My nude scene was about to happen. I was off stage and could see my family in the audience - mom, dad, 2 sisters, brother and sister in law, 3 aunts, and 4 female cousins. I looked at the row behind my family and there were my parents' neighbors and a big group of their friends. I have known many of their friends since I was a boy. What did my mom do - invite everyone she knows?? She knows I'm going to be naked - what is she thinking?
The lights dimmed, I removed my robe, walked on stage and took my place. I was facing the audience completely naked. My face was so red that it felt like it was on fire. I looked down and my hands were shaking. The lights turned on and there was a huge gasp in the audience, then some laughing. I felt like every eye was on me. The lights were bright so you couldn't really see the audience unless you really concentrated on a certain area. Which I did - I was looking at where my family was sitting. Everyone was looking at me, my aunts were whispering to each other and to their daughters. My cousins were giggling and pointing right at me.
The scene was going on but I totally lost focused. All I could think of was being naked in front of my entire family. I didn't realize I missed my line and the Prompter was offstage yelling my line to me. My fellow actors all turned around trying to get me to say my line. Finally I snapped out of my daze, and I YELLED my line. It made the entire audience laugh which makes me realize even more that everybody was just staring at me and my naked body. I only had 1 line in that scene and I messed it up. Could it get any more humiliating?
My family joined me backstage for the after party. I know my face was still red having to face everyone who just saw me completely naked. Everybody was supportive, saying I did a great job. Nobody said anything about the nudity until my Uncle John said in a loud voice, "you know everyone could see you little weiner!! Everybody started laughing and then the teasing began. It was all out in the open and everyone made fun of me. My female cousins asked me how it felt to be naked in front of them? I just smiled and said it was part of being an actor. My female cousins came back to other shows bringing friends. I never got used to the nudity!!