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July 31

Dr. Jeckyll and Mr. Hyde

Last Thursday afternoon was yet another fantastic performance by the Burlington student theatre arts camp. My daughter had a character role for the first time in this play 'Jeckyll and Hyde'. She played 'Lucy'. It was the day after an emotional birthday party. My daughter was so upset at turning 13 years of age that after the presents were opened she balled her eyes out about being a teen. Seems she wants to stay a child forever. Sometimes I wonder if she is on to something there ;)

This time the weather was perfect for the un-airconditioned highschool theatre where it took place so it wasn't as unbearable as the show 2 weeks prior with the humidity factor at 40 Celcius.

200 little performers took part on the stage and 400 people in the audience and then there was the stage and technical crew aswell and the little mini-orchestra.

Good news is that there is a new facility being built especially for the Student theatre program to be opened in about 2-3 years from now (2007-8).

Note: This poster is of the original broadway show

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July 14

Student Theatre

I just got in from seeing yet another fantastic performance by the (Burlington Student Theatre (since 1978) Group here. The program runs basically all year 'round but these last 2 weeks of the first segment of a summer program just completed. Basically they start working immediately on a popular play in this case 'Les Miserables' and lead up to a massive performance at a professional level. In two weeks they will perform yet another play 'Jekyll and Hyde'. There are close to 100 kids or so...(I lost count) involved in the play at different age groups and they take turns throughout the play playing the parts.

My daughter has been involved in theatre since she was 5-6 years old. If you have read anything on my daughter or seen any pics posted here at some points of time you will be aware that she has cerebral Palsy affecting her legs and over to the top left of this site is a link to 'Hemangioma' which she also has had to fight with since birth. She manages moving around the stage quite comfortably with one crutch on her arm. If you know the play 'Les Mis' then you know how crowded the stage is most of the time. So watching her move around and get off stage at the same time others are coming on is quite scarey for me to watch (lol) ....but yet again and again amazes me. It wasn't long ago that she couldn't get around on her own it seemed. I used to jump out of my seat from the audience for fear of her falling and hurting herself, I have learned to relax more now though. I enrolled her in vocal lessons when she was about 7-8 years old, because she has a good ear for music and can immitate pitch with ease. Her mom sings very well and I am a piano player and teacher. My ears are pretty good also. So I guess alot of it is inherited, but I do believe anything inherited needs to be practiced or used in order to harness it.

The Highschool where this took place had NO air conditioning and the temperature was about 35C in there.....that's HOT! and stuffy!....so you have 150 kids and 300 parents and a bunch of others that bought tickets in there at the same time. I find it very clausterphobic but, I am there for my daughter.

There is no Official website for this Student theatre but I will post the link to the City of Burlington, Ont. Canada site which I set to directly take you to more info. They are building a brand new facility that will be ready in 2 years.... with Air conditioning

http://cms.burlington.ca/English/Student-Theatre.html

The building in the picture is just where they practice during the school year. In the summer time they use a high school and its theatre to perform. The shows are professional with all the effects you'd expect at a high priced broadway show, cept scaled down a little due to a budget.

I'm totally amazed at what is accomplished in the 2 weeks they have to put a major play together and have it so presentable. People give standing ovations, buy flowers for the kids and presents. It's such a self esteem builder for these kids.

I wasn't allowed to take pictures but there was a photographer there and I am waiting on pics from the show and I will post them in this blog soon. Keep looking from time to time if you have the interest.