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Middle-School Theater Time!

Here is Will playing Bert Healy in his middle school production of Annie Jr. He was great! We saw the show on opening night Thursday and again Friday evening. He hammed it up considerably more for the second show. Seeing him open up and be much more comfortable on stage the second night made me happy. I love how much this kid loves doing theater, but his anxiety goes through the roof during performance weeks. On top of that, this year he also has a cold and isn’t sleeping well. It’s been rough for him and rough for the rest of us as well. He has been quick tempered, on the verge of tears, and very, very sensitive. This happens every time he is under unusual pressure so I have been preparing to anticipate his every need and pretty much give him everything he wants. As a consequence, it’s been a struggle to keep the peace between him and his brother, who probably feels relatively under-accommodated in comparison. It’s not easy, but it’s worth it for the artistic experience as well as the opportunity for him to feel high anxiety and realize he can handle it. Most importantly, it gives Will his “theater family,” which means a lot to him. I continue to be so grateful for this middle school and the opportunities and acceptance it has given our weird little family.


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