Over the weekend we had the pleasure of seeing our daughter in her 5th musical performance since moving here almost 3 years ago. She was a member of the boys band in "The Music Man" and she made us so proud, not because it was a big part, it wasn't, but because she took her small part as seriously as if it were the lead. She is following her dreams and I couldn't be happier that they include acting and singing.
Paige was bitten by the bug in 5th grade when she was chosen to play Cinderella in "The Return of the Glass Slipper." Her friends convinced her to try out for a main part (all of the students were required to be in the play, at least as a chorus member.) The day of try-outs she got off the bus and when I asked her with a big smile how it went, she burst into tears! "It was terrible. I had to sing the boy's part and no one else did, and everyone else did really good, and I sounded really bad"...sob, sob, sob. This wasn't acting either, I immediately went into panic mode: "Oh please God, just let her get a small part that she can handle so that she won't be discouraged from putting herself out there again." A couple days later, when the parts were announced I waited again for the bus, on pins and needles. Somewhat timidly I asked her "So, did you get a part?" and she didn't say anything. Holding back a smile she went over to the couch and started to unload her backpack, pulling out a folder and on the front was labeled "Cinderella!" Me: "You got the lead!?" It's really hard to describe in words the swelling in my heart at that moment, I love to remember it.
Months (it seemed like it must have been months) passed and we tried to get Paige to practice her lines with us, or sing for us, with absolutely no luck. The closest we could get to hearing her rehearse was by sneaking up to the outside of her bedroom door and eavesdropping! I started to worry if it was all going to be okay. Never before had she sung a solo part, and I wondered how she would handle an audience, all that memorizing, and I wondered about her singing voice...absolutely nothing to go on here!
As in all great musicals, this one too had a happy ending. The ONE performance of "Return of the Glass Slipper" was perhaps the most special and memorable night of my life. Paige really was a princess in the ball gown that my mom made for her costume, and her acting and singing were unbelievably impressive. She really portrayed Cinderella's sorrow in her voice and expressions. All of the costume changes went smoothly. Her voice was steady and confident both while speaking and singing. And afterward, the little girls flocked to meet her on the stage just like the real Cinderella at Disney World! It was literally a magical evening and the stuff that dreams are made of!
In that same year, Paige and other 5th graders were invited to be the Oompa Loompas in the Middle School production of "Willy Wonka." So far, in middle school she has been in the productions of "Aladdin" and "School House Rock Live," and this most recent role where the middle school kids were invited to join the cast of the high school show "The Music Man." I hope that she will continue on with her involvement in chorus and drama, and someday enjoy another lead part. The pure JOY I saw on her face the other night as she belted out "76 Trombones" leads me to believe that she will.
Paige was bitten by the bug in 5th grade when she was chosen to play Cinderella in "The Return of the Glass Slipper." Her friends convinced her to try out for a main part (all of the students were required to be in the play, at least as a chorus member.) The day of try-outs she got off the bus and when I asked her with a big smile how it went, she burst into tears! "It was terrible. I had to sing the boy's part and no one else did, and everyone else did really good, and I sounded really bad"...sob, sob, sob. This wasn't acting either, I immediately went into panic mode: "Oh please God, just let her get a small part that she can handle so that she won't be discouraged from putting herself out there again." A couple days later, when the parts were announced I waited again for the bus, on pins and needles. Somewhat timidly I asked her "So, did you get a part?" and she didn't say anything. Holding back a smile she went over to the couch and started to unload her backpack, pulling out a folder and on the front was labeled "Cinderella!" Me: "You got the lead!?" It's really hard to describe in words the swelling in my heart at that moment, I love to remember it.
Months (it seemed like it must have been months) passed and we tried to get Paige to practice her lines with us, or sing for us, with absolutely no luck. The closest we could get to hearing her rehearse was by sneaking up to the outside of her bedroom door and eavesdropping! I started to worry if it was all going to be okay. Never before had she sung a solo part, and I wondered how she would handle an audience, all that memorizing, and I wondered about her singing voice...absolutely nothing to go on here!
As in all great musicals, this one too had a happy ending. The ONE performance of "Return of the Glass Slipper" was perhaps the most special and memorable night of my life. Paige really was a princess in the ball gown that my mom made for her costume, and her acting and singing were unbelievably impressive. She really portrayed Cinderella's sorrow in her voice and expressions. All of the costume changes went smoothly. Her voice was steady and confident both while speaking and singing. And afterward, the little girls flocked to meet her on the stage just like the real Cinderella at Disney World! It was literally a magical evening and the stuff that dreams are made of!
In that same year, Paige and other 5th graders were invited to be the Oompa Loompas in the Middle School production of "Willy Wonka." So far, in middle school she has been in the productions of "Aladdin" and "School House Rock Live," and this most recent role where the middle school kids were invited to join the cast of the high school show "The Music Man." I hope that she will continue on with her involvement in chorus and drama, and someday enjoy another lead part. The pure JOY I saw on her face the other night as she belted out "76 Trombones" leads me to believe that she will.
