The BEST Cast in the World...
Jenna learned confidence. I've mentioned this one before and its quite obvious so I thought I'd mention it first. But I want to go into more detail of her lessons in confidence. Jenna has always had either mommy or daddy right there to give her confidence...but on the night of auditions, mommy and daddy were not allowed to be in the room. She had to stand before the director and panel of judges and sing her song, without a friend of family member anywhere in sight. She did it- and just before her first moments on stage, she cried and talked about her fears of being judged again--- she not only did it, but she performed on stage for 7 shows, 4 of which were sold out!
Jenna learned humility. In front of all her cast members- she had to stand and sing her song again and was voted into the Lullaby League. Also in front of all her cast members, she was told that she did the dance wrong or sang the song wrong, etc. She also fell while running out to bow at curtain call in front of a nearly sold out theatre of strangers.
Jenna learned criticism. This goes with humility, talked about above. At first, Jenna was get so upset when she was told she did something wrong. She learned that doing it wrong is what practice is all about- you do it wrong at practice and correct it so you don't do it wrong on stage. She went from crying at every criticism during the first few practices... to taking the initiative to ask what she did wrong and how she can correct it or do it better in the later practices. She now, at 4 years old, understand constructive criticism better than some adults.
Jenna learned respect. She followed orders, and listened as stage managers directed her where to go and what to do. She was responsible for getting help with her make up, her costume, and keeping track of her belongings without mommy or daddy there to help her. (Mommy was working the Microphone Switch table for the show and Daddy was home with the baby).
Jenna learned the value of hardwork. She rehearsed until 10 or 10:30pm every night the week leading up to the opening show and woke up at 8am every morning for school. Her teachers told me she behalved so well they didn't notice and that during play time, she was smiling and singing her music. ((This means she also learned responsibility- homework and practice on your own time))
Jenna learned the emotional lesson that people will come in and out of your life so quickly. She cried off and on all day when it was over. She hugged her cast mates and told them she can't wait to see them in more shows, and that she hopes someday to have the chance to be in a play with them again. This is a lesson she learned before...and hit home.
Of course, Jenna also learned the moral of the story:
"There really is no place like home." ~Dorothy Gale
Mommy and Daddy are truely proud of you Jenna. Congratulations on a job well done!
Jenna had the absolute time of her life both back stage and ON stage of Greer Children's Theatre. She was a munchkin in the land of Oz. Every night for the past two and a half months, she and I have "journeyed to OZ" and sang all the musical hits from the show and rehearsed every move. Now that the curtains are closed, the set pieces were torn down, and all the costumes were sold or auctioned off at the shows end... we find ourselves looking back with tears in our eyes at everything we accomplished, and how quickly it all disappeared. Now, it may have physically disappeared... but I guarantee you that the memories and emotions will remain in our hearts forever. Here are just a few things Jenna learned- that I got a front row seat to watch her take these major steps in her life.
Jenna learned confidence. I've mentioned this one before and its quite obvious so I thought I'd mention it first. But I want to go into more detail of her lessons in confidence. Jenna has always had either mommy or daddy right there to give her confidence...but on the night of auditions, mommy and daddy were not allowed to be in the room. She had to stand before the director and panel of judges and sing her song, without a friend of family member anywhere in sight. She did it- and just before her first moments on stage, she cried and talked about her fears of being judged again--- she not only did it, but she performed on stage for 7 shows, 4 of which were sold out!
Jenna learned humility. In front of all her cast members- she had to stand and sing her song again and was voted into the Lullaby League. Also in front of all her cast members, she was told that she did the dance wrong or sang the song wrong, etc. She also fell while running out to bow at curtain call in front of a nearly sold out theatre of strangers.
Jenna learned criticism. This goes with humility, talked about above. At first, Jenna was get so upset when she was told she did something wrong. She learned that doing it wrong is what practice is all about- you do it wrong at practice and correct it so you don't do it wrong on stage. She went from crying at every criticism during the first few practices... to taking the initiative to ask what she did wrong and how she can correct it or do it better in the later practices. She now, at 4 years old, understand constructive criticism better than some adults.
Jenna learned respect. She followed orders, and listened as stage managers directed her where to go and what to do. She was responsible for getting help with her make up, her costume, and keeping track of her belongings without mommy or daddy there to help her. (Mommy was working the Microphone Switch table for the show and Daddy was home with the baby).
Jenna learned the value of hardwork. She rehearsed until 10 or 10:30pm every night the week leading up to the opening show and woke up at 8am every morning for school. Her teachers told me she behalved so well they didn't notice and that during play time, she was smiling and singing her music. ((This means she also learned responsibility- homework and practice on your own time))
Jenna learned the emotional lesson that people will come in and out of your life so quickly. She cried off and on all day when it was over. She hugged her cast mates and told them she can't wait to see them in more shows, and that she hopes someday to have the chance to be in a play with them again. This is a lesson she learned before...and hit home.
Of course, Jenna also learned the moral of the story:
"There really is no place like home." ~Dorothy Gale
Mommy and Daddy are truely proud of you Jenna. Congratulations on a job well done!
2 comments:
thank you for posting this. It made me cry realizing what these shows mean to even the youngest cast member. Can't wait to see her in her next show! :)
-Kala
Kala- I didn't mean to make you cry! Though, I admit I had tears in my eyes when I was writing it... you were an awesome stage manager! You did so much- without you that show would have never happened.
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