A Day in my life as Albany in King Lear

Hey! I’m Lucy David. I am in the eighth grade, and I am Albany in King Lear. This is a day in my life during the tail end of rehearsals. 

I start my day by waking up at 6:30. I leave my house at 6:50 to get to school at 7:30. I need to get to the second floor of Jenkins to put my bags into my locker and in their places. I usually get down to Davies by 7:35 and hang out with my friends, maybe run some lines before morning meeting (on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday). On Thursdays I wake up at 6:30 because I have a little sister in the IP who still needs to be at school at 7:50, and I have societies some weeks. Other weeks and on Fridays I don’t so I spend my time with my mom in the Paterserrie in the Hotel Bennet working on my performance, running lines, doing homework, or having just a fun coffee klatch. When I get to school I hang out or maybe work on the play a little more. Then my classes start. After my first two classes, I have break, so I usually take that time to chill with my friends. Then I have one more class before lunch. After lunch, I have my last class of the day. 

Rehearsal starts at 3:30, so I usually go to the vending machine and grab a snack or drink before I get over to Burges. When I get there it’s usually around 3:23. I talk to some of the cast members who were called that day. These discussions can range from talking about our scene to what we had for breakfast that day. The point is to make us closer and more like a family. 

When rehearsal actually starts, we head over to the bear cave since that’s where the play will be. We usually have at least three scenes we need to rehearse every day, sometimes I am in all of them. Most of the time I am not. So I have to wait for my scene to be rehearsed. Usually, I’ll run lines with the other people not on stage at the moment, do homework, analyze the script, watch what’s happening, or just bond more with new and old friends in the play.

Rehearsing scenes is fun. I get on stage and say what I need to say. Usually, we get blocking (where you’re supposed to go while on stage, your actions) either changed or new. And then I get off stage and put notes in my script. 

Rehearsal ends at 6:00 which means I usually get home around 6:30. I rarely am allowed to leave early, but I love being there so it doesn’t really make a difference. When I get home, I do any leftover homework that is due the next day. Then I eat dinner around 7:00 and go to bed around 9:00. 

Being in school plays is intense. I need to take advantage of any moment I have to either get ready for the play, or do homework. 40 minute DIS blocks become my solace, a time that I have to myself for whatever I need to get done. Nights I don’t have King Lear have become few and far between as of the last two weeks till the performance. But I wouldn’t change this experience for the world. I love doing this.