When I walk into a room for the first time, which has a group of individuals brought together for a unified purpose, I often daydream. My mind races to usually one of two scenes: the famous astronaut walk from “The Right Stuff” or Batman’s Entrance to the Art Museum just before Vicki Vale gets a face full of acid from the Joker. Neither of them happen, of course, but up to the very second before entering I think that it probably will. Is that typical to think that? It is for me. Rehearsal, first day of school, new church congregation – doesn’t matter. The grand entrance is the expectation. Anything but is the reality.

It’s the score for the grand entrance that makes all the difference. A twenty foot walk can be one of triumph or shame with a seemingly simple choice of strings or brass for the melody. I expected Saturday’s walk into the first day to be drums, trumpets blasting out a few announcing notes followed by an John Williams Olympic style theme that ended in four quick succession beats -- dun dun Dun DUN - just as I found my seat at the crimson gold throne.

Kidding about the throne.

Or it could have been something a little more subtle, something from Howard Shore, maybe, that portrays an aura of mystery and mischief, of curiosity and potential. The kind of music that tells the audience, “I don’t know who this guy is, but I’m interested in finding out just how he’s going to change everything.”

Of course, the music that would have fit perfectly with what actually happened was the kind of music that no one really pays attention to. Elevator music. Doctor’s office music. Halftime shows. It’s a big event for those playing in the band, but to everyone else, they’re more interested in the reason the band is playing (the game) than the band itself. That was me. I was the band. The rest of the cast was already rehearsing when I got there, working on an ensemble song that includes everyone in the show but Jekyll. A few polite smiles when they saw me, but nothing out of the ordinary.

It was perfect. I may be Dr. Jekyll/Edward Hyde, but I am just another member of the cast. I had been feeling a lot of pressure the more I realized just how big a role, how challenging a role this duality of a character truly was. To walk into that rehearsal and be treated like everyone else was very reassuring, I have to say.

Of course, the RockStar in me still wonders how it would have felt to have the Boston Pops lining the halls and playing a fanfare, but alas, the grand entrance was reserved for another young performer who would make his appearance a little later in the day...

My new son.

He was born in grand fashion just a few hours later to which a John Williams Soundtrack would have fit perfectly. And actually deserves its own album, to which the playlist looks something like this:

Track 1 - Labor Pains - Main Theme - Jaws
Track 2 - The Ride to the hospital - The Land Race - Far and Away
Track 3 - Hospital admittance and Hard Labor - Devil’s Snare & Flying Keys - Harry Potter (Stone)
Track 4 - The Epidural - Cantina - Star Wars Episode IV
Track 5 - Push, Baby, Push - Wild Signals - Close Encounters of the 3rd Kind
Track 6 - The Arrival - Main Theme - Jurassic Park
Track 7 - Meet your son - The Reunion - A.I.

It was a more glorious entrance than I ever could have envisioned and deserved the fanfare of the most celebrated composers of our time. My wife is perhaps the most incredible individual I have ever met. She handled everything and everything like a seasoned veteran. She is my hero. And my son carries the show. It’s the making of a great cast for a powerful lifelong performance.