Ella Stars in The Knight at Dawn

After juggling 12 hours of gymnastics practice with three play rehearsals every week for the past 2.5 months, Ella's performance weekend finally arrived yesterday.  Ella has worked really hard this fall learning all of her lines, songs, blocking, and choreography on top of school and gymnastics practice.  I have been amazed at her determination, hard work, and endless amounts of energy.  She was surprisingly as cool as a cucumber yesterday morning when I helped her get dressed and did her hair and makeup.  After our neighbor dropped her off 3.5 hours before show time, Lia and I arrived at the theater to meet my parents, Kristina and her girls, and Natalee who had all bought tickets to cheer her on for her first matinee performance.  After starting 40 minutes late, we watched Ella doing an amazing job as the role of Annie, the sister, performing in almost every scene of her 40 minute play, Knight at Dawn, based on the second Magic Treehouse book.  She did an awesome job and nailed all of her lines and solos.  I was just so amazed at her natural acting and singing ability with such limited experience. This musical production was so fun to watch with all of the darling costumes, cute songs, and children actors.  I seriously enjoyed watching every minute of her play.  

After running to Mod Pizza for a quick dinner break with Kristina and her girls, Lia and I dropped Ella back off at the theater to get ready for her evening show that started at 7 pm.  Ron and the boys met up with us at the theater and we enjoyed cheering her on as a family for her second performance.  Since Ella's play is performed as a double feature with the teen play, Freaky Friday, we didn't finish up and get home until after 10 p.m.  I tucked a very tired, yet happy, Ella into bed at 10:30 Saturday night.  She then woke up yesterday to do it all over again.  Ella left at 11 this morning to be at the theater early enough for professional pictures before their 2 pm show.  I opted to go alone this time since everyone in our family had seen the play, but I wanted to see her one more time.  Once again, Ella did a great job and it was so fun to watch her perform in the role of Annie a third and final time.  She finished off this experience with a huge smile on her face, especially since she got to share this experience with three of her closest friends who we recruited--Poppy from next door and Elise and Viviana from school.  We then came home for a few minutes before the girls and I turned around to head to NWTL to help unload the truck and to celebrate with a potluck dinner party with other cast members and their families.  Overall, it was a wonderful, growing experience for Ella and I am so grateful that she was given this opportunity!

Ella and Ben (who played the role of Jack, her brother) in the opening scene.

Ella discovering the book in the magic treehouse.

Realizing that they had been magically transported to the medieval times while inside the magic treehouse.

Ella and Ben spying on the castle guards.

Being caught outside the castle.

Ella and Ben being dragged off to the dungeon by the guards.

Ella talking to one of the prisoners, Poppy, who is one of her bestfriends and next door neighbor in real life.

Ella looking at the knight suits in the armory.

Ella talking to Ben.

Ella singing her solo from the song, "The Light in the Dark," to the other prisoners in the dungeon.  She did such a good job and has such a sweet voice.

Ella "swimming" through the moat (while being carried by one of the older actors) after jumping from the top of the castle.

Ella climbing over the bridge while running away from the castle.

Ella and Ben riding on the horse with the black night at the end of the story.

The black knight "knighting" Ella and her brother.

Ella and Ben in the final scene.

Ella taking a bow at the end of the play.

The entire cast singing at the end of the performance after taking their bows.

Since Ella's play was performed as a double feature with Freaky Friday, her cast was allowed to be in the wedding scene at the end of this second play.  Ella had so much fun wearing a pretty dress and dancing after the wedding ceremony was finished.

Ella dancing her little heart out with all of the other girls in her cast.

The group picture we were able to take after Ella's first show with my parents, Kristina and her girls, and Lia and me.  Unfortunately, Natalee and Ella's gymnastics friend, Avery, and her mom had to leave before we had a chance to take this picture.

Lia and mom posing with our young star.

Ella enjoying dinner at the "little girls" table at Mod Pizza with Mae and Ellis.

The Harland fam all together after Ella's evening show on Saturday.

The picture I managed to take of Ella and her three friends who were in this play with her after their final performance.

From left to right:

Elise, Ella, Viviana, and Poppy

After arriving back at NWTL for the potluck party yesterday evening, we learned that Ella's co-star, Ben, had brought custom-made cupcakes from our local bakery.  They were absolutely amazing looking and tasting!  Here is Ella holding up the box of Knight at Dawn cupcakes that actually had little images of the book cover on the top of every cupcake.