The Tale of the Missing Contract: 5 Lessons Learned from a Show That Never Happened

There was this one time when an nationally recognized playwright reached out via Facebook, asking me to play the lead role in her upcoming stage production. She had seen my work, and we had a mutual friend ( a fellow playwright), whom extended a glowing recommendation on my behalf. I was honored and truly grateful that she’d? considered me. I mean, the lead role—who wouldn’t be flattered, right? Naturally, I was excited and told her I’d love to participate. She said she’d email me the contract and all the details soon since the show would be in Dallas, TX. In our conversation, she went on about how her process was all about professionalism and excellence—music to any creative’s ears. After all, we creatives can sometimes be a bit… let’s just say, “spirited” with our organization. So, I totally understood her emphasis on excellence.

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A week went by, and I heard nothing. Zilch. I thought, “Okay, she’s busy; no big deal.” So, I followed up with a text. A second week passed and there was radio silence. That’s when I reached out to the friend whom had introduced us. Maybe she had heard something? Nope. Now I was thinking, “Did she change her mind?", "Maybe something came up and she decided against it?" Communication would have been nice, but "Oh well.”

?Being the person I am, I decided I wasn’t about to chase anyone down for an opportunity I didn't even ask for. If it was meant to happen, it would. The show must go on… without me, apparently.

?Fast forward a few weeks , and I learned our mutual that the "missing playwright" said she did send the contract, and apparently, I had never responded! Wait—what? I never received a thing. I double checked my email, my spam folder, deleted items… there was nothing. Finally, I asked which email she sent it to. Come to find out, she had misspelled my name in the email. So, while she was wondering why I had ghosted her, I was out here wondering what happened to my lead role in Dallas. Ah, the joys of communication breakdowns.

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Though I never did get to play the lead in that show, this experience taught me some valuable lessons that I’ll share with you—plus, they’re good for a laugh.

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1. Always Confirm Receipt

?If someone says, “I’ll send the contract,” don’t be afraid to follow up with, “Can you confirm when it’s sent?” I could’ve saved myself weeks of wondering if I had been dropped like a bad habit had I just asked her to text me when she hit ‘Send.’ Moral of the story: double-check everything—especially your email address.

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2. Never Assume the Worst

?My initial thought after weeks of no contact was, “She must have changed her mind.” I was already crafting my internal monologue for why I didn’t get the part (self-doubt is a sneaky thing). In reality, she was just typing my name wrong! Sometimes, it’s not personal. Sometimes, it’s just a typo.

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3. Trust, But Verify

?I believed she was running a tight ship based on our initial conversation. But professionalism isn’t just about what you say—it’s about follow-through. Even the best-intentioned plans can go awry when a simple detail like a misspelled name derails the process. A simple verification can make all the difference.

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4. Life Happens, So Give Grace

?Miscommunications happen. And as creatives, we’re juggling a lot, so it’s not surprising when someone drops the ball (or in this case, a contract). If something doesn’t go as planned, don't take it personal. Give grace. Who knows? You might end up with a funny story to share later.

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5. Don’t Chase the Opportunity, Let It Come to You

?At the end of the day, if someone really wants to work with you, they’ll make it happen. I decided early on that I wouldn’t chase this opportunity. Turns out, it wasn’t meant to be, and that’s okay. There are always more doors to open—just make sure the door has your name spelled correctly.

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In the end, missing out on this production wasn’t the end of the world. It just reminded me that, sometimes, it’s not about the missed opportunity, but the lessons learned along the way. So, here’s to misspelled names, mysterious contracts, and all the other life lessons that keep life interesting!