News

By: Claire McNeill

Last week, I started a new blog series as a resource for new drama mamas (and dads). If your child has fallen in love with musical theatre and you’re not sure where to start, I’m here to help.

Be sure to read the first post so that you’re up to speed – click here to read the first installment.

Last time, I shared about supporting your child’s passion. Now, I want to encourage you to let your child’s passion become your passion. You don’t know much about theatre? That’s okay – you and your child can learn about it together!

I firmly believe than an artist needs to be inspired. That means that your child needs to be exposed to lots of different types of performing and literary arts. Your child needs to be seeing shows – and not just musical theatre. Find Shakespeare, dance concerts, local professionally produced productions, national tours, even Broadway shows televised in the movie theatre. Get lost on YouTube watching old recordings of past Tony Award performances. Listen to the Original Broadway Cast recordings of musicals you have never heard of. Go to your local music shop and peruse the sheet music. If your child thinks they love musical theatre, learning about all of these things will help them know if they would like to continue pursuing it. What a great excuse to spend time with your kid doing something fun!

Having these unique cultural experiences will not only inform your child as an actor, but make them a more well rounded person. Who can argue with that?

If you can afford it, save up your pennies to take your child to New York City. If you live in Dallas like I do, it is actually cheaper to (easily!) purchase half-price tickets in NYC than it is to go see the national tours that come through town a few years after the show has left Broadway. Some of my most treasured memories as a child were seeing shows on Broadway and the West End with my parents.

Following your child’s performances, show your enthusiasm. There’s nothing worse than feeling like your parent would rather be at home watching the big game than stuck at the theatre seeing your show. My students know when their parents don’t like theatre and it makes the experience less exciting for them. Do time steps make you tear up? Do monologues make you feel like a maniac? That’s okay…your secret is safe with me. I encourage you to try to see theatre through your child’s eyes and fall in love with it like they have. If nothing else, see that they have found a place where they can belong. Even the grumpiest theatre-goer can get behind that.

Shine students displaying their showmanship…and excitement for musical theatre.

By Claire McNeill

I’m excited to start a new blog series as a resource for my favorite kind of parents…drama mamas (and dads too, of course)!

I often have students who surprise their families with their love and talent for musical theatre. Many of their parents have no experience in the performing arts and would like to support their kiddos but have no clue which way to turn in order to guide them.

So…I’ll be writing a series of blog posts titled, “My kid wants to do Musical Theatre…now what?”

First, I’ll be addressing the number one question of this nature that I get from parents: “SHOULD I support my child’s dreams of pursuing musical theatre?“

So many parents are afraid of the perceived cut-throat nature of theatre. I think that many parents fear that their child “isn’t good enough” and that Broadway isn’t a realistic dream. Or maybe parents believe their child is good enough to “make it” but they are worried that their kid will end up living in a 300 square foot apartment in NYC with 6 roommates and waiting tables for their entire adult life. If you hold these fears, I want to encourage you to think beyond these possible preconceived notions and consider the benefits.

There are so many exciting professions in theatre: acting, producing, teaching, music directing, choreographing, writing, and of course, my favorite option – directing.

But let’s not put the cart before the horse. If your child is in elementary or middle school (and maybe even high school), who’s to say that your child is even going to want to pursue a career in theatre? What if I told you that theatre is a hobby that will allow your child to grow their confidence and self-worth; learn how to collaborate with a group; grow their leadership, public speaking, and responsibility skills; make friends; become more physically active; hone their critical thinking skills; raise their test scores; gain empathy through acting; learn how to read music; and develop cherished life-long memories? When you see those benefits on paper, it’s a no-brainer! In my opinion, the skills that are gained and the benefits of children’s and youth theatre are unparalleled to any other hobby.

But, forget about test scores and resumes and building skills for a minute. Here’s the short version of my answer: Does musical theatre bring your child joy? Do you see them come alive every time you pick them up from rehearsal? Have they discovered an untapped passion? Then, by all means, you should support your child in pursuing musical theatre! If your child is in a safe and wholesome atmosphere and falling asleep with a smile on their face every night when they leave the theatre, it’s a win. Maybe right now, let’s just let our kids be kids and not worry about what the New York casting agents are going to say quite yet.

Proud Shine students after a performance of Annie Jr.

Click here to purchase tickets for the 5:00 and 7:30 shows!

Click here to purchase tickets for the 2:00 show!