Growing up, my home was filled with music of all sorts— music that echoed from the radio and flickered from the television screen. Our local AM radio station played top 40 tunes, and I would memorize every word of every song as if it were my job. On the television, my family would watch and listen to the smooth rhythms of Lawrence Welk, cry over Elvis performing on a TV special, and dance to the groovy vibes of Soul Train and American Bandstand. Music was a constant companion in our home. This is how my love for musical theater blossomed: I remember sitting in our gymnasium, which doubled as a community theater, waiting with excited anticipation for the curtain to rise on classic shows like The Sound of Music, Oklahoma! and Jesus Christ Superstar. I knew every performer and it was so much fun to watch as my English teacher sang out his character’s lines on the stage. These productions were more like community events, attended by friends and neighbors who came to socialize and enjoy the performance.