Tears....

Joey didn't make the CHA play--The Sound of Music.

Tears....many, many tears....

He was heartbroken.....

The casting director made a promise to the kids that the show would be double cast so as many kids as possible would be able to participate (there are 3 shows).  The director changed her mind at the last minute.  Joey was the only one cut...all the other kids made it.  (pretty hard for Joey to swallow since musicals are what he lives for.)  He kept saying he couldn't understand why they didn't want him in the play.

John called the woman who cast the show asking for her rationale for cutting 1 kid out of 30.  She said she had the prerogative to make up the cast list and that she was sorry Joey was hurt.  She would make up a part if it would make him feel better. 

One of the directors, Jane, came up to me sobbing.  She felt AWFUL and didn't want Joey to find out he wasn't in the play when he looked at the cast list.  She wanted me to sit down and tell him before hand.  She said she had begged the casting director to reconsider.  They wouldn't listen to her.  After the cast list was published, Jane went down to the office and put in her resignation.  She had been directing shows at CHA for the last 15 years.  I felt terrible.

I have to say, it was pretty heartbreaking.

I found an essay he wrote on my computer.  He had turned it into his Language Arts teacher in a few days before the cast list came out. Pretty ironic....

Here it is:

 

L.A.

Joey Gilchrist

7Adams

Arts

Sing. That’s the word that pops in my mind when someone asks me what my favorite thing to do is. I can’t even imagine my life without it. I sing all the time. I sing whenever I get the chance to. I sing in the shower, my bedroom, the hallway, the kitchen, the living room, at school, and so many more. Sometimes singing brings me to new places. Sometimes, I picture myself singing in front of thousands of people, on a huge stage. I find myself forgetting where I am, and what I am doing. I have sung in A LOT of plays and musicals. But, the one that really changed me was a musical called “Amal and the Night Visitors”, where I played “Amal”. The reason why it changed me is because I did something that I had never done before. And that was to sing my lines. It felt strange at first, but as I got more used to it, and noticed that I wasn’t alone, I kind of liked it. It was pretty difficult to try to memorize when to sing a particular note at what line. But I got the hang of it. Doing this play really encouraged me to try new things. I never thought that I could ever do anything like that! I was amazed! I was encouraged to take on to new challenges with my voice and also with acting, and never back down or say that I couldn’t do it. I now feel that singing and acting, is truly now who I am.  

 So we have a teary boy... And it's not going to get any better when the kids start talking about rehearsals in front of him.   Enough of that... Christmas chapel was so sweet.. Here is a lousy picture of Holly..she looked soooooooo cute in her little white fur jacket.

Johnny's project___________ OK- This is funny... Johnny had to do a project about electricity.  He made a costume of a light switch.  When I got home from work he showed it to me.  I said Johnny-----WHAT EVER YOU DO, DO NOT TURN SIDEWAYS IN FRONT OF YOUR CLASS!" "What do you mean Mom?" "Just trust me on this one Johnny; unless you want the whole class in hysterics"... Here it is..

 I asked him how his presentation went.  He said he thought he heard the teacher snicker.

_______________________

Get ready for Christmas presentations.  Holly is hula hooping while telling "Your Momma's so old" jokes.

I'll keep you all in suspense!

Can't wait to see you all for Christmas!