Broadway in our own Backyard!

As I was taking care of some last minute details during the sound check at our last ArtSpeak!, a young girl and her father approached me asking if this is where Laura Benanti  (Tony Award Winner) and Erin Weaver  (Helen Hayes Award Winner) would be performing that evening.  I told them yes and asked the girls name and age.  I'll call her Natalie, and she was 9 years old.  They were about an hour early, and the father explained that Natalie had asked to stay home from a planned overnight trip with friends, so she could come to ArtSpeak!  It seems that Natalie wants to be a performer some day and she wasn't going to miss two major theatre stars in an up-close and personal performance right in her own backyard!  I didn't want them waiting for an hour in the lobby, so I brought them into the sound check, and the private Q&A the host school gets with the stars before the event.  I watched Natalie throughout the evening and through every song, every question -  and she was mesmerized.  As they were waiting in line afterwards to meet the actresses I found them and asked Natalie about their experience.  Natalie’s eyes lit up when I asked about her favorite part of the evening– she first mentioned Laura Benanti’s original song on Ukulele and giggled (it was so funny an amazing!), but then she stopped and looked at me and said, “But you know what was even better – the part where Ms. Benanti said to find out what makes us special and concentrate on that!”  I was taken by surprise that such a young girl would retain this piece of advice.  Ms. Benanti continued after that stating”…the more interesting you are as a human being the better you are on stage and in life.”  Her father pulled me aside and asked me to thank the program presenters, stating his daughter had just told him that she realized she might not ever be a Broadway performer, but that she would find what made her special. If that meant performing – great, and if not, that was OK – because what ever made her special would also make her happy!  

This is why I love this program.  Not only are we able to see the highest caliber of performances in a laid back and casual setting, but we learn about, and from, the life experiences of these incredible performers.   The next ArtSpeak is Nov. 4th at Wheaton High School – details here  https://www.facebook.com/events/543851745683082/        Seriously – Don’t miss this!!!