Acting Up by Kristin Wallace Page A

six-five with a girth the mid-’80s’ Arnold Schwarzenegger would have envied.
    â€œGood grief,” Addison gasped. “I’ve never seen anyone so big.”
    â€œFootball,” Marjorie drawled.
    â€œOr the WWF.”
    Joe opened his mouth and began to sing about a beautiful morning. Addison’s morning took another nosedive. The corn wilted as number twenty-six mangled his audition song. He might have been worse than the shrieking cat girl. Addison now understood why the judges on those reality talent shows were so cranky all the time.
    Addison groaned. “It’s getting ugly in here. Is it possible he doesn’t know how flat he is?”
    Marjorie stared at the stage in disbelief. “Must not.”
    Addison wasn’t sure getting her career back was worth having her eardrums permanently damaged. What good was positive publicity if she couldn’t hear the reports about her triumphant comeback?
    Addison had arrived at the school earlier to find hordes of kids packed into the auditorium. They’d been everywhere, sitting on top of one another, sprawled all over the floor, and standing in the aisles. According to Ethan ninety-nine percent of the student body had turned out when they’d realized a celebrity was going to direct. About ninety-eight percent of them made her wish she were deaf. In the two hours and thirty-seven minutes since they’d started, Addison had seen only two boys and three girls who could even carry a tune. Not good voices, but not so bad she wanted to pull a Van Gogh and cut off her ear. Which was a problem.
    The musical, She’s a Beauty , was a retelling of the classic My Fair Lady , set in a modern-day high school. Eliza Doolittle had been transformed into Ellie Dooley, an awkward and shy teen, who moves to the city from a one-horse country town named Horton’s Gulp. Ellie’s country ways and patched-up clothes make her an obvious target for ridicule. Until the most popular boy in school, Harry Hightower, decides to make Ellie his school science project. Of course, Ellie transforms into a swan, and Harry falls in love with her.
    Addison had to admit, she liked the premise. Her main worry was finding an Ellie. The character was the heart of the play, and the girl who played her had to break the heart of the audience and make them cheer for her. So far, Addison hadn’t seen anyone who even came close to fitting the bill.
    Joe Larsen finished butchering his audition and lumbered off the stage.
    â€œThank you, Joe,” Marjorie called out. “Very interesting. Next up is Luke Mitchell.”
    Luke Mitchell strolled onto the stage with no apparent stage fright. He was almost as tall as Joe Larson, but lanky, with chocolate-brown hair flopping into his eyes and a killer grin. He handed the pianist his music and took center stage. Once his mouth opened, a roomful of women melted into their seats. Even Addison did a semi-melt.
    She glanced down at his information sheet. “He’s never been on stage before?”
    Marjorie pulled her attention off the stage, eyes as wide as saucers. “He plays basketball. I’ve never heard him sing before. He’s good, right?”
    â€œNot just good. He’s perfect. Say hello to Harry.”
    Marjorie held up her hand. “Thank you, Luke. Very nice.”
    Luke nodded and ambled off stage, as if he didn’t even care if made the cast.
    â€œWho’s next?” Addison asked. “Please give me someone who can carry a tune. I’m starting to despair of ever finding an Ellie.”
    â€œYou’re in luck. Lisa Turney has been the star the last two years. She’s good. Knows it, too.”
    Addison arched a brow. “One of those, huh?”
    â€œBig fish in a tidal pool,” Marjorie said, rolling her eyes.
    Lisa strode out onto the stage, shoulders back, chin at a one-hundred-ten-degree angle. She paused, allowing the audience to take in and appreciate