Well, she’s finally gone and done it. Number 2 has landed her first lead (yes, a bona fide lead, and not a lead supporting role) in the local Children’s Musical Theatre Group. She will spend the better part of her summer in rehearsals and I will spend much of that time volunteering and taxiing.
They say that the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree and where Number 2 is concerned that’s true in many respects. She has her mother’s love of humor, laughter, and theatre. She’s definitely not afraid to be “on stage”. But where we have those things in common, Number 2 has many more gifts than I. First, she was blessed with an amazing set of pipes where I was not. I’ve encouraged all my children to pursue vocal music. Number 2 knows well that one limiting element in my own theatre career (beyond a sudden and inexplicable case of stage fright around the age of 20) was the fact that I was not also a vocalist and my dance skills were weak, at best.
Number 2 has taken this to heart and charted her own course, often in spite of limited funding and tight family and scheduling constraints. Several years ago, she experienced her first group audition and ended up with a minor roll in Robin Hood. Then she auditioned for another musical where she was asked to dance simple steps and she humorously stumbled around as she attempted a skill she had no training in. She landed a 
small part as one of the Lost Boys in last summer’s production of Peter Pan in spite of her lack of dance training while also grabbing a lead supporting role in a production of Rumplestiltskin. This experience really was positive in terms of her gaining the skills she needed without spending tons of time in dance classes every week. This last winter she performed in several numbers in the group’s production of Broadway II. Broadway is Number 2’s favorite genre of music, theatre and dance so participating in this was a real treat. This summer, with improved dancing skills, some great experience under her belt and, yes, sporting those blessed beautiful pipes which I am so envious of, she will play the leading roll of Ti Moune in “Once On This Island”.
It’s been a joy to see this young lady journey from the place of hesitant (almost shy) pre-teen to a beautiful young woman who is gifted and confident on the stage. I have to say she’s been the one making her dream happen often times in spite of a mother who is frazzled most of the school year from trying to balance the demands of four children and her own career on very limited funds. Number 2 didn’t cave to discouragement or give up. She kept trying. She kept asking. She kept finding out when any production that might be a possibility was auditioning. Often she performed in a couple of productions at once since she participated in school theatre as well as community theatre. She arranged her own car pools. Now it is her turn to shine, and by golly, I’m so very grateful that our cars are in ord
er and I have gas money this summer, because I fully intend to support her in this experience as best I possibly can! Hopefully it will make up for the recent years when I was fighting other fires and couldn’t be as available as we all would’ve liked.
Now it starts, the constant playing of the production’s music, in the bathroom, in the bedroom, on the stereo in the living room, all day long. Even last night, she and her older sister were in their room listening to the soundtrack while practicing. And older sis isn’t even in the production. It will be worth it though because I can bet that Number 2 will be one of the first, if not the first in the cast to be off book. Good for her!
You go girl! Just remember, you still have to do your chores. 
But, yes, this summer, I can give you a ride to that!
June 15, 2009 at 9:22 pm
Does #2 know that her biological grandfather used to be part of a Barbershop Quartet for many years? He was extremely talented in the singing, music, and drama roles (even had an agent and did commercials and such). Does she also know that her biological aunt also has a singing history? I think she gets it from your side of the family, even if you think you don’t have the talent, Cat.
I can tell you are very proud of her. She’s a great kid! She will go far with her determination and tenacity.
June 19, 2009 at 9:21 am
Little Miss,
I had no idea we had musical talent in our family! Hmmm, all those years thinking I was a horrible vocalist. Wait, I was! I did not know that about Dad, although the drama thing ran pretty thick for me. I received state awards in high school for stuff like that. But singing, no, not even in the shower. Now we know where Number 2 gets the pipes!
June 16, 2009 at 4:53 am
Congrats to the dazzling young lady with the footlights in her eyes. I’m jealous. I fondly recall when I acted in a community production of “It’s A Wonderful Life,” playing Harry Bailey. It ran for about 8 weeks, two shows a week. I loved the camaraderie of the cast, who became like family during that time, developing trust in one another, cheering one another, commiserating over self-perceived flubs. Then I did a slew of murder mystery dinner theater shows, as Inspector Cluesup. It was fun but I grew weary of playing the buffoon. And I had a lead role in a short film that was entered into a few film festivals, but soon found its way to obscurity. I often feel the urge to act again, memorize lines, inhabit a character — and maybe I will. But it would be a fling, like the flings of my past. Here’s hoping your daughter cultivates and sustains more than a fling with the theater–if that is what she wants. There are no limits to how far she can go and how much she can do. She clearly has what it takes. Do I mean good looks? A good set of pipes? Ability to memorize lines? Nah, those are the icing on the cake. The cake is made of passion. It’s tasty and often hard to put down–but that’s what makes it what it is. You go, girl! Rip it up! And tell yo mama there seems no end to all we have in common.
June 19, 2009 at 9:23 am
Kip,
Agreed, the passion is paramount to success in most anything that requires dedication and determination and perseverance. This young lady definitely has it in spades, but personally, I wouldn’t be surprised if we see her on Comedy Central someday. She’s a riot!