It’s no secret we have dramatic children who love to perform. And now Aidan will have his chance to be a star, so to speak.
I have always heard great things about the creative arts program at Fourth Presbyterian Church. We talked about the advantage of Aidan going to school in the neighborhood and that it would mean participating in local activities. This was his first choice (he is also taking violin lessons there as well).
In September we went to find out more and learned the children’s music theater performance would be the Disney musical “Newsies.” We also learned that they needed some parent volunteers. I can’t say no to helping with the kids’ activities. (BIG thank you to my awesome boss at Cambridge Montessori School who lets me sneak out a bit early to make it to practice on time!)
Every Tuesday Aidan and I have gone for him to learn songs (and lines!) and me to teaches dances (motions to songs is more accurate). There are about forty enthusiastic children from kindergarten through fifth grade. On a Tuesday afternoon, for an hour and a half. Makes for some crazy chaos. But Aidan is loving every minute of it.
It has prompted some great conversations too. The story centers around the true story of the newspaper strike of 1899 with real life figures Pulitzer and Hearst. We have talked a bunch about child labor laws, fairness and justice and changes in how society values children and their independence since then.
They had to work all day? They didn’t all go to school?
It makes for interesting conversations with young children. So many times during practices I had to stop what I was teaching to talk with the group why lines read the way they did.
“What does ‘a porcelain tub with boiling water’ even mean?”
A big deal to have a hot bath when you are an orphan.
It’s a great show. The kids have put a lot of hard work into it. I am so proud of all of them.
And of course Aidan.
“This is for kids shinin’ shoes in the street with no shoes on their feet every day. This is for guys sweatin’ blood in the shops while the bosses and cops look away. This is to even the score. This ain’t just newsies no more.
This ain’t just kids with some pie in the sky. This is do it or die. This is war!”
**UPDATE 12/11/11** Newsies was a smashing success!!! The kids did a great job and both audiences enjoyed their hard work!!
