Thursday, Dec. 4th: Dress Rehearsal for "A Child Is Born" Concert. It was a decent dress rehearsal--bad enough that it didn't jinx our performances, but not so horrible that I was worried.
Friday, Dec. 5th: Mom and Dad arrived from CA, 1st Child is Born performance. It was wonderful! And I'm soooo glad they were able to come see it. It really meant a lot to me to share with them what we do in our stake every year as a result of the years of music lessons they supported me in while I was growing up, and as I follow the example my Dad has set for me by directing big music events in his Stake.
We also decorated the Christmas tree while they were here, but when I went to take pictures, my camera was dead, and then we were so busy that I forgot to ever get any pictures at all with my good camera. All I have is a couple of shots with my phone, but none of my parents. They were there, I promise!
Saturday, Dec. 6th: Took Mom and Dad to the airport, then went straight to Vocal Auditions for the King and I. Me, Dallin, Daphne, Sean and Hayden all went and I was so proud of my kids for being so brave. Especially Sean, who finally decided to go at the very last second.
That night was the 2nd performance of Child is Born, and again--it was fantastic! Very well attended and the spirit there was beautiful! My heart was so full that whole weekend. I love my Father in Heaven and I love his Son who He sent to earth to redeem me. I don't have words to express the love and gratitude my heart holds for them, so I am thankful for music that expresses what my heart can't find words for. It is an experience like none other to stand in front of a 100 voices (adults, teens and children) and a full orchestra and lead them in performing carols that celebrate the birth of the Savior of the World; He who came for each one of us to free us from the sorrows and sins of mortality. We sang about and truly felt the "glory of His love" at this concert. It is an experience I will always cherish.
Sunday, Dec 7th: Church, Dance Auditions for me and Dallin--way more intense than I imagined. I showed up with my borrowed character shoes and the choreographer said, "You probably don't want to wear heels for this one--we're doing a lot of leaping and jumping." So I danced that audition in my bare feet. It was kind of funny and oddly enough, sort of helped me to relax because I felt a little ridiculous. Also, I was so glad that Dallin was there with me. He's a more confident dancer and was just fun to be with.
Then we headed to our friends for a delightful cookies and cocoa party, and while we were there, I got a call that they wanted me and all four my children to come to callbacks the next night, and could I also bring Sydney (who didn't come to her vocal audition slot.) I was being called back for Anna, Dallin and Sean both for Chulalonkorn and Louis, and Sydney for the littlest princess. Daphne and Hayden were called back for the royal children.
Monday, Dec 8th: Call-backs-- Sydney refused to get up and say the line we'd been working on all day, and Sean was spinning around in circles whenever he wasn't actively participating. But he did get up and read his lines and sing his solos which was a huge step out of his comfort zone. I was extremely proud of him, even though it was pretty apparent he wouldn't be chosen for the parts he'd been called back for. Everybody else did great and refrained from spinning in circles so I figured that increased their chances. I was one of 7 Annas called back. I felt really good about my performance, but was a little confused when after a particularly good job on a very emotional song, they asked if I would read and sing for Tuptim, and after singing Tuptim's song, they asked me to sing for Lady Thiang.
Tuesday, Dec. 9th: Fretted all night about being asked to sing for those other roles, and worried about what I'd say if they offered me a supporting role instead of Anna. (Same old dilemma I always have, but if my kids were offered parts, I did feel it worth accepting a smaller role to be in a show together. However, Arthur did not feel it would be worth my time or his support of me in a smaller role.) I spent the morning writing an email with all the reasons they should choose me for Anna. And I realized just after I'd sent it that an email had come in requesting that I come to a 2nd set of call backs. Oh the torture!! I thought I was done! These were in the afternoon so as soon as Dallin got home from school I headed over to the theater for round two.
This time there were "only" 4 Annas. I'll say this for ALT, they definitely didn't have a secretly "pre-chosen" Anna, which was refreshing compared to some other auditions I've been to. At this audition they only had me read and sing for Anna, and I felt like I nailed it, English accent and all. They sent us home and told us we could expect to hear from them by Friday. Such a LONG time away!! I went home feeling pretty good but a little worried that if I didn't get Anna, then I wouldn't get any role at all, and something small would be better than nothing!
Wednesday, Dec 10th: I tried to stay busy all day (not hard) and not think about my phone that was not ringing (a little harder). Started feeling sick (sore throat, chills and aches). Felt ExTreMely grateful my body had stayed healthy through the Child is Born/Audition weekend.
Then, while I was making dinner, Bennett was crying and hanging on my legs so I put him up on the counter so he could watch without me holding him. While I turned my back for a few seconds to put something in the sink, he touched the boiling pot of water and burned three of his fingertips. (Kicking myself for being so stupid). He screamed and fought and kicked while I was trying to cool his fingers in water, wouldn't touch the bag of ice I offered him, and just kept crying through all of dinner, which was already hectic because I was trying to feed people quickly before they left for cub scouts and scouts.
Then about 7 p.m. I got a call from the stage manager offering me a part in the show. It was ANNA!!!!! (Gushing with excitement) And
some of my children were offered roles too. My heart immediately sank when she said "some" of my children because I knew Sean didn't get in. Sure enough, Dallin got "Chulalongkorn" (the Crown Prince), and Daphne and Hayden were offered Royal Children parts.
Well, after I got off the phone, I sank to the floor in tears. It was SO not the reaction I was expecting. I think it was partly exhaustion, partly sickness, partly mad at myself for putting Bennett (who was still crying) on the counter, partly hurting for my son who'd gone out of his comfort zone and tried something hard and wouldn't get to participate, and partly whatever it is you feel when something you've been wishing for for a lot of years becomes a reality. I don't have a word for that, but it's real and a little overwhelming.
I called my mom first with the news because I didn't want Arthur to get the wrong idea since I was crying instead of excited. Moms are good people to talk to you when you just burned your baby, and one of your dreams just came true, but one of your kids (the one who needed this experience the most) wasn't included. After I talked to my Mom things felt like they were going to be okay. Bennett would survive his burned fingers, and I would be more careful next time he was hanging on my legs while I made dinner, and Sean didn't care about this show nearly as much as I did, and it was okay to be excited about all the other stuff, and it was safe to call Arthur and give him all the news without crying and making him worry about me being a basket case.
When I talked to Sean about it, with a look of concern on my face, he nonchalantly said, "I'm fine." Typical Sean. So while the rest of us are at rehearsals, Sean gets to have Dad time--they'll work on cub scout stuff and play games and it'll be good.
It's gonna be really busy and crazy here for a couple of months so we are buckling up for the ride! The show runs Feb 27-March 22, and we've already started rehearsals. I'm a little nervous but mostly excited and can't wait to dance the polka in an enormous Victorian dress!
