Last week, a friend of mine sent me some audition information for the upcoming Broadway show "Cry Baby." Originally, the 1990 film "Cry-Baby" cast Johnny Depp in the title role of a motorcycle riding "bad boy" who falls for a debutante named Allison, who was tired of being a "good girl." Think "GREASE." I looked into it and decided to submit my information.
Two days later, I got an email from one of the casting crew asking me to audition in Memphis, Tennessee. Memphis is about 7 hours from Dallas. There was no way I was going to pass up this opportunity! I knew they were looking for an singer/actress about 18 or so, but I didn't care. I never mention my age unless I'm asked "the question." I mean why not try out for stuff that comes your way. You just never know where it leads, and no way was I going to have a "what if."
I define "what if" as events in my life that if I were to look back on and say things like "what if I would have said this or that etc." I can't have those! And so everything I do, I do it to the best of my abilities so I don't ever look back and have a "what if." 
A short email with the audition information for the part of Allison followed along with the script and the sheet music to "I'm Infected." There were three scenes for me to memorize. One scene was a conversation between Allison and her Grandmother over how silly she was for falling for a "two-timing" guy (Cry-Baby). The second scene was between Cry-Baby and Allison regarding a romantic night in a junk yard. And the third scene was Allison getting a gold plated guitar pick from Cry-Baby.
The audition day arrived and I was prepared. I even dressed the part. I wore my black and white poke-a-dot dress (the one on my profile) with short socks and checkered vans. I was a little nervous because I've never auditioned for anything having to do with Broadway before. But I did it. I walked in there and did my own thing. While I heard the beltings of these girls sing their hearts out to "I'm Infected" I decided to do my own rendition of a soft spoken, madly in love, Allison. I acted the song out in front of the casting crew.
"WOW! ALyX! that was wonderful!" Exclaimed one of the ladies sitting next to a table. I could only hope she really meant it.
"How old are you?" she asked. There was the dreaded question! Why! Why! Must you ask????
I told them my age.
"Sing us the song you brought with you." She stated.
I sang "Leavin' On Your Mind." My performance was followed with more exclamatory remarks. I smiled. I knew I had my lines to do next. I was asked to do the scene with Cry-Baby in the junk-yard.
The entire audition took less than 15 minutes. But that audition might have just opened the door to other opportunities as I they wanted to talk to me about some kind of show they put on in the summer time having to do with Patsy Cline. (After all I was in Memphis!)
It was worth it. And so we drove back to Texas, seven hours in the car. I don't have any "what ifs." 