Monday, December 06, 2010

Wonka Land

For the last nine months, we've had an unusual break from theater, for our family.  Last spring, the show was Snow White, and only Bantam11 was interested in auditioning.  Show weekend was the same weekend as B19's high school graduation, so it was an easy call to skip that one.

Then this fall, the show was Schoolhouse Rock, and Bantam11 (and his older siblings) had already been in it before, plus he wanted to play soccer.  Chicklet was turning 8, and finally old enough to audition, so she really wanted to do it, but we were also starting a new school year, with a new curriculum and outside accountability to a virtual school, plus piano lessons, so it seemed prudent to get those off the ground before we added another commitment to her life.

So here we are, at the winter show, and both C8 and B11 auditioned Friday night.  Chicklet was really hoping for an Oompa Loompa...and she got her wish!  What a fun role for her very first show.  Bantam11 was called back for a boys' lead and was very pleased to be cast as of James, a school friend of Charlie Bucket's who has a few lines and who sings "The Candy Man" and "Think Positive" with Charlie.

Bantam15 got involved a little bit this weekend by running sound at auditions, and now he's saying he'd like to do tech or backstage crew for this show.  So maybe we'll have three kids participating again; one of the reasons we were attracted to this program in the beginning was the potential for many of our kids to be involved in the same activity, so I'm excited.  He definitely plans to audition for the spring show--Robin Hood!

So maybe we'll have three involved in that show as well--although there are few parts for little girls in it, which makes me nervous for Chicklet8.  The good and bad news for Kenosha County is that we've grown!--yay!--which means over 100 kids auditioned for Willy Wonka; but that means that for the first time, some kids had to be cut from being in the show.

Tomorrow night, I'm subbing for a drama teacher, and six kids from that class were cut.  Pray with me that we can have a discussion about it that will be both healing and encouraging.

So today we are rejoicing with those who rejoice--and weeping with those who weep.

So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.
(1 Corinthians 10:31, the "show verse")

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

Jeanne,

Luke's trying out for Willy Wonka on Jan 3--he wants to be Charlie! It's really too bad we don't live close to you guys--the kids would have so much fun performing together! We really enjoyed having your parents in town for Thanksgiving and Luke's last show! Have fun with this one!!

Kim :)

At A Hen's Pace said...

Kim--

Nice to hear from you! Yes, I have often wished we live closer, for so many reasons, but getting our thespians together is a big one! Good luck to Luke in January--I'll be eager to hear what part he gets!!

Jeanne

Anonymous said...

Did Chicklet8 get a part? If not a special one, at least she'll be in the chorus, right? Hoping she'll enjoy her first performance..

At A Hen's Pace said...

Chicklet8 is one of the Oompa Loompas in Willy Wonka's factory. Exactly the part she wanted! :)