I left for LA, CA with my family one year ago today, so I thought this would be a good day to start my blog about a thirteen year old actor’s adventures is LALA Land. See, this is all I have wanted since I was seven. 
Growing up in a small town in Northern Indiana, my first grade teacher told me, “You march to a different drum,” and everyone else said I was a ’natural’ on the stage of the community theatre. The only thing I asked for on my 8th birthday was an agent. My mom took me to see Tanisha in Chicago, and I started auditioning and doing short movies and commercials. I was excited to get to film a feature so close to home with Devi and the TRIPPIN’ cast… but I still begged my parents to take me to Hollywood. Thankfully my sister, Maddy, who is five years older and an actor too, was in a horrible car wreck a year ago last November.
Well, I am not actually glad that a semi ran a stop sign and t-boned her little car and that she had to be cut out and had a concussion and a fractured hip… I am thankful that it shook us to the realization that life is short, and we should make each day count since we never know what will happen! The Whitbys decided that all the reasons we used to put off moving out west (friends, schools, money, etc.) really didn’t amount to much… So, Hollywood here we come!
My mom had researched ‘Pilot Season for Child Actors,’ so the the quick decision to make the move was not as insane as it sounds… at least on paper. Maddy and I knew from experience that acting is about studying and auditioning and lots and lots of rejection, and in reality, most people spend five years as actors and move on to something else without ever getting a break. We were ready for the adventure, and my mom and dad handled the logistics of when, where, and how. So, on a snowy December 29th, we left Granger, Indiana with a our SUV and a small u-haul attached. Of course there were those who said… They’re crazy!…. or, They will be back… and, California is no place for a nice little Mid-West family. Little did they know that this Mid-West girl had been playing nice, but deep inside was a real Lil’ F*ck*r who was ready to get the party started, and that is exactly what happened! Next time I will tell you about moving into THE apartment complex for Hollywood virgins… it was like a different planet and I LOVED it!!!
Audrey, You were in fifth grade with me. I looked you up on google to see where you’ve gotten since then and found this. You are amazing and I’m a HUGE fan. (The Princess and the Pea)