Meredith Morrison
Appearances
The Moth
The Moth Radio Hour: The Big Reveal
So the day that I was born ended my sister's four-year one-woman show. And unknown to me at the time, it also began my very lengthy audition for the important role of supporting actress in her show. The trouble was I was not what she envisioned for this very important role in her life. She had tea parties. I played tea ball. She liked to arrive late to parties to have a grand entrance.
The Moth
The Moth Radio Hour: The Big Reveal
I liked to arrive early so that I could know where the exits and the bathrooms were at all times. For Halloween, she was Cinderella. I was the pumpkin. And she very much was a performer and was comfortable on the stage, and I preferred to be in the audience. That was until one fateful day in eighth grade, of all the grades, middle school, it's a time to really go out on a limb.
The Moth
The Moth Radio Hour: The Big Reveal
My two best friends, Megan and Kristen Hankins, the twins, they were in fact twins, that wasn't like a weird thing, I just called them, came over to my house, and they rang the doorbell, and I opened it, and they're like, we're trying out for the musical. And I was like, that is great for you guys, that sounds really awesome. Like, I'll be there, let me know when it is.
The Moth
The Moth Radio Hour: The Big Reveal
And they're like, no, no, we are trying out for the musical. the three of us, and I was like, no, that's not actually going to happen, but thank you for thinking of me. And they kindly reminded me that I owed them one, because I made them join the bowling team with me, and so they were like, listen, as a fellow pinhead, you have to,
The Moth
The Moth Radio Hour: The Big Reveal
commit to this um and I was like all right I'll do you guys a solid like I'll be your third that way you can audition and get in and all that good stuff so we practice we go to the audition it happens um you know the next day at school we're waiting for the list to be posted whether or not we get called back for for a larger part so we run to the list and we see all three of our names are on it
The Moth
The Moth Radio Hour: The Big Reveal
And unfortunately, my overachieving self is like, well, I can't quit. My name's on the thing. I need to show up. I have to do it. So we go the next day to, no, I'm sorry. First, I go and talk to my sister. So I open the door to my sister's room. And it's almost like she set up like a, in her own bedroom, like one of those where you have the lights, like she's backstage on Broadway.
The Moth
The Moth Radio Hour: The Big Reveal
It's just like her, it's already there. And every time I entered, I feel like she was always like, yes. Yes. And so I enter and, you know, I'm standing in the doorway waiting for her permission and her acknowledgement. And I was like, Jen, like I got, I got a call back for the musical. And she's like, really? All right, you'll be fine. Don't worry. I'm sure they bring a lot of people back.
The Moth
The Moth Radio Hour: The Big Reveal
It's middle school. You know, I was like. Okay, thanks. Appreciate it. So I read over the script and I found this character. It was the pajama game. And so I found this character. I was like, poopsie. This is who I want to play. She has 15 lines, like enough to be like a part of it. So I might be memorable, but not enough where there's a large amount of responsibility.
The Moth
The Moth Radio Hour: The Big Reveal
So I was like, all right, I'm going for poopsie. She's my girl. She's a good time. That's what I'm going for. So we go to the lead callbacks. And they gave me the script and like, we want you to read for Babe Williams. And I was like, I know that role. She has over 200 lines and she's a part of eight out of the 12 musical numbers, two of which are solos. And I'm like, this is my nightmare.
The Moth
The Moth Radio Hour: The Big Reveal
This is not who I want. I read as Babe and then I go home again, go into my sister's room and she's on her bed. How did it go? And I was like, Jen, I don't know what to do. They had me read for babe. And she's like, who is this babe? And I said, well, she is the lead. She's like, like the lead of the, I was like, yes. And she's like, well, they just do that, Meredith. Okay, Jen.
The Moth
The Moth Radio Hour: The Big Reveal
She's like, no, they'll have you read for these larger characters, but you could end up getting cast for a smaller role. It's fine. Relax. I was like, okay, good. I was like, I want poopsie. She's like, I'm sure you'll be poopsie if you even... It sounds like a perfect role for your first venture into this, you know, because she's a seasoned thespian at 14.
The Moth
The Moth Radio Hour: The Big Reveal
So it is the fateful day where they're going to post that final cast list. We all gather. We're waiting for the director, who is the band teacher, to post the cast list on the auditorium doors. And me, Megan, Chris, and the twins are...
The Moth
The Moth Radio Hour: The Big Reveal
eagerly waiting and the crowd sort of starts to part and I see people starting to like look at me which was not normal I was kind of awkward like I'd like to blend in so I start obviously at the bottom of the cast list because that's me I'm like poopsie my girl she's down here and I see poopsie Lauren Wilkinson I'm like well that's not me who's this and I continue looking up
The Moth
The Moth Radio Hour: The Big Reveal
the list and then i finally get to the very top babe williams next to it is meredith morrison and i start sobbing the band director thought i was so overwhelmed with just like how excited i was she comes over she's like oh you're babe how do you feel i was like i didn't want the lead i didn't want a poopsie And she was like, this is not the reaction I was thinking you were going to have.
The Moth
The Moth Radio Hour: The Big Reveal
And she was like, you know what? Go home, think about it, and then come back tomorrow and let me know if this is something you really want to do. So I go, of course, to my sister's room. I open the door. And she's like, she's waiting for me every single time. And she's like, so? Was it posted? And I said, it was. And then I start crying. And she's like, oh, you didn't make it. You didn't get in.
The Moth
The Moth Radio Hour: The Big Reveal
I go, no, Jen. I got the lead. She's like, what? What? the lead babe and I was like yes I'm going to be playing babe and she was like okay all right she's like well where's your script and I was like Jen I don't know if I want to do it and she was like think about it and I did and I looked at her I was like you know what I don't want to do it but I think I have to
The Moth
The Moth Radio Hour: The Big Reveal
And so on opening night, I have my Britney Spears mic I'm very excited about. And the curtain opens and I walk out to start the play. And I look out into the audience and I see Jen, my toughest critic, sitting front row with a bouquet of flowers ready to congratulate me. Thank you.
The Moth
The Moth Radio Hour: The Big Reveal
Playing Babe Williams helped me to realize the importance of putting myself out there, which is something that I've spent the last decade or so hoping to instill in the students that I've had the honor of serving as either a teacher or their school principal. Babe also provided me a glimpse into my sister's world and an opportunity to connect with her and understand her more.