I’m verklempt, on so many levels. If you don’t want to read mushy fb sh!t, scroll on by, I’m good.

First, I’m so proud of my girl. This was her first stage show and she loved it! She had to audition on her first day of the 3 week camp: sing, do a little choreography/dance and read lines. She was called back to read for a few more lead female characters and she got Pepper, the orphan with a little attitude. That first week was hard for her and she announced her desire to act, but not sing or dance (and definitely not all at the same time). By the end of dress rehearsal, she couldn’t wait to go back out on stage and do it again! Her confidence is soaring and I’m thrilled.

Second, I can’t get enough of my husband. While he’s been a regular in theater: doing his own shows as a young adult, producing his own show in his 20s, etc. he’s also been at each of his son’s shows for the last 8-10 years. But never in the front row. He never got to volunteer with the theater as an usher, etc. He never got to embrace his tired but wired actor son after his show and hang out to meet other parents of the actors.

He sat in the back of the theater, away from his ex and her family, away from their stares and glares, away from their distinctive room-echoing laugh. After each show he’d wait in the lobby, away from his son’s mother and family, knowing he’d get a hello from his son but also knowing it would be awkward for both, as he knew his son knew that he couldn’t show happiness or appreciation for his dad in the presence of his mother and her family. After a curt hello and quiet thank you, his son would move onto his mother and her family, who would loudly embrace him and express joy, knowing he could accept it openly. Meanwhile, my husband, his father, would ‘duck out’ and away from the theater, his feelings of pride in his son, tempered by an icky feeling of dismissal and non-existence.

But this weekend he got to sit anywhere he wanted in the theater. He wasn’t avoiding anyone else’s glares or stares. He could acknowledge that yes!  he was one of the actor’s parents, he could roam freely into, and out of, the theater, and afterwards, he could wait to catch his daughter as the actors filed out from backstage area, embracing her with pride. He waited 10 years for this. For as long as she wants to continue theater, I hope my husband  can continue to heal his broken theater heart.

Finally, my heart. My family and friends were with us and for children’s theater, which highlights kids’ confidence, stage presence and willingness to push past fears, it’s also not high on all-around talent, especially at this age (7-10 yo). But here they were, my friends and family filling half of two rows, cheering her on, playing with her afterwards, connecting two parts of her life: long-time friends/like-family and her love and talent for drama. My heart overflows with love and appreciation for each of them, it was a very proud family affair.