Tale of a Mouse, Part 2

I enjoyed Tale of a Mouse at the South Dallas Cultural Center so much last week that I couldn't help but take kids again.

This time we took Iesha (sister of Niesha and Tatiana, both of whom attended last time), Shamaria, and Xavier. Iesha and Shamaria seemed to thoroughly enjoy the play and sat, enthralled, the entire time. Iesha quoted most of the play to Ms. Tameshia...thanks to her sisters re-playing it for her when they got home last week. (Iesha obviously hasn't learned the meaning of "spoiler alert." :) )

Shamaria and Iesha volunteered to participate in the tug of war:

Though the play was great, some of the best moments were when Mr. Harold (the director) allowed everyone to interact with the cast members and the props at the end of the play. Awesome job, South Dallas Cultural Center. Thanks for being in the community and allowing us to be a part of what you do!

Scared of the talking skull

Sad mouse










Mouse bargains with elephant

Shamaria being Arumbaroo









Shamaria posing with Bird




















Iesha thinking like Arumbaroo

Junie B. Jones, meet Hayzul

"We're going to see Junie B. Jones!!!!!!!!"

That's how Hayzul greeted me as I walked into the ASA on Friday.

Hayzul and I went to the Dallas Children's Theatre with the tickets from the Free Night of Theater offered by the City of Dallas.

Evidently, Junie B. is a pretty popular character. I think I realized why. Hayzul *is* Junie B.! Hayzul was so into the play, I don't even know if she realized she was rolling her eyes and sighing when Junie B. got sent to the principal's office for "no apparent reason"...as if she, herself, were the one marching to the office. I watched Hayzul growl in frustration and exasperation at Junie B.'s best friends. I think Hayzul's life was being acted out on stage.

After the play, we topped the evening off by stopping by 1/2 Price Books. Seeing how much she liked Junie B., I wanted to get her an Anne of Green Gables book. I think she'll like "Ann with an 'e'" a lot, too. I can't wait to talk to Hayzul about it!

See pictures from the play below:

Hayzul getting autographs








Hayzul with Junie's classmate Jim







Hayzul with Mrs (the teacher) and Grandma







Hayzul with one of Junie B.'s best friends







Hayzul with Junie B.'s classmate












Hayzul with Junie B.'s best friend, Grace







Hayzul and Junie B.

Lilly's Purple Plastic Purse was Positively Praise-worthy!

It was an exhausting week.

By Friday, I wanted to be an irresponsible Director of Education. I wanted to cancel our staff development training and cancel our trip with the kids who had "purchased" the Lilly's Purple Plastic Purse tickets with their earned checkbook money. Unfortunately for me, I'm nearly incapable of doing that.

Sylvia and I had accessed the tickets through the Free Night of Theater. I want to get back in the habit of taking small groups of children on fun field trips. Taking only two or three kids creates a completely different opportunity to bond with the kids than when taking all 30 at once.

So, after work, Sylvia and I followed through on our promise and took two of the kids to Lilly's Purple Plastic Purse.

As I should know by now, the event energized us.

We laughed. We danced in our seats. We were sad for Lilly. We felt her pain when she felt ignored. Then, we laughed again when she made amends and life was good again.

Of course, my favorite part is watching the kids. I loved to see Zykia dancing in her seat. I loved watching Jason repeat the lines in the voices of the characters. I loved that they were so excited to meet the characters when the play was over. We stood in line for every single character to get autographs and take pictures.

With exposure, I hope the kids discover something new. At the theater, not only did we get to experience a different medium...a play instead of a typical movie...but we also experienced a new career possibility. As I watched Jason recite the lines all the way home and to his mother once he got home, I couldn't help but think we may have just inspired the beginnings of an actor. I instantly began thinking about a new volunteer we will soon have who used to teach drama and have high hopes that we can inspire this new interest and intrigue.