GALWAY–The Drama Club season is coming up, and its shaping up to be an exciting one. We have compiled a list a la Buzzfeed style, stating all the reasons you should audition and join the Drama Club. Or sign up to be a crew member. Please scroll through and carefully examine and completely comprehend every reason. Thank you.

1) The Show
This year, the production will be Stephen Sondheim’s “Into The Woods.” The show is brilliant, hilarious, and overall beautiful. There is not a dull moment in this show and as a performer (or crew member) you will thoroughly enjoy yourself.

2) The Parts
EVERY PART IN THIS SHOW IS IMPORTANT. There will never be a time when it will be said that your role is unimportant. There are plenty of lead roles for all you rising stars out there. Or if you prefer only a few lines with minimal singing, it can be arranged. New members are welcomed with open arms here at the Galway High Drama.

3) The Viewing Party
At some point this month, there will be a showing of the original Broadway cast performance of “Into The Woods.” Brownies, cookies, soda and laughs will be shared. It’s a great opportunity to meet the cast, directors and see the show before we perform it ourselves.

4) Ms. Booth
Ms. Booth, the chorus teacher, is also the music director of the Drama Club. She does an impeccable job helping the cast learn the music and getting us to sound lovely. Plus, she’s super cool as just a person. She will become your best friend. We love you Ms. B!

5) Mrs. Valente
She’s our director. She’s brilliant, understanding, passionate, driven, and a saint. She is a fearless leader and wants to see us all succeed. You will be forever glad to have been able to work under her leadership. Be nice to her and love her unconditionally.

6) The Cast
The cast will become your family. They will know more about you than you know about yourself. Do not bring food or drink to rehearsals because it will become community snack time and that food will disappear before you get a bite. Love them unconditionally too.

7) The Inside Jokes
The list of inside jokes that will be created throughout the duration of the show will be immense. And they will last a lifetime. Just ask anyone who was in “Annie Get Your Gun.” (“Oh, you’re still acting?”, “SHUT UP DOLLY” and “the totem pole” dialogue.) What happens backstage, stays backstage.

8) Rehearsals
Rehearsals will be the time of your life. You will laugh, cry, maybe get dropped from a lift a time or two, crack your voice, hit a note you didn’t know you could hit, learn a new dance move, and the list goes on and on.

9) The Bloopers
During rehearsals, many, MANY mistakes will be made. You will flub a word and turn the entire sentence inappropriate, or your scene partner will look at you funny and the whole scene will have to be restarted because everyone will burst out into uncontrollable laughter. It’s the little moments like these that will really make you appreciate your cast and being a part of the show. Just make sure you get back on track immediately following the mistake.

10)Cast Parties
The weekend of the performances, there will be a cast (and crew) party. We gather in the gym to feast on pizza, chicken wings, ice cream sundaes, cookies and soda, to only burn off all the calories playing basketball, volleyball and dancing. Beware, we go hardcore on the Cupid Shuffle.

11)The Crew
Also known as “The Backstage Ninjas,” the crew represents the magic of the show. They will help you with anything, whether it be stripping you and redressing you for a two minute quick change, running to the light booth to get batteries for your dead mic pack mid show, or giving you a nice, long hug when you get run down. Do not get on their bad side though, because they can make everything a lot harder for you. Just be nice to the crew.

12)The Headsets
This reason is more for those of you looking to join the backstage crew. Along with being among the coolest and prove your awesomeness, you will be awarded with a headset for tech week rehearsals and the shows. You will be able to communicate with the lighting booth and other amazing crew members with the power of the headsets. Use them wisely, crew members.

13) Cast Jam Session
A tradition I started last year is the cast jam session. I felt like the cast (and crew) needed some inspiration, motivation, and bonding. So we pulled out some guitars and played some tunes everybody knows and loves. It’s a great time and brownies are also provided.

14) Teasers
You’ve all seen the teasers. We take a few songs/scenes and perform them for the school. It’s great getting to leave class early to put on your costume and makeup and listen nervously backstage as your loud and anxious classmates ever the auditorium only to be blown away by the amazing performance that will be performed.

15) Costumes
You will have a love/hate relationship with your costume. Because this is not Broadway and we are not rich, nine times out of ten your costume will be a hand-me-down. But don’t worry, it’s like on a sports team when you get your uniform. You feel proud to wear it, like all the great players did before you. You’ll feel proud to wear those 3-sizes too big tuxedo pants or the horrendous bright pink ball gown.

16) SLOC
Every year, Mrs. Valente invites judges from Schenectady Light Opera Company to watch us perform and to judge us. SLOC awards three high schools with Best Musical Award, and awards one performer for the Most Outstanding Performer Award. In the past, Galway High Drama has had many performers nominated (myself included for my role last year as Annie Oakley) for the award. Who knows, maybe one of you reading this could win the award this year.

17)Tech Week
Tech week is the week of rehearsals before the show. Tech week has gotten its of the cool, the backstage crew, if you work hard enough bad name from long nights of non-stop rehearsing, fed-up directors and over-exhausted actors. But, if everyone does their jobs correctly, tech week can be a blast. Even if you’re there till 9:00. In this week, you get to watch a bunch of rag-tag little punks singing show tunes, to a professional, Broadway looking show. Boom. Tech week.

18)Tech Week Dinners
Because rehearsals run so late during tech week, our wonderful stage parents volunteer to make/bring meals for our dinner break. You will enjoy stealing your cast mate’s food while they’re away, chatting about how excited you are for opening night, and taking cast/crew dinner selfies on another’s person’s phone while they are not looking. Plus the meals are always on point. Always.

19)Pre-Show Circles
Before every show, the cast and crew gather in the traditional pre-show circle. We lock arms and listen to some encouraging words from Mrs. Valente and fellow cast members. Then we shake it out to pump ourselves up for the show. It’s a moment of unity, and the calm before the storm.

20) Opening Night
There is no greater thrill than opening night. From the moment you arrive in the chorus room at 5:00 PM to prepare, to exiting the “stage door,” greeted by all your adoring fans, your head will spin with excitement. There’s something about showing off all your hard work for the past 3 months for a crowd that is just as excited as you that is irreplaceable.

21)Curtain Call
Short, sweet and simple. When you take your bow during the curtain call, and hear the crowd cheering for you, even for two seconds, you will remember why you auditioned, and worked as hard as you did. In this moment, you will feel infinite and be grateful for all the time spent in that auditorium.