Good thoughts needed! (and a little fashion advice too)

[Erin1700]

Tomorrow, my DD9 is going to try out for the play at her school. They are doing The Wizard of OZ. Her school is ONLY second and third graders. Aside from being in the American Girl fashion show (last yr and this coming weekend) she has never been in a play.

She will be singing "Part of your World" for the audition and has worked with a friend of mine to get some help with it. She actually sounds really good my friend said! (DD is a swimmer, not into music).

So, please send some good thoughts for the tryout tomorrow! And some advice on what she should wear esp because it is gym day!!!!!!!!! So she needs to wear a tshirt and sweats and sneakers! ugh! We just realized it and we had planned to have her wear a dress. Since this involves little kids, I really doubt that they will let them change for the auditions which are right after school. Does it matter what she wears??? Should I braid her hair like Dorothy even though she would just like a part, not necessarily trying for the main part! Or should I put a Disney princess tshirt on her to match her song?
Help gals!!!! I am new at this!!!

 

[Alesia]

I think you may be over-thinking it just a bit. Just send her in her regular school clothes.

 

[Erin1700]

I think you may be over-thinking it just a bit. Just send her in her regular school clothes.

Really? The 2nd graders had their tryouts yesterday and several showed up to school in costume. Boys too! Are you thinking the director will look at them and think their mothers are crazy, so I should not look like a crazy mom too? That is why I asked! I only know swimming!

 

[Magic Mom]

Tomorrow, my DD9 is going to try out for the play at her school. They are doing The Wizard of OZ. Her school is ONLY second and third graders. Aside from being in the American Girl fashion show (last yr and this coming weekend) she has never been in a play.

She will be singing "Part of your World" for the audition and has worked with a friend of mine to get some help with it. She actually sounds really good my friend said! (DD is a swimmer, not into music).

So, please send some good thoughts for the tryout tomorrow! And some advice on what she should wear esp because it is gym day!!!!!!!!! So she needs to wear a tshirt and sweats and sneakers! ugh! We just realized it and we had planned to have her wear a dress. Since this involves little kids, I really doubt that they will let them change for the auditions which are right after school. Does it matter what she wears??? Should I braid her hair like Dorothy even though she would just like a part, not necessarily trying for the main part! Or should I put a Disney princess tshirt on her to match her song?
Help gals!!!! I am new at this!!!

I really don't think a matching princess shirt or a braid will make any difference. Actually, I don't think they will even get the connection. Since the kids are young, the directors are probably looking more for kids that can follow directions, aren't too shy to speak loudly and sing, who don't act like maniacs and who don't have mothers that hover and intrude. Just relax and she will do fine.

 

[Erin1700]

Thanks!! She is prepared with they asked them to know and I planned to just send her to school with a kiss and maybe a note in her lunchbox or something. Then I heard about all these crazy moms dolling their kids all up and got scared!

 

[krcit]

I really don't think a matching princess shirt or a braid will make any difference. Actually, I don't think they will even get the connection. Since the kids are young, the directors are probably looking more for kids that can follow directions, aren't too shy to speak loudly and sing, who don't act like maniacs and who don't have mothers that hover and intrude. Just relax and she will do fine.

I agree with this.

 

[surfergirl602]

Just regular clothes will be fine. I'm surprised they are doing such a big play for a such a young age.

 

[pigletgirl]

GL to your little girl! Around here, many parents take the school plays/musicals very seriouly, regardless of age.

Let us know how she does!

 

[Pigeon]

I'm in the overthinking it crowd.

In the case of my kids' school, they don't put as much emphasis on the audition as you might expect. They know the kids by this point, and take that into consideration as much as the actual audition.

 

[SandrA9810]

Is there going to be any dancing involved? Because having PE clothes sounds like the best idea, so she has the ability to move. I know they're not going to be asking for crazy ballet moves and stuff, but jeans can be pretty limited.

If she has time, it might be better to send her with an extra shirt to throw on after the school day.

 

[NHdisneylover]

All of the experience I have had with being the mother of a young actor and (eventually) a director of children's shows was outside of school in community theatre and only in New Hampshire, so take everythign I say knowin it may not apply in the least little bit to your situation

1. Our casting watched the kids in the room before and during the auditions as much as we did the audition itself. Children who could not behave decently at the audition (some are just not mature enough for a production at young ages--this is not bad; it is simply not the right thing for a "real" show with paying audiences from the community). We also were EXTREMLY leery of casting kids with pushy parents and pretty never gave them roles that we felt were critical to a show. Kids in full costumes would absolutely single pushy mom who wants her kids to be the star. A very bad move if I have any say in casting.

2. So what to wear? Comfortable clothes that she is used to wearing and will not be worried about "messing up." I think a minor nod to the show (like braids) is nice and WILL get noticed by the casting team. Also, usually these shows are cast by a team of anywhere from 3-10 people. So, after auditions everyone will meet and discuss who should be cast and in what roles. Having someting simple and unique to describe a child and make him/her more memorable does help. For example, DS loves newsboy type hats (think Oliver!) and nearly always wears one. I am told long before he was known in our local theatre circuit he was "the boy in the Oliver cap" in many casting conversations. If you have some bright ribbons (red?) you can tie onto your DDs braids (do you think if you double knot them they will last all day and in gym) this would be a great identifier without screaming stage mom

Best of luck to your DD tomorrow.

 

[Erin1700]

All of the experience I have had with being the mother of a young actor and (eventually) a director of children's shows was outside of school in community theatre and only in New Hampshire, so take everythign I say knowin it may not apply in the least little bit to your situation

1. Our casting watched the kids in the room before and during the auditions as much as we did the audition itself. Children who could not behave decently at the audition (some are just not mature enough for a production at young ages--this is not bad; it is simply not the right thing for a "real" show with paying audiences from the community). We also were EXTREMLY leery of casting kids with pushy parents and pretty never gave them roles that we felt were critical to a show. Kids in full costumes would absolutely single pushy mom who wants her kids to be the star. A very bad move if I have any say in casting.

2. So what to wear? Comfortable clothes that she is used to wearing and will not be worried about "messing up." I think a minor nod to the show (like braids) is nice and WILL get noticed by the casting team. Also, usually these shows are cast by a team of anywhere from 3-10 people. So, after auditions everyone will meet and discuss who should be cast and in what roles. Having someting simple and unique to describe a child and make him/her more memorable does help. For example, DS loves newsboy type hats (think Oliver!) and nearly always wears one. I am told long before he was known in our local theatre circuit he was "the boy in the Oliver cap" in many casting conversations. If you have some bright ribbons (red?) you can tie onto your DDs braids (do you think if you double knot them they will last all day and in gym) this would be a great identifier without screaming stage mom

Best of luck to your DD tomorrow.

Thank you!!! I appreciate you taking the time to help me!! I will also remember to go over behavior when it is not her turn, etc. She should not have a problem with it, but never hurts to reinforce it!

 

[mumom95]

I really don't think a matching princess shirt or a braid will make any difference. Actually, I don't think they will even get the connection. Since the kids are young, the directors are probably looking more for kids that can follow directions, aren't too shy to speak loudly and sing, who don't act like maniacs and who don't have mothers that hover and intrude. Just relax and she will do fine.

ITA

My daughter is in the third grade play this year, The Lion King. Like MagicMom said they are looking for kids that will behave during rehearsal, follow directions, talk loud enough for people to hear, and don't seem to be so scared they are going to flee from the stage.

Relax and don't worry about what she's wearing. She'll be fine.

 

[Erin1700]

Small update...

There are 250 kids trying out for the show and only 70 spots. So, we are not getting our hopes up.
DD said the audtion went well. A lot of kids read off of the papers, she did not. There was only about 5 lines to learn.
She said her song was good, the director was dancing a little in her seat as she was performing. They asked her if she would be willing to sing "Somewhere over the Rainbow" in the show and she said yes. We figure they ask everybody.
On a postive note, after the auditions were over, the kids were all in the "pick up" line to go home and the director came over to her and said "Rachael, you did such a good job with your song! I am very impressed!"
Sooooo, we are hoping that she gets a part at least even if she is just a tree! We told her she did great just having the courage to perform when she really just spends her life at swim practice! It was good to try something new!
The kids will get a sealed note on Monday at the end of the day to bring home to see if you get a part. I feel badly for the teachers on Tuesday. I can only imagine these second and third graders will have a hard time if all their friends got parts and they didnt!
We have already been talking to DD about how to behave if she doesnt but with this age I can imagine some kids will cry!

 

[klacey1]

Ouch, that sealed note thing sounds a bit harsh, but honestly it's probably the best way to do it with kids that age. A posted list with parts would be waaaay too intense for children! I did plays/musicals all through school and it was always very intense. My mom was never a "helicopter" parent (I think she only went to 1-2 of my shows!), but some of the others were awful. I think you're doing a great job of striking the balance of supportive and distant! Keep us posted about how it turns out! Does she have a lot of friends who auditioned, too?

 

[OceanAnnie]

Erin, I hope your DD gets to be in the play. It's exciting to be part of the process isn't it? Nice that she got encouragement, I do hope it's a good sign!

 

[Erin1700]

Thanks guys!
I really think the note thing is going to be hard, but like you said, how else can you do it? I just imagine some second graders coming to school and realizing they might be the only one in their class that didnt get a part and start sobbing! I know I dont have to worry about my DD crying at school, but she prob will at home!
Yes, a lot of her friends tried out! It will be exciting to see how they do! She has a boy in her class that would be great at the scarecrow, lion and tinman! I cant wait to see what he got. Also, she said their is a narrator part and there is a boy who just moved here from India who she said would be super at that. I hope he gets a part, it would be a nice way for him to make some friends being as he is new to the school!