Cues from the Wings
October 22
I spent three weeks memorizing Arthur's monologue for The Clockwork Manor. I practiced in front of the bathroom mirror until my jaw clicked, timing the pause right before the pocket watch reveal so it would land with actual drama. When Mr. Henderson posted the callback list outside the auditorium doors on Tuesday, my name was right there under the lead. Today, the final cast board went up beside the chorus room water fountain, and Arthur belongs to Marcus Patel.
Beside my name, in black Sharpie, Mr. Henderson had written: Stage Crew / Assistant Stage Manager (Props & Deck Cues).
I stood in the hall with my backpack digging into my right shoulder while Marcus and three girls from the ensemble took selfies in front of the corkboard. Marcus looked over my shoulder, tapped the glass case, and said, "Hey, Leo, you and me run scene four together, right? Like, you have to hand me the iron wrench from the stage left curtain." He smiled, totally genuine, not even realizing that having a friend hand you a prop in the dark is about ten light-years away from speaking the lines under the spotlights. I mumbled something about needing to check my locker and walked away before my face got any redder.
- monologue:
- A long speech delivered by a single actor in a theatrical play or film.
- callback:
- A second audition where a director invites select performers back to evaluate them further.
- ensemble:
- A group of supporting theatrical performers who appear together rather than as individual leads.
- gaffer tape:
- A heavy, fabric-backed adhesive tape used backstage to secure cables and mark positions.
- spike marks:
- Tape markings placed on a stage floor to show where actors or set pieces belong.
- wings:
- The hidden areas directly off the sides of the visible stage.
- climax:
- The most intense, crucial, or suspenseful turning point in a story or drama.
- prompt book:
- A master binder containing the script, actor movements, and all technical cues for a play.
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Preview questions from this passageShowHide
- 1How does Leo's preparation for the audition contrast with the final cast list announcement?
- 2What does Marcus's reaction at the cast board reveal about his awareness compared to Leo's emotional state?
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About this diary entry passage for 8th Grade
“Cues from the Wings” is a diary entry reading passage about coping with disappointment, written for 8th Grade. It takes about 4 minutes to read (626 words) and comes with an interactive quiz and a printable worksheet with comprehension questions and an answer key.