GREASE .... !

Brianna is required, by contract, to put on a major production each year as a high school choir teach/director. Her concerts are usually just that when she gets them put together, but evidently that doesn't quite count. This year she and her students put on Grease, the musical. It was unbelievable!

Rob brought Arianna and Tati in their new poodle skirts and monogram tops. They were so cute, Arianna could twirl hers nicely.

The energy was so high through the whole performance that it left me tired (not sleepy!) by the end of it. That was the first night.

Sarah and the Maskeys went the second night and Mariah said that the one scene that did drag a bit (due to a costume change that took a little longer than expected) on the first night, was adlibbed really well and gave them all some good giggles. The guys stood up there and were "probably just being themselves" but it added to the whole and kept up the pace. Gabriel and Garrett sat glued to the stage the whole time, so the grownups were able to sit back and enjoy it.
Jon, Sarah and I went the last night, and ah-hem .... I guess it is "understood" that anything goes the last night. There was kind of a forced quality the the timing on lines and it seemed kind of stiff. I couldn't figure it out until Sarah leaned over and warned me about "last night ... ". The kids finally got more relaxed and then started to cut loose. Woooo! the "Greased Lightening" scene had so much orchestrated crotch grabbing going on that it took away from some of the athleticism (is that a word?) of their dancing that had taken place the first two nights. I was disappointed in that. By the way, Grease Lightening was a duded up go cart with a roll bar. Really cute and funny!

The drive-in scene had a black & white movie up on the screen that was made by some of the students that was hysterical, even Jon was chuckling, which he seldom does at such things. the only other obviously added feature to the last night was at the end of the "'teen angel" scene. The "teen angel" is singing the last of his wonderful crooning song, going up the steps, the girls who were his angel back ground singers and dancers were fading up the steps with him and then .. it hits! Several guys (BIG, of course) dressed up as angels come dancing out on the stage and the "fallen one" tumbles down into the pit. So funny! Jon really liked that part, go figure. I was glad that the pit was big enough I didn't have to worry about the big lumox landing on Brianna's lap!

(Brianna's director's chair or the throne according to her kids)

One of the highlights was at the end of each night was when Brianna and the other directors came out for their bows. Everyone else was on the stage parted to make a path for them. The kids on stage were clapping and cheering as loudly as the audience. It was so fun seeing her run out there, knowing how well she had done, but mostly her happiness and pride (righteous) for her kids. They did have plenty to be proud of. On the first night, Rob looked over at me and couldn't believe that I was getting choked up. I couldn't explain to him how full your heart can be when you have watched someone work so hard for something and achieve it so well. No one but Brianna can fully know how hard she has worked on this while working on her master's degree, teaching school for several hours each day, be a wife and mother. The administration had been pretty rough on her the first year, but we all knew there was no way they could complain this time.

Now the prep for all of the Spring concerts is in full swing. I look forward to them. Like I said before, they are quite the productions themselves. Bri is has a cute sense of humor that adds to the performances. I have watched her many times bring out the best in the young people she works with and show them just what they can accomplish, a wonderful gift.