Auditions. That one word is enough to strike fear into the heart of any student who has to try out for a number of things at the beginning of the school year: Madrigals, or jazz band, or the fall play ("Anne Frank"). Because auditioning involves getting up in front of a bunch of other hopefuls and doing your best not to mess up.

I love auditions.

Actually, let me rephrase this. I love auditions, but not for school. Trying out for a CUTC (Champaign Urbana Theater Company) show is a piece of cake. The directors don't know you. You can mess up, and walk out of there and never see them ever again.

At school, though, you are putting yourself out in front of your peers, and you will see them in the halls or in your classes if you mess up terribly. And it's not even that bad if you are auditioning in a group, but ... having to read something, or sing something, or play something by yourself can be quite intimidating.

And everything has the annoying tendency to go wrong at audition time.

For instance, right before I tried out for Madrigals a few weeks ago, I went to Bevande at Siebel and got a ham and cheese sandwich. For those of you who haven't eaten one of those before, they are absolutely delicious: ham smothered in very gooey melted cheese, on toasty pieces of bread.

It was not a good thing to eat right before I had to sing. For the first half hour of auditions, I was running to the drinking fountain trying to unclog my throat.

Another example was auditioning for the spring musical, "Anything Goes," last year. I was sick. Dreadfully sick. I could not speak, let alone sing. I was allowed to push my singing audition back, but in the end, it was still a sad experience.

But on the other hand, everyone at Uni is extremely supportive. At auditions for "The Diary of Anne Frank" yesterday, there was applause for every single auditionee after he/she read a monologue or dialogue. During all my time at Uni, I have never heard a mean word said during auditions. Whether it is Mr. Murphy, Mrs. Ridenour, or Stud Prod or Big Show directors, everyone is always very supportive.

Although auditions can be nerve-wracking, they can also be extremely fun. And everyone there will be cheering you on.

(This is a shamless attempt to get more upperclassman boys to try out for "Anne Frank." Thank you.)