My surroundings are pitch black.  I feel along the tall, black curtain, as I squeeze through chairs and risers, guided only by my sense of touch.  I wander slowly and carefully to avoid making any unnecessary noise.  After an eternity, I finally see the dim light leaking in from the stage.  My movements are now more confident as I swiftly maneuver around the edge of the curtain.  I feel sweat already trickling down the back of my neck.  The lion costume I am wearing is soft and furry on the outside and traps all of my body heat inside.  The torture of the heat isn’t even in full swing as I have yet to put on the large fuzzy lion head.  I slip my way behind a large set piece and shimmy my way between it and the cold stone wall.  I now can see the stage. 

I flashback to the day I tried out for the part.  The directors had the students who were trying out for “The Wizard of Oz” act many different parts as we read them from the script.  When they had me act the lion part, I went for it as best as I could.  I knew that was the part I wanted from the minute I tried it.  It sounded like the most fun of all the other parts in the entire play.  I was confident the lion part would get loads of laughs.  I was overwhelmed with joy when I discovered that I actually earned the part. 

I snap back to the present.  The stage is illuminated with the light from dozens of giant spotlights, which are no doubt nearly blinding everyone on stage.  Dorothy, Tin Man, and Scarecrow are just beginning to enter the stage.  I know that my moment is soon.  I slip on the large lion head and prepare to ambush.

I don’t think I have ever been so nervous in my life.  I am about to go on stage in front of over 500 people.  At this point I cannot distinguish nervous sweat from heat sweat.

“Lions and tigers and bears, oh my!” chant the trio on stage.  I recognize the chant is my cue. Months of tedious three hour long practices have led up to this moment, and I better not ruin it.  I creep out onto the stage, moving into prime scaring position. 

Just when I am no more than two feet behind them, I pounce forward and produce my mightiest growl, “ROARRRR!”  Scared out of their wits, Tin Man and Scarecrow scatter around, yelling the entire time. Dorothy jumps away to my right.  I chase Tin Man and Scarecrow around the stage.  After seconds of chaos, Tin Man and Scarecrow crash into each other and land on the floor a few feet apart.  I pounce between them. 

“Put ‘em up!  Put ‘em up!”  I announce as stand in a fighter’s stance, waving my fists.  The audience erupts in laughter.  “Awesome!  The crowd loves it!” I reason.  I continue on, “Which one of you first?  I’ll fight you both together if you want!  I’ll fight you with one paw tied behind my back…” I move one paw behind me.  “I’ll fight you standing on one foot!” I pounce on one leg threateningly.  “I’ll fight you with my eyes closed.” I close my eyes for a full second and then open them sharply.  Tin Man lifts his axe towards me.  “Pulling an axe on me, aye?” I retort towards him as I lunge forward.  He stumbles backward.  I whip my head around and peek at Scarecrow. 

“Sneaking up on me, aye?”  Scared by my prowess, he slides back in fear. 

“This is going perfectly!” I think, “All of the preparation for this moment has been worth it! The only thing I have to worry about is my song…” I have never sung in front of a crowd of people before, so I am extremely nervous.  Anything could go wrong. 

“Here, here! Let us alone!” calls Tin Man with clear fear in his voice. 

“Oh scared, huh, afraid huh?” I respond.  “How long can you stay fresh in that can?”  I chuckle at my own wit as I torment Tin Man.  “Come on, get up and fight you shivering junkyard.”  I turn to Scarecrow.  “Put ‘em up you lopsided bag of hay!” 

“Now that’s getting personal, Lion!” whimpers Scarecrow.

“Yeah! Teach him a lesson, Scarecrow,” orders Tin Man.

“Well, what’s wrong with you teaching him?”
“Well, I hardly know him!” 

More laughs come from the audience.  The feeling of the positive energy from the audience is wonderful; it propels me to continue acting.

I turn toward Dorothy and Toto.  “Well I’ll get you anyway, peewee!”  I run over and lunge at Toto, but before I can get close enough to bite, Dorothy smacks me on the nose.  I start crying loudly. 

“What did you do that for? I didn’t bite him…” I say through my sobs.

“But you tried to!  Boy, what a fuss you’re making, why, you are nothing but a great big coward!” accuses Dorothy.
“You’re right! I am a coward; I haven’t got any courage at all! Look at the circles under my eyes.  I haven’t slept in weeks!”  I cry out.
“Have you tried counting sheep?” offers Tin Man.
“That doesn’t do me any good.  I’m afraid of ‘em!” I sob louder.

Everything is going really well.  The only thing I’m nervous about now, is my song.  I have worked on it hard almost every day.  I have practiced both at home and at school.  Even through all of the practice, I’m still super nervous.  It feels like the butterflies in my stomach are trying to escape through my skin.  Before I know it, the moment comes. 

I start the song that is familiar to so many people, “If I Only Had the Nerve.”  I begin sounding a little unsure of myself, but when I get to the main singing part, I work out the problems and push through.  My flamboyant dancing and singing gets some laughs and that encourages me to keep going.  After I finish the song, the butterflies in my stomach fade. 

“That wasn’t so bad,” I think.  As Tin Man, Dorothy, Scarecrow, and I bound off the stage, I can’t help but smile.  I sang in front of people for the first time, and I didn’t do so badly.  Now I’m off to perform the rest of the show.  Let’s hope it all goes as well as that scene.

After four performances, I am sad to be done, but I am also glad that I don’t have to worry about the play anymore.  The play was a ton of work, however, I definitely feel like it was all worth it. I really had an amazing time causing laughs and enjoyment to a large group of people.