Tickling the Ivories...

 

In the midst of NCC tour and dress rehearsals for Peter Pan Jr, there were another couple of performances that Moo had to attend to--the first, on the first day of dress rehearsal, was her piano guild audition.  The second, right after the long weekend of Peter Pan Jr shows, was piano recital for Carol Butler Piano Studio.

Guild auditions were held at the Steinway Gallery in Nashville.  This was the first time that Moo took part in the guild, and apparently she just had to go in a room and perform a handful of pieces for a judge, who then evaluated her performance.  She played a transposition piece called The Spanish Guitar, which she played in C, D & G; March of the English Guard, Amazing Grace, The Black Swan & Alexander March.  Moo walked away with a pin and a certificate:

The piano recital for Carol Butler Studios was held at Welch College.  Moo played three pieces: Part of Your World (duet with Carol Butler), The Black Swan & Alexander March.  My mom was also able to be in town for this event, so that made it extra special.  These were the students who were able to participate:

All of them did great!  This was Moo's first year in piano, and she is (mostly) enjoying the challenge and progress that she is making. :)  We are thankful that she is able to immerse herself in music as much as she does--yet another testimony of the benefits of homeschooling and the flexibility of schedule that it affords!  I may get a video of the recital in the next week or so, and I'll be sure to post it here and post an update.

Peter Pan Jr Performance

On Friday and Saturday, May 16th and 17th, 

The Academy Tutorial presented the musical 

Peter Pan Jr. 

at Lipscomb Academy's Acuff Chapel.

Over 620 people attended the show.

Here are some pictures, starting with a little visual backstory of the girls' weekly classtime and the dress rehearsal...and, at the very end of this post, a link to the video of opening night.

The Class: 

Somehow, three ladies: Alice Griffith, Ann Love Judd and Isabella Kearney took this class of 35 kids and provided the right mix of fun, games & rehearsal to effectively pull off a great show this spring.  The class started in the fall, but the beginning of rehearsal for the actual Peter Pan show started in January.  A lot was done in a very short time!

The Cast:

The Mermaids : Lydia, Megan, Paige, Lauren, Moo & Lacey

The Fairies: Bonnie, Phynley (Tink), Lauren, Paige, Laura, Moo, Sarah, Abbey (Peter Pan in second show) & Belle

Peter Pan (opening night): Noah

Chief Tiger Bamboo: John

John, Wendy (second show) & Michael Darling: Austin, Adelaide & Henry

Smee: Asher

Captain Hook: Brooks

Wendy Darling (second night): Adelaide

Tinkerbell: Phynley

Wendy Darling (opening night): Megan

Peter Pan (second night): Abbey

 The Dress Rehearsal:

The director, cast and crew didn't have opportunity to go into the theater to practice or build the set until the Tuesday before the show's opening night.  It was during my observation of the dress rehearsal that I thought, "Oh dear...how is this going to go??"  I can only admit this now because the show ended up going so brilliantly.  Talk about cutting it close, and talk about pulling it off big time!  Bravo!

Moo's dance partner for the year: Marcus

The Performance:

First on the stage: the fairies.  They were all so graceful and lovely!

A scene with Captain Hook, Tiger Lily and Smee.  Seriously, Captain Hook (played by Brooks Bennett) just stole the show.  Brooks walks around on stage somehow projecting a century worth of talent amazingly stuffed into a high schooler's body.  He was so flamboyantly funny in this role!

Chief Tiger Bamboo was great!

What pairs well with a larger-than-life pirate?   The perfectly dredded (get it??) Caroline, the crocodile. 

Tinkerbell and Silvermist the fairy look on worriedly as Peter and Hook have a sword fight.

The darling Darlings, and Nana the nanny/nursemaid.

Aslan played right-hand-man Smee the second night.  He and Brooks played off one another quite well.

Ahh...the lovely mermaids.  Another element of melodious grace in the show.

My favorite?  The redhead.  :)

Hook and his pirate crew.

Bonnie and Laura's dance intro into Tiger Lily's (Ellison's) solo: "What Makes the Brave Girl Brave?"  Loved it.

Fairies saving Peter from the exploding pie!

"Poor Nana!"

"Do you believe in fairies?"

Hop, perfectly played by Weston.  Well done, young man!

"He does NOT speak pixie!  He just said that the turnip was taking a siesta!"

Saving Tinkerbell.

The best part about Tinkerbell is that she is played by the sweetest young lady, and so it makes the character just that much more loveable!

Captain Hook jumping into Smee's arms at the sound of the tick-tick-ticking of the clock in the crocodile's belly...

Taking Bows & Photo Ops:

The fabulous sisterly duo of Alice Griffith and Ann Love Judd--Director and Choreographer and two of the coolest and most talented ladies on the planet.

NCC friend, Daylen Fisher, came by with his parents the second night.

Mimi came down from Illinois for the show.

Here is a link to view the opening night performance: CLICK HERE