High

Magic. Pure magic.

(practice, practice!)

After two months of rehearsing and memorizing and singing we were finally ready for opening night on Thursday. To say it went well would be an understatement. 

Before the show began I gathered my boys and told them how proud their theater loving grandpa is of them and how much fun he was probably having watch them. Right after I said that Tommy pointed out my dad's name (John R.) printed mysteriously beside us on a piece of masking tape. Magic. I couldn't stop the tears.

The show was magic, pure and simple. These kids had worked so hard and were so focused that everything went pretty well as planned. 

Everyone was on their A game.

Tommy was a fantastic munchkin and Joey was an amazing Tinman. I was such a proud mama. And so grateful to be able to have the once in a lifetime opportunity to share the stage with my talented kids and all the other wonderfully talented kids at this small school.

The comments from the audience afterward confirmed the performance. No one could believe that THIS MUCH talent could all come from such a small school.

It wasn't easy. The long, late nights of rehearsal. The lack of time. Joey's very difficult costume constantly cutting into his shoulders, my two sizes too small costume, the lion and the scarecrow sweating to bits in their costumes. But it was all worth it.

The kids were TROOPERS. They had to exit singing through the back of the auditorium, and then run up a back secret staircase, through the gym, and back down another staircase next to the stage in time to make their next entrance. And they did this multiple times. It was not easy for Joey, who could not bend his legs up and down the stairs, or for the other characters who were roasting, but they didn't complain.

The kids who weren't on stage waited patiently upstairs in the gym for their parts to come up and I helped keep everyone ready and prepped. There was a lot going on. As a matter of fact I started to get a migraine right after intermission BOTH NIGHTS. I quick took some Excedrin and pleaded with my father to help me through the show. I asked for Jesus to take my migraine away so that I wouldn't ruin the show (I usually get nauseous, can't speak, or see properly) and miracle of all miracles, I was fine. It never turned into a full blown migraine. I just had the auras and that was it. That NEVER happens. More magic. I was so grateful. 

The audience laughed and cried and gave us a standing ovation at the end. The kids were so thoroughly proud of themselves and gained so much confidence. I know this will be something they NEVER forget.

I was honored to be able to be a part of it.

I was able to get a bunch of really great pics with some of the cast as we waited backstage (in the gym, actually) before the show and at intermission.

(Glinda and Ms. Gulch)

(Munchkin #1, Glinda, Hickory)

(Dorothy and Glinda)

(Lion, Scarecrow, Dorothy, Tinman)

(Tinman, Glinda, Emerald City Chorus)

And just when I didn't think things could get any better, we came home from the play to find that my best friend (since 1st grade- that I've done a million plays/musicals with) drove 12 hours from Oklahoma to see us in the show. I was so shocked and moved that I nearly couldn't see through my tears. I was blown away. My BFF came all this way to see our school play. AH-mazing. 

(BFF and Me)

Friday night went just as good (if not better) than the first night. The audience was on fire hooting and laughing at every line and sniffing at the end when Dorothy had to say goodbye to her friends.
We were definitely riding a high after that performance.

(Joey and Wally-director)

And the night wasn't over yet. As if the fabulous directors (a husband and wife team) hadn't done enough for us already they also had planned a cast party after the show (families too). We stayed up far too late soaking in the last of the musical magic.

It was an absolutely fabulous experience. And one that I will always treasure.




(Hopefully I will have video soon to follow)