Reviewed by Edith Wairimu for Readers' Favorite

My First High School Musical: From Auditions to Opening Night and Everything in Between by Joanne Vassallo Jamrosz is a succinct, useful guide that will help you prepare for your first or next musical. At the preparation stage, she provides useful tips on how you can take care of yourself prior to the big day and how to ace your long-awaited theatre performance. She also tackles many issues that may crop up along the way such as doubt, breakdown of equipment, make-up concerns or what comes next after the performance is over. The tone used is gentle and encouraging. Joanne Vassallo Jamrosz has walked the path and she offers great insight that will definitely come in handy both for newbies and the skilled performer. In between, she adds personal accounts that provide a beneficial twist to the narrative.

Even in its brevity, Joanne Vassallo Jamrosz’s My First High School Musical has so much to offer. The book’s structure is adeptly designed, covering each stage of musical theatre stage works. Jamrosz’s experience in the topic emanates from every page. As a judge for her local high school musical theatre awards, she provides important insight into many aspects of performance. Her experiences also create an extra appeal while her ability to connect and understand makes her words relatable. At one point in the book, she remembers the jitters she felt prior to the performance. She then offers tips on what can be done to reduce anxiety or stress. Most importantly, towards the end she discusses opportunities that students could consider after their performance is over. Every reader who loves musicals, would like to be involved in one, or has an interested friend should definitely grab a copy of My First High School Musical.