Anna's "Honk Jr." Experience

Anna's activity this fall was to participate in Rose Children's Theatre production of Honk Jr. (essentially the story of the ugly duckling). She had done a couple summer camps with them in the past but this was her first time doing a full play. 

It was a big time commitment for her and she chose to do it over playing soccer (doing both would be too much). She had practices Monday - Thursday nights for a couple hours for a number of weeks. She never complained about it once and was always excited to go to rehearsals. 

She had two roles in the play - first as a hen and second as Penny (she's a swan who is the love interest of the ugly duckling).

After a number of weeks practicing the crew finally started Tech Week at the Wildish Theatre where they practiced with mics and in costume. 

Her first couple of performances (there were 8 or 9 total over two weekends) happened during the same time as Story Camp so Chris + Tiffany + Simon and other family members and friends attended those first few. Audrey and I went to the Sunday performance and we were seriously so proud of Anna. 

Here she is in her hen costume. 

I can't tell you how awesome it was to see her enjoying this so much. I don't have any history of being in performances like this so all of it was new to both of us. I loved how she loved it. 

For the second weekend of shows I volunteered backstage during the performances which is by far the best way to document the experience.

The adults involved in this production were fantastic - a really wonderful combination of fun and professional. I loved watching them interact with the kids. 

My volunteer responsibilities were in the "green room" supervising the kids when they weren't on stage. 

It was so fun to listen to their conversations and to watch them flow in and out of the show and their costume changes. 

In the green room there was one big table where kids colored and laughed and played games while they were waiting for their turn on stage. 

Anna's "Penny" the swan costume. 

One of the things I loved about this experience were the new photo subjects I found in front of me. I loved witnessing life backstage. 

Anna in the dressing room standing in front of her costumes. 

The organization and prep that goes into these productions was amazing. 

I love seeing a community of people come together to make it all happen. 

Anna on stage with her fellow performers. 

Between the first and second shows on Saturday they had a cast party. 

Make up was a "big thing" for these kids and they loved applying and reapplying. 

I am so proud of her for trying something new. She was awesome. 

Last week she told me that she was really missing play practices. I'm pretty sure she's planning to try out for their next production and I will be cheering her on the entire way.