Newsies!

When Whitney was at YASE this summer, they took a field trip to Salt Lake and got to watch a production of Newsies. One of the counselors was actually in the show. Whit had a GREAT time and loved the show.

That same week, Miss Shelley texted Whit and encouraged her to audition for a Community Theatre of Greensboro production of Newsies. We would be home just in time for auditions. It is a dance-heavy production, with an advanced tap number. Whit hasn't tapped in a couple of years. We figured she probably wouldn't make the cast since this was her first audition, but decided it would be a good learning experience for her anyway. She did a couple of brush-up tap classes with Miss Shelley when we got back into town and it was off to auditions.

Boy, were we EXCITED and SURPRISED to find out that she got a part AS A NEWSIE!! We figured if anything, she might get an ensemble or non-speaking part. NOPE. She was MUSH! (<--Funny name, huh?) A newsie with a handful of speaking lines and LOTS of singing and dancing. So proud of her!!

And, wow, is theatre exhausting! Her rehearsals were all downtown, which about a 15-20 minute drive away. We made that drive many, many nights during the seven weeks of rehearsals. I spent lots of quality time at the central branch of the library. We hit the BoxCar Arcade lots of nights. I got very familiar with all the of the artwork in the Ambleside Gallery, which is right by the theatre.

A few pics from rehearsals.

They learned the songs first.

Whit LOVED that part.

Oh, the singing was amazing!

Then they learned the dances.

That was much harder for Whit.

They expect you to learn the choreography FAST.

It was much different than the dance classes she's used to.

She felt overwhelmed.

She went to extra dance practices a couple of times

and then felt better.

She was one of the youngest cast members.

She is fourteen and that was the minimum age to audition.

After all those weeks of HARD work, it was time for the show!

Barb and Dennis flew out to be here with us for opening night!

Hooray!

Opening weekend also coincided with Hurricane Florence.

Boooo!

Despite the terrible forecasts, for our part of the state, it ended

up just feeling like a normal storm that went on all weekend.

It wasn't terribly windy or even very heavy rains, just prolonged.

(Other parts of the state were much harder hit.)

Look at the fun decorations in the theater!

They botched her bio.

Ugh.

Miss Shelley's studio didn't even get credit for W's dance training.

Cast photos

Opening night was FANTASTIC!

Seriously, I couldn't believe how well these young actors performed!

Jack, the main guy character was SO talented.

Whitney did SOOOO great!

I was so proud of her and just beaming with pride.

They did a run of 13 shows.

And I think 11 of them sold out! Wow!

The Starr Theater doesn't have a lobby,

so the cast comes out to the street to meet and greet.

(Like my poem?)

SO, so happy that Grandma and Grandpa Sweat

could be here to watch her.

We went out for Cookout shakes after opening night.

Yum.

Whit got to see several friends in the audience

Katie from two doors down.

Regan, one of her classmates at PGSA.

Ember and Piper, our new friends from church

Some tears were shed on closing night.

Those kids get pretty close after spending so much time together.

Whit had mixed emotions about the show ending.

It was sad to say good-bye to the cast,

but she was happy to get some time back in her evenings.

Bravo, Miss Whit!