hi him from the front roith curiosity After all, this is a script no one knows and no one has had access to, unless they bothered to approach Ms Joy directly and ask for a copy to read ahead of tient