唯一少的就是水晶鞋。小贾斯汀·约翰斯顿(Justin Johnston)正在实现他一生的梦想，成为一名艺人，他称之为“灰姑娘的故事”。他在印第安纳大学主修通信，辅修音乐，在3年后离开了布卢明顿，加入了托尼奖音乐剧《Rent》的全国巡回演出公司。从10月3日开始，他将接替保罗的角色，“一个精力充沛、古怪的角色，约翰斯顿说他让他想起了自己。”约翰斯顿和其他大约300名百老汇候选人9月29日在印第安纳大学礼堂参加了伯纳德-特尔西选角代理公司的公开试镜。这300人中有5人，包括约翰斯顿，多次被召回;但只有约翰斯顿在布卢明顿的比赛中出场。约翰斯顿说，虽然他一直梦想着成为一名歌手和舞蹈家，但他说他并没有期望得到一个角色。“一开始，我只是想体验一下……我还没有看过这部剧。” "But they called me back six times. I started getting really excited about that... six times."\nThose Bloomington callbacks led to two New York auditions for the "Rent" management team. The first, on Oct. 21, led to an additional audition for the Tim Rice/Elton John-penned "Aida." Although Johnston said he learned from the experience and made important career connections, he was not cast in either musical.\n"I know I did a wonderful job... the woman who got me the audition told me 'They really, really liked you,'" Johnston said. "But it wasn't the right time."\nSo Johnston came back to Bloomington and enrolled in summer classes, ready to continue with his college career. But then the management team called Johnston back for yet another callback... the one that would ultimately change the course of his life.\nJohnston's career on the boards started at an early age in his hometown of Gary.\n"I did regional theater," Johnston said. "I worked with the West Side Theater Guild. They brought acts like Bill Cosby... Maya Angelou. They set the standard for me."\nBut one thing was standing in the way of Johnston and his dreams: finances. He struggled with the costs of airfare, food and lodging in New York, not sure that he would be able to make the final audition. And that's when his fairy godmothers came into play.\nThe African-American Arts Institute, the African-American Choral Ensemble and the African-American Dance Company provided Johnston with the funds and support he needed to get to New York and land the part.\n"They really treated me like I was their brother," Johnston said. "I just want to give back to them. If anything, I can dedicate each performance to them."\nJohnston cited African-American Dance Company Director and Assistant Professor of Afro-American Studies Iris Rosa and African-American Choral Ensemble Director James E. Mumford as being the driving forces behind the groups' effort on his behalf. He said without the support of the groups, he never would have made it to the final audition.\n"I am so grateful to them," he said.\nJohnston said the final audition went very well, but the experience was worthwhile even if he hadn't been cast.\n"I never went there thinking 'If I don't get this, it's a waste,'" Johnston said. "It is not a waste. I loved meeting all the people... making all the connections."\nJohnston's first chance to dedicate his performance to the people who helped him along the way and to use his newfound experience will be Sept. 19, when he joins the touring cast in Michigan for two weeks of rehearsal. His first performance as Paul will be Oct. 3 in Fort Wayne. \n"I can't wait. I am so excited," Johnston said.\nJohnston said he learned valuable skills in his IU classes, and he has many people in Bloomington to thank for where he is today. He also had advice and encouragement for fellow theater hopefuls.\n"Never doubt yourself," Johnston said. "I don't want to say it's just luck... but you just never know"
