by Anne M. McGee
Fresh out of college, Merita had come to New York to make her mark in the ruthless business of stage and screen acting.
Success would not come easy. Many hours of auditions and casting calls lay ahead. She had everything it took-talent, looks and a determined faith in Christ to help her succeed against all odds. But it would be hard work. She faced grueling hours of standing in casting-call lines, waiting for her three minutes in the limelight.
Already the endless hours of practicing, exercising and sharpening the dance routines had worn down her body and her spirit. And each rejection piled on more anxiety and frustration.
But, as a committed Christian, Merita's faith in God gave her the strength to persevere. She refused to abandon her destiny-her calling to serve Christ using the stage talents God had given her.
KNOWING WHAT IT TAKES
Merita had worked two summer internships in Jonah's office. She had seen firsthand the hopes and aspirations of newcomers like herself. She'd also glimpsed the heartbreak and the dashed dreams of those who didn't make it.
Merita recognized the darkness lurking behind the glitz and glamour of the costumes, the singing and the dancing. Beyond the floodlights after the curtain falls, drugs, alcohol and sex are too often the currency of the trade. Merita was well aware of the pitfalls.
But the more she studied God's Word and immersed herself in the teachings of a supportive church, the stronger she became in her faith and her commitment to share Christ and bring light in the midst of darkness.
THE ROLE OF A LIFETIME
Merita had been fortunate to locate a studio apartment in the home of an older Christian woman, a longtime family friend. Merita found comfort and solace in the wise counsel and encouragement she received from this motherly landlord. Merita grew in her faith and gained insight into her most important on- and off-stage role.
Merita believed that God wanted her to be on mission-consciously serving as a living example of His love to people who probably would never read a Bible or go to church. She might be their first introduction to Christ.
Merita finally landed a role in an off, off Broadway production, receiving modest acclaim. Her outstanding performance and singing received notice in the trade papers. But, following six months of exhausting rehearsals, the show closed after only nine performances.
It was a blow for everyone in the production. But at the cast party Merita found herself looking around at the others and reflecting on the times she'd spent with her fellow cast members. Many of their conversations and other exchanges had been intimate and meaningful. She'd gained valuable professional experience and formed friendships that extended beyond the world of her church and fellow Christians. She also knew that, by being open about her faith, she'd made an impact on these performers and the entertainment culture they populated.
There was Jazzy, a homosexual dancer, who introduced Merita to his lover. During rehearsals Jazzy and Merita had spent hours talking about life, her faith and their individual dreams for the future. They came to know and like one another as co-workers and friends.
Jazzy told her he was struck by the fact that, as a Christian, Merita could love him without condemnation even while she encouraged him to abandon his gay lifestyle. Merita managed to confront Jazzy with how much Christ loves him and how He wants Jazzy to live, but she did it in a caring, non-condemning manner. She showed respect for Jazzy as a person and as a fellow performer.
Some in the cast hadn't really warmed to Merita or her message. For example, there was Nikki, who walked the streets in the daylight from audition to audition and walked the streets at night from car to car. In one conversation Nikki disparaged the waitress tips Merita earned that barely paid for her lodging. But, after six months of watching her and observing how she lived her life, at the cast party Nikki finally gave Merita a farewell wave and said, "You go, girl. It looks like you might do this thing after all."
As she hugged Tico, Merita appreciated his baritone voice as he whispered his goodbye. In their embrace, however, she also felt the leanness of his frame and knew that crack cocaine was taking its toll on his once robust physique.
Merita had shared Christ with Tico weeks earlier. He'd made an initial commitment to Jesus, and he desperately wanted to change, to break free from drugs. He knew that life in the fast lane behind the scenes of performing had come at a terrible cost. So Merita spent time encouraging Tico in his tentative walk as a new believer. Her transparency in sharing her own story of recovery through surrender to Christ gave Tico hope that he, too, could overcome his addiction.
LIVING THE DREAM
During the next several months, Merita spent many hours waiting for call-backs while she worked at odd jobs. She was almost to the point of giving up from discouragement when she arrived home one day to find that her agent had called. He'd scheduled her for two auditions, one for "The Lion King" and one for "Aida." He said he thought her voice was just what the casting directors wanted.
When Merita finished the auditions, she was overjoyed to receive call-backs for both musicals. She felt God had heard and answered her prayers. This was her time!
Today, Merita is living her dream and singing in one of the hottest shows on Broadway, touching lives and influencing the culture right where God wants to use her-on the "Great White Way" in the Big Apple.
Anne M. McGee is a writer living in Alexandria, Virginia.