It was April 1, 2004. I was in the computer lab working on a project. My friend Jon was also in the lab. I was a student in the Utah State Theater program, Jon was studying music at the time, however, did many productions with the Theater program. Being the actor that I am, I HAD to come up with some kind of good April Fools joke and Jon was there to help!
The Theater program was getting ready to hold auditions for all their shows that would be produced in the coming school year. We decided it would be perfect to post a cast list for "The Laramie Project" which was the first show of the following school year. So we typed up a list with names of familiar Utah State Theater students....and the not-so-familiar ones. Once the list was typed, we snuck down to the call board and posted the list.
The reaction was PERFECT! People began to see the list and many of course, surprised! Some were upset that they missed the auditions...others were excited that they were pre-cast in the show without even having to audition. The best was when oue professor Kevin Doyle got frustrated that he was left out of the decision process for casting the show. MISSION ACCOMPLISHED!! :)
To top it all off, in our department's end-of-year banquet, awards were given out for "Best Actor, Miss Congeniality, etc..." Each recipient received a certificate and trophy/prize. Well, the award for Best April Fools joke was announced. Jon and I were pleasantly surprised and rushed up to get our prize, and of course they all yell "APRIL FOOLS!" and we receive nothing...LAME!!
It feels good to know the joke lived on for much discussion years after I was finished! :)
Hope you had a fun April Fools day and didn't crush anyone's life while doing so!
-T
