BELLAIRE • MEMORIAL • RIVER OAKS • TANGLEWOOD • WEST UNIVERSITY

Home is where your playbills are

By Tulsi Parikh, age 13 | June 1, 2019

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ONSTAGE Tulsi Parikh, an incoming ninth grader at Memorial High School, says theater has taken her from timid to assertive. (Photo: Ami Parikh)

I need theater the way you need water. Like water, theater supplies nourishment, vitality and refreshment to an otherwise typical teenage life. And yes, I know, this is the cliché of clichés, but I am forever humbled by the onstage experience of butterflies in my stomach and adrenaline rushing through my body.

Every Wednesday at 6 p.m., I have the privilege of walking out of my home and transforming myself into a different character. Wildfish Theatre has given me the opportunity to do this. I am rewarded each week with a new monologue to memorize, a new melody to master and a new routine to rehearse. This organization has taught me many things, including the power of discipline and the honor of being part of a team. In addition to these perks of musical theater, Wildfish has given me countless life lessons. The most important thing I have learned is that no role is too small and to have ownership and pride in being a part of something larger than yourself.

As I have grown with my time at Wildfish, the theater has too. From my start in 2013 to present, Wildfish has grown immensely by cultivating little kids’ minds and spirits. Our team is very passionate about serving the community and strives to spread joy with our music through our holiday giveaways and scholarship fundraisers, to name a few.

My favorite people and my most treasured memories are part of this theater. Being a member of Wildfish, I have grown from a timid child to an assertive teenager ready to enter the daunting halls of high school and beyond. I have learned to push my own boundaries, explore uncharted territory and make decisions outside of the box, all while feeling good about myself. I am eternally grateful for all that Wildfish has given me and look forward to continuing my wonderful experience. I mean, it’s true – home is where your playbills are!

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