Prologue
The 40th Collegiate Musical Theater Competition, October 31, 2007.
One by one, each school presents their performance, the atmosphere growing more intense with each round. As time passes, the announcer finally calls out, “Horizon State University, Rhythm & Revues.”
The team steps onto the stage, and Gynne immediately feels the weight of all those eyes on her—something she’s never been comfortable with. Her body tenses, her feet glued to the floor. The world seems to blur, every sound fading away as if she’s trapped in a bubble. The crowd is loud, but to Gynne, it’s as if everything is on mute.
Then she feels a reassuring hand on her shoulder. It’s Maurice, her calm voice cutting through the haze. “Gynne, take a deep breath. Remember what we practiced.”
In her mind, Gynne recalls an earlier moment in an empty auditorium. Maurice had positioned her at the center of the stage, directing her gaze toward the vacant seats. “When the time comes, these empty seats will be filled with people. Their eyes might admire you, or they might judge you. But you can’t let that affect your focus. You’re not performing for them—you’re performing because it’s what you love. Let that drive you.”
Maurice had noticed the tension still lingering in her eyes and had given her a reassuring smile. “If the crowd feels too overwhelming, just focus on the faces you truly want to see—the ones who’ll be cheering for you no matter what. Let them be your audience.”
Gynne repeated Maurice’s advice in her mind as she took a deep breath. She scanned the audience again, picturing her parents, her sisters, Leila, Corinne, Emman, and Paul sitting in the front row. With that comforting thought, her confidence began to return. As the music began, she stepped into the performance fully present.
The team moved in perfect harmony, executing each move with precision. Gynne’s nerves melted away as she immersed herself in the play. From the judges’ table, approving nods and faint smiles confirmed they were making a positive impression. By the time the performance ended, the applause was thunderous. Gynne and her teammates exchanged relieved smiles, knowing they had given their all.
