There is a misconception about success in theater that experience is required. Senior Charli Darensbourg, one of the urchins in Little Shop of Horrors, is disproving this theory by debuting in her first production.
“I wasn’t expecting to get in if I’m being very honest because there’s so many other kids,” Darensbourg said. “I’m happy and just really surprised.”
This being Darensbourg’s first time in a play has drastically shaped her experience. The community has been really nice, and she is seeing aspects of the show she has never seen before, like the lighting and sound production.
“I feel like a kid in a candy store. It’s like, ‘Oh, that’s new! I never knew that before. Oh, that’s so cool,” Darensbourg said. “I’ve seen the musicals when I wasn’t in it, but now being in one, you get to see all the behind the scenes.”
Darensbourg had a unique experience when finding out she got her part in the play, as her and her mom had just finished arguing. She was ignoring her phone after the heated exchange and received a text from her friend. She was frustrated, so she did not want to read it but the texts continued coming in.
“[My friend] texted me again, and I looked at it and was like yeah that’s not me. Then I checked my number, and I saw it was me,” Darensbourg said. “I was like, wow amazing, and then I told my mom and our whole mood just changed. We forgot about the argument.”
Her mom was thrilled that Darensbourg got the part because she had always wanted her to do theater. It being Darensbourg’s senior year, she decided to do it without fear.
“I haven’t done theater in the past because I was scared and anxious. I got peer pressured into not doing it,” Darensbourg said. “Now that I’m a senior, I can do whatever I want. I just decided to be in theater and I’m really glad that I did. It’s just, if I can do this, what else can I do?”
Darensbourg has felt very welcomed into the show. When the lights turn on, she feels like she is out there by herself.
“I don’t know how I’m going to feel when the actual day comes and I know there are actual people out there. For right now, I feel really comfortable in my own skin because of the people that have made me comfortable, which is the leads, the ensemble and even the directors,” Darensbourg said. “They’ve made me feel very welcomed and encouraged me that I can do this.”
