Drama, Drama, and then . . . more Drama!

The past two weeks have been taken up with MYART auditions and callbacks for their latest production, Peter Pan. MYART is the Musical Youth Artists Repertory Theater, and Grace has been involved with this group for the past two years. Yes, my daughter has been bitten by the acting bug and has even forsaken softball (her dad could just cry) for the call of the theater. She does have some chops, that one, and it is so fun to see her on stage.

This time, Grace auditioned for two much bigger roles and ones that would require more stage time, some solo singing, and quite a few lines. We kept our fingers crossed, but she only got called back for one. This was one of those life lessons that hurt you as a mom because you see your daughter sad and disappointed, and you know she did her very best. What do you say to your child except that things always work out the way they are supposed to and that because she did her best she has nothing to be sad about? Even though we know it's the truth, the words we utter at times like these seem empty and offer very little consolation.

However, her callback for lead lost boy was successful, and Grace will be performing in a couple of the shows (they rotate lead roles so that more kids get to perform) as Slightly, Peter Pan's second-in-command. She has lots of stage time and will get to show off her skills. She is in rehearsals already and is pretty happy. She handled her disappointment and even knows now why she didn't get the other part -- the director thought she was too tall.

Ah, the theater! -- the ups and downs, the laughter and the tears. And that's just the parents.