Thursday, September 11, 2008

More Linear Narrative, Anyway

Yes, she's a little sick of herself, but she's also a slave to Story. And here's one!

The Children's Theater is the Mother Ship -- not just locally, but this boat trails national stature. And all the little theater creatures the Matron knows, these talented and determined children (including hers) want in! They want to go aboard.

"Take me home! Take me home!" Think ET. Only less adorable.

You see, they're not normal, these children. They are aliens among us, more comfortable onstage than off. Most children watch The Sound of Music for the first time, enjoy the show, and move on with their lives. Scarlett promptly changed her name to Louisa and never looked back.

The competition for The Children's Theater is steamy and dark-- and some of the parents? Not all of them live on this planet (or deserve to). the matron still gets weepy if she revisits that scene

Scarlett has clawed at this impenetrable bastion three times, the third and latest on Saturday, when she was one of the last two Ramona the Pests standing at the three hour callback (thank you, Stage Father, for that one).

Of course, when the Matron picked up her child at school for the initial Thursday audition, Scarlett was all: "Do I have to?"

Matron: "Of course not. We can just go home. It's totally up to you."

Scarlett: "I don't know. I want to watch Malcolm in the Middle. What should I do?"

Matron: "This is totally up to you. I can't decide. We can be in front of the TV in 15 minutes or on the road to The Children's Theater."

Scarlett: "If we get in the car and go, like two minutes, and I change my mind, can we turn around and go home? I almost called you at lunch time to say I wasn't interested."

Matron: "Yes! But if we go more than two minutes, we're committed. I'm not driving to Minneapolis and turning around."

Scarlett: "Okay."

There were several "are you okay, do you want to keep goings" in the van, all of which were met with "uh-huh" from Scarlett, who was engrossed in - guess what book! Beezus and Ramona! While singing totally inappropriate songs about sex from Rent.

When they crossed that border into the real city, the Matron said, "We're in Minneapolis."

Scarlett: "Fine. I'll go, then."

She had the 3rd audition spot out of hundreds and was in and out, zip quick, within one hour. Yes, that's zip quick in some worlds.

Saturday, she had a three hour callback, during which Scarlett and her main competitor did many readings with many other potential cast members, sort of to get all the angles. Sometime during this process, she decided she wanted this role.

When the Matron tucked her in that night, Scarlett said: "Mama! Wouldn't it be GREAT to be Ramona Quimby in a show called Ramona Quimby? And at The Children's Theater! I hope I get it!"

Monday night, when the Matron picked up Scarlett from Sound of Music rehearsals, the first thing out of that child's mouth: "Did they call yet?"

She knew who. Alas, there was no happy phone call on Monday. It has been the Matron's considerable experience that good news is nearly immediate.

But Tuesday night at 8:30 pm, Scarlett boarded that Mother Ship. Yes! The Children's Theater called and Scarlett is Ramona Quimby IN Ramona Quimby, this spring.

And Stage Mother has been handed endless blog fodder. Thanks, Ramona!

But Stage Mother admits to wobbling a bit on her high heels -- she's just dazed by the family schedule ahead!

18 comments:

Anonymous said...

Do you need a personal assistant? I mean, just for y'know, calls and stuff? Keeping your calendar straight?

If you don't - I bow down to you.

If you do - do you want one in Michigan?

Inside the Philosophy Factory said...

YEA!!!!! Now I have a good excuse to go see the show... as I have no children to take to the theater :).

Jenn @ Juggling Life said...

Wow and Congrats!

Becky said...

Wow! I love hearing about S's acting. She has got guts! Congratulations to you guys.

Also, my daughter loves Ramona and would be sooo jealous!

Lynda said...

You've got an incredible kid there. And don't get sick of yourself - you have a fantastic fan base that thinks these posts are fabulous, you know :-)

Julie said...

That's wonderful! I'm just impressed that Scarlett can keep all these roles going simultaneously. I can't read and watch TV at the same time.

smalltownme said...

You have the busiest child EVER. Does she have her own fan club yet?

Anonymous said...

Congratulations! And I think it's so cool that you let her make decisions like that. I can't imagine myself saying "sure, let's go home and watch TV," but doing that very thing, giving her that choice, is probably the very thing that keeps her going.

Anonymous said...

Way to go Scarlett!!!

Daisy said...

Wow!

JCK said...

That's really fantastic! Scarlett must be very talented. Minneapolis is such a great theater town!

Nora said...

Yippee!!!!! A theater star, right in my own backyard (sort of)

Kimberly said...

Congrats! I wish I lived closer, I'd love to see her perform sometime. Guess I'll have to just wait until she makes her Broadway debut. :-)

Anonymous said...

You are a saint to chauffeur her the way you do. Truly.
And lucky girl--I adored everything Beverly Cleary wrote and Ramona was my favorite.

Irene said...

Hi, I'm lurking again. At a loss for the proper words to say. Congratulations, I guess?

Jocelyn said...

Crikey.

I think I may have to get tickets.

All due to you and your'n.

Congrats!

Becky Brown said...

I am constantly in awe of your attitude about Scarlett the Starlet and her acting gigs. You are a graceful woman and a great mom.

However ... I do harbor secret fantasies that our dear matron lives a secret life as a horrific stage mother with big hair and an even bigger ego. Just because it's funny.

Congrats to Scarlett!

Sandie said...

Yea for your daughter! I'm not sure how I had found your blog in the first place, but now I just may have to suck it up and buy those tickets for Ramona Quimbey.. I almost sorta kind of know the star:)

Planning to see Madeline this weekend, actually!