Sunday, March 16, 2008

Little Girls, Little Girls...

Looking at my daughters vegged out in front of the television probably isn't supposed to bring tears of joy to my eyes. In fact, the glazed eyes glued to the screen is generally something I should feel guilty about. However, when Gracie and Annelie sat down to watch the 1999 version of Annie, I couldn't help but snap a picture of this momentous occasion.

You see, I have been trying to foster a love for musical theatre in my "little girls, little girls" -- as Miss Hannigan sings-- since they were born. And it will never fail to make me proud when they just can't get enough of the singing and dancing. Even Annelie, who never tolerates TV for more than a minute, sat down and watched four music numbers from Annie in a row.

My love for musicals goes back before I can even remember. My mom used to put my big brother and I in front of The Sound of Music, back when I was in preschool. When I was five, I was finally old enough to see a live production. Sitting in the huge theatre, with the stage decked out like a street alley, I got chills which I can still remember over twenty years later. And once the stage was filled with fabulously dressed felines, and they broke out into their first song and dance number, I was completely enchanted. To this day, when it comes to musicals, Cats will always hold the biggest spot in my heart.

That was only the tip of the ice burg that is my passion for musicals. By the time I was seven, I had seen Peter Pan (starring Cathy Rigby-- wow!!) and The Secret Garden. Soon after, I saw Brigadoon, The Sound of Music, Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, and The Phantom of the Opera. Flying to NYC to see Les Miserables and Beauty and the Beast on Broadway was my high school graduation present. And the first thing I did when I arrived in the UK for my study abroad in college, was to book tickets to see The Lion King and Les Miserables (what can I say... its a classic!) in London.

Gracie was only two when I played a live recording of Cats for her. And "The Lonely Goatherd" from The Sound of Music was on special request from my darling, and oh so cultured, daughter for the longest time. Annie, however, is a different story altogether. Gracie wants to hear the music at all times. And when the orphans get up and dance, she dances too. She wants to wear her tiny tap shoes so she can tap along during, "You're Never Fully Dressed Without A Smile," and she always has to wear a flowing dress that she can shimmy and shake in during "Easy Street." Of course, "Its the Hard Knock Life," entrances us all.

I look forward to finding other musicals which will one day capture my daughter's hearts. And of course, I look forward to the day Gracie and Annelie can sit still in a theatre long enough to be entranced when the lights go down and the curtain goes up and a magical, musical world begins.

In the meantime, I'm just so proud of my little girls, little girls as they veg out in front of a musical classic.





For those interested in showing Annie to your own young children, I strongly recommend the 1999 version, as Miss Hannigan isn't as frightening or drunk during the entire movie as the 1982 version. While I do admit that Carol Burnett is the best Miss Hannigan, her angry drunken moments are not exactly what I want my kids to experience!!

17 comments:

Kelly Drill said...

I love your blog! And I share your love of musical theatre. Can't get my kid to like it to save my life!

Nikki said...

I adore musicals as well. My daughter loves the 1999 Disney version of Annie and I adore Audra McDonald in the role of Grace. I fell for her in Ragtime and to this day her rendition of "Your Daddy's Son" brings tears to my eyes.

Glad I found you through Etsy!

Nikki (ribbonwands) on Etsy.

Carry Grace said...

Awww...your littlest one is holding a carrot while watching Annie, too cute!

Carry Grace said...

oh wait, they both have carrots

DivaDea said...

I'm with ya... except for Cats :)
My favs are Rent and Jekyl and Hyde. Your girls are beautiful!

Rachel said...

That's my favorite version of Annie :) Isn't musical theatre wonderful?? I'm glad your girls are already fans!

The best musical I've ever seen was Sweeny Todd on Broadway... amaaaazing. The coolest part was that the actors doubled as the musicians!

Rosebud Collection said...

Beautiful little girls..I always liked the old version of Annie..that is the one we have..

Raven said...

They are just the cutest cuties!! :)

xxx
Raven

Artifax said...

I've only seen a few musicals, but cherish the memory of every one. Your girls are so cute sitting there watching Annie!

Unknown said...

Oh Elegant, why must we reconfirm how stupendously artistic you are - ha ha! Your blog RAWKS!

Oh Mandie said...

Oh I love musicals! My husband took me to NYC to see Beauty and the Beast as a wedding present in 2001 and we're going back to NYC next month to see Rent before it closes!

And I always loved that Peter Pan was a girl when I was a little girl! I remember the night that aired on tv acctually! My mom VHS tapped it for me and I used to watch it over and over :-)

Anonymous said...

Your girls look like angels! I loved to have my kids watch musicals - my personal favorite is Seven Brides for Seven Brothers. I love the dancing in that one. All 4 of my kids were in band, chorus and in the school musicals. There is nothing like it!

Anonymous said...

I love musicals to. Pippin is my fav to this day. I love the song from Annie, too.

I took a theater class while I was in London for a semester in college and I love going, but we rarely got to see musicals. It was still great.

Your daughters a beautiful. To bad you live so far away or we could have a playdate. -Lorissa

Jeni said...

We just saw "Dancing In The Dark" (starring Scott Bakula *swoon*) on Sunday. Now El Jefe (DH) wants season tickets to the theatre. Yay for musicals!!

Grizzly Mountain Arts said...

They are too cute! Love your blog!

ThePeachTree said...

Wonderful blog :) I have to admit to tearing up a bit around the middle. Cats was my 1st musical. I can remember my mother telling us every 5 minutes how important it was to be on our very best behavior!

xoxotova said...

OMG My ALLLLL time favorite movie EVER! I did the play everyday as a kid and now can't watch a tiny clip w/ out crying! My kids love it to! :)

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