The One With Little Women

 

 

This Thursday, November 30, Bri, Emmie, and I went to DHS to see the students perform their annual musical. This year, the students put on Little Women. It was a great show and a sneaky holiday treat...after all, it took place during Christmastime at the beginning.

Truth be told, I didn't know what to expect because I was not familiar with most of the story. However, the students put on a truly magnificent show. Perhaps what made it most entertaining is that we have been able to get to know many of the students in the show during the past two years through Bri and Kiff. So, seeing them perform was a real treat.

The stage crew - the people I always  come to see - did a great job and included several of Bri's friends. The sets, which I always am interested in seeing, were magnificent. The story was phenomenal - I can see why Emmie loves it. 

Of course the funniest part was when we looked at the playbill and noticed our names in it because we are on one of the committees (the Marching Band activities committee). That always catches me off guard.

Kudos to DHS Acts on a fabulous performance.

The One With All Heaven Broke Loose

 

 

On Friday June 30, Bri and I went to see a play at the East Baptist Church in Lynn called All Heaven Broke Loose. The reason we saw the play was that C.O. was playing a part and Bri wanted to check it out. And, I joined her.

The play was a new spin on the Easter story. It focused on telling the story through the eyes of other people who were there, including the perspectives of Peter, John, Thomas, Mary, Pilate, and the Sanhedrin. It was quite an interesting look.

The actor troupe was really skilled and definitely played their parts in such a way that the audience was interested in what they were thinking as the events of Jesus's death and resurrection unfolded. Added interest to the story was the use of recorded scripture showing how the events had been prophesied earlier in scripture. And, the playwright, who was also one of the actors and helped put it on, used the original Hebrew names...which took some getting used to. Appropriately enough, it was about three hours, which is said to be the time that Jesus's death on the cross took place.

C.O. did a great job. Peter - aka Kefa - looked to me like Harry Potter. And we definitely enjoyed the show. It was great.

The One with Beauty and the Beast

 

 

Well, this weekend, it happened. For the first time since Covid-19 shut down Kennedy's doors one week before Tech Week. The triumphant return of the KMS musical - opening for the first time at the new Kennedy Middle School.

And it did not disappoint!!! What an amazing show the Kennedy students put on as they performed Beauty and the Beast in front of a live audience (the first time a show has been performed in front of a live audience there).

It truly was amazing. The cast was spectacular. Because we have a full time technical director, the stage crew actually numbered 20 students (a record!). And the blend of lights (with the light room), sounds, with a whole sound board section, and crew (with plenty of space on both sides), was amazing.

I returned for another year behind the scenes and enjoyed every moment of it. It also enjoyed the fact that 5th graders got to be in the show for the first time since The Wizard of Oz in 2002. It was wild and crazy...but amazing!

What a 24th show. What amazing memories. And what a stage (as you can see from the picture above).

The One With Opening Night

Finally, it arrived. After months of hard work, staying after school, and challenging herself, Bri took stay in her school's performance of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. Last night was opening night.

Now, unfortunately Kiff and I had to arrive late - we had an Arrow of Light ceremony (see the entry that will come before this on the right timeline), and we had a little trouble getting passed locked doors.

But, once intermission arrived, we were able to enjoy the second have of the opening night. And, it was awesome. Bri, dressed in her red soldier uniform, looked like she was thoroughly enjoying herself...which was great to see.

Although we were only there for the second act, it was clear...Bri will probably be doing more shows in the future.

The One With The First Week of December

The first week of December is always an event, as we get ready for Christmas.

Here is what this week brought:

2 snow days
1 Christmas Tree Up
1 Charlie Brown Christmas special (always fun to watch)
1 First meeting of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang for Bri
1 Cub Scout meeting where Kiff and crew built a game using Scratch.mit
1 Viewing of Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer where we laughed at how politically incorrect it is now
1 Half day for Bri, Kiff, and Dad
1 Viewing of It's a Wonderful Life
1 Big Celtics win vs. the Nuggets last night
1 Bruins winning streak coming to an end in overtime.

WOW!

The One With The School Musical

It is an annual tradition that always seems to sneak up on me. The week of our annual school musical.

For 23 years I have been part of the musical at our school. In fact, it has become a favorite part of my time as a teacher. Like my parents before me, who spent years dedicated to theater, I have been a part of productions for many years.

It is hard to believe we have actually presented 23 plays at our school. The tradition continued this week as our school presented the student version of Crazy For You. Although I was unfamiliar with this show, it did not disappoint.

As usual, our students were fabulous and did a great job as cast and crew. The music was lively and fun, reflecting the life and times of the Gershwins.

What a great play! Today with completed the second and third performance. Tomorrow will be closing night!

It will definitely be a memorable event!

The One With Grease is the Word

Today, Bri and Kiff did something they have never done before.

They were part of a play. During the past week, the attended a summer camp in Middleton and worked on a shortened version of the play Grease.

It was a blast.


Hard to believe, they were given a few lines to memorize on Monday and by today (Friday) they were able to put on their first stage performance.

It was pretty impressive. They both had solos in different parts. Bri's voice was actually solid and Kiff spoke up, flashing smiles throughout.

Bri liked it and would like to do it again. Kiff loved it and even mentioned he would miss doing it....experiencing his first post-performance let down. The acting bug has definitely bit him...and Bri as well.

Here's to many more performances.

GO GREASED LIGHTNING

The One With Mary Poppins Junior

This past weekend, I helped out with the 21^st annual play at Kennedy. This year, we were piloting Mary Poppins Jr. What a blast!

Now truth be told, it is a fast moving play. Epically fast. So, helping to run stage crew kept us quite busy. But the crew was great. Even though it was a small crew – fortunately some of the 9^th graders came back to help – we ran it smoothly. Phew!  But, it was quite an event.

The play itself was fun. It is a version of the Broadway play, with more of the “Saving Mr. Banks” feel to it. The sets were great. The acting and singing was phenomenal. And the dancing was fabulous.

And, I made several memories. First, Bri and Kiff helped out on a play and worked several major parts of it, which was fun. Second, we were able to move in and out on more scenes then we ever have before. Finally, the students in the production gave me a fantastic Mary Poppins tie as a gift and a memory of this year….something I will always treasure.

All and all and fantastic play!

The One With the Wild Saturday

Saturday was a wild day.

About as wild as I have ever encountered. What a  whirlwind.

It started with the realization that Molly, our lovely and awesome cat, would probably not last the day. We had to check in with the vets to see if there was anything we could do, then we tried our best to ensure her final day was as wonderful as it could be. We hope it was for her. We will miss you Molly.

Along with that, I had two plays to help with behind the scenes, which took me out of the house around 11:30. Emmie was helping with a school auction, so she had to deliver food early (I cleaned out the car) before returning later.

Before our first show started at 1:00, I found out the Kiff got sick all over Emmie and he was down for the count the rest of the day...she figured it was only a matter of time that she would get sick, too (she was right).

She had to zip over to the auction while I worked the play. In between shows, I called, only to find out from Bri that Molly had indeed passed (Bri found her) and that Kiff was still sick. In the interim, it turned out he lost a tooth.

As this was happening, I had to take care of a bird that careened into my mother's house - where I checked in between shows. I also learned that I had become a Great Uncle for the second time. Zoinks.

I returned for another show then zipped home. I popped in to get dressed for the auction (it was an 80s theme) and make sure Molly was taken care off. 


Then, I hopped off to the auction, which was a blast (very 80s) and we stayed to help clean up. After, we popped in for a short coalition before wrapping up the day at 1:00.

Wow...all in all quite a day.

The One With the Lion King

Earlier this week, our school put on its 19th musical, The Lion King. It was a special event because we were provided the opportunity to test out the play and curriculum that went with it.

The play was thoroughly enjoyable and the students were impressive. However, that will probably stand out as the bigger memory was the fact that Bri actually helped me back stage for the first time ever.

What made this amazing was that - long ago - I had suggested that she would help me as other kids had done starting in second grade. Of course, she was three at the time, so I doubted she would totally remember. However, several other students started in the second grade helping me backstage, so I hoped she would, too. And how time flies....fast forward nearly five years.

On the day of the last performance, Sunday March 22, she indeed decided to help me. She was a little worried at first, but blended in great. The students, of course, we fabulous with both cast and crew looking out for her and taking good care of her. She stood close at my side, in awe of every step, every move, every breath that unfolded. Indeed, the world behind stage was quite different....she had seen the play before with Kiff and her friends...and the cast was great with them during a backstage tour.

Bri did help me in several spots, but none as important as the very end when she, I, and another girl were the only ones available to put on the massive Pride Rock. And, she came through like a pro!!! Fantastic.

I looked at her in the black shirt - with polka dots of all things (great for backstage) and realize that this is the start of a new adventure.  I now have a trusted back stage crew member to help me for years ahead.

The one with the long week

This has been one long week.

Tech week for the play at our school.

Now, I love doing the play. This has been something that I have enjoyed the past 18 years. It is a blast. Working with the students and seeing how that play comes out is phenomenal.

And it is fun to get a chance to hang out at the homestead.

But I always forget how tiring it can be. In fact, it is even more tiring for the students. Seeing so many of the most energetic students quiet and subdued by week's end is always funny.

I also forget how weird it is not being home, playing with the kids, hanging with Em, watching Curious George with them (as I am doing while writing this).

Good times - yes. Just tiring ones, too. A great way to usher in the spring season!