<p>My nephew has the lead in a big production at a theater school. It's his final year and the family is going a bit nuts. One of them wants to present him with a huge bouquet - but we aren't seeing the production on either opening or closing night, and I'm not at all sure that this is appropriate anyway. Do I contact the school or what to ask and/or arrange delivery/presentation?</p>
<p>Will anyone from the family be there? Maybe they could give him the flowers. Usually the seniors are presented with something after their last performance of the year. But for this performance you could possibly have the theater teacher give them to him after the show if no one from the family will be there.</p>
<p>NEmom, is he in high school or college?</p>
<p>Sure get the kid flowers which ever performance you attend. But I’d avoid a “huge” bouquet for a couple of important reasons:
- you’ll have to hold it on your lap all through the performance. Not fun by the time the 3rd person tries to squeeze by you to get to their seat and the tissue paper and plastic around it is noisy so you will have to hold very still throughout all of the quiet parts of the show or risk getting shhhhhd
- When you give it to him he’ll say a very nice, appreciative thank you, and then he’ll ask you to hold it for him because he’s busy hugging other people that came to see him and he can’t do that with huge bouquet in his hands.
- He’ll accidentally leave it at the theatre and by morning, it will have wilted.</p>
<p>:) A small, simple bouquet (and maybe a couple of them if there are several family members coming) that is easy to carry and more discrete will be just as appreciated and way easier to deal with for everyone involved. It still says, bravo and we cared.</p>
<p>All the high schools in our area do “flowergrams” where audience members can send flowers backstage for their friends in the cast and crew. It is a fundraiser and the kids love it. Sometimes people will ask the flowergram people if they will deliver their bouquet backstage, and chip in a couple of bucks.</p>
<p>I always thought my son would be embarrassed by flowers, so I always gave him a chocolate bar after opening night. I’ve kept up the tradition for years, but now that he’s eating better, I might have to try the flowers, after all!</p>
<p>Do you mean a presentation on stage? Or do you mean that the family wants to send him flowers?</p>
<p>I would not suggest trying to arrange for a formal on stage presentation. </p>
<p>As others have said holding a large bouquet through the performance could be uncomfortable. In this case a smaller bouquet might be better… or leave the larger bouquet in the car and have someone run out right after the show closes to get them. It generally takes the actors a few minutes to get changed before they come out after a show.</p>
<p>You could also have a larger flower bouquet delivered sometime during the day (if it is a weekday) that you will see the performance. Contact the main office in the Theatre School to find out the policy for having them sent there, and if someone could put them in his dressing room. </p>
<p>:)</p>
<p>Dcsparent, we have always done food for my sons too! My older boy’s first play was Arsenic and Old Lace–he played a cop, so naturally, we got him…doughnuts. He loved it, and it became a tradition. My younger son (college freshman) was disappointed throughout high school if he didn’t get that box of Krispy Kremes (we live in the South, no Dunkin’s here). Last year one of his friends brought him a big package of pre-cooked bacon–that was a little weird, but he loved it too!</p>
<p>So, two words in the OP’s post scare me a little. Those would be “huge” and “presentation”. I was at a high school show where this happened and it was rather uncomfortable…I’m guessing for everyone. The dressing room is a great idea!</p>
<p>My son who is not my theatre kid but actually sings beautifully and acts quite well when he can remember his lines (ha) had his stage debut in “Oliver” when he was probably in 6th? grade. “Oliver” was also pretty much his swan song too. I presented him with a bouquet of vegetable seed packets attached to pipe cleaners. The kid was into gardening and he was pleased and got the joke.</p>
<p>Find out if there is a “flower fundraiser” like prodesse mentioned. These theatre departments are always strapped for cash and count on donations from the doting relatives! I’m assuming this is a high school production?</p>
<p>He is in college, and yes, family wants to do a big on-stage presentation.</p>
<p>I would strongly recommend that you heed KatMT’s advice! She has the professional background to back up what she’s saying. :)</p>
<p>We have never given my son flowers after any of his performances. I kknow he would be very uncomfortable with that. At his HS we would purchase an ad in the program, and we did nothing at his community theatre productions. I think as others have said, it would not be a great idea to do the flowers.</p>
<p>I think that’s called homicide. He will die of embarrassment.</p>
<p>I would also fear that might possibly undermine the hard work of others, as productions are always a success thanks to the combined effort of many. I am of course echoing the sentiments of others, but I think, while it’s certainly a nice thought, I can’t help but feel that it would be inappropriate. I understand you/the family’s want to recognize his hard work, but I think doing so would neglect other seniors who have committed just as much. That’s just my two cents, anyway! It’s totally up to you, ultimately! :)</p>
<p>No floral presentation onstage…</p>
<p>My vote is no onstage presentation. It will likely make him uncomfortable and can upset others.If they would like to send flowers, how about having them delivered to the theatre prior to the performance. They will more then likely be waiting for him in the dressing room when he arrives!</p>
<p>I don’t know how other schools do things but from my understanding stages are not public places. Unless you are a performer or a member of the tech team, family members are not allowed on stage. Not sure how you would get the flowers to him and make a presentation.</p>
<p>Well, I suppose you could toss them on the stage like in the old movies. :-)</p>
<p>Seriously, at my daughters’ high school, parents often bestowed flowers, but after the show was over and the players came out of the dressing room. Girls were given flowers more often than boys, but the boys seemed to like them too. Rarely were they giant bouquets; when a parent did bring something enormous the rest of us felt it was a little over the top.</p>