wizards

Via is a student at the elementary school where I teach theater. It is a year 'round school with an arts focus. It's a very cool school. Every July, we present an all school musical. Every kid in school is on stage (except for the seven or so 6th graders who are working tech and the handful of kids who are running sets). We are an arts school, but we have no permanent performing arts space. That means that every summer after the Fourth of July, we set up a giant circus-sized tent, assemble a stage and build all of the sets. We set up rows and rows and rows and rows of folding chairs. The kids have rehearsed for 6 weeks or so. It is an original show every year. We double cast all of the leads so more kids get a chance to shine in the spot light. All of the performances are free to the public - and at the 7 o'clock show we seat approx. 1300 people. It's crazy and wonderful and a little frightening all at the same time.
This blurry photo is a pic of Via as a "Wallstreet Wizard." She is singing and dancing and obviously having the time of her life. It's blurry because there was a mad crush of parents to take photos of their kids, and Rick risked life and limb to get this out of focus shot. We love it all the same because it sort of captures the whole rehearsal/performance process for me.