Becoming a Theater Parent

My 5th grade daughter is performing in her elementary school's production of "Beauty and The Beast" at the end of the month. I am tickled that she is playing a lead.

She was disappointed not to get cast as Mrs. Potts. I was disappointed she wasn't cast as Belle. However, she was cast as Madame de la Grande Bouche, the Wardrobe, which is almost better, because she gets to be funny.

I was a theaterphile in high school, and a theater major (at least in the beginning) in college. While I spent time working "backstage," my favorite place was on stage.

But I can't be on stage, for one of my favorite shows, this time, so I am working on costumes and makeup. I am the only one on the makeup team with any stage makeup experience, so I have been giving advice. Basic stage makeup isn't rocket science, so I really only have to give the occasional tip to the competent, creative women who are doing the bulk of the work.

I have also been acting primarily in an advisory capacity on the costume team, as well. The show has a costume budget of $0, so the head costumer is incredibly resourceful, creative, and often spends her own money. But, mostly, she is great at "repurposing," as interior designers like to say. Of course, anyone in theater will tell you -- they're the original repurposers.

One day I spent the entire costume session fitting shoes. Another I spent writing names on tape and sticking them to skirts as the 20 "Gastonettes" (ie "Silly Girls"). I did do most of the alterations on my daughter's dress, but that's only half her costume.

Today, at the costume marathon in preparation for next week's costume check and photo day, I split my time between helping kids find their costumes and helping the final touches team brainstorm enchanted objects costume pieces. It started when they hung out with the costumers seeking inspiration for how to wear the plates. We had just found the best way for the doggy footstool to wear the cushion (created by an upholsterer) which gave them the starting point. They quickly figured it out (foamcore is just the best invention for costumes, isn't it?), and moved on to the challenge of dancing forks and spoons. I brainstormed quite a bit with them (I was in favor of hats), but the return of another final touches team member diverted us to the Wardrobe.

I had been thinking about the best way for the costume to fit, especially in relation to movement. The final concept is beautiful -- and that's just with dry erase marker on the board. Ironically, my dancing daughter won't be showing her beautiful moves dresssed as a wardrobe. But, of course, her dance training will help her dance in spite of a cumbersome costume.

Once finished with that, they returned to the spoon and fork challenge while I went off to wrangle Gastonettes, and when I returned it was in time to help hold things steady for the prototype. By the time I left with my daughter, we also had the tablecloth figured out, and the salt and pepper shakers. The costumes had already been put together, so the final touches were simple.

As a member of makeup, I was also able to take photos of some of the actors in costume to help figure out hair styles.

And now I have nothing to do, except figure out my daughter's makeup, until Saturday. But there are plenty of people right now painting and sewing like crazy getting ready for Saturday.