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My Teddy Bear was in a Broadway Musical!
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I had the honor of working behind the scenes last week at the Les Miserables musical at Raleigh's Memorial Auditorium. For months I have been working with students from Wake County schools as well as the professional staff that made the musical come to life. I got to know two of the professionals on the technical crew years ago when they were students. I'm pleased that they took the technical theater skills they learned in school and have turned it into a rewarding professional theater career. Bravo!
I was duly impressed by the caliber of performance produced by the Wake County kids. Not just the incredible singing voices and acting talent on stage, but the students in the orchestra, as well as those working the technical side of the theater backstage. In my humble opinion, it was a better performance than a traveling Broadway production. These kids were giving 150%, since many in the audience were their family and friends. And for most, this was their first time in a big-time musical on the big stage. What a story that will make with their grandchildren -- First time on a big stage, and getting to work closely with Broadway star Terrence Mann. Wow!
It was while backstage that I ran into my teddy bear. He explained that he had been asked to be a prop for the musical. He was little Cossette's bear, someone to keep her company while she was on stage. I noticed a few other familiar items on the prop table besides my teddy bear. There was the gavel that I used as president of my college fraternity, which was now being used by the judges to condemn the wrong man. And there was a silver platter that I remember from dinner parties my mother held many years ago. I'll have to keep the Thenardiers away from that! You know you're in a theater family when your personal stuff spends more time on the stage than in your house. But it's worth it!
My teddy bear enjoyed his big break into Broadway (Broadway South, that is), and he's looking forward to his next big production. He really enjoyed working with the kids, who would stop by the prop table every now and then to have a chat. He is after all, more than twice the age of any other cast member, but working with the kids made him feel young again. He remarked at how everything became so real on stage. The actors took their lines to heart and made the audience truly think that they were in Paris in the early 1800s, living a miserable life, and putting all hope in a revolution. Through all of that miserable despair, it's love that kept people going, marching on to their reward in heaven.
Sure I cried during Valjean's prayer at the barricade, but I'm sure the parents in the audience would agree that the most heartwarming scene came when their own child came on stage, which I can relate to, because my teddy bear was in a Broadway musical last week, and I'm very proud.
Chris
For more information about this musical experience, as well as some great pictures, go to www.wcpss.net/school_to_career/lesmiz
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Posted by Chris Droessler at 9:24 AM on October 1, 2007 | Leave Feedback
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