Sometimes when I'm in the chorus of a musical, I secretly dream of playing the leading role (and by "sometimes," I mean "always.")

I say things to myself like, "If *I* were playing that part, I would sing better/get more laughs/do it in Pig Latin/take off my pants," and I lament the fact that the world will never see my brilliance because the director didn't have the good sense to cast me as the lead.

And then I imagine how things would go if the lead were to get sick and I were to jump into the part. But that, my friends, only happens in the movies.

Right??

Cut to the night before opening night of "Urinetown: The Musical!"

10:30 pm.

Final dress rehearsal just finished.

A tap on my shoulder: "Jill, we need to talk. "

"Nancy is sick. She's going to the hospital and we need you to go on tomorrow night in her role."

Suffice it to say. when you imagine these things happening, you never think about the fact that you will have less than 24 hours to learn the approximately six billion lines and songs that the leading role entails. You don't imagine the three hours you'll spend in your room crying about the fact that you might just ruin the show. You probably also don't imagine doing it whilst you have bronchitis.

But hey, when your dreams come true, you can't always be picky....

So here's my advice for all the dreamers and wishers and imaginers out there: you might just get what you wish for, so BE SPECIFIC.