Blaine sat his foot bouncing up and down waiting for the teachers at PAPA to call him into the auditorium. A middle age man in a vest stepped out and looked at Blaine and smiled, “we are ready for you Mr. Anderson.”
Blaine grabbed his tap shoes and followed the teacher into the large auditorium. the theater at McKinley held maybe 200, where as this one could easily squeeze 500 or even 600, there was a balcony and a beautiful spacious stage.
Blaine continued to walk up to the stage as he saw three teachers sitting at the directors table and seven or eight more teachers in the seats below. He saw Cooper in the front row, he gave Blaine a wink and Blaine wasn’t so tense then.
“I’m sure you’re aware of the audition system here at papa,” one teacher asked. She was much older, her hair wrapped back glasses at the pinch of her nose. She had a deep bored voice that made Blaine nervous.
“I am.” He quickly replied.
“Excellent, lets start with dance. You wrote here on your application you danced jazz tap and contemporary.” She stated.
“Yes, I’m also familiar with classic ballroom styles.” Blaine said quickly changing his shoes.
She gave him a minutes before saying, “Cooper, you may join your brother on stage.”
Blaine looked down and grinned. Cooper jumped on stage pulling two sitting stools up with him. Just when Blaine thought he was going to have to do this routine alone his brother saved the day.
Blaine closed his eyes and took a deep breath before hearing the music cue Watch . He began to dance hearing Cooper right next to him made him feel at home, said they were in the basement just having fun.
Cooper and Blaine bowed and Cooper slipped of the stage as Blaine kicked his tap shoes off.
“Impressive, I really enjoyed that. I’d like to see you act now Blaine. You’ve been in theater for 4 years since 7th grade and when you transferred from Dalton you never returned.”
“Correct but, McKinley doesn’t have any art programs, and the local theaters aren’t as close as one would think.” Blaine said in his defense.
“I see you are reciting from Authur Millers All My Sons. Here is your Chris and your Ann starting from page 52 Chris lines, ‘thanks for driving him’. When ever you are ready.”
Blaine nodded at the students and they started. Stopping at Kate’s entreaty Cooper and three other teachers clapped. The students told Blaine good work and left the auditorium. “Thank you. Go ahead and take a quick five minute break back stage.” She said. Blaine nodded and walked behind the curtains.
Blaine was the only one back there to he heard everything the teachers were saying.
“Watch out Cooper, your little brother is better then what you led on.” One gentleman said.
“How long have you two been doing that tap routine? It looked so natural. I’d love to show it to my intro and intermediate classes.” A woman said.
“I’ve been in tap since I was 4, he and I came up with that about 3 years ago for my audition. So it was nice to use it for his.” Cooper replied.
“Who taught him to act like that. I’ve got chills, he really controls a room with his change in tone.” Blaine smiled at the comment.
“I hope he sings as well as he dances and acts, I think he would do very well at the autumn assembly. ”
“And acting like that belongs in the fall gala.”
“Teachers, please return to your seats.” Blaine heard, ” Blaine you may return.
“Last part, how well you sing.” She said. “It says here you Broadway, top 40, majorly but you can song anything that’s thrown at you.” She asked.
“Yes ma’am, today I’m singing a classic, Everybody Wants to Rule the World.” Blaine said. He looked to the band and at his nod they started. Watch Everyone in the auditorium was smiling, even Ms Carmen Tibideaux Dean of Vocal Performance and Song Interpretation and founder of the school was impressed.
“Thank you Blaine. That was excellent. If you don’t mind stepping out into the hall while we deliberate.” She said. Blaine nodded and grabbed his shoes from the corner of the stage and left without a word.
All the teachers turned to look at Carmen but she was only looking at Cooper, “you know, I’ve been asked to give transfers to students early in the year like this, most the time I just say no. I’ve been asked to let teachers family members or close friends to audition, I’ve said no. I went out a limb, because you’re my favorite murderer in season 8 of NCIS, and your brother had the same jeans you do. I honestly thought my time was going to be wasted this morning that's why I invited all the teachers who were free to watch, but I can honestly say, I’m impressed.”
“Thank you Mrs. Tibideaux.” Cooper said.
“Lets start the judging with the dance, Cassie, what are your thoughts?” Tibideaux asked Casandra July the dance chair. If this audition was normal, it would have been Ms July, Mr Shuester, Ms Tibideaux and Ms Rhodes.
“I loved it. We haven’t had a tap student, that good since 09, and he had great facial expressions. His lines were clean and I love all the small bits of ballet thrown in, phenomenal pirouettes.” She said, “Cooper did you choreography that?”
“I did, about four years ago.” Cooper answered.
“You should stop by my classroom later.” She said softly to only him.
“Anyone have anything to say about the dance?” Tibideaux asked.
“Am I the only one who wants to see him dance with Rachel? The two of them in a jazz routine would be the cutest thing.” April Rhodes said.
“He does remind me of Rachel a bit. I’d like a duet myself.” Shuester said.
“Okay, I think he has earned a 2.58, show of hands who agrees.” All the teachers raised their hand and Carmen wrote it down. “Next, that scene from all my sons. April.”
“I wasn't expecting that. In the tap number I saw he could be a great Goofball, a perfect member to a big ensemble. Then watching him and Chris shout at each other and how he controlled his temper with Ann. I got chills, I didn’t want him to stop, George was always the show Stealer and that performance tells us why.” She said.
“I agree, I expecting something out of a musical, but I see him as a male lead as well as a supporting role as the funny guy. He really put himself into that scene and that’s what we are looking for.” William said.
“I feel like he has earned a 2.8, only because the tap number showed a different side then the acting did and it made him very well versed in the area.” Carmen said. All the teachers agreed again. “Great, lastly his vocal performance. Will?”
“I’m impressed he isn’t as good as I think he could be. It might have been his song choice but I felt like if he wanted to he could belt out his troubles and be as entertaining as he can be soulful.” Will said.
“Now I disagree,” Sue Sylvester said. “I think he sings very well, he put on a great performance I thought it was bold, soulful, and entertaining.”
“Im with William on this one.” Cassandra said. “You know, I wonder if he could whip something up for the assembly Friday, and the gala that night.”
“I’d like to see him at the assembly. Finn and Puck have a football game in Akron I need someone to sing for me. I’ll help him out.” Will said.
“I’ll let you handle that William, for now I feel that Blaine earned a 3.2. Does anyone feel different?”
“That’s about right. He can take some extra vocal classes and end this year in the top ranks of his class.” Will said.
“Very well, looks like we have a nine in the school, get ready for challenges, rumors, and a fake pregnancy.” Carmen joked as she stood up, “Cooper you said he was good to start today if he was accepted.”
"Yes ma’am.” Cooper replied.
“I’m going to go type up his class schedule, send him to my office after you break the news. ” she said waking out the back door.
Cooper skipped out side Will right behind him. Blaine was pacing and when the door opened he looked at Cooper.
“You’re in!” Cooper said scooping Blaine into a hug. “You did great squirt.”
“Welcome to PAPA Blaine.” Will said, “if you’ll follow me, we’ll get you class schedule and your books.” Blaine nodded grabbing his bag off the bench.
“Come by my class room for lunch.” Cooper said as he skipped down the hall with joy.