It's a Jungle Out There!

One of the biggest highlights of our year the past couple of years, has been the annual visit of Missoula Children's Theatre. In less than one week the kids audition for, are cast, rehearse, and perform a full length musical production. It is intense and crazy, and our kids think it's one of the most fun things in the world to be a part of.

This year they were really excited to learn that they would be performing The Jungle Book. The day of auditions arrived to much excitement and a bit of nerves. Spencer had decided that he was going to try out as well this year. They all made it through their school day. Kendall and Lynnsey arrive home before Spencer's bus gets there so they were all ready to go. We were waiting for Spencer's bus to arrive but it never did! Kalen managed to find out that they were running extremely late due to one of the buses that was actually taking some of the kids to the auditions that was in the front of the bus line keeping the other buses from getting on to their routes. Kendall and Lynnsey were panicked about having to be late for auditions, so I went over to Spencer's bus stop to wait for him while Lynnsey and Kendall went with Kalen to the auditions. The plan was for Kalen to drop them off and come right back to get Spencer and take him. What happened was, in his hurry to get the kids there, Kalen was driving a teeny bit fast and ended up being pulled over right in front of the high school where the auditions were. Luckily, the officer let him off with a warning, but of course the whole thing ended up taking a good deal of time. Meanwhile Spencer had arrived and we were wondering what on earth could be taking so long. Finally Kalen pulled in, very upset about the events of the afternoon, and had me drive Spencer up instead.

This whole thing threw Spencer for a loop and so when we arrived half an hour late, I was worried that he wasn't even going to try when he saw the 70+ kids who were all there auditioning. We got him up onto the stage. I stayed for a bit to make sure he was going to do it and I was able to see some of Kendall's and Lynnsey's auditions too. They both did an amazing job. One of the directors was here last year and he remembered Lynnsey well because she had started out SO shy and then had an unbelievable turnaround. Kendall said every time Lynnsey would have a turn, Adam would just shake his head and smile like he was remembering last year's audition. Spencer said what they asked him to, but so quietly and with almost no emotion that I was afraid he wouldn't even get a part. There were quite a few kids who didn't, but I think most of them were older and better able to handle rejection.

In then end, Spencer was cast as a monkey, with all of the other 5-7 year olds that they call Mini's. Kendall got the part of Rikki Tikki Tavi the mongoose who defeats the evil cobra Nagaina, aka Lynnsey.

Spencer got off to a rough start earlier in the week. He just wouldn't participate. I knew most of it was probably nerves and some of it was sheer stubbornness. But they gave him an ultimatum and told him if he wasn't willing to participate in Friday's rehearsal, that he needed to back out of the play. So we talked with him and worked with him at home the rest of Thursday evening. Lynnsey and Kendall had seen some of their songs and dances so they were able to work with him and put on mini performances for us which really seemed to help Spencer feel more comfortable and confident. So by Friday's rehearsal, he was a different Monkey! (He also had to apologize to the director for his previous behavior, which was the hardest part for him.)

Saturday's performances arrived. The kids don't see their costumes until the morning dress rehearsal that day, so they were so excited! Their performances were great. Spencer made an adorable little monkey (although he kept hitching up his pants which were falling down:) and did his lines with the rest of the group and all the songs and actions really well. There is a part where they get to do some freestyle dancing that was hilarious and Spencer had some moves that he'd been working on at home that were really cute.

Lynnsey and Kendall did a fabulous job as well. Kendall is just made to do this kind of thing. He just looks like he is having the time of his life. Lynnsey had a blast too and had a lot more lines this year. She did great with her "scary" cobra voice!

There was no flash photography during the actual performance which means no photography with my camera, but someone there had a better camera and posted some pictures onto the youth theatre Facebook page, so I borrowed a few of the action shots to go with the group shots at the end of the performances.

There were over 50 kids in the production this year and I am just so amazed at what the directors can do with such a huge group in only a week!

Kendall and Adam

Spencer and Adam

Lynnsey and Adam

All three kids with Joe.

Kaya was mesmerized by both performances and barely made a peep. She has been singing all of Spencer's monkey songs and doing the dances ever since and keeps talking about when she gets to join them all when she turns five.

We can't wait till next year!