Lia Performs in 42nd Street

After a crazy 10 weeks of rehearsing for 42nd Street while juggling school, homework, online seminary, and the one-act plays at her high school, Lia performed in a marathon weekend over the past few days.  She had nightly rehearsals all last week, a 5 hour dress rehearsal on Friday night, a 13 hour performance day on Saturday, and an 8 hour performance day on Sunday, all while trying to take tests and finish projects and assignments at the end of her junior year.  Needless to say, it was a grueling week for her.  In addition, 42nd Street was the most intense, advanced, and elaborate production that NWTL has ever taken on.  Instead of putting on a Junior version of this show, they performed the teen version that lasted 2.5 hours with a 20 minute intermission in the middle.  The majority of the ensemble dance scenes were tap dance numbers which meant that Lia had to learn how to tap dance for this show.  In addition, Lia also had 12 costumes and 15 costume changes throughout this play.  Overall, this was the biggest show that Lia has ever been a part of and to be able to juggle tech week and the performance weekend during her second to last week of school was a major accomplishment. 

I was able to attend the Saturday matinee show alone and the Sunday matinee show with my mom and Ella, while Ron and the boys went to her Saturday evening show.  We were able to get seats for the front row and be up close and personal for this amazing production full of stunning, vintage costumes, classic songs, and incredible, ensemble dance numbers.  It was simply amazing to see this cast of twenty some teenagers pull off such an advanced and complicated show.  All of us thoroughly enjoyed watching Lia perform in this show and are so proud of her for pulling this off at such a busy time of year.  Well done, Lia!

 

Since 42nd Street is a play withing a play, it bounced back and forth between the two plays the entire 2.5 hours.  Here is Lia and a few other girls talking at the back of the stage after they had finished auditions for "Pretty Lady."

A close-up of Lia while she sang, "Shadow Waltz," at the front of the stage.

Lia and her lovely legs while singing "Shadow Waltz."  I cant believe how much she looks like a 1930s, pin-up girl in this picture.

Lia and Carson dancing while singing the song, "Getting to be a Habit with Me."

Lia singing "Dames" with Irene and Norah at her side.

Lia wearing a stunning, beaded gown while still singing the song, "Dames."

Lia speaking to Abner Dillon, the producer of the show during the party scene.

Lia's boyfriend, Jared, during the party scene.  This is one of the few times that the two of them were placed together during the show.

Lia walking onto the stage at the beginning of the song, "We're Into Money," while carrying a giant coin.

After placing the coins down on the stage, all of the girls tap danced on them for the duration of the song.  It was so fun to watch!

Lia tapping and dancing on top of her coin.  "We're Into Money" was by far my favorite scene of the entire musical.

Lia singing "Sunny Side to Every Situation."

Lia tap dancing during "Lullaby of Broadway."

Lia finishing off the final scene of the play while singing, "42nd Street."

Lia and Jared.

Lia with her brothers after the Saturday, evening show.

Lia with Ella and me after her third and final show on Sunday.