The Greatest Show on Earth

Jefferson auditioned for and was cast in his school’s performance of The Little Mermaid Jr. For 3 months we ate, drank, and slept the music and lines of the show. Literally! I actually still hear the tunes ringing in my head. Of 2nd through 5th graders, he was the only 3rd grader cast as a main character (proud Mommy moment). He played the role of Scuttle. This little bird is my favorite and not because he’s my son (although that helps). 
He had quite a few lines to memorize, and even a solo song. Yes, a song!
It was a small school play, but I may have blown up this production and talked-it-up into the greatest performance ever, which resulted in my mom flying 3,000 miles to come see it. I don’t think she regretted it though. It truly was awesome!

First of all, the costumes were AMAZING! The mother of Jefferson’s chorus teacher single-handedly sewed 120 costumes for each chorus member. And these were phenomenal, custom-made costumes. Even now when I look at the pictures I cannot believe she did this. It takes me forever just to make 4 Halloween costumes. I can’t wrap my mind around making 120. And she didn’t have any patterns. She is my hero, someday I want to be her…. but paid (yes, she did all this work for FREE!) Sebastian and the Mer-sisters….

Secondly, the set was equally awesome! There were some very talented parents who made the set, including Jefferson’s telescope (which he got to keep).
That draping fabric is what took up my dining room floor for a week!

And there are some really talented kids in this elementary school! I was impressed. Ariel’s voice was unbelievable for a 4th grader! I think all children have the potential for great talent, but that it takes the right environment to encourage it. I feel so blessed to have my son in a school where this is a value.

Okay, okay, on with the show……

Here are a couple pictures of Jefferson before the show. His smile is really cheesy, but I think he was pretty embarrassed. It’s funny to me that he can feel totally comfortable on stage in front of 500 people, but mortified to take a picture with his parents. Should I take this personal?
  

Shawn and I went to both nights of the performance. They had the entire auditorium decorated in fish, the ceiling had lights that looked like waves, and in the background was playing ocean sounds…. making us feel like we were under water. It was cute!
  

The 30 minutes before the show started, I was the most nervous I have ever been… ever, as in ever in my entire life! I was more nervous than when I’ve had to speak in public, and that is some serious nervousness. I knew Jefferson had his lines memorized forwards and backwards, but I just couldn’t relax. I calmed down a little after he said his first line and I realized how comfortable he is on stage…. he loves it up there.

“Mermaid off the port bow! Ariel, how ya doing kid?….”

“Wow, this is special, this is very very unusual….”

  “Sure thing kid, and I ain’t just blowin’ smoke…”

Here is a video of his song. It’s obviously not in the Disney movie, but it’s a darling song, and it should be. We had moves practiced, but for some reason he just seemed to walk around during the song. Silly boy!
I thought I may have beaten a world record for “holding breath” because I didn’t breath during this entire 2 minute song. I googled it, sadly I wasn’t anywhere close to the current 22 minute record.

I bet you held your breath a little too! You did, didn’t you?

Some more pictures of the show….

At times in the play the entire chorus would come out and sing….

Jefferson with his biggest fans!

I meant a lot to have his Nana here! 

My little Scuttle

Can you tell I’m a tad proud of this boy? I just love him to death!
Jefferson, you shined on that stage. You were “…fantabulous, absolutely indispensary…”!!