Live theatre? You mean there’s no remote?
Jack and I went to see a local production of “Monster in the Closet” Saturday. A good friend of ours is the “Dream Queen”. There was monsters with multiple eyes, the afore mentioned Dream Queen, UV reactant paint with black lights, fog machines, and more. We had a great time. And, it wasn’t sitting on our butts watching cartoons or playing video games.
As some of you know, this is where I came from. I was the crew chief for a professional Theatre for Young Audiences out of Atlanta. I think theatre for children is a very important part of their social education. Every time I get a chance to take Jack to see something, I try to. He’s also helped me build sets…by help I mean hang out and watch…and he has ushered for a show. It’s an awesome way to get him involved and interact with people on a different level. I also like that it’s not the same little league crowd.
My hope is that by taking him, and eventually Tony, to things of this nature, they will grow up to appreciate theatre. I didn’t have that growing up, but couldn’t imagine my life without it now. Sarah and I were in a production of “Pinocchio” when we found out about Tony.
Admittedly, one of his favorite parts of the trip was after the show. We were walking back to the car and crossed a large drainage ditch for the city. AS we were crossing it a man walked by and stopped us.
“In about 3 months there will be as many snakes in this drainage ditch as you can find in all of Huntsville…water moccasins and 3 copperheads.”
“Cool” we both replied.
After we got out of ear shot, Jack says…
“I thought he was going to be like one of those crazy guys on T.V. and tell us ‘THE END IS NEAR’.”
That’s my boy.
Figure 1 Sarah, Jack and Me (I’m the bald one)
March 5th, 2009 at 8:04 pm
Yeah, the guy wasn’t crazy, just making conversation…
Hey what a great life - building sets with your son! I’m with you man: theatre is fantastic for kids. My son was part of the street kid ensemble for a semi-professional production of Oliver last year. He had the experience of having to stick with something through 10 weeks of rehearsal, wondering what the heck he was doing it for and then being in total heaven once he got on that stage.
Theatre is one of the projects kids can do and see something concrete for their efforts while receiving praise for those efforts.
And … er … nice outfit.