Starring...Harrison, Jacob and Michela!

I know some of you have been faithfully checking the blog regularly, anxiously awaiting updates on baited breath! (well, ok, maybe a slight exaggeration, but I have gotten a few "update the blog already!" emails/comments.)

I'm sorry it's been over a week. My only excuse is that we've been incredibly busy with rehearsals and performances the past week and a half. Since I last updated on Sunday May 25th, we have had either a rehearsal or a show every single day except for Thursday May 29th. Couple that with school, homework, work, etc. and it's been pretty crazy around here.

Marlon's parents, Bernie and Esther, came in for the kids shows and we are so appreciative that they always fly in from Texas for our kids' performances. It really means a lot to us and the kids. They were here from Friday through this morning (they stayed so they could see opening night of Harrison's middle school production of Seussical last night.) We didn't have time to do anything fun and spent the whole weekend at the theater or a restaurant, but at least we were together. (I did cook one nice meal on monday night.)

High School Musical and West Side Story were GREAT. They ended up doing the 15 minute West Side Story pre-show before all four of the High School Musical shows, even though they were only going to do it for two shows. West Side Story was the "older" kids in the theater group - they were all a little "not thrilled" at doing High School Musical because they're too cool for that, so it was a way to let them shine in a more mature way. The choreography was more difficult and geared for the older, more experienced kids. Most of that group is entering High School, but Harrison has been part of that core older group for years because he's done so many shows, so he was automatically in that cast. They let Jacob, Michela and one other younger kid do it too because they have more experience than the other younger kids. Jacob and Michela were thrilled to be a part of that cast and it was a great pre-show of about 6 songs/dances.

High School Musical turned out well too. They double cast that show, so Harrison and Jacob had leads on saturday and sunday afternoons and smaller parts friday and saturday nights. Both of their lead parts were perfect for them... Jacob played Ryan, a thespian who is very good at and into theater and dance. Harrison played Chad, a basketball player who can't understand why Troy, the lead, wants to be in a musical. They were both excellent at their roles and did a ton of singing and dancing. Michela didn't have a lead this show, but she had four smaller parts which ended up resulting in a ton of time on stage. She was in almost every scene and in almost every number. She was a thespian, a braniac, a jock and a teacher. She has a way of shining on stage because she has a lot of stage presence and personality, so she had fun with it and was very noticed even though she wasn't a lead.

Many friends came to watch the various performances and the comraderie among the cast members was great as usual, so it was a fun filled but tiring and busy week of technical performances, dress rehearsals and then four performances. A lot of dinners together with the cast, etc. It's always a relief when it's over because you can't keep up that pace for more than a week, but it's also always a bit of a let down too. harrison was especially sad sunday night because it is his last show with that group. All of the older kids are going on to high school and won't be doing it anymore and he's part of that older generation, so he won't do it either. Jacob and Michela might still do it next year, we'll see. It's sometimes hard to juggle it all, but so worth it.

After those shows, we went straight into Harrison's production of Seussical at school. Our school is K-8 and the middle school puts on a very professional and well done musical every spring. It's for 6th-8th graders, but there were only 3 or 4 6th graders who made it. It's very competitive b/c not everyone gets a part. Out of 60 or so who tried out, they took about 30 or 35. Harrison made it and was thrilled. He's enjoyed it tremendously. He plays a Wickersham Brother and has a pretty big part for a 6th grader. His stage presence and acting is great and the directors are so glad they put him in, even though they had some initial concerns about his singing (the first round cut was based on singing alone and that's not his strength, although he has improved.) So far they've had two performances and they're going really well!

Ok, this is long enough and I'm exhausted and need to get to bed!

I'll post pictures in a day or two.