You’d be surprised by how many of your favorite performers get the jitters before a show

You’re standing up there in front of everyone, ready to belt out your solo, your speech, or your lines in the play, when suddenly — your mind is a blank! Stage fright is a real thing. You’d be surprised by how many of your favorite performers get the jitters before a show. Yes, even people who have been performing for years still get nervous

So, how do they get through it? I spoke to some performers and other people with experience in the art of public appearances to find out the tricks of their trade

Ruchama Flax, 16

Actress

When I was 13, I decided to audition for the Chayelle Regal show, a professional theater production for women and girls that’s based in Ramat Beit Shemesh. I was actually really nervous about auditioning, but the first time I auditioned was during Covid. Instead of the usual in-person auditions in front of the directors, everyone had to just send in a video of themself — that obviously made it much easier for me! I got into the choir, and loved every minute.

The following year, life in Israel went back to normal — and so did auditions. I was too nervous to audition in front of everyone, so I didn’t join the show that year. A year later, I decided to just go for it, this time auditioning for the play. That year the show was The Lost Prince. On audition day, I reminded myself that I was doing this just for fun, and that helped get me through it. Auditions took place in the local community center. There were at least ten judges sitting at the table, including Chayelle Regal and Rikki Reichman, the show directors. It was beyond intimidating! We started off as a group of about 60 girls, singing, dancing, and acting together. Occasionally, one of the judges would ask a girl to step out of the room and perform by herself for a little bit. There were a few rounds of auditions, with girls being sent home after each round. Eventually, there were only about 15 of us left. When I was asked to come for callbacks, I knew that it had just gotten real. Getting a callback (a second audition) means there's a 90 percent chance that you’re going to be in the actual play. The callbacks are just a way for them  to figure out which girl will play each part. At callbacks, I gave it everything I had — and I ended up getting the co-lead part in the play, The Rat. (I wasn’t an actual rat; my part was a street urchin whose nickname was “The Rat”.)