As a child, I was never all that into musicals and would always rather watch regular movies rather than ones with music, but I had friends that were doing a program called Journey and my mom decided to enroll me in a class and I would audition for the next show, Narnia the Musical. I chose the song “Castle on a Cloud” from Les Miserables because that was the only musical song I knew. When I got up on that stage I was so nervous I couldn’t help it, as I started to sing my legs wouldn’t stop shaking. But I eventually got through the audition and that show began my connection to Journey.
As I continued to do shows I made new friends and got to experience so many different classes and musicals. Then there was finally a straight play for me to do, Seussification of Romeo and Juliet. I was so happy I could do a show involving just acting. Having such a small cast for a show was new and different for me, but I grew to love the people in that show and we became sort of a family.
I continued to do more straight plays and musicals and was able to thrive as a performer; then COVID hit. It was a sad time for me because I had to take a large break from Journey when I hadn’t taken a single season off since I joined. That was until Disney’s Descendants was announced. I was so excited to finally be able to be on the stage after 2 whole years of waiting. Doing that show brought out something in me where I didn’t just love acting, but I loved to dance and sing as well. I looked forward to every rehearsal and every moment that I got to spend with such talented people. It was the most fun that I had ever had.
After that, I had a passion for everything performing arts and continued to grow in my relationships with my fellow performers and as a person. Journey has helped build up a group of people around me that I know will be with me no matter what, and will always push me to do my best. Journey helps bring together unlikely people who would have never met become close together with their shared interest of a love of theater and a love of God.
If you have any interest in theater at all, this is where you should be. This is where I found a second home and some of my best friends.