The things parents have to do to support their kids! The initial costume instructions did not include any make-up for the ensemble boys, but just before the dress rehearsal and the shows a new set of costume instructions came out that included make-up for the ensemble boys!!
Okay, blush was the main thing, I can do this. I went to Target and I recalled that I needed a non-powder based blush of peach tone. I look and I look and everything appears to be powder based! I give up, I see someone that can help and got some laughs out of people as I called her over with "I'm a guy in the make-up isle, I'm lost and need help." I felt better as she had trouble finding exactly what I needed, but eventually we came up with something that would work.
Then I get home and double check the instructions and it turns out I needed a blush SET in powder. Ugh! Took this one back, easily found another and much less expensive blush that will work.
As part of EDMT you have to volunteer a certain number of hours, 20 I think, for the show. I got the scoop from a friend who has gone through many shows and the recommendation was for Rehearsal Monitor and Backstage Monitor. Both were fun jobs and ones I would do again, but as part pf Rehearsal Monitor I got to see how Christian did with his signing, acting and dancing. Singing, he was fine. He knew the words and what to do and when to sing them. Acting, he knew what to do and he decided to give his line up to another cast member because he was afraid he wouldn't remember it (after we talked about it I reminded him that I would help him learn it and that he does great at remembering poems and things, so next time he'll do it). Now, dancing, he needed help! I was worried that it wouldn't come together in time for the show and then notes started coming home to all cast members about practicing at home… Well, Christian didn't know the dance routines well enough to practice at home. I ended up attending another rehearsal and video taped the dance portion so we could then work on it at home.
At home we spent a couple of night a week, maybe 15 - 20 minutes a night, working on it and he picked it up quickly and did well. I'm very glad we did this as it showed in the end result!!
I said I would eventually post information regarding Christian participating in our "Super Secret Activity" of performing in a musical show through the El Dorado Musical Theatre (EDMT) group ("Youth Theatre at its Best"). Christian saw a couple of EDMT productions last year (Alice in Wonderland Jr. and Beauty and the Beast) and we knew some people in the shows and he asked if he could give it a shot. I'm glad he was willing to try something that was more artistic and not all sports related.
EDMT does their auditions for most of their groups, including the training show Christian was in, differently than most theatre groups. Basically, if you are register in time, then you are in and auditions are only used to determine which part you will play in the show --- they do not use auditions to "cut" kids out. Of course, registering is no small feat. They started with 1 cast of 33 kids and would take 6 on a waiting list. If they got more than 6 then they would open a second cast… And a third cast… But they would cap it at three casts, about 105 kids 5 - 9 years old. Those 105 spots fill up in a matter of 20-30 minutes. So when it came time to register I was online at 8pm and finished at 8:02 and Christian was like the 28th to register. He was in!!
So at auditions the kids go in front of the directors, choreographer, parents and sing a 1 minute song (a capella or to music), learn and perform a dance routine and then say some lines to show off their acting abilities. Without any vocal training Christian decided to sing Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, and he did fine. You can tell those kids that been in other shows and have had training, there were some AMAZING voices singing during the auditions! Christian did his best and I'm very proud of him. During the acting phase I thought he would do great, but he decided not to repeat any of the lines - which is fine though I was hoping he would.
The result was he was assigned part of the Ensemble cast, which I expected for his first time out.
Christian's Audition song on video - the sound is low so you made need to crank up the volume...
After the rehearsals, dance practice at home, tech rehearsal and dress rehearsal the big day was upon us - opening day!! I was backstage for the dress rehearsal and worked backstage for Christians first two hows --- it was fun helping out and seeing how things are behind the scenes.
The shows were great, Christian did great, I'm so proud of him and that extra dance practice really paid off. He was a bit sad/disappointed after the first two shows as no one came to see him but family and a close friend came for the last show and lifted his spirits!!
The big question is does he want to do it again? At first the answer was no... But he was tired and cranky when he said that. The next day he expressed interest in doing Honk! Honk! is a much bigger show and I was excited to see him in a bigger venue/production - but it is a huge time commitment over summer and it just wouldn't work well... Maybe next year. So right now the plan is to do the next training show and I'm hoping to convince him to take some classes at EDMT to help him sing, dance and act better... We'll see if that happens or not...
Here are the 2 main dance routines Christian was involved in... When you see the ensemble cast come out you can find him on the left side.
Flag Football is now over, but Christian had a good time. He was on a team with several Jr. Bulldog players, but his coach did a great job at making sure everyone was involved in the game. In one game Christian had a great run for an extra point and in another game (where I had my camera) he almost had an interception. He didn’t do great, but he didn’t do bad either so we’ll see if he wants to do it again next year – my guess is, yes, he will.
