Final Performance at the Lyric

the 3 boys from Lombard

Sunday was the final performance of Die Meistersinger at the Lyric Opera of Chicago. After Karrick's bow he came off stage with tears in his eyes. He was sad it was ending.

Two months of long rehearsals and a month of 8, 5 1/2 hr performances. Karick never once said he was tired, wanted to quit, didn't want to go...Never complained once. It helped that everyone was amazingly nice and really liked the kids.

Most of the pricipals posed for pictures with the kids, which I posted all of them. Probably not that exciting for anyone..sorry

Meistersinger Harlem Shake

Karrick was thrilled to be part of the Meistersinger Harlen Shake. Yes, that 
                      is him going back and forth in the foreground

dress rehearsal

Monday Feb 4th was Die Meistersingers dress rehearsal at noon. We decided to take the train down to avoid the $32 parking fee at the Lyric (after 2pm weekdays and noon on weekends we get it for $8 with the Opera discount)

We met some friends also in the show at the Lombard Metra and went as a group

For the Dress rehearsal I was a spectator along with Tim, my boss and his wife. I have seen most of the 2nd and 3 rd acts because Karrick is in those. I really wanted to see the 1st act. I did great during Acts 1 and 2 (large coffee prior, diet coke during Act 1, another during intermission) The second intermission I was getting really uncomfortable (aches, pains, muscle spasms and stiffness) meds just made me tired so I sprung for a $3, 6 oz coffee and when checking on Karrick in the dressing room I grabbed another diet coke. Act 2 is great as Karrick is in most of it. He has a fight scene during the riot and he is front and center on the stage...so cute!

The 3rd Act, 1st scene I hadn't scene before. Holy Mother Mary of Jesus...I damn near slit my wrists...long and uneventful. Mind you this is a 5 1/2 hr Opera sung in German. The final scene is cool, the Carnval scene. Karrick is in almost all of scene 2 of Act 3.

During the carnival the kids chase 2 men on stilts (they guys are about 12 feet tall) They juggle bowling pins and 1 shoots fire out of his mouth. From day 1 Karrick complained about the fire blowing. He was very uncomfortable with it....the kid does not like fire.

The poor guy lit himself on fire, everyone including the kids that were 5 feet away on stage watched. It was so sad and horrifying. After Wesley (fire victim) fell down they put him out with fire extingushers, I saw Karrick run through the smoke. Thats when mama bear kicked in and I ran backstage. Everyone was alright, kind of in shock. The kids all said their hearts were beating really fast. CFD took Wesley to NW Hospital. A 1/2 break was called...then they redid the scene (w/o the fire) and we we dismissed around 6

It turns out Wesley will hopefully be okay. He is the sweetest kid, loved to sneak up on me when I was back stage. He and the other stilt walker would quietly walk behind me and I would turn to see this scarry 12 foot devil guy. The circus performers spent many hours playing with the kids, letting them run through their legs.

I wish him the best!

Tomorrow night is the 1st of 7 more performances.

Karrick just comes alive when he's there. Never once complained about the long long hrs. I am the boys Chaperone so I get to hang with them and escort them to and from the stage. I really enjoy the mom that chaprones the girls. We have a good time together

I will really be sad when this is over. I have loved every minute of it. I have met many international Opera stars, love listening to all the foreign stories and accents. Everyone has been delightful and fun.

 Love the picture of daddy and his little boy with the big personality

Catching up on Karrick

Karrick is loving his time with the Opera. Everyone- International Opera stars included are so friendly and down to earth...just amazing. Yesterday was the 1 day in costume and they ran through 2 acts. I was able to sit through the second act with the SupraTitles, which is great as I don't speak German

  tiny Karrick needed some last minute elastic suspenders to hold up his high waisted, corset like pants

The final product to play Nachtigall's son

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"Coloring"

Last Thurday we attended the Premeir of Karrick's film "Coloring".

It was really cute and funny.

It is due to hit the Film festival this spring

We had a family vacation planned to go snowmobling/sking in upper Wisconsin this week. I had to stay back with Karrick due to the Opera. TJ didn't want ot miss school and not a big winter sports person. Tim and Cal went up alone to play with family and friends. His brother rented a 5 bedroom cabin for the month. 

Worked out well because we got to attend Karrick's premeir. There will be more showing's for Tim and Cal to see.

Karrick during the  Q & A session after the movie

My little super

Everything about the Lyric Opera of Chicago is huge...just an amazing building

Karrick had his 1st rehearsal for Die Meistersinger at the The Lyric Opera of Chicago. He jumped right in and got to work. The kid is a natural.

Karrick's castmate and guess what? He lives in Lombard...just a few blocks away. Small freakin world. They hit it right off

Karrick and a little girl were cast as the children of the two in back wearing orange and blue. That gave Karrick a little more stage time and direction

Needless to say, Karrick had a ball and was amazed when the adults sang. He has never heard of Opera before...he is just in love with it and wishes he spoke German. It is just beautiful when they sing. It's actually weird because the people look like normal older people and when they open their mouths this amazing sound comes out . just mesmerizing 

 I want a badge

A super, Super week.... Die Meistersinger

This is where my kid, my little Karrick is going to perform!

pictures from web, not me

forgot my camera...unbelievable!

On Wednesday after work/school I had to bring TJ to Columbia's new Media Arts building at 4:30 to do a re-shoot for his movie "If A Tree Falls". I guess the cross-bow wasn't prominent enough in the log cabin scene. I dropped him off and drove to the Lyric Opera of Chicago where Karrick had an audtion to be in a 5 1/2 hr Opera

Die Meistersinger

We got there a little early due to dropping tj off and went to the reheasal room where we met the casting directer (Super Captain as they are called in the world of Opera) Well it gave Karrick a little one on one time. I'll be damned if he didn't have a gleam in his eye while talking to my little peanut (adults normal response to Karrick)

 We were directed upstairs to the holding room that was filled with kids for a good 1/2 hr.

About 20-25 kids showed up to audition. Many of them have been in multiple productions and all knew each other.   All the kids were called back down  to the rehearsal room where the doors were closed. A 1/2 hr later a bunch of kids came running out...my Karrick was no where to be found..a slight panic hit me as I thought he ran by in the group heading back upstairs. I opened the reheasal door to find Karrick and 4 other kids talking to the Super Captain.

Nothing was said to us, but the 5 kids and parents were ushered up to the 7th floor which was a giant wearhouse of costumes....100's or even 1000's of amazing costumes. Karrick was put into these old wool or bulap tailed jackets. Then they took him away again as we sat there . another mom came up and said these kids were cast. Wow! I kinda hoped but didn't want to jumped to any conclusions. Bill the Super Captain came up and confimed YES, our kids Karrick, another boy and 3 girls would be "Supers" in the Opera.

We will get more info after Christmas (Bill needs to finsih with Hansel and Gretal that is on now)

I do know rehearsal are 2 week nights for 3 hours each, Saturday and Sunday for 7 hrs each day for 4 weeks. Then a dress reheasal and 7 shows, 2 a week for 4 weeks.

Karrick is over the moon with joy. What an opportunity and experience to be a part of this! International Opera singers.

More to come....