Best Cast Ever

A peek at some of the behind-the-scenes and after-show fun!

Delia knew going in that she was going to love this cast.  Over half of them were freshman, who she got to know while mentoring Elf last year.  This is famously a lovely, talented, enthusiastic, hilarious group of kids.  Delia loves that she got to share one year of Drama with this special bunch and feels good about the future of her beloved program in their hands.  Shrek, in fact, was played by a freshman and he was amazing!

These are the Senior Four.  All good friends of Delia-- BFF Kate playing Shrek's mom; longtime Drama buddy Dylan, absolutely killing it playing Donkey; and Bella, a girl who was new to our school last year, but who Delia immediately sought out and connected with because of Drama, brought Fiona to life with her huge personality and powerhouse voice.

They are each amazing leaders, bringing different strengths to the group and we expect our director will weep over them after the spring show. ;)

This show was a ginormous undertaking!  From the large cast to the green makeup to the elaborate costumes.  We parents were told at the beginning that it could not happen without us.  Not being a seamstress, hairdresser, or set-builder, I found my niche the way I normally do-- feeding the kids!  Long practices meant many dinners at school.  I was happy to run and get food and organize and make light suppers and hearty snacks to keep our actors fueled.  (Doing this job has the added perk of letting me get to hang out with this crew a bit too-- they are delightful and SO appreciative!)

They have such sweet prayer times!  When I feed them, I get a peek at practices as I clean up.  I know these kids are deeply bonded and it's for so much more than just sharing a stage.

The Performing Arts Center's lobby was decorated with these promo posters featuring each Fairy Tale Creature for Performance Weekend.  Here is Delia's.  Fun, huh?

Delia spent a lot of time writing each member of the cast and crew a heartfelt note calling out their strengths and encouraging them.  Such a Delia Thing to do!  

Some of the dearest friends she made (or already had) on the cast.  The Sunday after the show closed, her phone was blowing up with the 40 person group chat all sharing silly pictures, videos, and messages of love about what this experience meant to each of them.

A few of the non-cast friends who came to see it.

Long time mentor, Megan, always comes to show support!

Proud parents-- and not just of the great job Delia did performing, but of the strong leadership and character she shows her fellow, and younger, castmates throughout the whole process, something our Director shared and praised.

Mrs. M., guiding theses kids through another show they all feel super proud of, but also shepherding their souls as she points everything back to the Lord.

Something so fun that Mrs. M. had our Fairy Tale Creatures do was visit the elementary playgrounds during recess in costume and character!  Shrek is a show for kids, so they wanted to make sure kids knew they were invited!  It worked-- over half of Friday's afternoon audience was kids.  Delia said interacting with the children as the Ugly Duckling was one of her favorite parts of the experience.  She jumped rope with them at recess and signed programs after the show and explained why she was called "Ugly" when she didn't look ugly.  One little friend from church, Joelle, said she'd want to be Delia of all the people in the cast.

A fun double picture-- left taken on the first day of practice in August, right taken the day they came to strike the set and say goodbye after Performance Weekend.

Some goofy fun Delia and her fellow Duloc's cooked up backstage.  While in their creepy Conformity Costumes singing their synchronized song, they made up a "cry for help" horror story told just through whispers and terrified eyes!

A super fun cast party!

And a little taste of the silliness.  This was the day the giant dragon puppet arrived.

A sad, but accurate, testament to the closeness this cast shared this season: as soon as the show closed, a good chunk of them all got sick and spent the week at home, Delia included!  Not exactly unexpected.  Hopefully a weekend of rest and all these amazing kids will be back to 100%.