The month of March has been predictably busy for the Wheelers. Regrettably it hasn't included much skiing due to the unseasonably warm weather, but we are surviving. Mostly I'm just concerned about the lack of water for our reservoirs and the Great Salt Lake. It could be a miserably hot and dry summer.
So what made March so busy? For Annika, it could all be summed up in one word: Moana.
Every year Hillside Middle puts on an epic musical. This year 243 students participated, nearly one half of the student population. For months, they practiced three days a week (4 days for the dancers). As dress rehearsals began, rehearsals became even more frequent, lasting until seven or even eight PM.
All this for one performance, you ask? Why no. There are TEN performances spanning nine days. It's incredible.
Incredible good or incredible bad? I admit, at first I wasn't sure. I thought it would be too much. Too much time, too much commitment, too much spectacle. After all, this is middle school theater. Why should I be setting multiple alarms to remind me to purchase tickets before they all sell out? It's not The Eras Tour.
Indeed, it was a lot. And for some students it might be too much. But for Annika, it was incredible in a positive sense. Annika doesn't have a lot of other extracurriculars competing with her time so the musical provided structure, fun, purpose and friendship. I was impressed by how well the director incorporated the ensemble throughout the entire show, with ensemble members singing, dancing and acting in the aisles the whole way through. Even though she never said a line, Annika felt like she was an important part of the show. Indeed, she and all 200 other ensemble members really did make the show sparkle. As their voices rang out in surround sound from every corner of the theater, I couldn't hold back the tears. It was truly moving. I marveled at how far we've come since last year when Annika couldn't perform at Wasatch because she was waiting for a heart.
This time Annika is in a black and white dress and yellow lei, fifth from the left in the front row. As you can see, the cast was huge. It took a huge amount of courage for me to let Annika participate knowing that there was a measles outbreak in the community, including at their feeder high school. Scary as it was, I'm glad we took the risk.
Here are some photos of the leads. They truly did an outstanding job! I love that Maui's hair is naturally perfect.
Also, Tomatoa was a riot.
Here's our girl! Too bad she had already changed out of her costume. Actually, I should probably say costumes. The entire ensemble had multiple wardrobe changes for their various roles--villager, chief ancestor, ocean, kakamora and even lava. Like I said, they were integral to the show the whole way through.
Our family was wonderful and came to support Annika en masse. Both sets of grandparents, the Wilhoits, and the Millcreek Wheelers were all there to cheer her on.
Plus, Brooklyn and Talia came up from Provo to support their sister. Yay for family!
As for myself, I volunteered three times and attended the show four times. Let's just say that I know the show really well. The real kudos go to the director and teachers and parents who invested hundreds of hours making this special production happen. I'm amazed by their commitment and ever so grateful for their efforts. Mr. Nate, thank you! (To which Maui responds, You're Welcome.)
Well done, Annika! We look forward to cheering for you again next year.
****
Hey, I just discovered that a professional photographer took pictures of Moana Jr. All copyright belongs to them, but since the photos were shared with the entire cast and their families, I imagine they can be shared here as well. Enjoy!
Many thanks to the photographer who captured these brilliant moments. Hillside Middle, fantastic job! I'll set as many alarms as needed to make sure that I get tickets for next year.
***
Very final addendum.
This is the thank you note that I just sent the director, Mr. Nate. I thought I would include it here.
Mr. Nate,
I know this message is arriving late, but it's taken me some time to process the experience of Moana Jr. As a brand-new parent to Hillside, I felt pretty overwhelmed when I learned about the degree of commitment required to participate in the school musical. The number of performances and mad rush to purchase tickets seemed crazy, to say the least. I worried about the size of the cast and wondered if our daughter's participation in the ensemble would feel meaningful. I didn't know if she would be able to keep up in school with all the rehearsals, or if she would get too stressed out and give up.
From the perspective of having experienced a Hillside Musical, both as a parent and as a volunteer, I feel like I finally get it. I have so much appreciation for all the work that goes into making this remarkable experience happen. There is so much care and time given to so many details--costumes, concessions, the silent auction, meals, photography, set design, choreography, music, blocking, etc., etc. But while phenomenally impressive, what helped me fall in love with Hillside's musical is that the show was about so much more than spectacle.
Even with an impossibly large cast, you managed to incorporate the ensemble in meaningful ways from beginning to end. Whether ceremoniously dancing as an ancestor or free-styling as a kakamora, each person in the production was engaged for the entire show. Watching them dart in and out of dressing rooms, you could tell that every student understood the value and importance of their role.
I love how through example, you taught the importance of honoring and respecting the Polynesian cultures represented. This is ever-so-important in our current time where respect for diversity and inclusion are being diminished. Through this show, I believe you were able to show how much we should cherish and honor the unique heritage and differences of both ourselves and others.
My favorite part of the show came right at the beginning when all the fans came down and the auditorium filled with color and beautiful voices. Each time I experienced it, I wept.
You see, for our family this show represented our own challenging journey to restore a heart. Last year our daughter Annika was unable to participate in her sixth grade musical. Just a couple weeks before the show, her doctors told her that she needed to wait inpatient for a transplant. In fifth grade she nearly missed the musical as well when her heart stopped and she collapsed in the snow just hours before the performance. (Ironically, she was cast as a ghost...)
In light of these events, it's no wonder that I got nervous as the show approached this year. Given our daughter's immunocompromised state, we thought about pulling her out when measles broke out at Highland High. Even though it was risky, I'm glad we didn't. For Annika, the show brought so much confidence and joy. Just as Moana ventured out to explore world's unknown, Annika discovered new forms of self-expression, an ability to persevere through challenges, and friendship. And as for those grades, well, I think they were better than they would have been without participation in the musical to dangle as a carrot...
Mr. Nate, while Annika's story may be unique, I think it is also representative of all 240+ students who participated. Moana Jr. made a meaningful impact in all of their lives, and mine. Thank you to you and the enormous support of staff, teachers, admin and parents who made this remarkable production shine.
We are already looking forward to next year.
Gratefully,
Kara and Jason Wheeler
P.S. Mr. Nate's cookies may be the very best sugar cookie I've ever had. Do the talents never end?
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