<p>Theatermom, glad to see you back and thanks for the update. Sounds like a wonderful trip. I am very excited for your daughter for this professional opportunity this summer!! It is very cool indeed.
Susan</p>
<p>Thanks Susan!</p>
<p>As the summer deepens, I find myself thinking of your D and about how her recovery is coming. You haven't spoken of her much lately and even with her crutches and all I know she had graduation, a final dance performance and many activities planned. Hope all have gone well and she will be ready and raring to go to NYC come September. Keep us posted. My thoughts are with you!</p>
<p>Theatermom, it is sweet of you to ask. My daughter is doing GREAT and it almost seems like a miracle considering the severity of the accident and her injuries. We knew she'd recover in time for college but right now, I would say she is just about fully recovered and it has been less than three months. She may not be in the same as her usual condition but she is gettin' close, and way ahead of any expectations. She got off crutches the day before prom three weeks ago and was walking and appearing "normal". That same weekend was her final dance performance and of course, it was disappointing after ten years of that studio, going almost every day and also being in their select repertory company, that she could not perform this last time. However, she finished choreographing the tap dance she had taught to her troupe the day of her accident and it was well received. And then each year the director choreographs a lyrical "senior dance" for any seniors in the troupe and there are three, her being one of them. But the dance was to Lennon's Imagine, as sung in the style of Eva Cassidy and coincidentally, my D has recorded a demo CD with that song on it and they had her sing the song live, with her dad accompanying on guitar as the other two girls danced it and it was a tear jerker. But I felt like it was a lovely way to include her in the entire show (she'd normally have been in numerous dances and this was likely her last pointe ballet dance for a long time) and also I felt like it was quite the triumph to see this kid walk onto the stage and perform, just two days off crutches and just two months out of intensive care and it felt like a miracle...I think people were surprised to see her in this good shape (word spread around the region about it). She also sang that song in front of her school the other day and got a standing ovation and it was a nice way to have a moment on stage, considering she missed the musical and stuff like that. She also performed on vocals with jazz band. </p>
<p>She is still in physical therapy three times per week. She is doing so well that they told her she could try dance classes this week! We thought it would be around August for that! And she did three and felt good, a little sore afterwards but also she has not danced in three months. She is going to take some next week as well. She has two more days of high school remaining and graduation is in 8 more days. Then she leaves immediately following for one last time at her summer theater program, her 8th season there, but is only going to go for three weeks. When she first was so injured, we did not think she could go back and then we revised that to going back but not doing a role that involves dance and now she feels like she could do any role, even a dance one. Immediately following that, she is doing a local professional adult production of Bat Boy where they bring in some NYC actors for the production. And then she and another friend created and organized a program they are going to direct for kids ages 9-14 in August and not only instruct them in voice, acting, and dance but also direct them in a musical theater cabaret she will write. The kids have signed up, she secured the local theater space and she is going to earn quite a bit of mulah in those two weeks, to take to college in the fall. So, her summer is going to be just what was planned before the accident. While she missed many of her "lasts" this spring...school musical, numerous dance shows, etc, in the scheme of things, she is a very very very lucky girl and miraculously lived and will have a second chance to make her mark on the world. She looks the same and she certainly is now expected to do all she ever did and planned on. It is a very happy result, though she has been through so much with it and so much pain. I'm sure her life is forever changed by this experience. And she is now driving again, by the way, but no interstate. And I have been brave, given that experience, that I let my 18 year old D drive 6000 miles in the past two weeks, all the way to Alaska where she is now! It all went smoothly, whew. But the sixteen year old is going to be in NYC next year, so she won't be driving very much! </p>
<p>We are all so thankful for this recovery and also for the tons of people both locally and from far away and from the internet, too who have cared so deeply about this. We all know it could have been any of our kids and we are so lucky she is alive, and not maimed or does not have lifelong injuries/affects or complications. Unfortunately, some have not survived this kind of thing. The fact that she can perform again...wow, someone was looking after her. </p>
<p>Thank you SO much. </p>
<p>Susan</p>
<p>That is all wonderful news Susan! Thanks for sharing this happy outcome.</p>
<p>Fantastic info about your D, Susan! I'm so relieved to hear how great she's doing and that the experience didn't give you a severe case of overprotectiveness (like it would have done to me LOL). I hope her 8th season at SDM is all she could hope for, too.</p>
<p>The Hill</p>
<p>A real southern italian neighborhood. If you're from NYC, imagine Little Italy in St. Louis.</p>
<p>I always seem to wind up at Cunetto's House of Pasta. but other places are supposed to be quite good. Charlie Gitto's, Rigazzi's...</p>
<p>There's also some good Italian markets there, e.g. John Viviano & Sons. And Amighetti's has good baked goods.</p>
<p>Be aware that the place is essentially closed down on Sundays.</p>
<p>I bop into St. Louis now and then, could possibly be there sometime during the summer. No current plans to do so though.</p>
<p>Susan, It's been awhile since we talked. So glad to hear all is so well with your D. I remember reading about her recent standing ovation on another thread and thinking what a fabulous boost for her at this particular time. Congratulations on all of her achievements (and your older D, as well)! Enjoy graduation and all the fun that comes with it. Hope to meet you one day.</p>
<p>Theatermom: Congratulations are in order for your D, too! I am sure she will do great in St. Louis! I wish we were closer so we could go see her in one of the shows. Our D is home, of course, and it's been wonderful having her here. She'll be leaving soon enough for her summer adventure. </p>
<p>Thesbo: Wow! You're gonna have a blast! Isn't it marvelous sometimes how things happen? Congratulations!</p>
<p>thank you theatermom, MTMommy and GKoukla....I hope all your kids have fanstastic summers doing what they really love!
Susan</p>
<p>The Hill
We ate at Rigazzi's last trip. It was great, but huge portions.</p>
<p>Wow!</p>
<p>Thanks everyone for the "hot" tips! I'll be there 3 times in the next 7 weeks so I'm grateful for all the suggestions. I talked very briefly to my D this evening and she sounded SOOO happy and not the least bit stressed! She said that while everyone expects you to be professional and work your hardest, it also feels friendly and supportive, like everyone wants you to do well. They've only just begun music rehearsals and a little staging (no dance yet) but she already knows that she has a few solo singing lines in the opening number and says she will be doing "lots" of can-can kicks while singing a high C in the first act finale!! Better her than me!!.........right! She also said the mandatory Equity "breaks" seem kind of random but I'm betting that once dance rehearsals start in earnest, she'll be REALLY happy to have them.</p>
<p>Goukla,
You have to let me know all about D's Italy adventures. Since my D opted out of a similar opportunity last summer, I'm going to have to vicariously live that experience through yours! I'm so jealous. Have a great time when you go to hear her sing - then again, how could it be otherwise? going to Italy to watch your child perform? Heaven!! I mean it's not St Louis, but you can't have it all (lol - very loud!)</p>
<p>Hey, theatermom: I've been reading this thread with great interest for a couple of reasons.</p>
<p>one, my d will be working as a dancer/singer in a new staging of Music Man by the Theater of the Stars that will be opening in Houston and then in Atlanta. It's also an Equity show, but we have not gotten the contract yet. I am interested to see what options she is given...we would probably do the 50 points-thing (can't remember the acronym right now!) if offered...she would get only 3 or 4, I think, for this show. I was REALLY interested in all of the information I gleaned from reading all of the posts about this issue on this thread!</p>
<p>The other reason I was interested is that another good friend was in a Muny production of Chorus Line a few years ago, and my kids and I drove up for the opening of that show. We attended a couple of rehearsals, and my advice to you is to MAKE SURE YOUR DAUGHTER STAYS HYDRATED!!!! My friend suffered heat exhaustion and was very ill when the show opened. The heat and humidity there is pretty intense in the summer (and this comes from a southern girl!). I am sure you are aware of all of this, but I just thought I'd mention it just in case! The production was great, though. Your daughter is going to have a blast (as will her mom, I am sure!).</p>
<p>Best to you and to your daughter. Have fun!</p>
<p>theatermom,</p>
<p>So glad to read that your D's experience at the MUNY and in St.Louis is going well! Enjoy The Hill....it really is wonderful as others have posted.</p>
<hr>
<p>My guys have begun their rehearsals for equity production of "Brighton Beach Memoirs". It should be up and running in 2 1/2 weeks. Those of you in the east will get a kick to know that Ss have been practicing their New Yawrk dialects for the show. LOL, I wouldn't doubt they will have our midwest dialects reformed just by listening to them.</p>
<p>Thanks for letting me share!!</p>
<p>SUE aka 5pants</p>
<p>Hi churchmusicmom,</p>
<p>Believe me - I am no expert on Equity! I have tried to educate myself over the past few months since my D was offered her job at the Muny. I'll be interested to hear what your D is offered. I do know that not all Equity theaters hire Equity performers exclusively - depending upon the type of contract that the theater has negotiated with Equity, they may only have Equity principals and may be able to have a non-union ensemble or have a certain number of performers in each show that must be Equity while the others don't have to be. In any case, at the very least, if your D wants, she will probably be able to enroll in the Equity Membership Candidate's Program. Her Company Manager should have all that information. Under that program. she will earn one point for every week of rehearsal and performance while working in an Equity House. It costs something to enroll (used to be $100) but that fee gets credited against your regular membership fee when you do finally join Equity. Once you accumulate 50 points (50 weeks of work in an Equity House) you are eligible to join Equity. But once you get those points, you can no longer work in an Equity House without joining Equity. Your eligibility to join the Union lasts for 5 years after you have accumulated all your points. I think she would have to be working a minimum of 30 days in order to be offered a full Equity contract but I could easily be wrong about that. You can check out all of this info and more at the following site:
<a href="http://www.actorsequity.org%5B/url%5D">http://www.actorsequity.org</a></p>
<p>Thanks for the advice about staying healthy and hydrated at the Muny. I know my D always carries a big water bottle with her to all rehearsals. She's very lucky in that she chose to use the housing offered by the Muny. She's in a great apartment that is air conditioned and has a pool. I always feel that I can handle heat during the day as long as I can home to an air conditioned house and get a good night's sleep. I know that she loves her AC!!!</p>
<p>Best of luck to your D as well this summer. How old is your D? Is she in school now or out on her own? I will be in St Louis three times this summer to see all three shows my D is in. Can't wait!! I'm sure you can't wait to see your D as well. Enjoy every minute!</p>
<p>Hi Sue (5Pants)!</p>
<p>I'm sure that you are already a St Louis expert!! I hope to learn a lot more about the city in the next 2 months!! Just wanted you to know that My D is in apartment housing near your sons' college and is happy as can be - comes with AC, a pool and free internet!! We are loving Webster right about now.</p>
<p>Break a leg to your wonderful boys on their upcoming show!!</p>
<p>theatermom,</p>
<p>The apartments where your D is staying this summer are the facilities where my guys stayed last year and will do so again this coming year. What a small world!!</p>
<p>Thanks for the good wishes (which I will pass along to A&N)....I send my best for you D! Enjoy the summer!!</p>
<p>SUE</p>
<p>Yikes! It's Opening Night for the season at The Muny in St Louis and opening night for my D in Beauty and the Beast - 8:15 central standard time......I am so excited for her but can't believe this is the first time I won't be seeing her in a "major" performance....boo hoo. But I'll be there next weekend, with bells on!!!</p>
<p>She says all is going well. They had dress rehearsal on Saturday night after which the director sadly decided to cut her favorite piece of "business" in the final fight scene. She and a few other dancers were doing a move where they did a handstand behind their dance partners and then the boys grabbed their legs and flipped them over their shoulders and onto their feet in front of the boys. D had never done anything like this before and said it was so much fun! But once they had their costumes on, the director said it didn't work so he cut it. Too bad......Then yesterday they had their sitzprobe (where the cast mostly just sings through the show with the orchestra). She said the orchestra is HUGE and sounds fabulous. She's also chuckling because while she is a light brunette, her wig for the show is strawberry blonde! One interesting backstage factoid: she has five costume changes for this show and there are, of course, people backstage to help with these. But she says that she guesses because of some union rule or other, there are Wig people and there are Costume people and the Wig people can't touch the costumes and the Costume people are not allowed to help with the wigs!! What a trip......</p>
<p>Again, what I wouldn't do to be a fly on the wall and watch all of this unfold. Thanks for giving me a place and friends with like interests to share this summerstock esoterica........At this point it's all so new and exciting. I hope my D can always feel like I know she's feeling today.</p>
<p>PS For other ex-ballet intensive Moms like me, don't miss Great Performances on your local PBS station tonight - Kevin McKenzie/ABT's latest version of Swan Lake taped at the Kennedy Center in February with Gillian Murphy, Angel Corella and Marcelo Gomes - 9:00pm here in the East.</p>
<p>Theatremom,
Hey you! Thanks for sharing your opening night news. I could almost feel the excitement your D is experiencing through your words! I felt inspired to pass along some additional adrenalin and opening week craziness that my D shared. The shows at Utah Shakes go up this week ( previews begin Wednesday ) and there have been the usual assortment of mishaps and last minute changes. She reported that during photo call it was determined that Juliet's wig was too large and that her mustard - yellow dress wasn't "virginal" looking enough! So last minute wig and costume changes are in the works. The character shoes that the girls wear for The Greenshow ( the pre-show that precedes each evening performance ) were mistakenly rubberized on the bottom - totally inappropriate for dancing on the carpeted outdoor stage. They aren't sure the shoes will be ready for opening night but luckily the girls all have brought their own - even though they don't match in style and color! The Greenshow girls were used for a TV spot this week to promote the festival. D said they sang a song and danced behind the festival producer as he spoke. She will also be in the ensemble of Camelot which she describes as exquisitely beautiful and lush, with six costume changes just for the ensemble. I agree that it is difficult not to be there to share in the excitement of opening night. We'll have to wait until mid-July when we plan to stay 10 days, see all 6 of the shows, and enjoy the outdoor adventure opportunities available in southern Utah.
We are all anxious to hear your review of the performance at MUNY when you return! Thanks also for sharing the info about the PBS special tonight. I'll be tuned in.</p>
<p>Theatermom & monkey - You MUST report in after their openings! What a very exciting time for you! I can feel the excitement in your posts. </p>
<p>I know what you mean, theatermom, about wig people not touching costumes and vice versa. In the film industry, a sound man cannot touch a camera, a cameraman cannot boom, etc. Union rules. Interesting to hear it is the same way on the stage. Please continue to report on your D's experiences. We can all live vicariously through you!</p>
<p>Wow BwayMom! I think I saw you D. as well. I went to see Annie in 1997. (I was 7)The girl that was playing Annie that night was I think a standby. I forget the girls name but mabye it will come to me.If your D. was in it then, as an orphan I def. saw her. Also if you guys were on the national tour of annie, the girl that played Kate (Melissa) goes to my school.</p>