In The Hartland: Ella's & Lia's Week of Drama Camp

After Lia and Ella both participated in drama productions at the local children's theater downtown this past winter and absolutely loved it, we were all so disappointed to learn that this theater was shutting down after being open for twelve years. Since there really wasn't any other option in town for them to act at an all-children theater, I sadly accepted the fact that this short chapter of their lives would be closing. Then at the end of the school year, I decided to email Lia's drama teacher to see if there was any way the one school play she directs could be moved from the spring when Lia runs with the track team to the winter when Lia isn't involved in any after-school sports. Although the drama teacher agreed that the winter time (when the weather is rainy and cold) would be the better time for an indoor activity like a school play, she said that there was no way that it could moved to the winter. Lia's teacher then suggested that we look into a new children's theater in town that had just opened the previous October. I immediately looked it up online and was so pleasantly surprised to see that she was indeed correct. I called the phone number listed on the website right away and had a wonderful ten minute phone call with the director and owner. I learned that this theater hosts one-week, summer camps with a 15-minute production at the end of the week AND full-scale musicals each season throughout the school year. Needless to say, I was so thrilled about all of this! I immediately signed both Ella and Lia up for a drama camp for one of the few weeks that Lia is in town this summer. I also enrolled Lia in the fall musical production of Disney's Descendents that has evening and Saturday practices that she can attend outside of cross country. This was such an answer to prayers as I was feeling so bad that Lia wasn't going to be able to participate in her school's spring play for a third year in a row.

After flying home on Sunday from Belize, we started bright and early Monday morning with Ella's play practice from 8 to noon and Lia's cross country practice from 8 to 10 a.m. Lia's drama practice then went from 1 to 5 p.m. Ella participated in the mini production of Moana with her friend, Madelyn, from school and church and her little sister, Emery. Lia participated in a mini production of Mary Poppins and was signed up to do this with her good friend, Rian. Unfortunately, I learned late Saturday night while still in Belize from Rian's mom that she was dropping out last minute due to an opportunity to go camping with her grandma and cousins. I decided to keep this news from Lia until after we got safely home since I knew how disappointed she would be. Luckily, when I told Lia Monday morning after cross country practice, she took it pretty well and bravely showed up for her first practice a few hours later without her good friend at her side.

Ella and Lia both auditioned first thing Monday morning and then got assigned their parts within the first hour. Ella was assigned the role of Ocean Magic #1 which meant that she got to be one of the waves in the show with two other girls. She ended up getting several singing and dancing roles in addition to some speaking lines and had a great time practicing all week long. Lia was assigned the roles of the maid, a bee (in "A Spoonful of Sugar" song), a cast member in the "Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious" song, and the bird lady with her own solo for the song, "Feed the Birds." Although Lia was really nervous about singing a solo at first, she worked really hard practicing her song all week long. We showed up early for both shows today and were able to get seats on the front row for both performances. Both girls did such a great job and gave it their all. It was so fun to watch them and I was so proud of both of them--especially Lia who nailed her solo. Afterwards, both the owner's daughter (who directed both girls' plays) and the director spoke to me about how talented Lia and Ella are and how they should both be a part of the company which is the group of children who perform in the seasonal, musical productions all year long. The owner even said that she asked her daughter where did Lia come from after she peeked in on one of their practices this week and saw Lia performing. They were both so happy to learn that Lia was signed up to participate in the Descendants production this fall. Overall, I am so glad that Lia's drama teacher helped us to find this theater and I truly hope that Lia will have several positive acting experiences with them in the years to come. And if we can squeeze any more things into Ella's life with competitive gymnastics this school year, I will gladly let her participate in another production, too!

Ella moving the blue wave with her partner, McKenna, for the opening scene of "In the Beginning."

Ella fanning the wave with most of the Moana cast singing behind her.

Since Ella and McKenna both are on the same gymnastics team, the director had them do several dance moves. Here Ella is touching her head with her toes at the end of the first song.

Ella and McKenna dancing and singing to the song, "Shiny."

Ella speaking to Maui and the crab, Tomatoa.

Ella and McKenna lifting the crab in "Shiny."

The casts singing together at the end of the play while singing, "We Know the Way."

The cast picture after the play was over.

Ella posing with her siblings at the end.

Ella posing with her friend, Madelyn, and her sister, Emery.

Lia playing the role of the maid at the beginning of her play while talkin to Mr. and Mrs. Banks.

Lia speaking to Mrs. Banks.

Lia singing "A Spoonful of Sugar" with the other bees. Since she had never told me that she was assigned this role, I almost burst out laughing when she came "flying" onto the stage.