Charlotte's Web - Nov. 2, 3, 9

Johnathan really wanted to try out for Charlotte's Web for the part of Templeton.  He currently is taking Beginning Drama and was really excited to be in a play.  The day of tryouts came when I was at my sister's retreat.  He had a lot of frustrating things come together that day which brought him home without trying out and in tears.  He had to print out his grades to tryout, so Byron quickly helped him and took him back to the school.  By the time he got there it was after the time tryouts were allowed.  Ms. Boren saw Johnathan and said it was too late.  Poor guy was just having a rotten day. 

A week later Ms. Boren called me during the day to see if Johnathan might like to try out at callbacks for Wilbur.  I guess they didn't have anybody yet for this part and she thought he would be a great option.  I told her that I really didn't know if he was still interested in trying out but she could ask him.  He was ecstatic.  He quickly started memorizing a long paragraph for the tryouts.  He came home really excited and hopeful that he would get the part.  He said it was kind of uncomfortable as he was asked to roll around and act like a pig at times.  Two days later he found out that he was cast as Wilbur for the "A Cast."  She had cast 2 casts for 6 of the lead parts.  Johnathan was so excited. 

Johnathan soon got his book and that thing became his constant companion for about 2 months.  He carried it everywhere he went and was doing a fabulous job at memorizing his lines.  The play practices weren't too bad as they were from 3-5 Tuesday-Friday up until the last couple of weeks where the times were a little bit later.  He was definitely out of his comfort zone, but slowly began to make some really great friends.  Johnathan and the other Wilbur, Bradley, practiced lines quite a bit and he learned a lot from him about how to act out some of the scenes. 

Celeste Lane from our ward was the Sheep.  She was such a great friend for Johnathan to help him through those rough couple of first weeks when he didn't really know anybody.  Soon he became great friends with Bradley Schoebinger (other Wilbur), Josh Jobson (one of the narrators), Hannah Steadman (Charolotte), and Abby Skousen (Avery).  He really needed to be in this play to make some great friends and start to feel more comfortable around people.

As the play drew near he had me rehearse the lines with him almost every day so he could perfect them.  He had a couple of dress rehearsals where he was not happy that he had to wear makeup.  The first time I put it on him he was not a happy camper.  I started lightening it a little over time and then he felt better.  His costume was perfect for him.  Ms. Boren made half of it and left the small things at the end for the parents to finish - luckily I was able to do it without paying somebody else.

Opening Night was highly anticipated.  I was so excited to see how awesome Johnathan would do on stage.  Byron and Tanner went to Goblin Valley with the scouts that evening, so I went with the rest of the kids.  Other family that attended were Jeff, Cameron, Dad and Mom Beck, Eric, Melissa, Genevieve, and Timothy.  He did a wonderful job!  Afterwards it was fun congratulating him and seeing how many other people came up to him to do the same.  There was even a time where about 4 girls come and asked him to have a picture with him from the cast.  We all got a good laugh.

 Bradley and Johnathan

 I think Camille was pretty excited to have her brother follow in her footsteps and be in a play.

 Hannah with Johnathan

 Abby with Johnathan

After the play, we went to Arctic Circle with Dad and Mom Beck for a treat.  Some of the cast came also and it was fun to see Johnathan interact with them.