The Empress Bride!

Last Summer, we discovered the most fantastic summer activity for our little Drama Queen:  Harmony Music Camp!  Daphne's BFF Allison told us about it, and last year they got to be Sea Monsters! 

After last year’s production of Pirates of the Carob Bean, Daphne was excited to start music camp again this  Summer.  We almost talked Isaac into participating as well, but he wasn’t interested in going without a friend.  I cannot speak highly enough of this Music Camp and the director!  I seen tremendous growth in Daphne’s confidence with performance and singing in general.   Recently, we were fumbling around the house together and were singing A Child’s Prayer.  After singing it through once, Daphne asked if she could sing it with me in Sacrament Meeting!!    Ummm… yes,please!  Singing with her was one of the sweetest experiences in my life as a Mom!  And I have to be honest, she is AWESOME!  Her pitch and tone are so honey sweet and I love, love, love to hear her sing.  When I took her to the audition for Music Camp this year, I listened to lots of other kids give it a try and have some issues with notes, pitch, volume, whatever.  My heart was thudding as I watched Daphne walk up to sing her little song for the director (in front of all the other 120 children, I might add).  And you know what?  She NAILED it!  And even better than that?  She looked at me with the biggest grin, like, “I did it!”My heart almost burst with pride.  There is something so magnificent at watching your child FEEL successful!  Not necessarily even being better than the others, but doing their very best and conquering their nerves.  Such a joy.  I didn’t know how great it would be.  I know her gifts are from God… but I’m sure proud to be her Mom!  Ridiculously enough, I’m crying as I type this.  (That may have something to do with the fact that I haven’t seen my children in 7 days.)  This year, the show was called, "The Empress Bride".  The director is rather clever; it's  a parody of The Princess Bride with a little bit of Star Wars thrown in.  All the elementary aged girls were cast in the Chorus as Cleopatra's Classy Slave Girls!And you know what?  She got a solo! 

 

Believe it or not, I did her hair and make-up myself. It's possible that we went a little overboard with the jewelry and make-up, but it was so fun!  I think she looks adorable!  Her hairstyle was perfect!  At least, that's how I felt the first night we did it.  It took about 45 minutes.  I braided the top layer in tiny braids "a la  Liz Taylor's Cleopatra", but of course, she didn't have crazy weird bangs.  Or black hair. Then I flat ironed the bottom layer to make the braids more prominent. For performance number two I was still rather smitten with my clever hairstyle.  Days three and four, I was starting to wonder who had the idea to do such an elaborate do anyway?

Look at that gorgeous stage smile!

Here she is getting ready to do her solo:

During part of the show they are supposed to hide underneath the stairs.  Daphne is supposed to be the last on in so that she can come out first for her part.  This girl was trying to go in last and Daphne was arguing with her and finally shoved her to get her to go in first! Ha!  Do you think she might be my daughter?

I love this one... the performances were late in the evening so as to avoid the hot sun.  Daph would get pretty tired by the end.  I'd look over occasionally and see her yawn or look droopy eyed.  If she saw us watching, she would flash her stage smile really big and turn it all on again!  Made me laugh every time.

Anyhoo, she was a doll!  We went every single night and screamed like giant fools and tried not to cry.  (well, I’m the only one who was in danger of crying)  I’m such a drama queen!  

Until next year, Music Camp!