In making a move mid-year my thoughts & hopes were to give the children growing experiences that would help through the transition process. I didn't want them to feel that they were giving up everything they had known in NY - extra-curricular classes, friends and social activities. At the same time I knew that we needed to be careful with our time - we were close to an over-scheduled life with the classes in NY. While perusing websites looking for events & classes I thought I found a perfect idea. It was a play that would only be one week long. Madeleine had been in a fall theater class and loved it, and was disappointed that she was leaving right when they were assigning parts to those in the class for the play they put on each spring. Murray Arts were advertising "try-outs" for the play Snow White & the Seven Dwarfs on Monday, January 3rd - which was a mere three days after we landed, but I'd be able to take the kiddos over and try out, and perhaps they'd be able to jump into this activity.
We went to a Jr. High late in the afternoon on Monday and I was impressed with the 2 directors that are part of the
Missoula Children's Theater {it's amazing what their organization does!}. They put the children into a huge circle and did a very low-key, but spot on audition. The children spoke in groups & then as individuals, they sang in groups and did little pantomime activities. I was so impressed that these young ladies (they are college graduates, about 21+ years of age) kept over 100 children engaged for an hour and a half while having them speak parts and do these activities. The only part that was hard to digest was that there were over 100 children and they had stated only 50 children would get parts. I turned to Bryson Sr. and told him it would be ironic if Bryson Jr. or Jacob got a part, but Madeleine didn't as I had chosen this experience in particular to help her during the transition with the move.
The group being led through try-outs & the only disappointment ...no diversity. It's like looking at a large container of white milk....we realize our days of the NYC mixed races and culture might not be at the same level here in SLC.
It turned out that of the three children - our Bryson got a part in the show. The group he was in were cast as Bats --- yes, bats. I don't remember bats in the Snow White book or movie either however this was a new Snow White adaptation and most importantly - he was thrilled and so excited for his part! Madeleine put on a brave face, although she allowed me to give her a side hug and whispered that she wished it could have been like the Up With Kids performance that we did 2 summers ago...everyone got a part :)
During the week between myself and Grandma Joy we took Bryson to his rehearsals and he had a blast learning the songs and moves that he and the group would do on the stage. He was ecstatic when he found out in one of the songs he would get to play the part of Dracula and have an extra special part in his actions. To be cast as Dracula when you are a young boy - he could end his stage career and be happy! However, with this experience I noticed that we have someone who really loves the stage, and the outlet that it brings for his ham it up personality.
Again I was impressed while watching the directors working with the children and youth in the production. They moved everyone through at a very quick pace (after all you don't have a lot of time in one week with rehearsals only after school!), and the children responded really well and knew the songs, movements and play inside and out by Saturday!
A rather handsome and precious bat, which gave great opportunity to act and pretend to be the mean & nasty bats his group sang about!
There were two performances that day - which was perfect....it was actually a rather busy day for us! We had moved our things into the new place on Friday, Madeleine had her first dance class for Irish Step-Dancing on Saturday morning...thankfully there was Plan B to get her involved!
The great part about being by family is the help and that you can divide and conquer! When we came back from dance Grandma Joy was already at the house putting together Jacob's bed and Nana Lord was just arriving after dropping Bryson off at his dress-rehearsal that morning. Papa Lord showed up soon after and with everyone helping out we worked hard to unpack and get beds set up for the next few hours - we were able to get a lot accomplished with so many hands working together!
Nana & Papa then took the kiddos and picked up the Lord cousins to go and see the matinee performance while we finished up a few more items around the house. We then cleaned up and met the kiddos down at Grandma Joy's house to eat dinner and then I ran Bryson back down to get back into his costume for the final performance. It was a lot of running around that day & again we are grateful for all the help family has been with this move. We forgot how incredibly nice it would be to share the load with others that wanted to help - we might get used to this business of having family around! :)
We finally settled into our seats to enjoy the entire production of Snow White, and wow --- we were impressed! To see what they had accomplished in a week was amazing - the children all knew their parts and we had a few favorite characters and lines by the end of the evening! Down below in this picture is Ms. Hannah, one of the co-directors for the play. She actually was the Woodsmen and her part integrated itself into almost every scene in the play so that she was on stage and present to help move things along. The children weren't waiting for her cues - but her presence was a perfect fit for the production --- and she was really talented and fun to watch! {Bryson is in front and to the left of her performing during his Bat number}
Bryson turned to
Dracula!
And now for his BIG LINE {referring to himself as Dracula}....
"That's right the one and only!" And oh wow, did he do great...he spoke clearly and loud and I realized he loves the stage. He comes alive up there - and although we know he is a ham at home, it's great to see extra personality come out on stage....what a character this boy is and can be!
The end of the production came all too soon - we really enjoyed this show! For having children do all the parts we thought it was well done and the girl that was cast as the Wicked Queen was phenomenal! I wish I could have captured her facial expressions and her acting abilities...she really helped to make the entire play. Oh, and she had the best cackle of a witch I've ever heard!
Well done
Sir Dracula and Bat-Man....we look forward with great anticipation for whatever show you are in next. Braaahhhhhaaaaa!!!!
A family moved in across the street from us few weeks before we moved in. They are from Omaha and their son is in 3rd grade - a year older than Bryson. They aren't members of the church, and the mom was lamenting to me one day that it has been hard for her son to make friends. I asked her if she'd consider signing him up for scouts and she was very enthusiastic, but asked if Bryson was in a troop. I told her that he wouldn't start until 8 years old, but that maybe they would let him come along with her son just so he could feel easy in a new group.
