The first play Brendan was in at 4th Church was Beauty and the Beast. He was almost 5 and wanted to be Belle. He was a spoon and villager. But learned every line from the show. We even have this video (and this one) of him rehearsing.

Bren’s birthday was a week after the show and his birthday wish came true- the Belle dress.

I also loved the movie as a middle school kid, so hearing a new live action movie was coming out- and Audra McDonald would be in it- meant a special opening day trip to the movie.

It was great!

Social media is a funny thing. I love reading stories on line- sometime it’s a nice break from the “news.” I also like sharing stories about the kids, thought lately Aidan has asked me to do so less.

We were very proud of Brendan’s work on his Audra McDonald project – the time he put into it and the enthusiasm he had about the project. Homework is not something he loves but this project was fun for him. I posted on my social media accounts the day he presented his project at school.

More than just being proud of him, we were proud that he goes to a school that loves and accepts him and that he felt comfortable being who he is. It got a lot of likes and shares. Including by Audra McDonald.

And then it became a story on the Huffington Post Parents site.

And then the story was tweeted by Chelsea Clinton.

And then Chelsea’s message (and the story) were re-tweeted by Audra McDonald.

The messages, shares, retweets and likes from friends as well as people we didn’t even know started. Almost all of them were kind. We looked through them amazed at how fast the story traveled and how many people applauded Brendan and his school.

Then PopSugar reached out and wanted to do their own piece saying that they had a small clip of Audra McDonald talking about Brendan’s story. Truly remarkable.

Chris and I had planned the New York trip a couple weeks before. But it happened to coincide with the two stories. When we went backstage a few actors talked to Brendan about it. He couldn’t believe they knew who he was.

A couple days later the lead actor from the King and I reached out inviting our family to the show and backstage to meet the cast.

The TV show The Chew contacted me when they planned to have Audra McDonald on to ask permission to use Brendan’s picture (she ended up missing the appearance because she had the flu).

We are still in awe looking back at the kind messages. I copied and pasted them all in a document for Brendan to have, and especially from the theater community- including several local theater companies. I read names attached to messages to Brendan as his eye got wider and wider, beaming with pride that such remarkable people he admires took time to acknowledge his project. Brendan is truly blessed to have so much love and support.

Never doubt there are good people in the world.

On February 1st Brendan came home from school very excited about a project his teacher introduced to the class.  For Black History Month all the fourth graders were going to choose an important person to research. They would create a posted with facts about the person’s life and accomplishments. At the end of the month the projects would be displayed and students could dress up as their person for a special “wax museum” for families and other students to visit.

Dressing up is Brendan’s favorite thing to do. This was the perfect project for him. He knew instantly who he wanted to choose. Audra McDonald. Brendan explained that she had won the more Tony Awards than any other actor or actress of any race. He long admired her performances and rattled off facts he already knew. And for his costume – he already decided – he wanted to replicate her 20’s costume from her latest show Shuffle Along.

I ordered the costume and tweeted that he was excited. And Audra tweeted back! I wrote a thank you message and her assistant sent an email asking if Brendan would like an autographed picture.

He got to work on his project. Chris helped making a replica of a Tony Award. Brendan found lights to make a marque around the top of his project. The costume came and he added accessories- character shoes, fishnets and a wig. He couldn’t wait. When the signed picture came I tweeted that as well as a thank- Ms. McDonald replied with an emoji kiss. Brendan couldn’t believe she responded again.

Then came the day of the wax museum.

Brendan proudly displayed his project, his Tony, autographed picture and costume. And loved every minute of sharing his facts about Audra McDonald. I came home and posted a picture on Facebook with this message:

Our wish is that every child have teachers and a school as committed to diversity, as supportive, as creative and as inclusive as Brendan has.
Our wish is that everyone experience the love and support Brendan has from all his friends and family.
Our wish is that every child have strong, positive role models who not only inspire through their work but also through their humanity.
Our wish is that everyone have something in their life that they are as passionate about as Brendan is theater.
Our wish is that Brendan always follow his heart and remain unapologetically himself.