The Last Rehearsal

Lexile: 880 | Grade: 6

Passage

Noah sat backstage, gripping the edges of the script in his shaking hands. The final rehearsal for the school play was starting in five minutes, and his stomach twisted like a knot.

He had been excited when he got the lead role in *The Winter Star*, but now, with the lights and the empty seats staring at him, his confidence was melting. What if he forgot his lines? What if everyone laughed?

Across the stage, Priya adjusted a prop tree. She noticed Noah’s expression and walked over. 'You okay?' she asked.

Noah shrugged. 'What if I mess up in front of everyone?'

Priya smiled. 'Then you keep going. That’s what rehearsals are for.'

The director called them to places. As the curtain rose, Noah took a deep breath and stepped into the light. His first line came out a little too fast, and he stumbled over a few words—but then he heard something surprising: applause. Not from the audience, but from his castmates, watching from the wings.

Scene after scene, Noah’s voice grew stronger. By the final act, he was no longer acting—he was the character. When he bowed, the auditorium erupted in cheers. Even though it was just a rehearsal, it felt real.

Later, Priya nudged him. 'Told you.'

Noah grinned. 'Yeah. You were right.'