Stepping up: play's the thing!

This week I have seen some magical moments: yesterday our Amazon queen, who came off as pretty skeptical of all this acting silliness at first, asked if the group could rehearse at recess. Of course we said yes! (Always say yes, is our theater motto.) She rounded up her cast and we ran the play after lunch. Bravo! This morning we heard that our beloved Emperor had broken her ankle—right away, we found a willing understudy for this role, and another for the role that actor vacated: these two started learning lines, and did a great job in rehearsal, with everyone helping. Today we heard some quiet voices, finally emerging from shy actors' (male and female) mouths. The ACTion is getting bigger, and everyone seems to be having fun. In the first week of this program, I was so nervous: would we be able to interest the kids? Would we get plays? Would we actually produce them, with words, music, costumes, props and puppets—all that?? By now I know that Friday night we will have four dazzling performances, each the product of a group of young people and adults working together—a true collaboration. This is the joy and magic of theatre, and this is why I love this work! (which is also play—funny, isn't it…?)