Coming To You LIVE!

I have very fond memories of going to live theater productions in my youth and really wanted to introduce my kids to the joys of live theater too. Fortunately for us, we have a small playhouse in our area and every summer they put on a youth theatre production. I can't believe the kids are old enough for me to say that this is our 4th year in a row attending!!!!

Here we are before heading out:



This year, the production was two 1 act plays entitled the Perils of Goldilocks. The first act was an updated version of the classic tale of Goldilocks and The Three Bears while the second act was Goldilocks on Trial. This will explain why the main character is dressed in prison garb in this picture after the show, which Jadyn took with her and Baby Bear:



Needless to say the kids and I all enjoyed the show.

BUT, at the play we found out that the theater was putting on a free summer workshop the following week for kids interested in auditioning for future productions and as luck would have it, Jadyn was just old enough to participate.

Jadyn really likes performing and being a part of recitals and plays but she is also not someone who can just immediately jump on stage and break into song and dance either. She gets shy and nervous. I took her to the first day of the workshop and she was by far the youngest one there, along with one other boy her age. I was SO proud of her though. Despite her nerves she got up there on stage by herself and spoke, listened to the advice she was given and used it to go back up there a second time and improve her stage presence.

On the second day of the workshop, Jadyn participated in a mock audition that included a prepared scene and cold reads. We practiced, practiced, practiced the night before and she ROCKED her prepared reading, being one of only 2 children who were pointed out as being prepared and confident. The cold reads were a little harder for her but she got up there and did it.



On the third day they did music and dance for auditions, learning some choreography and how to prepare to sing for an audition. While I originally was thinking this would all help Jadyn when she tries out for future school plays, she is seriously considering trying out for the theater's next production, A Christmas Carol.

While the audition is not until September and she may very well change her mind, the workshop was a great experience for Jadyn. She truly enjoyed it, we both learned a lot and I could not have been more proud. It isn't easy to put yourself out there like that, and especially at the ripe old age of 7 but she did it. It was a great lesson and reminder as to the benefits of stepping outside your comfort zone.