<p>My daughter graduates from HS tomorrow (5/17) and we've been going through all the end-of-year award/recognition ceremonies. One of the things that amazes me is how many awards there are, especially things that can be worn on/with their robes at graduation. Back in the dark ages when I graduated HS, I won a few awards but don't remember so much that was on the robes. But it got me thinking.</p>
<p>We (us and our kids) have all made it through scheduling auditions, actually getting to auditions, receiving (or not receiving) acceptances, and then making the big decision about the school to attend. They are about to head off to college and whatever awaits them in the future. </p>
<p>But before we get to that I think we should brag on our kids and their HS accomplishments. We all know that theatre kids tend to be involved in a lot of activities, from scholastics to sports to other fine arts, or whatever. Let's brag on them a bit with end-of-year awards (whether worn with the robes or not).</p>
<p>My daughter is in National Honor Society and will wear the NHS sash. She has a cord for summa cum laude, plus cords for Tri-M music society, Spanish honor society, and International Thespian Society. She will also wear the ITS medal for Honor Thespian. Not on the uniform, but she also won the school's ITS Best Thespian/Thespian-of-the-Year award. </p>
<p>I'm sure your kids have done great things too. If you are willing, please share.</p>
<p>Our school has given them out to seniors as long as D has been there. Blue & gold cord (not our school colors). I assumed that is an ITS thing and not unique to our school. </p>
<p>Though he did graduate a year early, my son had nothing in the way of academics to brag about. But he did sing a a solo, and his classmates (all 20 of them) gave him a standing ovation. That was what made me cry. </p>
<p>I’m probably the only one whose kid utterly refused to participate in the high school graduation ceremony – except that he had to attend most of the events as part of the Madrigals. </p>
<p>I couldn’t in all conscience “force” him to do the cap-and-gown thing because he knew that (ahem) back in 1977 I also refused to do it, though I was there as a member of the symphonic band. </p>
<p>S will graduate nest week, hopefully “with honors”, but it will be close. Because of all the music-related classes he took this year, he didn’t have “room” for silly things like Physics (needed science requirement) - or Psychology ((needed social studies credit for “honors” diploma). So he took those two classes on-line. His mom’s “sage” advice was to get them done over Christmas break (they were NOT a stretch for him academically), My reasoning being that it would be nice to get them out of the way before the heat of audition season, and after that he would be in “senioritis” mode. S decided he had PLENTY of time. Then in February he decided he really DIDN’T need Physics or Psychology. Finally talked him into completing Physics a week ago and in discussing its completion with school counselor yesterday he “discovered” that he really DID need Psychology. Amazingly, he was able to complete half a semester of Psychology in about 6 hours (remember the part about not being a stretch). So he actually will get an honors diploma, unless there’s something else he’s “forgetting” to tell me.</p>
<p>End of senior year has been a mixed bag. He did not do the fall musical because he was prepping for and participating in auditions, but was able to do a terrific job in the role of Billy in Chicago for the private acting studio he trains with. He was one of four finalists in our city for a H.S arts competition in the area of drama/MT. He missed out on being in the MT showcase at his H.S. b/c he committed to being in the spring production for his ballet studio (MT showcase date NOT scheduled in advance). Then he was unable to participate in the special “seniors” ballet b/c he had to missed too many dance rehearsals for his acting studio.</p>
<p>Over the years S has learned A LOT about the disappointment of not getting the roles/solos you thought you “deserved”. He has learned what it means to NOT be the teacher’s/director’s “star” pupil. But through it all he has learned to work VERY hard, to push himself to grow outside of his “safe” zone, and to be “professional” (mostly) in his dealings with others. I am SO very proud of him. Except for the part where he “mastered” the art of exquisite fart noises (real and fabricated). I had nothing to do with that.</p>
<p>I haven’t been on the MT thread in quite a while. My D just graduated from college with double degrees in MT and history and has landed a place in a physical theatre company. Doesn’t pay much (at all) but at least she’s got a job. She’s also working part-time at a museum in their education department (using her other degree). So that’s my brag. </p>
<p>@megpmom - can you describe for me what a “physical theatre company” is? My S (college freshman next year), LOVES “physical” comedy and has spent a lot of his private coaching time in the last year working on “historical” clowning and “la comedia” type stuff. Is this the same thing? How/why did your D land a job there? Let’s hear it for being well-rounded so there are many doors to knock on when college is over.</p>
<p>At my d graduation they gave out medals to everyone who received a “c” in a ap course and tassels to everyone who completed a technical class (ie. woodshop, auto and theatre). So she got a green one. Of course my d who has been in at least 8 fully staged productions every year of high school including three equity productions and 2 operas, didn’t take any ap classes. But she did receive the American legion performing arts scholarship, the Kiwanis talent award and the rotary scholarship or talent and was a finalist for the spotlight award in mt and option for classical music. She graduated with honors (a surprise to us all because academics is not her strongest point). She sang a very emotional rendition of the song “quiet”(natalie Weiss) at her senior recital and performed her “senior show” as marissa in the west coast premiere of women on the verge of a nervous breakdown co-starring with the director who cast her in her first show ever. Nevertheless she has never attended a single high school dance or prom and only performed in one high school production. In fact most of her fellow students thought she was a teacher. I never believed her until her name was announced for her awards and her the students looked around and you could tell they were asking, “who’s that”? Now she is ready to go off to Connecticut to study classical music (what???) and become an opera singer(did say …what???)
I know everyone is equally proud of their son or daughter. And you should be. This is a tough road. </p>
<p>Let’s all hope the sacrifices made - proms not attended, school productions not auditioned for, nights at the movie theater with friends not gone to - were all worth it in the long haul. I know my S LOVES what he what he is planning for. Sguti40, sounds like your D feels the same.</p>
<p>@mom4bwayboy: Physical theatre depends on the company. My D describes it as “theatre without words.” It uses a lot of the techniques from clowning and commedia. D is trained as a dancer and circus artist (aerials). She was lucky to land this job due, in part, to having worked with this company while she was in college as an intern. She also trained in Prague during her study abroad semester. If your son is interested in physical theatre, tell him to pursue additional training (there are summer courses). It is a growing genre, especially in Europe. </p>
<p>My S graduated with honors, normally not the most diligent student, but worked really hard his senior year with a couple of concurrent credit courses. All- region and All-State Choir, National Choral Award, NATS State and Regional in HS Musical Theatre, played Ryan in High School Musical, co-musical director of HSM and drama club president, played Jack in Into The Woods, got accepted into Texas Christian and University of Memphis BFA Musical theatre programs, ultimately chose University of Memphis with 4 year full tuition scholarship and a performing arts scholarship. Was able to take 4 different girls to 4 different proms at different schools but had to miss his own school’s prom because he was in a show at a local theatre. Really proud of him- he is a good kid, works hard and is looking forward to jumping into college in the fall.</p>
<p>My D will be a CCM MT senior next year and is a finalist for Stagelighter.com’s Break Into Broadway competition. The 11 finalists were chosen out of hundreds of submissions by 6 of the top NY casting directors. Now it’s FB votes that will win it. So, I’m bragging and asking if you would consider voting for her. She’s the last one on the page. woobox.com/ubc76r </p>