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of the windows blank for “the future of our amazing adventures together,” the accompanying card explained.
    Realizing I didn’t have time to go through the cards everyone had left, I turned my attention to the mirror and began putting on my makeup for the show. Alexis started off with just your basics, as the audience should see her as very girl-next-door in Act I. The makeup design for the character got much heavier and bordered on over-the-top before Act II began, helping the audience see her as the villainess of the show. As I was putting the finishing touches on my eyeliner, Stewart knocked lightly on the open door and entered carrying an enormous vase of exotic looking wildflowers. They took my breath away. There were oranges, reds, and purples, all with such a unique quality that I took a moment to marvel at them, before wondering who in the world had sent them to me. “Who are these from?” I asked Stewart.
    “I’m just the delivery boy,” he said, hands up in surrender. “But I do believe I spotted a card.”
    “Oh, well, thanks, Stewart.”
    “No problem. Have a great show tonight.” “I’ll try.”
    I opened the card.

    Jenna,
    Break a leg. Tonight is yours. Know that I’m behind you 100% always.
    —A.

    Adrienne . I smiled at her words and realized they were completely true. When we were out there on that stage together, I did feel supported by her. I realized in that moment how important that was and closed my eyes and thought of her words on the card one last time before Chloe’s voice on the loudspeaker snapped me out of it. “Ladies and gentleman, this is your fifteen minute call. Fifteen minutes until places.”
    I continued getting ready, putting my hair in pin curls and waiting patiently while my wig was applied. Next, the sound technician put my mic in place where it couldn’t be seen peeking
    out from Alexis’s auburn hair. I stepped into my first costume, a very
    stylish collegiate-looking skirt and top.
    “Ladies and gentlemen, this is your five minute call. Five
    minutes to places please.”
    Okay, now the adrenaline was kicking in. I had been warming up my voice intermittently, but decided to run a few more scales to loosen up my vocal chords as I walked to the stage. On the way I received high fives, squeezes to my shoulder, and even a few light kisses to my cheek.
    The few moments I spent in the wings prior to the show seemed incredibly chaotic. My mind was racing with all the things I was scared I’d forget to do. It seemed like the cast and crew around me were moving in fast motion, and my relaxation techniques no longer seemed to be working. There were roughly two thousand people in that audience who’d paid a lot of money to see this show, and I could hear every one of them through the curtain. The run in Chicago was sold out, scalpers were selling seats at double their face value, and I could single-handedly screw this whole thing up. I had never been one to experience panic attacks, but this was quite possibly my first. As I was ready to about-face and walk back to the dressing room, I caught sight of Adrienne laughing with Craig at the stage manager’s table. At that moment, she turned. The lighting in the wings was dim, but I could make out her features fairly easily. When her eyes landed on mine, she smiled slightly and offered me one reassuring nod. That was all I needed, as the world once again slowed to a normal pace. I held my gaze with Adrienne and felt my mind cease its racing. I nodded back to her, a silent thank-you, and
    turned my attention fully to the stage.
    “Ladies and gentlemen, places please. Places for Act One.”
    Adrienne walked onstage and took her opening position for the top of the show. Moments later, Craig called the first cue in his book, the orchestra began the opening number, and the curtain rose.
    Everything from that point forward seemed like a blur. My first scene and number in the show with Adrienne was probably the most gratifying