Get up on stage
This is no joke
It was fun before
But this is the real thing
No dress rehearsals
Purely improv
Sing like the bird at dawn
Dance like your most hidden wish has come true
Act like you have become your character
Even when the audience jeers
Perform with the same heart as the applauded
Avoid the Vaudeville hook
Even when it's most tempting
And you just want the embarrassment of
A trip or
A cracked voice or
A forgotten line gone
Keep on with your spirit
Until they applaud
And stand
And cheer for you
And when your number's over
You will have no regret of how it went
You will go out and walk off stage
With the applause still ringing in your ears
