Oh the thinks we thought!

Hello readers!

Well, you heard it here first: "Seussical: the Musical" was...a great success! Of course, per usual, I'm going to have to give you the background story of the show day before revealing all the details of the performance (you know my story-telling style by now!), so listen up!

At Ballibay, show days work as follows: a cast that typically rehearses once each day (either in the mornings or in the afternoons) are cleared from all their other activities to spend the entire day preparing for their show that evening. Directors organize the time in a variety of ways -- some doing last minute set or prop work, some making sure that all of their campers' costumes needs are met, some running scenes that are technically challenging, etc. -- during the morning, and then plan on doing a full tech run-through in the afternoon. So, in the morning, we worked scenes that needed a few more runs, and in the afternoon we did a full run-through of the show... sort of. We completed the run of the show, but the kids were tired and drooping, literally -- and so was I! "Seussical" is a fast-paced operetta-type show with 27 musical numbers, in total. The majority of the songs are high-energy with movement and choreography. The kids were a little worn out -- vocally and mentally. Instead of giving notes at the end of the run I asked them how they thought the practice had gone, and they sat on the front of the stage in a clump and took turns raising their hands to share the positives of the day and what they thought could be worked on for that evening. Again -- like the time I'd done the activity early on in rehearsals -- they all gave a quite accurate analysis of the afternoon with every single camper explaining to me, "I have to give more energy to the performance tonight. I know I have more energy to give." I, too, knew that they had more energy to give -- after all, I cast each and every of the 23 campers based on their high energy levels and incredible stage presence.

Well, I never had any doubts that the show would improve for the evening's performance (after all, it always happens that the dress rehearsal seems scattered and all the pieces fall into place magically during the evening) but I had no idea of the degree of initiative the campers would take. At the end of the afternoon I told them, "The show is your show now. It used to be our show, but I am giving it to you. It is your turn to make it something wonderful." ...and they did.

One of my main goals for "Seussical" had been to be able to sit in the audience and watch the show unfold. I did just that, and I don't know how else to describe the campers' performance except to say that they literally shone. As soon as the curtains opened for their first "Seuss!" until their last proclamation of, "I do not like Green Eggs and Ham!" they never lost a snippet of energy. When I finished directing the show "Peter Pan" last summer, I told myself I'd never be prouder than I was at the end of that performance, but "Seussical" really took the cake.

Thank you, parents, family, and friends for having such incredible campers.

More soon,
Elizabeth C.
Ballibay Blogger

p.s. Speaking of incredible campers, last night we had the Dance Intensive's concert and tonight is the Rock Intensive's band night. What a talented group of intensive campers we have here this summer! They continue to amaze everyone!