Hello readers! For my eighth musical entry, which covers all the musicals that I have been a cast member for, I will be discussing the youthful production of Aesop’s Musical Foibles (yes you read that right, it’s not a spelling error). This was my very first experience acting, singing, and dancing in a theatrical production. I was in 4th grade, and this show would forever change the trajectory of my passions. I would not be who I am today if it weren’t for this energetic musical.

To give a quick synopsis, the story follows Aesop, a young boy who explains to the audience about his problem of constantly hearing voices inside his head. These voices come to life as a variety of characters that only Aesop (and the audience) can see: the resentful Fox, the egomaniac Hare, the sluggish Tortoise, Androcles and the Lion, the Boy who cried wolf and said Wolf, the zen-like Grasshopper, the Aunt, the greedy Farmer, and the Goose who lays golden eggs. The voices become increasingly bothersome to Aesop, which causes his parents to worry about his sanity and take him to a doctor. Freaking out with frustration due to the characters’ constant questions, Aesop wields a cane at the doctor, who ultimately wishes to send Aesop to the loony bin. Meanwhile, the gods Zeus and Hera intervene by sending the muse Daphinity down to help Aesop take control of the characters inside his head. She convinces him that the only way to clear his conscience is to let the characters out and share their stories with the world. Encouraged by his Master (for Aesop and his parents were slaves…which is problematic but was normal around 500 BC when the musical takes place), Aesop’s stories come alive onstage, but the Master remains unimpressed until Aesop can tell him what lessons can be learned from them.

As a 10 year old kid who was very shy up until this time, I was incredibly nervous to be trying out for this musical. I had never put myself out there in that way before, and I almost didn’t audition out of fear, but my mom encouraged me to try. The rest is history. I initially auditioned for the part of the Hare, but I was cast in the role of the Tortoise. It was one of the most comedic roles in the show, for I gained a lot of laughs from the audience as a little kid speaking and moving at an agonizingly slow pace. I am thankful that I summoned up the courage to audition for this show. I am thankful to have been given the opportunity to come out of my shell (literally). I am thankful for the memories that I continue to cherish to this day as a product of this production.