Avery the unexpected dancer When we moved from Maryland to Utah 15 years ago in 2009, we still had children living at home. We wanted to find a house close to other family members to be able to join in family events and just enjoy their company. Suddenly I could walk the few blocks to my sister's house any time, and also be close enough to help take care of my ailing mother.
My husband immediately tore apart the house to start renovations. Three years later we were able to move into the newer sections. But even through the renovations, we used our back patio as a stage. The first show, "Never Cry Wolf," was actually mounted by our daughter Cami and her friend Miriam along with other youth in the ward and a few cousins. They did a second show the next summer, "A Successor to the Throne." Then the girls graduated from High School and went off to college.
I was quite busy with getting the house finished and singing in the Tabernacle Choir, but eventually I decided that I should continue doing Summer Theater Camps in the back yard. In 2012, I produced "Stone Soup" as a neighborhood summer camp show. (I needed a way to meet people in the neighborhood and my home ward.) From that show, I learned never to subject the poor kids to performing in the evening in the summer. It is much too HOT! Even then, I had help from my husband and sons, nieces, brothers, sisters, sisters-in-law, and their kids. So nice to have help from family.
My husband immediately tore apart the house to start renovations. Three years later we were able to move into the newer sections. But even through the renovations, we used our back patio as a stage. The first show, "Never Cry Wolf," was actually mounted by our daughter Cami and her friend Miriam along with other youth in the ward and a few cousins. They did a second show the next summer, "A Successor to the Throne." Then the girls graduated from High School and went off to college.
I was quite busy with getting the house finished and singing in the Tabernacle Choir, but eventually I decided that I should continue doing Summer Theater Camps in the back yard. In 2012, I produced "Stone Soup" as a neighborhood summer camp show. (I needed a way to meet people in the neighborhood and my home ward.) From that show, I learned never to subject the poor kids to performing in the evening in the summer. It is much too HOT! Even then, I had help from my husband and sons, nieces, brothers, sisters, sisters-in-law, and their kids. So nice to have help from family.
Mice from "The Country Mouse and the City Mouse" 2020 In 2013, a friend of mine recommended that I direct shows at an Elementary School nearby. For five more years I wrote and directed shows for Provost Elementary during the school year, then did them again for the neighborhood Summer Camp. (Five new shows) And through all those years, I got plenty of help from my family. In fact, by then some of my grandchildren were getting old enough to be in the shows. And my daughters and daughters-in-law took turns helping me in big ways! I even produced "Momotaro" at one of their schools and my niece Rachel directed one of my shows at her children's school, "Never Cry Wolf."
My daughter Cami, who grew up doing theater from a very early age, started her teaching career, and even produced some of my shows where she was teaching. The costumes and props that I have used and reused over the years have really seen some adventures.
My daughter Cami, who grew up doing theater from a very early age, started her teaching career, and even produced some of my shows where she was teaching. The costumes and props that I have used and reused over the years have really seen some adventures.
2020 Cousins Camp Cast Photo During the 2020 COVID year, I had to cancel my neighborhood summer camp. So instead, my 20+ grandchildren indulged me by doing one of my shows for our Family Reunion. I was so happy to have so many of my own grandchildren in a show together, even though it was put together so quickly ---- in only 3 hours! "The Country Mouse and the City Mouse." Talk about everybody helping...
Everybody circle to the left...
Now, this summer, a younger generation of my grandchildren were in the summer camp show who were too young four years ago. In the 2024 camp "The Frog Prince," seven of my 26 grandchildren were involved, plus three teenagers who recorded the vocal tracks, and an adult granddaughter who taught the music. Two daughters helped direct, and a son-in-law agreed to be our Dragon. My sisters also helped, plus my sister's two granddaughters were in it and her daughter-in-law helped backstage. It was truly a family affair. Not to even mention how my brother-in-law and nephew took charge of striking the set and putting the big stuff away.
I started writing shows when my two youngest children were starting in theater. I couldn't find material that suited the goals of the children's theater company I was working for. So I just wrote one. You might say that I started writing the shows because of my family. Now, seventeen Children's Musicals later, I'm just happy that so many of my own children, grandchildren, nieces, nephews and so forth, have been able to be involved over the years.
I have loved this Family Affair!
I started writing shows when my two youngest children were starting in theater. I couldn't find material that suited the goals of the children's theater company I was working for. So I just wrote one. You might say that I started writing the shows because of my family. Now, seventeen Children's Musicals later, I'm just happy that so many of my own children, grandchildren, nieces, nephews and so forth, have been able to be involved over the years.
I have loved this Family Affair!
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