"Attention, thespians! I have a brief announcement." Carlos announces. "Speech! Speech!" Seb says.

     "After spending the last couple of weeks Google-stalking the Menkie Awards, I've discovered that there is no category for Best Choreography. And since the Menkies is step one to me becoming the first ever winner of a MEGOT... I've decided that I will be auditioning to be on stage this year. Thank you, all!" Carlos explains, as everybody claps for him.

    "Big Red's trying out too!" Ashlyn announces holding up Big Red's arm.

    "Yeah, he is." Ricky says. "Big ups, Big Red. You gonna teach me some of those allegedly great tap moves?" Gina questions.

    Big Red chuckles. "I'm so scared."

    "Oh, just remember you cannot play Chip, the teacup, since it'd be weird for you to be my son. I mean I'm probably getting Mrs. Potts. Not that we don't all have an equal shot." Ashlyn says.

    "Miss Jenn tells me that you're also going out for a role this year." Carlos says to Kourtney.

    Kourtney laughs. "What can I say, I play Taylor for half an act of HSM and suddenly I think I'm Regina King."

    "Uh, Okay." Carlos laughs.

    E.J then comes over to the table. "You're welcome." He says to Ricky

    "Huh?" Ricky asks.

    "Uh, I've decided to take myself out of the running for the Beast. I've just... I've got a lot on my plate. Which reminds me, I should probably pick my meal plan for Duke." E.J explains. "Wait, you officially got in?" Ashlyn asks.

    "Back up. You're not doing the musical either?" Ricky asks.

     "No. I've only go the bandwidth for a supporting role. Wait, what do you mean either?" E.J questions. "Uh..." Ricky chuckles. "Uh... I'm, uh, I'm not sure if I'm auditioning this year. You know, once a skate rat... Right?"

    "Wait, for real?" Gina asks.

                           ———— [...] ————

    "Okay. Um, sorry, I've been trying to work up the courage to say this. Okay, I can't believe I'm standing in front of both Troy Bolton's right now. Both your performances last semester in HSM were incredible." A girl says to them.

    "Thanks." Ricky says. "Thank you. That means a lot to us. It honestly takes a village to get a show up on its feet. I've been blessed." E.J says.

    "No, no, I mean, thank you. Really. I mean you've both inspired me to wanna try out this semester. It's intimidating being basically, like, brand new to theater. Hey, honestly, you guys are all so talented." She continues.

    Ashlyn chuckles. "Oh, thank you."

    "Hey, do you mind if we..." She says gesturing to her phone. "Oh. Sure." Gina says, before they all take a picture together.

    "Hey, you can tag me in that. It's just EJWaterPoloTheaterGuy. Theater... E-R." E.J says to her. "Just did. Bye." The girl says before leaving.

                         ———— [...] ————

   "So, I'm assuming you decided not to go to YAC." E.J says to Marie, who was sitting on the stairs sketching in her notebook.

    "Yeah, I guess so. But I don't know, I love theater and without it I would have met you guys, but I don't know if it's my thing." Marie replies.

    "Well you won't know unless you try it. I'm sure you could still go to YAC if you wanted to." E.J says. "Did you talk to your mom about it?"

    "No... Nobody knows I got in, well besides you." Marie replies.

    "Okay, so you just didn't even consider going?" E.J asks. "Yeah, I guess so." Marie answers.

    "Yeah, I also don't think that fancy boarding school is really my style." Marie says. "Yeah, definitely not. You're style is more of a public school in Salt Lake City, Utah." E.J jokes.

     "How did you find your thing?" Marie asks. "By trying different things, and seeing what sticks." E.J answers. "You never know what you'll like. I mean I never expected to be in theater."

    "Yeah, you didn't really seem like a theater guy." Marie laughs. "Hey, it's almost time to go in. I'll see you in there?" E.J asks. "Yeah, see you in there." Marie nods before he walks away.

                           ———— [...] ————

    "Ahem, all right, as you all know, this year's auditions will be a two-step process. One, a group vocal warm-up to the classic song Belle, and two, a song of your choice. Whatever how's off you the best.  Okay. Circle up. Take your neighbor's hand. For a moment of silent reflection." Miss Jenn announces.

    Miss Jenn: Certain as the sun
Rising in the east
Take as old as time
Song as old as rhyme
Beauty and the...

    Miss Jenn as interrupted by Ricky coming into the auditorium. "Is this Mamma Mia 2? 'Cause here we go again." Carlos says.

                        ———— [...] ————

     Carlos: Little town
It's a quiet village
Every day
Like the one before

    Kourtney: Little town
Full of little people
Waking up to say

    E.J: Bonjour

    Gina: Bonjour

    Big Red: Bonjour

    Seb: Bonjour

    Ashlyn: Bonjour

    Ricky: There goes the baker
With his tray like always
That old bread and rolls to sell

    Seb: Every morning just the same
Since the morning that we came
To this poor provincial town

     E.J: Good morning, Belle

    Ashlyn: Bonjour
Good day
How is your family?

    Gina: Bonjour
Good day
How is your wife?

    Steph: I need six eggs
That too expensive

    Big Red: There must be more
Than is provincial life

    Kourtney: Look, there she goes
That girl is so peculiar
I wonder if she's feeling well

    Kaden: With a dreamy, far-off look
And her nose stuck in a book

    Gina: What a puzzle to the rest of us is Belle

    Marie: Ooh...
Isn't this amazing
It's my favorite part
Because you'll see
Here's where she meets Prince Charming
But she won't discover
That it's him till chapter three

    Ricky: Right from the moment
When I met her, saw her
I said she's gorgeous and I fell

    E.J: Here in town there's only she
Who is beautiful as me

     Carlos: So I'm making plans to woo and marry Belle

    Gina: Madame Gaston
Can't you just see it?

    Kourtney: Madame Gaston
His little wife

    Marie: No sir, not me
I guarantee it

    Seb: I want much more then this provincial life

    Lily: I want adventure
In the great wide somewhere
I want it more than I can tell
And for once it might be grand
To have someone understand
I want so much more
Than they've got planned

    Everyone: Look, there she goes
A girl who's strange but special
A most peculiar mademoiselle

    Girls: Its a pity and a sun

    Guys: She doesn't quite fit it

    Everyone: 'Cause she really is a funny girl
A beauty but a funny girl
She really is a funny girl
That Belle

"All right, all right. I've already learned so much." Miss Jenn laughs. "That's it for the warm up. Please prepare your individual songs."

———— [...] ————

"Hi, okay. This is an original song I wrote, it's called 'Do It All Again'." Marie says, before starting to play the song on her guitar.

"Amateur." Lily whispers.

It's been six weeks since we said our goodbyes
But I can't forget what was
So excuse the mess I made when you were mine
I'm still learning how to love

I know you're nervous
But I won't let you fall
We weren't perfect
But you were worth it all
If it were my call, I'd do it all again
I'd do it all again

I'm not yet used to only being friends
This hurts too much to hide
And I watched you walk into another's arms
I thought we had more time

I know you're nervous
But I won't let you fall
We weren't perfect
But you were worth it all
If it were my call, I'd do it all

I couldn't blame you for putting yourself first
But I'm not afraid to say something first, even if it hurts
I'd need you to know

I know you're nervous
But I won't let you fall
And we weren't perfect
But you were worth it

I know you're nervous
But I won't let you fall
We weren't perfect
But you were worth it all
If it were my call, I'd do it all again
I'd do it all again
I'd do it all again

Miss Jenn smiles. "And that conclude today's auditions." Everybody claps.

———— [...] ————

"Clear!" Carlos says, walking over to post the cast list.

Everybody walks over to see the list, Ashlyn and Marie were at the front. Ashlyn grabs Marie's hand as they look at the list.

Gina was coming down the hallway towards everybody until Marie comes over. "I think there's been a mistake." Marie says. "What do you mean? Did you not get a part?" Gina asks.

"No, I go the part." Marie answers. "Wait. You mean..." Gina starts, "I got Belle! I'm Belle!" Marie says before her and Gina hug.

                            ———— [...] ————

   The cast was at Salt Lake Slices celebrating the auditions.

"Is that Nini?" Kourtney asks Ricky, who shows his phone to see Nini on facetime.

"Pizza tonight for the worlds best kiddos!" Big Red's mom says with two pizzas in her hand. "Don't forget to tip you waitress!"

"Mom!" Big Red says. "You love me, and you know it." she says before walking away.

"Nini! You are looking at Latinx Lumière!" Carlos says to the phone. "And LeFou!" Big Red states. "And Chip!" Seb says. "And Babette zee feather duster!" Gina says in a bad french accent.

"Wait, what are you doing?" Carlos asks. "A French accent?" Gina replies. "Ooh!" Carlos says before hanging the phone to Marie.

"Nini! What's going on at your big fancy boarding school right now? Make us jealous!" Marie says to Nini. "Oh, um... Nothing nearly as exciting as what's going on with you! Congrats, Marie! Of course you get Belle." Nini chuckles.

"Oh, actually, there was this one girl who auditioned, who kind of looks like a literal Disney princess." Marie explains. "Yeah. I think I saw a bird land on her finger while she was singing." Gina adds. Everybody laughs.

"Before you get dessert, Mom gets a picture. That the rule." Big Red's Mom comes over with cupcakes with each person's character on the top.

"Mom!" Big Red complains. "That's the rule, all right?" she says back. "Got you all. And... It's cute!"

The rest of the night was a blast, and definitely one for the books.

——
a/n
alright, so how do feel about Marie getting the lead?

also josh doesn't deserve all of the hate he gets. all of his music is amazing and underrated <3