Uncomfortable Situations

Some times I have those days where I am thrown into some of the most uncomfortable situations. Sometimes these situations end up going really, really well and other times . . . not so much. But from these uncomfortable situations I always learn something new about who I am as a person and what I am capable of doing under pressure and out of my comfort zone.

So today I was at rehearsal for Tarzan. It had been a really long last day to my week and I honestly couldn't wait for rehearsal to be over so that I could go home and just lay on the couch and spend time with my family. We finished running Act 1 and rehearsal was almost halfway over. I was sort of wishing that we would be excused but at the same time I knew and wanted to stay to run the Act again.

Okay so side-note. The actress that play Kala is out sick with a virus and is a good friend of mine so I really hope she gets better. Since she hasn't been there her unofficial "understudy" has been filling in for her at rehearsals.

Okay, I digress. So we almost done with Act 1 and by that point in time I knew that we were going to have to stay after and rerun the Act. It didn't look horrible, like at all (for a high school level production it looked really, really good) but it did need some work. Tarzan and Jane are singing different together when my director calls me back to where she and her creative team were sitting. I went back there and was told that Kala's "understudy" had to leave rehearsal and that I was going to fill in for her. Being a compliant actor, I agreed.

Ya'll should know that this was throwing me way out of my comfort zone. I was really nervous just because I didn't know ANY of the blocking and I didn't feel completely confident in what I would be singing on stage.

Well I got over it and performed my scene as my character (I am Tarzan's mother by the way) and after I left the stage I ran over and immediately starting playing Kala. Although I was nervous, I got over my nerves and performed lines that I had never looked at of heard before and sang songs that I somewhat knew. And in the end I didn't do too shabby of a job. 

I was completely thrown into this role today and this was something completely out of my comfort zone. I absolutely hate being thrown out of my comfort zone and this was pushing it. I don't mind singing or acting on stage, at all. That does not freak me out because I know what I am doing. But honestly had no clue what I was doing for Kala. I did learn that I can work really good under that kind of pressure. I had never done anything like that before and it was interesting and fun and thrilling! I loved every minute of it.

Try to make the best out of the uncomfortable situations. Really playing into them can help you overcome any fear and break through comfort zones. Find comfort in the uncomfortable situations.