my opera costume

I am in a opera called the Elixir of Love. It is about a man, Nemerino, who falls in love with a woman, Adina. A salesman comes by and says"I have a elixir that will make the lady that you love, love you" but the potion is actually just wine. In the end Adina finds out that she loves Nemerino. It is a great opera. My costume is also pretty cool. I have a white blouse, an undershirt, an underskirt, a skirt, and an apron. I also have a itchy bandana tied onto my head which hurts my ears if the dresser ties it too tight.

The Nutcracker

I am in the Washington Ballet's production of The Nutcracker for my third year in a row. This year I am a party boy and Ben Franklin.

In the party scene I play the big brother in the elegant family. The party scene is really cool because there is so much action. There are lots of company members and kids doing group dances such as the Virginia Reel and the March. The party scene is also very beautiful. The girls are wearing fluffy skirts and colorful dresses. The boys are wearing suits made out of silk and velvet with short pants and spats. We also have to put on lots of makeup including powder, blush, eyeliner and lipstick. The scene is very funny. When the grandfather puts the mistletoe over his head the little boy does the same thing and gets kissed. The grandfather also tricks the maid into getting more champagne. I am very happy to be in the party scene because there is lots of movement and jumping and if feels like you went to a real party.

I think the most exciting scene is the battle scene where I play Ben Franklin. In this version of the Nutcracker, the battle scene is based on the Revolutionary War. The rats are the English and the soldiers are fighting them. The Nutcracker is George Washington and the Rat King is the king of England. It is scary when the rats lift me up in the air because it feels like they are about to drop me! When the cannon is fired in the beginning of the battle it is also scary because a big cloud of gunpowder comes out of the cannon like a real cannon. The scene is really cool because the audience gets to see the battle starting to form and the soldiers make sharp angles and march perfectly on count. Compared to the Party Scene which is lovey-dovey, the Battle Scene is very harsh.

Please come see The Nutcracker!

The Nutcracker Audition by Malin

Malin's first grade class has been working on writing about "small moments." Small moments are detailed descriptions or stories about events that really happened. Here's Malin's:

I tried out for the bee and mouse. I got the part of the bee. I got the part because I had a big smile and because I practiced at THEARC. Mice have to be 7 because the helmets are so big and heavy. The bee costume has curly turquoise wings. It is yellow and tourquoise. It is the cutest costume in the Nutcracker. I was so happy.

I learned staging. I can't wait until the dress rehearsal! It is like the real thing because it is with all the characters and some audience with tickets. Mr. Weber, the director, could can only stop the show if he really needed to.

I am in the Ruby cast. I can look up and see the cute fox page. Its helmet was adorable. Everyone could take a now!

At Nutcracker rehearsal this afternoon, Kai was told that he got the part of Ben Franklin. Ben and Betsy Ross are life sized dolls that burst out from under the Christmas tree and get caught up in the battle between the rats and the toy soldiers. Kai is excited about it, but it also means extra rehearsals. Unfortunately, extra rehearsals mean that he can't do the St. Mark's Players show of Assassins. Kai is very disappointed about it -- he really wanted to do it and was excited about it. I'm feeling very sorry about leaving them after we all had made the commitment that Kai would do it. Now they need to find another 9 year old boy and fast. We need to chalk this up as a lesson that Kai -- our whole family, really -- has a bit of a tendency to over-commit.

Two Shows, One Fall

This fall I am in two different shows: Assassins and the Nutcracker.

Assassins is being put on by the St. Mark's Players. I am in a few different scenes, but I always play the son of an assassin. In my main scene I delay my mom from trying to kill President Ford by whining and screaming about money to buy ice cream. In my audition last week I met the director, Kevin, and I had to read through that scene. My first rehearsal was yesterday and it was really fun.

I am also in the Nutcracker which is put on by the Washington Ballet. I am a party child. In yesterday's first rehearsal they put us in lines and measured and compared us to the other kids. I was put into the Elegant Family. This is my third year in the Nutcracker and I was in the Elegant Family last year. I'm the bigger brother this year. There are too many Nutcracker rehearsals -- I have another three hour one again this afternoon.

The next "adventure" on 11th Street

A Post from Dad:

Just after Kai wrapped up his Shakespeare Theater show, an email came from his friends at the Kennedy Center Opera House. This time, they were looking for Dad. Sure, Kai's been an extra in three operas over there on the big stage, beginning with Madama Butterfly when he was just 4, but I'm catching up! (Thanks for the coattails, Kai!)

Maybe it was my great acting as one of the 75 walk-on Russian Solders in their 2010 production of War and Peace? Anyway, the Opera's upcoming Tosca performance (Sep. 10 to the 24th) ALSO needs 'a few good men' - and, well, some clergy, too. [FYI - Tosca will be simulcast FREE to the Nationals Stadium's huge high-def screen on Sep. 22 for Opera in the Outfield]

In Act One, my big part is to stand on stage dressed as a Deacon and hold an incense pot that hangs from a chain. The assistant director told me tonight at rehearsal, "Don't swing it, just stand there. You are really just eye candy." This is a big adjustment for me, because at the first rehearsal last week they had me doing all this blessing and crossing of the choirs and audience. Later I found out I was standing in for another guy who couldn't make that rehearsal. Bummer. Still, any good Deacon knows that the Director giveth, the Director taketh away.

My big break happened at rehearsal for Act three. I was SUPPOSED to be a member of the firing squad that shoots the lead singer at the end of the opera. The director, though, had not picked a Sergeant. After a brief chat with all of us, I was moved up in rank. The costume staff were alerted. My rifle was traded for a sword and pistol and I was sent home with a CD and sheet music so I could practice the downswing with my scabbard at just the right moment - signaling the other guys to pull the trigger. As a good friend pointed out to me today, "... but you can't mess that up at all, right, I mean, isn't that sort of a key moment in the opera?!" Yeah, I've listened to that darn CD 50 times already.

It's been a blast so far - and I'll let you know how it goes.

Kai's Dad

Last Show

It was the last show on Sunday afternoon. After the show on Saturday there was a cast and crew party on the third floor of the theater lobby. There was drinks and pizza and everybody was happy to talk about how the show went and what's happening next. I was saying hi to everyone in the cast and taking pictures. I got home at midnight and didn't fall asleep until 12:30.

Sunday's show was a big success and everyone was happy to go home. But there was some sadness about the show ending. I felt like it was really over when I took my last bow. I'm going to miss everyone in the cast. This was one of the best summers I ever had.