Let's Go Smoke a Big Cigar!

WAAAYYYY back in January a flyer came home from school announcing that the Albion Youth Theatre was again bringing the Missoula Children's Theatre to town to do a production of Pinnochio. Kendall, who absolutely loved his experience last year in King Arthur's Quest was ecstatic and put the date on the calendar. The problem was that it was an eternal 3 1/2 months away! The countdown began. And so did Lynnsey's long period of indecision. She knew how much fun Kendall had last year and some of her friends participated last year too. She wanted to do it, but was afraid she'd be too shy. We actually had the same fear and might have tried to dissuade her just a tiny little bit. But about three days before auditions she made up her mind that she was going to try it. We told her that if she did, she had to commit to it for that entire week of rehearsals and not back out at the last minute even if she got nervous.

The rehearsal day came at last. Kendall was up at the crack of dawn, he was so excited. Nevermind that he had to get through an entire day of school first! Lynnsey was sticking to her decision nervously. But they both went. Lynnsey's nerves got the best of her at the audition and she could barely even whisper her name to the tour directors. But they went ahead and cast her anyway as a "Pleasure Island Kid". Kendall was very relaxed and had so much fun. He was cast as "Candlewick", Pinnochio's "cool" and "rebellious" friend. He was so excited about the chance to play another role so different from his own personality (the rebellious part, not the cool part).

Rehearsals began the next day and every day after that until Saturday. The day of the performance. I had heard, in talking with some of the people involved, that Lynnsey had seemed to get over her nerves at her first practice and that one of the tour directors had remarked that she never would have believed that Lynnsey was the same kid as the one at the audition. The two stars just before leaving for their dress rehearsal on the day of their performances.

It is so amazing to me still that this group is able to pull together a full scale production in just a few short days. But they do. The play was fantastic and the kids did a marvelous job. Kendall shined as we knew he would as Candlewick and had the audience totally laughing several times. He's really such a talented peformer and you can just see how much he enjoys it when he's on stage.

And Lynnsey. Holy moly! Kalen leaned over during the first show and said, "Can you believe that's our Lynnsey up there?" She recited her lines loudly and expressively ("Let's go smoke a big cigar!") and was singing and dancing with the rest of her group. She didn't seem even a tiny bit nervous. We were so proud of her. She's already talking about continuing next year. And we are SO hoping that the Missoula Children's Theatre can come back again.
.

The Pleasure Island kids.

Candlewick and his gang in the front row with the rest of the main characters.

The entire cast of Pinnochio!

Kendall and Lynnsey with one of the directors, Alison.

Kendall and Lynnsey with the other director, Adam.

If your kids ever have a chance to participate or you ever have an opportunity to see a performance of the Missoula Children's Theatre, do it! It is such a wonderful, wonderful experience.