What theme is emphasized through the events of the text? Support your answer using details from the text. When the school posted the cast list for the school play, Romeo and Juliet, Rita waited calmly in line with her friends to see which parts everyone would play. She observed the students as they walked away, some high-fiving friends, wide grins on their faces, some with heads down in disappointment. As she approached the list, she scanned through to see that Robert had gotten the part of Tybalt, Anna had earned the part of Lady Montague, and Sarah would play Juliet. Then, toward the bottom of the list, she saw her own name next to the part of Lady Capulet. This must be a mistake, she thought, panicking; she only wanted a minor part with no lines, or better yet, to be part of the stage crew.

Although Rita was terrified of acting in front of an audience, she had joined drama club because her best friend, Julie, persuaded her to do so. Over time, she grew to love how acting made her feel, enjoying the exercises they would do after school, but the thought of being in an actual play still frightened her.

Once the students dispersed, she approached the drama teacher, Mrs. Nelson. “I think there has been some mistake,” Rita said somberly. “I can’t be in Romeo and Juliet.”

But Mrs. Nelson shook her head. “There has been no mistake, Rita. Your acting skills are impressive, and you earned the part.”

Rita protested, but Mrs. Nelson was unrelenting. “Come to rehearsal and practice the part. We must conquer our fears, or they will conquer us.”

The next day, all Rita could think about was how it would feel to embarrass herself in front of her parents, her teachers, and all her peers. When the final bell rang, she reluctantly went to the theater for rehearsal.

“What’s wrong?” asked Julie when she saw Rita’s dour look. “You’re not your usual smiling self today—did you not do well on the math test?”

“The math test was fine,” Rita assured her. “It’s the play I’m worried about.”

“I saw you got a part in your first big play, congratulations! But why aren’t you excited?”

“You know how I feel about crowds—I’ll forget my lines, and everyone will laugh.”

“Just picture everyone in the audience in silly costumes and then you will be the one laughing at them,” Julie reassured her. “Seriously though, everything will be fine.”

Rita attended rehearsal over the next few weeks and practiced her lines at home in front of her cat, who sometimes watched attentively but more often napped on the bed.

Mrs. Nelson praised Rita for her quick memorization of lines and the increasing confidence she projected in her delivery during each rehearsal. However, as the opening night of the play approached, Rita’s fears and insecurities crept up on her once again. The night before the play, she tossed and turned in her bed, imagining the whole school laughing as she stumbled over her lines and turned bright red; her face felt flush just thinking about it.

The next day, her parents drove her to the school and wished her luck before she went backstage to join the rest of the cast. As the curtains drew open, Rita watched the members of the Capulet household deliver their lines to the audience, a soft applause following the first act.

When the scene changed, Mrs. Nelson nudged Rita onto the stage. Bright lights shone in her face, and in the blackness, she saw a full theater. Rita panicked trying to recall her lines in what seemed like an eternity. Then she imagined all the faces melting away and pictured her bedroom with her cat sitting on the bed, curled up on a blanket and staring attentively.

“Nurse, where’s my daughter? Call her forth to me,” announced Rita clearly and flawlessly.

The nurse responded, and Rita confidently continued with her lines, not stumbling once.

When the play was over, Rita’s parents and Julie were waiting for her backstage with flowers.

“We are all so proud of you!” her dad said. “You were perfect, a natural!”

Rita smiled, her teary eyes sparkling, delighted to have conquered her fear in pursuit of something she loved. She couldn’t wait until they announced the next school play.