Matilda

Professionalism can be defined as a skill or behavior that goes above what an ordinary person would do.  It seems odd to use the word professionalism when talking about your ten year old daughter, but there isn't a better way to describe the level of commitment required for musical theatre with Audience of One.  The commitment also extends to the parents...basically the whole family...but Craig and I believe the lessons Charley is learning will carry her throughout life, so we do everything we can to get her where she needs to be.  For Matilda, she rehearsed over 130 hours between October and the first show in December, and that does not include any of the work outside of the theatre.  Her professionalism truly blows me away.  You can't spend that many hours at rehearsals without missing out on lots of other things, but it has never bothered her, and the end result is always so worth it.

Matilda was phenomenal and just another example that hard work pays off in the long run.  I didn't really know much about the show until opening night, but it was hysterical...totally out there and pretty whacko, but so dang funny.  It was also filled with sweet parts that made me extra thankful for the funny parts.  My eyes got teary every time they performed "When I Grow Up."  That song basically mirrors the season we are in with Charley.  She longs to be older, and no matter how hard I try, she doesn't believe me when I tell her not to rush it.  It seems like it was yesterday she was on that stage for the first time as a little orphan in Annie, but somehow it has been four years and eight more shows.  Charley is destined to be a star, and I cannot wait to see her shine on stage again...as long as she doesn't grow up too quickly, because I'm not ready for that. 

I will be tall enough to reach the branches
That I need to reach to climb the trees
You get to climb when you're grown up

And when I grow up
I will be smart enough to answer all the questions
That you need to know the answers to
Before you're grown up

And when I grow up
I will eat sweets every day on the way to work
And I will go to bed late every night
And I will wake up when the sun comes up
And I will watch cartoons until my eyes go square
And I won't care 'cos I'll be all grown up

When I grow up (when I grow up) (when I grow up)
I will be strong enough to carry all the heavy things
You have to haul around with you
When you're a grown up
And when I grow up (when I grow up) (when I grow up)
I will be brave enough to fight the creatures that you have to fight
Beneath the bed each night
To be a grown up

And when I grow up (when I grow up)
I will have treats every day
And I'Il play with things that mum pretends that mum's don't think I'll like
And I will wake up when the sun comes up
And I will spend all day just lying in the sun
And I won't burn 'cos I'll be all grown up