Makeup artist to the stars

Everly was in her first play! 

She did makeup for the lead, Anastasia, and helped with costume changes as the actors transitioned between scenes. I feel like all those dramatic cat-eyes in 3rd grade are really paying off! She's got a steady hand and discerning eye. 

We celebrate with Freddy's!

 

Les Poison

My coworker, Alex, was in Little Mermaid at the White Theater. He played Chef Louis and a slew of other characters in the chorus. 

It was the best!

 I think I am bringing the average age of this group waaaay up. Aren't they cute kids?

SBL 2024: Bye Bye Birdie

I can honestly say, this one was one of my favorites. 

It was just the three of us and our popcorn buckets. 

The girls are looking all grown up lately. I love it and it's making me a little sad. 

Oh well, I'm looking older these days too. What are ya gonna do? You're gonna wear that neck fan proudly, that's what yer gonna do!

Those buckets were a great investment. Popcorn for a buck? Let's get refills!

The girls got along well and had fun running around and playing on the grass. They were more that happy to go get concessions for me. Ah, sweet summer independence. 

The musical was so well done. It was right up there with Newsies as our all-time favorites. 

What's the story, morning glory?

What's the word, hummingbird?

Did you hear about Hugo and Kim?

Mean Girls

Anna joined a musical! And she's on stage!

It was so fun to see her singing and dancing and having a good time. 

Annie and the Shepherds

 Anna ran sound effects for a production of Annie at the Culture House. It was phenomenal! I was so impressed!

Straight home to sleep on the floor! This year's brave participants were Anna, Everly, Laney and Maybe. 

SBL: Bucket List Knockout

We are on a mission to get some checkmarks up on that bucket list. 

I mean...we are making memories! (But, I really love those check marks too)

We stopped by Black Hole bakery to see what all the fuss was about. We went out on limb and selected a few savory pastries. We're sophisticated like that. The reviews were mixed. We might be happier sticking to glazed donuts from Price Chopper.

Then we were off to a showing of Alice and Wonderland at the Coterie Theater. It was excellent. And it was freezing. I was so sad for Anna and Laney. It's pretty hard to climb inside of a tank top for warmth. 

We set off to find the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum and then we would go find the American Jazz Museum. 

We didn't know that they are in the same building!

I'm gonna go ahead and put these two in the same category as the Prairie Fire. 

Cool to see once. 

Bonus Bonus SBL - Newsies!!

 Perhaps I haven't made a huge secret of the fact that I don't especially enjoy the actual plays at Theater in the Park?

It's more about the summerness and the way it makes me feel to do something fun with the kids. 

But this one was the real deal.

The acting. The singing. The dancing. 

Perfect!

And, by dang, we went two nights in a row! One with the YW and one with Meg and Friends...just to make sure they new how really awesome it was!

SBL: Theater in the Park

It's kinda silly, but the best part of going to Theater in the Park is the hanging out part. Which is pretty much something we could do for free any time...at a park. 

But then we wouldn't have the excitement of saving our placing in line and then racing all the other theater-goers for the best spot on the lawn....throw those tarps down! Claim as much territory as possible!

Keep in mind, that getting there early enough to claim a good spot means you have an hour or two to kill before the sun goes down and the show starts. Games and snacks are crucial. 

ooooh...it's finally time!

This year it's Cinderella! 

Nap time for mama!

Summer Theater Troupe

Mari did it again!

She found a script, cast the parts and scheduled the rehearsals.

The first couple were during our post-vacation quarantine....

They memorized their lines and held only 2 in person rehearsals!

The big night arrived and we all gathered in the Guenther backyard for the show.

Megan did the cover artwork....free hand!

It was so great! And really funny! They all played multiple characters and everyone memorized their lines so well. It went off without a hitch.

Nerdy Mathew with his stinky tuna sandwich

Megan ran the props and stage management. She loves to be a part, but really prefers the backstage. Here organizational skills really have a chance to shine!

Laney introducing a new scene with Alex Secor

Crazy choir auditions....check out Laney's face!

Mathew's off-tune solo...(it was on purpose!)

The end!

I wish we could do this every night!

SBL: Elephant and Piggie - We are in a Play!

Every year I put something on that list that feels like such a good idea, and then later it gives me crazy anxiety. One year it was "racing gocarts"....do you know how expensive that is??

This year it was "Put on a Play".

It sounds so lovely, but it's actually quite a lot of work! And I have gotten so good at being lazy....an inevitable byproduct of everything being cancelled for 3 months.

Luckily, the kids woke up feeling inspired, they selected 5 Elephant and Piggie books and decided that those would be their play. We brainstormed ideas for a backdrop and I gave them the go-ahead to use one of the flat sheets...those are completely useless at our house.

Then they just....did it! Have I mentioned that I love big kids? They are so CAPABLE!

Anna designed an adorable sun and cut a spot for a backstage prop hand-off, then covered it with a paper towel cloud. Genius.

Everly went foraging in the recycling big for some cardboard she could use as bushes. BY HERSELF. I was in awe. AWE, I tell you!

Megan used our sacrament meeting program template to put together the program. She's flippin fantastic.

The girls even managed to talk Mathew, Megan and I into stepping in for minor roles as needed.

I typed up the scripts. It was quite the undertaking, I only got through three of the books, figured we could use the book on the other two, but I wish I had finished...it really helped!

They came up with their own costumes, Anna in all grey and a trunk made from felt. Everly in all pink with some pink felt ears safety pinned to a headband. Aren't they the cutest of the cute?

Everly is very familiar with the stories in the books and did better with her lines by reading from the books instead of the scripts. I love to see her reading confidence growing! All that scripture reading in the mornings is paying off!

Megan played the Ice Cream Penguin vendor in one play and the whale in another play. She was such a good sport. Being accommodating is a rare quality in a 15 year old.

I did my best to be a good Brian the Bat. But even with my bat-ear piggietails and brown sweater, Mathew stole the spotlight with his funny Elephant. He is a true thespian, that boy.

Me and Everly waiting "off stage"....

I was the book holder for the last two plays. I should have written up the scripts, dangit. It was harder than I thought to turn those pages fast enough for the girls to say their lines.

But, the whole thing was so adorable and I really loved how they took charge and made it all happen. I love these kids!