Oliver! Oh, what a feeling!

Gin in a tin. Laps and slaps. London pubs and billy clubs (a teen in a top hat was kind enough to tell me the correct term is “jemmy”). I was transported to mid-19^th century London Friday night thanks to the combined creativity of Charles Dickens, Lionel Bart and D. Scott Withers.

Withers is directing Oliver!, which runs through Dec. 20^th at Stagebrush Theatre in Scottsdale. It’s the first production by Greasepaint Youtheatre since its formal affiliation with Phoenix Theatre, Arizona’s oldest arts organization (founded in 1920). But this blog isn’t focused on mere facts. It’s all about a feeling.

It’s the feeling you get when the audience begins to gasp and giggle just five minutes into the show. It’s the feeling you get when your child takes the stage donning a worn out shawl or knickers and tussled hair surrounding a face speckled with cosmetic coal. It’s the feeling you get when the folks sitting on either side of you begin to clap along as the ensemble sings and dances through classics like “Oom Pah Pah” and “Consider Yourself.”

Oliver! opened Friday night to the most enthusiastic theater audience I have seen—anywhere—for a youth or adult production. Were the stage a bit bigger, I might have mistaken it for a touring Broadway show at ASU Gammage.

One mother, dubbed a “momager” by her teenage son, recalls seeing the musical a good ten times, on Broadway and elsewhere—and hails it as the best production she’s ever seen. Fact or feeling? I’m not sure it matters. I swelled with the same pride. Our children were in their bliss.

A common theme emerged as I talked with opening night attendees after the show: Every cast member was 100%. Among the first to notice was Toby Yatso, an associate artist with Phoenix Theatre who also teaches at Arizona School for the Arts, directs the Greasepaint LIVE performance troupe and loves cats. He was especially impressed by the cast’s (not cats’) focus and energy, calling their performance “awesome!”

The live music, including various percussion pieces, brought real depth. The lights fostered an atmosphere of suspense amidst a familiar story line. The choreography drew the audience in with enthusiasm. Every singer was truly talented. Every dancer crisp and compelling. Every line delivered in convincing Cockney dialect.

Everything screamed “These people are professionals!” Even the kids, a delightful mix of new faces and seasoned actors, gushed over the extravagant set detail and true period costuming when I chatted with them backstage on Saturday. They seemed equally excited about their development as actors and their deepening understanding of another place and time. The audience was clearly appreciative, going into standing ovation mode at the onset of the curtain call rather than waiting for actors in the lead roles to take their bows.

I chatted a bit with the cast about the larger meaning they’re taking from the show. One of the younger performers talked about his realization that a person facing hard times isn’t necessarily a bad person. This was mirrored in lobby displays addressing the topic of homelessness.

While some bulletin boards described the origins of things like afternoon tea and newsboy caps, others examined the causes of homelessness and Valley organizations making a difference for homeless youth and families. I love the way so many Phoenix Theatre and Greasepaint Youtheatre productions leave me feeling more educated and empowered.

So who are these amazing youth? Here’s just a brief sampling of some of their credits: American Idol Hollywood finals. Edinburgh International Fringe Festival. Chitty Chitty Bang Bang for Broadway Across America-Arizona. Performances with Hale Centre Theatre, Valley Youth Theatre, Stray Cat Theatre, Broadway Palm Dinner Theater, Childsplay, Actors Theatre of Phoenix, Scottsdale Desert Stages Theatre, Arizona Opera and more.

Add to this their academic achievements and leadership positions, such as senior class president and national honor society member, and you begin to fathom the true depth of their character. I’m struck, awe-struck really, by the hard work that must have gone into taking this production from audition to opening night. That these talented youth can master their lines as well as their homework is inspiring. That’s a fact.

So what keeps them going? Christopher Moffitt (Oliver) says he’s always learning something new, meeting new people and growing more confident in the public speaking skills he expects to use for a lifetime. Tyler Pounds (Bill Sykes) says he’s become more responsible and physically fit thanks to theater. The brevity of blogging prevents me from sharing the reflections of every cast member here—but perhaps more comments will find their way into future posts.

Young cast members were every bit as charming off-stage as on-stage (Please, kids, never lose this quality). When they weren’t in a particular scene, they’d wait calmly and courteously in the green room. Older and younger cast members mingled as they played board games or cards. The kids doing homework took turns using a single pencil they found on a table and helping each other brainstorm ideas for upcoming school papers and projects. One boy sat sideways in a chair, aided by a friend as he wrote his own play. The floor was uncluttered except for a stray UGG boot and tennis shoe or two.

Watching them act, and interact, I felt hope. Hope that the future of community theater is in good hands. Hope that they’ll enjoy enriching school, work and life experiences. Hope that they will transform the arts just as the arts are transforming them.

–Lynn

Note: If you’d like to learn more about homelessness in Arizona and ways you can make a difference, consider contacting one or more of these organizations: StandUp, Helping Hands Housing Services, UMOM New Day Center, Open Table, CASS and Tumbleweed Center for Youth Development.

How do you spell that?

I’m posting a bit late this evening because I got a better offer. Pancake puppies. Lizabeth brought them home from an opening night after-party at Denny’s. If it doesn’t have syrup, she’s not interested. Unless, of course, it’s pasta or pizza. How do you spell f-a-s-t metabolism?

I’m in spelling mode because it’s closing weekend for The 35^th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee at Phoenix Theatre. I had hoped to attend last night as part of a special parent night for Arizona School for the Arts, but ended up at home attending to f-a-m-i-l-y matters. Tonight I learned what I missed.

Turns out the ASA thespian troupe had a bit of a reception for ASA parents and administrators before the show—and the clever little d-a-r-l-i-n-g-s did a rigged version of a spelling bee to help determine who would sit on stage as a guest speller.

Several audience members sit on bleachers placed stage left for a portion of the show—while mischevous cast members work to involve them in their shtick and bounce them back to the audience with purposefully timed words (in the late night version, the words get a bit n-a-u-g-h-t-y).

A. Beck, Director of Education for Phoenix Theatre, gave me the scoop. What word did the thespians throw their head of school (I needn’t name names—you know who you are)? “Spell A-S-A,” they told her. Obviously oblivious to their obfuscation, she replied: “A-S-A.” Her fate was sealed.

Shockingly, she got a much harder word to spell once she was b-l-e-a-c-h-e-r bound. I didn’t ask for details, but it seems she was the second audience speller to go down. Had I attended, I surely would have been the first. I’m told she was an awfully good sport.

Sounds like it was almost as much fun watching the school’s p-r-i-n-c-i-p-a-l taking all of this in. She got to sit safely and soundly in her own seat (never fear—no one who attends the show has to sit onstage unless they want to). It sounds like the highlight of her evening may have been watching her boss do something called ‘the shimmy dance.’

Way to go, t-h-e-s-p-i-a-n-s. I have a newfound respect and appreciation for everyone involved. Perhaps you’re wondering whether I should worry that one of these beloved school administrators will seek revenge for the possible over-share here. Let me reassure you—that was taken care of the last time I attended an ASA parent night at Phoenix Theatre.

Toby Yatso, Associate Artist with Phoenix Theatre (and proud owner of many other hats), led parents in a little dance d-i-t-t-y the last time we all went to a show together. Beck looked on with a sly grin, as did a few parents who maintained their dignity by staying in ‘maybe no one will notice me in this corner’ mode.

I was in a different club—the one that eagerly attempted to follow Yatso’s moves as he led us through a piece of choreography the students were learning for class. “I used to be a dancer,” I thought. Sadly, I did more than think it. I actually said it—to a teacher who was there that night and saw me s-t-u-m-b-l-e  in all my splendor.

When my knees should have been straight, they were bent. When my palms should have been closed, they were open. And that whole business of coordinating the left side with the right, and the top half with the bottom, seemed so much harder than it did 30 y-e-a-r-s ago. I like to believe they at least gave me points for trying.

I share this with you because I hope you’ll think about doing something really special this weekend—attending one of the final shows for Phoenix Theatre’s 35^th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee. I’ve run into a tremendous number of people who have seen it, and all describe it as h-i-l-a-r-i-o-u-s.

Remaining tickets are just $25 each, so you have no e-x-c-u-s-e for staying home. Check the Phoenix Theatre website for show times and other details. I’ll be enjoying opening weekend for Oliver! with Phoenix Theatre affiliate Greasepaint Youtheatre—serving as a backstage wrangler for younger members of the cast.

Please, kids, promise you won’t make me d-a-n-c-e…

–Lynn

Coming soon: Lessons learned on opening night (for little people and big people alike)…

Note: If you haven’t already done so, check out our three-post series (from Thanksgiving weekend) to find out what’s happening in family-friendly dance, theater and music this weekend.

World travels and hometown wonders

I was quite the world traveler during my college and early adult years (my children are probably wondering how dinosaurs managed to coexist with airplanes). I enjoyed much of Europe (including Scandinavia and the British Isles), China, Hong Kong and Israel. (Students were cautioned against making the trip to Egypt at that time, and I’ve always regretted following that advice.)

While studying to prepare for my week in Israel, I was especially struck by the story of Judah Maccabee, the Jewish hero whose victory is commemorated each year during Chanukah. Maccabee successfully led the second century B.C.E. Jewish revolt against the Greek-Syrians and rededicated the temple desecrated by their oppressors.

Chanukah is an eight day festival of lights, celebrating one day’s worth of pure oil lasting eight days during this rededication of the Jewish Second Temple. The story of the Maccabees is recounted in an ancient text known as The First Book of Maccabees—one of many sources I studied during my doctoral studies in the philosophy of religion.

As part of my doctoral work, I was expected to read Hebrew, Greek, German and French with proficiency. My children wouldn’t find this all that fun (Jennifer might), so I’m glad there are other ways for them to get a glimpse of diverse cultures and traditions. For many of us, the theater is infinitely more enjoyable than the textbook. So here’s a family-friendly way to introduce your children to the Chanukah story, or help them enjoy a familiar story with a bit of a twist…

Curtain Call Youth Theatre, affiliated with Arizona Jewish Theatre Company, presents Mac Abee: Ace Detective on Saturday, Dec. 12^th (at 7pm) and Sunday, Dec. 13^th (at 2pm) at the John Paul Theatre at Phoenix College. “The play is a new tale for Chanukah,” says Janet Arnold, producing director for Arizona Jewish Theatre Company. “It’s written and directed by Curtain Call director Layne Racowsky.”

The show tells the tale of the fictional Mac Abee’s quest for the missing lead candle (shamash) in the Chanukah menorah. Arnold describes it as “a fanciful play with music performed by 23 young actors from around the Valley.” Racowsky says the show is “lively and fun” and “helps to give some insight into the holiday of Chanukah.”

Curtain Call will offer items for sale before and after each show and the company’s teen improve troupe, All Rights Reserved, will perform at 1:45pm prior to Sunday’s show. Chanukah begins at sundown on December 11^th this year, so this gives you an opportunity to find special gifts during the eight day celebration.

“We love being able to present a show that helps to represent diversity,” reflects Racowsky. I was raised to celebrate a multitude of holidays, showing respect for many religious traditions and the people who celebrate them. My children enjoy doing the same. (Just this evening Jennifer shared with me her excitement about attending a Chanukah event at ASU yesterday.)

Opportunities to learn about holidays other than Christmas—including Chanukah, Ead, Kwanzaa, the Winter Solstice and more—are rare indeed. Whatever your faith or world view, I encourage you to seize them. Tolerance is no longer enough. We need genuine understanding, appreciation and respect. We need acceptance—in words and in deeds.

I chatted the other day with Robert C. Booker, executive director for the Arizona Commission on the Arts, who shared that he’d recently attended an event celebrating Diwali, an important Hindu festival also known in India as the Festival of Lights. It’s a holiday Jennifer and I have enjoyed together—both at a festival in downtown Phoenix and at a Hindu Temple in Scottsdale.

“The arts,” reflects Booker, “have a way of helping us understand each other’s culture.” Next time you feel like theater (or music or dance) is a mere frivolity, consider the rich opportunities it offers for exploring—even embracing—diverse cultures and traditions.

In a world growing simultaneously smaller and larger in so many ways, the arts open doors to people and places we might otherwise never know.

It’s the next best thing to world travel…

–Lynn

Note: All Rights Reserved will perform at 7pm on Sunday, Dec. 6th, at Congregation Beth Israel in Scottsdale. Tickets are $5 at the door. For more information, call 602-264-0402.

Also: Curtain Call Youth Theatre, the education arm of the Arizona Jewish Theatre Company established in 1989, is offering several winter camp workshops this month. Classes are held from 9am to 4pm at Temple Chai in Phoenix (dates vary by workshop; each runs three days and costs $125). Topics include Music of the Decades (a musical theatre workshop taught by Miciah Dodge), Brush up your Shakespeare (taught by Julie Cotton), Character Creation (also taught by Cotton) and Audition Techniques (taught by Layne Racowsky). Call 602-264-0402 to register or learn more.

Children’s museum welcomes young artists

Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens—these are a few of Maria’s favorite things in Rodgers and Hammerstein’s The Sound of Music (sung by Julie Andrews in the 1965 movie classic). My favorite things don’t rhyme, but I find them equally enchanting. Children’s museums. Schools for the arts. Free family-friendly performances.

I’ll be enjoying all three in one place next Monday and Tuesday evening as the Children’s Museum of Phoenix hosts Arizona School for the Arts (ASA) for their “Evening of the Arts” event featuring student dance, theater and musical performances amidst the museum’s wonderfully whimsical exhibits.

I’m embarrassed to report that I’ve never taken time to play at the Children’s Museum of Phoenix. My daughters were involved when museum founders and volunteers led grassroots efforts to start the museum, back in the days of citizen rallies and touring bus exhibits. I’m eager to see what’s become of the dream, first conceived by a pair of Arizona families while driving home from a San Diego vacation.

And I know what to expect from the young actors, musicians and dancers who’ll be performing. I caught a bit of their work last year during their annual Showcase, held last year at ASU Gammage in Tempe, before rushing off to see Jennifer’s graduation from Arcadia High School. I’ll be able to stay and enjoy next week’s performances, and hope you’ll consider joining me.

It’s a rare treat when children and teens can see live performances by musicians, dancers and actors their own age. It’s especially nice when admission is free. Each program lasts just 90 minutes, a manageable amount of merriment, and features a variety of performers throughout the three-story museum. No worries about sitting still at this affair. I’m intrigued just thinking about the museum’s many play spaces—pedal power, pit stop, texture café, desert den, noodle forest and more. As Mick Jagger might say: Start me up!

ASA students perform Monday and Tuesday night, Dec. 7th and 8th from 7-8:30pm. Monday’s program features ballet, theater, piano, concert band, vocal, guitar, men’s choir and Sinfonia performances. Tuesday’s program features piano, advanced acting/directing, ballet, jazz band, concert choir, vocal, movement, chamber singer and wind ensemble performances. Both evenings include refreshments and a fabulous raffle.

The first year I bought tickets for an ASA raffle, I took home a wonderful keyboard—and I’ve been hooked ever since. I don’t have the scoop on this year’s prizes but often they include theater tickets, ballet tickets, symphony tickets, restaurant gift certificates and more—another great way to help a worthy cause and pick up something for your own or someone else’s holiday wish list.

Several schools are hosting special events this month to highlight important giving opportunities. In Arizona there are two school-related tax credits available for individual taxpayers—one for contributions to public schools and another for contributions to private school tuition organizations. From the Arizona Department of Revenue website: “An individual may claim a credit for making contributions or paying fees to a public school for support of extracurricular activities or character education programs.”

For applicable donations to public schools, including charter schools like ASA and other art schools in Arizona, a single person or married person filing separately can receive up to a $200 tax credit, and a married couple filing jointly can receive up to a $400 tax credit (for state taxes).

Donations must be made and received before December 31, 2009—and many people make their donations earlier in the month so they can be sure their donation is received before school offices close for the winter holidays.

You needn’t have a child enrolled in an Arizona public school to participate, and you can utilize both the public school and private STO tax credit programs if you like. You can get more information from the Arizona Department of Revenue, your own tax professional or your school(s) of interest (ASA has information posted at www.goasa.org).

There’s a lot to love about ASA—high academic standards, arts programs affiliated with professional performing arts companies, students who earn prestigious awards (including Presidential, Flinn and National Merit scholars), graduates who go on to places like Stanford University and American Ballet Theatre, and impressive test scores (100% of sophomores meet or exceed standards on all portions of the AIMS test on first attempt).

It’s so important that we support our young artists. I hope you’ll join me at the Children’s Museum of Phoenix to see these students shine. Their artistry is truly exceptional. Support the artists at your local schools too. They work hard to memorize lines, music and choreography. And they so appreciate an enthusiastic audience. Be one.

–Lynn

Coming soon: New Chanukah play plus winter theatre workshops from Arizona Jewish Theatre

Mouse alert! Two events to note for young children who love Laura Numeroff’s “If You Give a Mouse a Cookie” and “If You Take a Mouse to School.” First, a reading of these classic stories “with Mouse herself, live, in the fur” this Saturday, Dec. 5th, from 11am to noon at Changing Hands Bookstore in Tempe (part of their Costume Storytime series).  Next, an action-filled play featuring “zany events”–Phoenix Theatre’s “If You Give a Mouse a Cookie” is back by popular demand in early 2010 (at Cookie Company’s new home–Stagebrush Theatre in Scottsdale). If you’ve never enjoyed this book with your children, you’re missing some serious fun. It’s one of our all time favorites! Couple these books with a furry mouse puppet and you’ve got an adorable holiday gift you can enjoy with your children for years to come (assuming you play nicely and let them use the puppet now and then)…

In a perfect world…

Today I reconnected with a longtime friend over coffee at Mama Java’s in Phoenix.

I admire Cindy for many reasons. She’s a gifted musician, a talented teacher and a fierce advocate for the arts. What would happen, she wondered, if everyone in Arizona donated just one new or additional dollar to the arts?

Cindy got me thinking about my ‘wish list’ for the arts. How might our children, our families and our communities be different if we made arts a true priority and central part of our lives?

I think we might have the perfect world…

Yo-Yo Ma would appear on the front of the Wheaties cereal box

Every school with a football field would also have a performing arts venue

A-R-T-S would never be a four-letter word

Every family room with a big screen TV would also have a baby grand piano

People would line up for blocks to be the first to see the local school’s latest play or musical

Leaders of arts organizations would earn as much as leaders of corporations

Every hour of watching TV would be matched by an hour of music practice

Our best bassoon players would earn as much as our best baseball players

I could touch museum artwork without being followed by security

There would be more musical theater venues than movie venues

Every student would enjoy at least one arts related field trip each year

Children would witness more TV acts of music than TV acts of violence

Music stores would be as prevalent and popular as video stores

Every parent would demand more arts in our schools

Violins would be more popular than vampires

Every newspaper would dedicate at least as much ink to the arts as they do to athletics

Society would spend more time finger painting than fingerprinting

Patrons sitting in the center of a venue would be the first to arrive and take their seats

Every artist would earn a living wage

There would be more Billy Elliots

No theater seat would ever be empty

Everyone would have perfect pitch

Community murals would replace gang graffiti

Every television remote control would simultaneously disappear into thin air

There would be more talent shows for grown-ups

Every child would learn to read both books and music

We would all look terrific in a tutu

Today I’ll be talking with Robert C. Booker, Executive Director of the Arizona Commission on the Arts, who probably has a wish list of his own. I look forward to sharing some of his thoughts on the vital role the arts play in society and practical ways we can all become more passionate and powerful advocates for the arts. I hope you’ll stay tuned.

In the meantime, consider making a wish list of your own and sharing it with us in the comment section below. How might things be different if artists ruled the world?

–Lynn

Expert tips on voice lessons for youth

Actress Emily Kinney, currently performing the role of young Jean Fordham in the touring production of August: Osage County, says she began “as a singer.” As a child, she sang at church, performed in her first talent show at age seven and eventually began more formal voice training by taking extra lessons with her high school voice teacher. Today Kinney lists her vocal coach right up there with the family and friends she thanks for fostering and furthering her talents.

Kinney will be appearing in the Tony Award and Pulitzer Prize winning play August: Osage County at ASU Gammage as part of the Broadway Across America: Arizona series January 5th-10th next year. (Tickets are on sale now, so go ahead and get them before you’re held firmly in the stranglehold of a hectic holiday season). “Vocal training is important,” says Kinney, recalling that she found her current vocal coach through acting friends.

Actress and vocal coach Michelle Hakala of Scottsdale, whose experience also includes many years of teaching in the arts, agrees that “word of mouth” can be the best way to find a voice teacher. Talk with friends whose children are studying voice or with the arts teacher/s at your child’s school. Theater companies, colleges and schools for the arts often have lists of qualified teachers they will share if asked for recommendations.

Once you’ve gathered names, you can start contacting potential teachers. Kinney recommends “trying out different teachers.” Working with someone for a short time before making a long term commitment can help you get a feel for who you’ll most enjoy working with. Kinney suggests asking for help with a single audition. This strategy gives you time to evaluate a person’s skills and your own comfort level.

“Voice lessons are very one on one,” reflects Kinney, whose recent credits also include the role of Anna in Spring Awakening. “You really have to get along with your teacher.” This can make finding the right fit a bit of a challenge. Take into account both their performance background and their personality, says Kinney. The perfect balance, she says, is someone you feel you can really talk to but who also makes you work hard and really study. “You have to put some time in with a person and see how it develops.”

“I feel lucky,” says Kinney, “that I had parents who saw how much I liked to sing.” She’s grateful too that she was able to attend a school with a great music program, musing that music can help keep high school students out of trouble. “It’s fulfilling in a way that going out and partying isn’t.”

I’ve never talked partying with Hakala since she’s one of Lizabeth’s voice teachers. (Liz also studies with one of her amazing arts teachers when we can get him off a stage or out of a classroom long enough!) Perhaps I should, however, since she’s proud of her San Francisco heritage—though I suspect that’s more a function of the California arts and culture scene (and practically perfect weather.)

Before we met Hakala, I worried Lizabeth had waited too long to start lessons, but Hakala’s perspective was reassuring—The voice changes so often when children are young and working the voice too hard too early can do real damage. I was equally reassured while talking recently with a mom whose daughter just did her first lesson but doesn’t feel the need to study further at this point. There’s no reason to push it. Children benefit most from voice lessons when they are motivated, physically ready and eager to do the exercises required between lessons.

The best age to start, reflects Hakala, depends on the child. She prefers to work with children 12 and older because the vocal cords are rarely developed enough for lessons before that age. Early voice training can be every bit as perilous as early weight training. If your child is younger, proceed with caution, and be sure the potential voice teacher really spends time evaluating your child’s physical and emotional readiness.

Don’t be too discouraged if teachers feel your child isn’t yet ready for formal voice work. Hakala says there are plenty of other ways to engage young children in the arts, including comedy/theater games, improvisation, dance lessons and more.

When calling potential voice teachers, ask whether they offer an initial meeting to talk about their philosophy, approach and any rules they may have (such as not working a child’s voice when the child appears sick, etc). They may or may not charge for this consultation. “Trust your instincts,” urges Hakala. Staying for your child’s lessons, especially early on, will give you a feel for how compatible a teacher is with both you and your child. “If something seems weird,” adds Hakala, “pull out.” You don’t have to be an expert in voice to know when something makes you feel uneasy.

Beware of teachers who insist your child come to lessons alone, as well as teachers who seem too mean or controlling, cautions Hakala. Also beware of teachers who overwork your child’s voice or agree to do lessons when your child feels anxious or unwell. “Like everything in life, if it feels uncomfortable, stop and evaluate.” I wish Hakala had been sitting on my shoulder a couple of times when I felt uneasy about Lizabeth’s dance training but figured it wasn’t my place to ask questions because I wasn’t the expert. Another tip ala Hakala: Beware the egomaniacal or guruesque (she makes up words too!) teacher. And one more, from Lizabeth: “Teachers should love what they are doing.”

So what should you expect to pay for voice lessons? “Rates really vary,” observes Hakala. “An adult voice student in L.A. can easily pay $100 an hour.” She’s worked with professionals who charge as much as $300/hour, though you won’t pay anything near that for beginning vocal work here with local professionals. “Children’s rates are often lower than adult rates,” Hakala adds. Some teachers do a sliding scale or are willing to negotiate prices. “Be wary of undercharging,” cautions Hakala. “It may indicate that the teacher is less experienced than others in the area.”

Hakala notes that voice lessons include several elements—such as breathing, stretching, music ear training and actually learning music. “Every teacher,” she says, “runs their studio a little differently.” Most teachers encourage students to practice their breathing daily (which helps not only with voice but with relaxation amidst pre-audition jitters). Depending on a teacher’s style, he or she may expect the student to do three or four practice sessions (30 minutes to an hour) on his or her own each week. Boys often do best with male teachers since their ranges are more similar.

For Hakala, the best voice teachers for youth meet these requirements: They like children. They are patient and kind. They understand the basics (and beyond) of what they do—and are able to explain it. The best teachers, she says, have a flexible teaching style. They find different ways to make different students understand what they are learning.

Ask around. Don’t push the timing. Talk with several prospective teachers. Hang around for lessons. Listen to your instincts, and those of your child. Whether or not your child becomes a star isn’t the point, quips Hakala. Learning is lovely. But never lose the fun!

–Lynn

Coming soon: Conversations with August: Osage County’s Emily Kinney about youth and mature theater (You can follow Kinney’s Backstage Unscripted blog at http://backstage.blogs.com/unscripted/emily_kinney/).

Also: Musings with Michelle Hakala on the perils of performing for star power rather than sheer pleasure.

Confessions of a costume shop helper…

I recently sat for five hours with half a dozen women (and one man with a real gift for ironing) as they assisted the costumer for Greasepaint Youtheatre’s upcoming production of Oliver! I too wielded the needle and thread but fear I shouldn’t have been so armed under the influence of heavy duty cold meds.

Somewhere today there are cast members or costumers pulling out their hair, and my stitches, in an effort to salvage the remains of sewing projects gone horribly awry. I can only beg for their forgiveness, and promise in the future to poise my pen rather than my seam ripper.

Am I the only middle-aged mom who fears my eyes and fingers—and so many other body parts—are turning on me just when I need them the most?

Yet as we chatted, I gleaned all kinds of insights into the world of young performing artists and the people who love them. Turns out my fellow volunteers were experts in all kinds of things (parents usually are), including what to look for when considering a performing arts experience for your child.

Many have children who’ve auditioned and/or performed for several Valley theater companies, and all had terrific suggestions for other parents preparing to hit the performing arts scene with their talented kids. Ever wondered what to look for in a quality theater experience for your child? Here’s what they suggested (with a few of my own observations thrown into the mix)…

Assume that the best ideas are theirs. I’m still in cold meds detox and many of these parents—including a mom preparing a move to Southern California so her teenage son can try his hand at several television pilots—are infinitely more experienced than I.

Learn what you can about expectations for performers. How often do children rehearse and perform? The younger your child or the more rigorous your child’s academic program, the more you may struggle with demanding schedules (daily rehearsals, late nights, etc.). Check the show’s calendar when your child auditions so you know what will be expected time-wise if your child is cast in the production.

Also check on expectations for parents. Will you need to attend one or more mandatory parent meetings? What type and amount of volunteer work is expected (ushering, supervising young cast members backstage, etc.)? High expectations aren’t necessarily a bad thing, just something you want to be aware of. (Remember when volunteering that s/he who signs up first has best choice of jobs and dates/times!)

Consider what may be required financially. Some theaters ask or require that families sell a minimum number of tickets (most let you count your own tickets toward the total, so this may not be a problem if you want to be in the audience multiple times). Others may expect families to buy costumes and/or accessories (tights, shoes, etc.). Also ask whether families are expected to participate in fundraising (selling raffle tickets, attending fundraising events, etc.).

Take note of safety-related issues. Are slipping or falling hazards minimized? Are potentially hazardous materials like paint removers kept out of children’s reach? Is nighttime lighting adequate? Are children properly supervised? Are drop-off and pick-up locations safe and secure? Every parent has his or her own standards, so just assure yours are a good match for the company/venue your child is working with.

Observe whether adults are behaving appropriately. Many years ago, I was shocked to see experienced theater professionals swearing or smoking while surrounded by children. You’ll lose some sway over this as your child gets older and performs in more mature venues, but it is certainly something you don’t have to accept for your child when he or she is very young. Hopefully adult volunteers are on their best behavior too.

Also consider the behavior of young performers. Are they respectful of their teachers, even when teachers have left the room or made an unpopular decision? Do they gossip or bully one another, or are they supportive and genuinely nice to fellow performers? You’re always free to ask about written behavior guidelines (parents and students sign codes of conduct before students can participate in Arizona’s annual thespian festival) and the consequences for performers who don’t meet these expectations.

Notice the way things are organized and communicated. Do children start and finish at scheduled times? Are schedule changes communicated both verbally and in writing? Are volunteer hours logged accurately and consistently? Do you get plenty of advance notice when your child needs to gather make-up or other supplies? Do you have phone numbers for key players in case of emergency or questions about the production?

For some parents, practical matters carry a lot of weight. Are rehearsal and performance venues within a reasonable driving distance? Can you balance the needs of multiple siblings while taxiing one child to and from the theater nearly every day? I love the approach of one mom I spoke with—she makes sure siblings get to attend their sister’s performance with friends in tow. That way it’s a fun event for them too, rather than merely a show of support for their sib.

Other parents evaluate companies and venues with more forward looking fervor. One stage mom I know says she refuses to let her child perform at the same theater for more than two successive shows. She wants to assure he is a versatile performer, accustomed to a wide variety of rehearsal spaces, stages and even directors and other professionals. While some parents prefer the comfort of a single director who can really get to know their child over time, others prefer that their child work with the greatest number of qualified professionals as possible.

It never hurts to consider the personal qualities and professional qualifications of teachers, directors or others who work with your child in a performing arts setting. One parent might favor a strict ballet teacher, while another may prefer a teacher who takes a gentler tone. (It’s clear the Oliver! kids genuinely respect and admire director D. Scott Withers, enjoying his balance of strict professionalism with supportive personality.)

I’m not suggesting you volunteer with ulterior motives, but it has occurred to me while writing this piece that there are many things I only know because I volunteer. Eavesdropping is tacky. Don’t do it. But being present for your child, and getting a feel for the environments where your child spends time, is practically written into your job description as a parent. (But don’t hover—your child and the staff will want to arm wrestle for the privilege of chasing you out the door!)

Gossiping is as tasteless for grown-ups as it is for children, so take what you know with you when you go. The only thing I uncovered backstage at Stagebrush is that some folks are too kind to tell volunteers to use the lobby restrooms instead of the restrooms off the wings. No real scandal here. Just embarrassment. (This is the type of thing fellow parents ought to share with one another.)

Please tell me this too has happened to you. Who knew one could make such a commotion in the loo?

You can apply many of these musings to a variety of performing arts settings—camps, shows, classes and more. Only you know the nature and extent of your expectations when your child is participating in a music, dance or theater experience. But we all have one thing in common—we’re better off when we take time to reflect on our values and expectations ahead of time.

You won’t always have a feel for these things in advance. Like much of parenting, there’s wisdom in experience, and sometimes only trial and error take you closer to your true comfort zone. Don’t be afraid to ask. Don’t be afraid to fail. Your child is learning right alongside you about how to make choices about how and where to spend his or her time and energy.

Sometimes they need to learn these things on their own, but when you can share the journey, embrace it. They are little for only so long…

–Lynn

Coming soon: Reflections (of parents and performers) on mature theater for youth. (Have an opinion on the new television series Glee? Too racy or right on? Let me know by commenting below!)

The magic of holiday theater

The holiday theater season is upon us, and I am doing my happy dance. While others are decking their halls or dropping while shopping, I’m in song and dance mode. I’m trading in tangled holiday lights for sparkling stage lights. I’m trading in fussy decorations for fabulous sets and costumes. I’m trading in all the worries the holidays can bring for all the wonder and magic of watching children dance and sing.

Whip out your calendar and join the fun. Plenty of shows are running now, and plenty more will run past the Christmas holiday—but the bounty of holiday theater peaks between December 4^th and 20^th, so now is the time to get your favorite show dates in your planner. Don’t let the season slip away without taking in as many of these wonderful performances as possible. (A little friendly competition, anyone?)

Ten or twenty years from now, your child may not remember all those things wrapped in meticulous ribbons and bows. But memories of holiday plays and musicals—because we experience them with family and friends, because they’re magical—endure.  And memories trump materialism every time.

I’ve compiled a list of holiday shows to make it easier for you to find your favorites (be sure and read my last two blogs as well—one featuring holiday dance, the other featuring holiday music). For even more fabulous choices of holiday activities, see this month’s issue of Raising Arizona Kids magazine and/or check their online calendar of family-friendly events and activities.

Don’t want to wait for the shows that open next weekend? Get your holiday happiness on now with Childsplay’s Junie B. in Jingle Bells, Batman Smells! (a world premiere based on three of Barbara Park’s best-selling books). It’s already playing at the Tempe Center for the Arts (it runs through Dec. 27^th). We saw our first Childsplay show well over a decade ago and they still continue to amaze, amuse, delight and inspire us.

Also playing now is Desert Stages Theatre’s The Snow Queen (it runs through Dec. 20th at their theater in Scottsdale). Gerry Cullity wrote the book, music and lyrics for this production, which is adapted from a Hans Christian Andersen tale.  We’ve never been to Desert Stages, so I’ll have to mosey over and check this out before too long. I’ve run into plenty of parents who’ve told me their children had great experiences performing there.

Broadway Palm Children’s Theatre in Mesa presents Frosty the Snowman: A Magical Adventure Dec. 4^th-29^th, complete with a “unique kid-friendly luncheon buffet.”  Fountain Hills Youth Theatre presents The Nutcracker—a play—touted as a “hilarious original re-telling” from Dec. 4^th-20^th. Laughter. Lunch. More laughter. What’s not to love?

Greasepaint Youtheatre (affiliated with Phoenix Theatre but performing at Stagebrush Theatre in old town Scottsdale) presents Oliver! Dec. 4^th-20^th. My lovely Lizabeth is performing in this one, so you better buy your tickets now before I snatch up the very last of them! It’s been years since I’ve seen her perform there and I’m just a tad bit excited!

Oliver! is directed by D. Scott Withers, one of the Childsplay artists who first fueled Lizabeth’s love of theater, so we know to expect nothing less than magic with a twist after seeing his productions of Rent and Pippin last season. Come for the 2pm Dec. 5^th show and help support Greasepaint’s food drive for St. Mary’s Food Bank (bring a canned or boxed food item to enjoy ticket savings).

Valley Youth Theatre near downtown Phoenix presents A Winnie-the-Pooh Christmas Tail Dec. 4^th-23^rd. They’ve run this show for years because Valley audiences just can’t get enough of it. There’s really nothing like the power of Pooh. Grab your favorite stuffed animal—Piglet, Eeyore, Tigger or Roo—and take them along to enjoy it too!

Another returning classic is A Christmas Carol presented by Actors Theatre of Phoenix Dec. 12^th-24^th at Herberger Theater Center. It starts a bit later than the others, so you can pace yourself. In the meantime, check out the Actors Theatre website—it’s seriously fun and will leave you feeling smarter than before your visit. The show itself—featuring some of the Valley’s most talented and beloved cast and crew—will leave you inspired.

Arizona Broadway Theatre presents A Christmas Carol: The Musical at their dinner theater in Peoria November 27th-December 27th. Their cast also includes many seasoned actors and talented youth. And who doesn’t love the idea of combining two rare family experiences–a sit down dinner and a night of entertainment out on the town?

The award for biggest holiday “menu” goes to Theater Works, performing at the Peoria Center for the Performing Arts—which is offering three holiday shows this year. One, a concert featuring Christmas carols sung by Youth Works, happens Dec. 16^th (doors open at 5:30pm). Check their website for info on the accompanying firefighter toy drive and food bank food drive. The others, playing Dec. 4^th-20^th, are Santa Claus is Coming to Town and Miracle on 34^th Street.

ASU Gammage is bringing Annie to Tempe as part of the Broadway Across America series, and their timing couldn’t be more terrific. Annie runs Dec. 29^th-Jan. 3^rd, so it’s the perfect anecdote for that letdown we sometimes feel when all the packages have been torn open and family members start their journeys back to faraway cities and towns. Annie is a truly timeless Depression-era tale you may find especially poignant this season as so many families are struggling.

Make time for joy. Make time for theater. Make time to be grateful. Make time for theater. Make time for memories. Make time for theater. Make time…

–Lynn

Note: Always call and/or click presenting companies/venues for complete and up-to-date event information. To learn about special ticket prices and promotions, sign up for e-alerts from your favorite music, dance and theater organizations. As always, I welcome your comments if I’ve overlooked something wonderful. I’m especially eager to hear about performing arts experiences celebrating diverse holidays, so thanks for sharing those too!

Music for making holiday memories

Eager to raise children who hate classical music? Try these simple steps: Assume they’ll never like it. Never take them to a classical music concert. Talk about how classical music is boring. Assure they never hear you enjoying a classical piece of music. This rule pretty much follows for all of parenting. If you tell a kid to hate something, work extra hard to hate it yourself and never give your kid the opportunity to love it, your kid will probably hate it.

If you want to raise a child who appreciates, and maybe even loves (or plays) classical music, take him or her early and often to see and hear it performed. My fingers just did all the walking for you, so cut the excuses, read this list, and get out there and give your kids some credit. I think they’ll surprise you. And they might just find something to love for a lifetime.

First, a collection of musical adventures from a venue that never fails to impress with the diversity of its offerings—the Mesa Arts Center. They’ll host a Holiday Arts & Music Festival with free admission and free parking on Dec. 12^th and 13^th. The event includes art by nearly 100 artists in 13 mediums, live entertainment, kids’ activities and more.

Other holiday happenings with a musical bent coming to the MAC include: Leahy Family Christmas (Celtic Canadian sibling singers) on Dec. 5^th. Welk Stars (as in Lawrence Welk) Christmas Reunion on Dec. 6^th. American Stars in Concert For the Holidays (surprise mix of American Idol top ten finalists) on Dec. 12^th. Salt River Brass Concert (holiday pops) on Dec. 13^th. You’re All I Want for Christmas (Christmas variety show with sing-a-longs) on Dec. 16^th and 18^th. Dave Koz and Friends (A Smooth Jazz Christmas) on Dec. 22^nd. There’s more, but the brevity of blogging prevents me from listing everything here, so check their website for the full scoop.

I grew up listening with my mother to the music of the Boston Pops, and enjoyed a full circle moment when Lizabeth and I went to a Boston Pops concert together many years ago (she’s still wearing the souvenir t-shirt). Consider starting a new holiday tradition with one (or more) of these classical music concerts…

The Tempe Symphony Orchestra presents their annual Holiday Concert at McClintock High School at 7:30pm on Monday, Nov. 30^th.  (It’s free!) The ASU Symphony Orchestra and Choral Unions present their Holiday Concert (including works from Vivaldi’s Gloria and Handel’s Messiah) at ASU Gammage in Tempe on Dec. 6^th from 2:30-4pm.

The Phoenix Symphony offers a rich musical menu during the holiday season—with many performances held on multiple dates—so their website is well worth a visit. Your choices this season include Holiday Express! (Dec. 2^nd-4^th), Holiday Pops (Dec. 4^th-6^th), Family Holiday Pops (Dec. 5^th), Candlelight Messiah (starting Dec. 9^th), Handel’s Messiah Sing-a-Long (Dec. 6^th at 7:30pm) and a New Year’s Eve concert complete with complimentary champagne (Dec. 31^st at 7pm).

I recall many a concert with a very young Lizabeth napping on my shoulder during the second half. It beats having your child fall asleep to the television or an iPod. The early exposure to classical music left Lizabeth eager to try violin lessons, leading to a decade of violin study and all the discipline and musicality that comes with it. I’ll never regret making that investment in concert tickets rather than video games or DVDs.

If musical theater is your thing, join fellow Broadway buffs at Phoenix Theatre Dec. 18^th or 19^th for Holiday Harmony featuring Broadway Baritones singing holiday and Broadway tunes. Among them will be Douglas Webster, who brought the house down during Phoenix Theatre’s passionate yet pristine production of Les Miserables last season. I suspect that tickets for this baby will be going fast.

In the mood for a bit of dinner theater? Check out the Singing Cowboy Christmas (with Pioneer Pepper and the Sunset Pioneers) at Broadway Palm Dinner Theatre in Mesa. The show, which features songs, carols, stories and poetry, runs Nov. 27^th and 28^th as well as several dates in December. I remember seeing Man of La Mancha with my dad at a Denver dinner theater when I was young, and it felt like quite the adventure!

I can’t recall how Jennifer and I heard about the first Phoenix Girls Chorus concert we saw together at the Orpheum Theatre in Phoenix, but it clearly left an impression since Jennifer went on to happily sing and tour with them for many years. Had we never seen that concert together, she might never have discovered her musical talents. Hence my motto about children and the performing arts: Expose them early and often.

The Phoenix Girls Chorus will perform two holiday concerts this season—a Holiday Family Concert called “Memories and Music” at 7pm on Dec. 5^th at Valley Presbyterian Church in Paradise Valley, and a Holiday Classics Concert called “Holiday Grandeur” at 8pm on Dec. 21^st at First United Methodist Church in Phoenix.

The Phoenix Boys Choir presents Holiday Traditions (traditional hymns and lively carols from around the world) at several locations throughout the Valley beginning Dec. 12^th. The program features a special reenactment of “The Night Before Christmas.”

The Phoenix Children’s Chorus will perform 25 Years of Holiday Celebrations (with special guest artist Desert Echoes Flute Project) during a matinee and an evening performance on Dec. 5^th. The event, which includes a silent auction, takes place at St. Agnes Church in Phoenix. (I love getting teacher gifts at auctions—it’s like doing double the good works!)

Phoenix Chorale (formerly the Phoenix Bach Choir) presents a free open rehearsal Dec. 4^th from 6:30-9:30pm at Trinity Episcopal Church in Phoenix. They’ll also perform several Home for the Holidays concerts at various locations (in Phoenix, Scottsdale and Sun City) Dec. 18th-22nd. The Orpheus Male Chorus of Phoenix is holding holiday concerts on several dates in December at various locations (in Mesa, Paradise Valley, Phoenix and Scottsdale).

Finally, let me share a little something wonderful you’ll find a wee bit out of town. It’s the Wickenburg Friends of Music event, being held Dec. 4^th at 7:30pm at the Wickenburg Community Center. Musica Dolce, a Baroque ensemble, will be playing music from medieval times through the Renaissance while spotlighting the history behind several Christmas traditions. It’s the type of performance you don’t get to enjoy very often, so check it out if you’re a lover of the unique or unexpected.

If you discover something especially wonderful this holiday season, please share it with fellow readers using the comment section below. And come back tomorrow for a sampling of family-friendly theater performances perfect for holiday together time.

–Lynn

Note: Always call/click ahead for event/ticket details. To enjoy comprehensive listings of family-friendly events, subscribe to Raising Arizona Kids magazine and/or visit the RAK calendar online at www.raisingarizonakids.com.

Dancing your way through the holidays

What comes to mind when you think of the polka? (If you’ve never really thought about the polka, this is your chance.) For me it conjures memories of barn dances in the tiny little town of Tripp, South Dakota. As a child I’d travel to Tripp every couple of years to visit my father’s family.

I remember playing gin rummy for pennies, meticulously working on paint-by-number canvases and hitting a nearby barn to dance with my father long into the night. (We took frequent breaks for authentic German sausages and Shirley Temples.) My father is a man of few compliments, but he sometimes lets it slip that he likes two things about my dancing: that I’m good at following a lead, and that I never tire out.

I thought of my grandparents from South Dakota, long ago deceased, when I discovered that the Phoenix Symphony is playing “Strauss: Waltzes and Polkas this weekend (November 27th and 28th at Phoenix Symphony Hall and November 29th at Mesa Arts Center). It’s a rare opportunity to enjoy the dance music of bygone days, and an especially good choice if you have grandparents visiting for the holidays.

If you prefer more traditional holiday fare, you can enjoy Frances Smith Cohen’s The Snow Queen presented by Center Dance Ensemble Saturdays and Sundays December 5^th-20^th at the Herberger Theater Center in Phoenix. Jennifer danced in the Snow Queen for many years, and we always found pure joy both backstage and in the audience.

It’s hard to understate the importance of keeping the joy in dance, which is something Susan Silverman and Frances Cohen do so beautifully during dance classes, recitals and summer camps with Dance Theater West in Phoenix. This is where my daughters first caught the joy of movement (although Jennifer seemed to have an inkling in utero).

When Jennifer and I last hit the Mesa Arts Center, we enjoyed African dance along with the music of Playing for Change. (I’ve never seen more boomers boogying in one place before!) Next month, we can hit MAC to enjoy two holiday dance performances…

First, Christmas Wishes presented by Arizona Desert Dance (December 11^th at 7pm), which features dancers age two through adult. Audience members two and under get in free. Second, Spirit of Christmas presented by The Christian Dance Company (December 17^th at 7:30pm), which features a cast of more than 100 dancers and singers.

If we just can’t wait that long, we can try the AZDance Group’s Christmas Dance Concert on December 7th at 6:30pm at the Tempe Center for the Arts. The event features guest dancer Astrit Zejnat from Ballet Arizona, the AZDance professional dance roster and the Movement E-Motion dance program for “individuals with different abilities.”

If you’re a fan of The Nutcracker ballet, you’ll have plenty of options this year. Consider taking in more than one so you can enjoy the variety of sets, costumes and talented performers. This piece never gets old.

First up is The Nutcracker presented by Ballet and Friends (November 27^th-29^th) at the Herberger Theater Center in Phoenix. These performances benefit the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve ‘Toys for Tots’ program.

This weekend you can also enjoy The Nutcracker presented by Ballet Etudes, which I’ve long admired for its mix of ethereal and whimsical costumes and sets. It runs Fridays through Sundays November 27^th –December 13^th at the Mesa Arts Center. Never mind about the missing theater seat—it’s the one I took home to install in my teen taxi because it was so comfy. Kidding!

Ballet Arizona performs Ib Andersen’s The Nutcracker December 11^th-27^th at Symphony Hall in Phoenix. Music will be performed by the Phoenix Symphony (except for performances on the 26^th and 27^th). The Ballet Arizona box office has special hours today and tomorrow for folks who want to get a jump on securing the best seats. (Ask them as well about their magical Nutcracker Party on December 5^th.)

Lizabeth has danced the roles of bon bon/Mother Ginger’s child, grandfather mouse and party girl—but will be appearing instead this year in a “darker, edgier” version of Oliver! with Greasepaint Youtheatre. (I had a great time working backstage for The Nutcracker but doubt I’ll miss picking all those stray bobby pins off the children’s rehearsal room floor.) Liz was an Arabian Dancer for The Nutcracker Children’s Party. Cute tummy!

An Irish Nutcracker will be presented by the Celtic Dance Academy on December 19^th and 20^th (at the Mesa Arts Center). Kids three and younger get in free for this gig (jig?). Yup—there’s pretty much always something fun going on at the MAC! (Today’s teaser: Think Tupperware meets theatrics.)

This will get you in the mood to see Riverdance when their tour hits Arizona in January. Or to hit Randy’s restaurant in Scottsdale for authentic Irish food come St. Patrick’s Day 2010. Wearers of the green (I married one) can never plan too far ahead.

Finally, you can enjoy the Moscow Ballet’s Great Russian Nutcracker Tuesday, December 22^nd at 7:30pm at the Dodge Theatre in Phoenix (a venue Lizabeth and I enjoyed for Riverdance when she was just a few years into violin studies).

Dancing our way in December are three non-holiday performances that sound seriously intriguing. There’s life beyond eggnog, so let’s talk about these too…

SCC Dance of Scottsdale Community College presents Instinct Dance Corps, SCC Moving Company and the Scottsdale Arizona Jazz Ensemble performing Muscle Memory Implications at 8pm on December 4^th and 5^th at the ASU Studio Theatre in Tempe.

Enjoy an entire weekend of dance by adding another performance to your calendar. Emerging Artists I Resite takes place December 4^th and 5^th from 8pm to midnight at two Phoenix locations. The first night is free, as part of Phoenix’s First Friday program. Tickets are $7-$20 for night number two, taking place at Bragg’s Pie Factory. The event features paint, sound and text created through the Tumbleweed Center for Youth Development.

An annual dance festival—Breaking Ground 2009—with CONDER/dance takes place at the Tempe Center for the Arts December 11^th and 12^th. According to event organizers, it features “diverse high caliber offerings from contemporary choreographers and film makers from across the country.” All I need to know is that I can enjoy the view of lights twinkling over the water from this venue. That pretty much stops me in my tracks.

You could choose just one. But why? Tickets are all reasonably priced, and you might stumble upon some deals if you pay careful attention (signing up for venue/company e-mail alerts is my tried-and-true method of learning about special ticket offers).

It’s not Tripp, South Dakota, of course. But maybe that’s a good thing…

–Lynn

Update:

Paradise Valley Community College (PVCC) presents their Fall Dance Collection Dec. 4th and 5th at 7:30pm at PVCC’s Center for the Performing Arts featuring guest and student choreography, a fusion of modern and jazz dance, acrobatics and more.

Check out www.ticketmaster.com for upcoming holiday dance performances at the Orpheum Theatre in Phoenix, including The Gift of the Magi with DanceMotion (Dec. 12/13) and Nutcracker 2009 with Ballet Academy (Dec. 22/23).

Coming soon: Boys who ballet, Getting that good vibe during voice lessons

Note: For complete details about performance dates/times, ticket sales, etc. please contact the presenting company and/or venue. If you know of another 2009 dance performances for children, teens or families, please use the comment section below to share what you know. Thanks!