My Worst Moments on Stage (and What They Taught Me)

Okay, friends, sit back and get comfy, because this blog is going to be a little different from what I usually share.

Most of the time I'm here with tips and tricks: how to engage kids, my favourite theatre games, how to bring theatre into your homeschool days. But today? Today I'm getting personal. I'm going to share some of my worst moments on stage… and what each one taught me

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The Audition I Completely Bombed

I've had a few rough auditions over the years. There was one where I ended up slapping somebody. One where I ended up crying. One where I broke a prop. (Theatre is never boring, I promise you that.)

But one of the worst ones of my entire life was for a Canadian TV show on YTV. If you know, you know.

The night before the audition, I decided to change my monologue. I'd convinced myself the one I had just wasn't good enough or funny enough. So I grabbed a monologue I believe my mom had performed before, and I tried to memorize it overnight.

Well… to say the least, I did not.

I walked into that audition room and I froze. I don't think I've ever frozen that badly in my life. I couldn't remember a single thing that came next. Deer in headlights, tears rolling down my face, and I pretty much turned around and ran.

What it taught me: Trust your instincts, and don't change things at the last minute. Yes, theatre is magical and it's all about trying new things. But once you've got something, you need to practice it until it lives in your body, so you know what you're doing, how you're doing it, and you have the confidence that you can do it right.

Funny enough, I once had a teacher tell me that when I perform, I'm always right on that edge of "do I know what's next?" and that's what made me so engaging to watch. And I think that's true! That little edge of excitement is wonderful… but it only works when the preparation is solid underneath it.

The Night a Prop Glass Broke

This one is my worst and best moment on stage, all rolled into one.

I was in a show where one of my fellow performers went to take a drink from her prop glass, and it actually broke in her mouth. 😳

So what did we do? We stayed in character. We helped her off stage, cleaned everything up, kept saying our lines, and kept the whole scene moving. The audience was right there with us, and we just… kept going.

What it taught me: The show must go on! Theatre is one of those things where anything can happen at any moment, and when it does, you lean on your castmates, stay calm, and keep telling the story. (And I tell my performers this all the time: that's exactly why we practice being flexible in class.)

The Show I Performed With a Bucket Waiting in the Wings

Okay, this one isn't glamorous. I was on stage one night feeling SO sick. Very nauseous. So sick that I would say my lines, play my character, then literally run off stage and throw up in a bucket in the wings… and then go right back out for my next scene.

I'm not recommending this, by the way! But it's a memory that has stuck with me for years.

What it taught me: Once again, the show must go on, and wow, does theatre teach resilience. When you're part of a cast, you realize that what you do matters. Your castmates are counting on you, the audience is there for you, and you find a strength you didn't know you had.

The Night the Orchestra Forgot My Solo

I was quite young when I landed the role of Rizzo in Grease, and I was SO excited. My grandfather was coming to see me. He had a hard time getting around and didn't often go out, so this was, I believe, the very first time he'd ever been in the audience to watch me on stage. 💛

Well… for some reason, the orchestra forgot my solo. Yes, if you know the show, There Are Worse Things I Could Do. They skipped it. Completely.

So there I was in the green room, crying my eyes out. My big moment, the one I'd practiced over and over, the one my grandfather was there to see, just… gone.

And then someone popped their head in: "Courtney, they're putting the song in another spot. You need to go on!"

So I did. Tears in my eyes, boogers in my nose, all stuffed up from crying, looking like absolute garbage… I walked out on that stage and sang that song. It probably wasn't the prettiest version ever performed. But it was my moment, and I got to show my grandfather what I could do.

What it taught me: It doesn't have to be perfect to matter. The people who love you aren't there for a flawless performance. They're there for you. Showing up, even when things go sideways and you're a teary, stuffy mess, is what counts. I still think about that night every time I see a young performer who's scared their moment is ruined. Sometimes the imperfect moments are the ones we remember forever.

And Then There Are the Kids' Shows…

When it comes to my Centre Stage Kids shows, oh friends, I have seen quite a bit.

Forgotten costumes. Forgotten lines. Forgotten entrances. Kids who didn't want to go on because a costume piece was missing, so I walked right on stage myself. Kids who got hurt right before their entrance and pushed through anyway. Kids who peed their pants while we ran around backstage trying to help. Kids who were bleeding backstage and still getting ready to go on.

And you know what? None of those are our worst moments. Not even close.

Those are all moments we push through together, and every one of them makes us stronger and better. Honestly, they make me love what I do even more, because they show me who I am when things get messy, and they show these kids who they are too. 💛

So if you don't believe that's what theatre can do for your kid… then you just don't know. (Yet! 😉)

Why I'm Sharing All This

Because here's the thing: every single one of these "worst moments" made me a better performer, a better teacher, and honestly a stronger person.

When I see young performers get those big pre-show nerves, I get it. I've been there (sometimes with a bucket). And I love showing them that mistakes aren't the end of the story. They're often the best part of it.

That's what theatre does. It builds resilience, courage, and the confidence to keep going, on stage and in life.

If your kid is ready to find their people and take their own brave steps on stage, come check out what we've got going on at Centre Stage Kids. There's always room for one more.

If you are a homeschooler looking to add theatre to your homeschool routine here are some great resources.