My proudest moments as a mom always come when I see my children achieving their goals and pursuing their dreams. It's amazing and wonderful to watch children becoming unique, smart, gifted adults who find their own path—and today, I just have to shout about my son Jared.
Jared has long enjoyed being on stage, and he is the "real deal"--he can sing, he can dance, and he can act. And he does it all WELL. David and I, along with Jared's wife, Leslie, and the whole family saw him starring in a local theater production of "Hairspray," playing Corny Collins (the TV show host). The production was staged by the Hale Center Theater, a popular and celebrated theater company in Utah. It was AWESOME! I am still cheering on the inside.
When I was a teenager, I loved being a part of different musicals in high school. It was fun and boosted my confidence—but I never had any intention to pursue acting beyond graduation. Well, it has been such a surprise and a delight to watch Jared come into his own as a performer. From small film roles to training videos, to web shorts, to this live theater production, he is really mastering his craft and wowing audiences…and certainly wowing me!
Throughout the performance of "Hairspray," I had my hand on Leslie's arm. The first time Jared came onstage, I squeezed. He looked so handsome, with his slicked-back James Dean-style hair! And then he sang. I squeezed Leslie's arm harder and grinned and grinned. He was so good! The entire cast was so professional and the crowd went crazy. In fact, the show is virtually sold out through the remainder of its run and they've had to add several additional performances and matinees to accommodate demand. By the closing finale (you should see that dance number; whew!), I was laughing and smiling so hard, tears came to my eyes. Oh, and I just about squeezed Leslie's arm right off, I was so thrilled.
Jared is my only son. He's held a special place in my heart since the day he was born, and frankly, I've always been his #1 fan. But after seeing him do such a great job in "Hairspray," it's clear he has lots and lots of fans. And that's GREAT by me.
Oh, how wonderful! I get teary-eyed seeing my daughter perform in her high school musicals and dance recitals. So I can imagine the pride you must have felt seeing your son perform up on that stage. From the pictures, it looks like he did a fabulous job. That is a really fun show. :)
ReplyDeleteCongratulations to Jared for being in such a successful show, and congratulations to you for raising a successful, hard-working son! I have just one son, too, and even though he is still very young, I always tear up when I see him doing something he loves and doing it well.
ReplyDeleteFirst I would like to say you have a very handsome son and you should be very proud for what he has accomplished. I have a son too and if you ask him he will tell you he is a mama's boy (and he turns 28 tomorrow!) Thanks for your wonderful blog--I read it every week. I appreciate you sharing your life, family and business tips with us. Can't wait for convention!
ReplyDeleteDebi Squires
You have a very handsome son. From the photos, he definitely steals the show.
ReplyDeleteThat is so wonderful and I am glad that you shared this with us! Thanks so much!
ReplyDeleteMy favorite job (besides being a wife, Mom and CTMH consultant) was over seeing Christian Youth Theater for a year.
ReplyDeleteTeary eyes? My goodness gracious!
After being involved with nearly every aspect of each production for 8 to 10 weeks with all 75 to 117 kids, then seeing them on stage?
I was a mess every time and loved it!
Congrats to you, Jared!
Congratulations Jared!! I love musicals and can only imagine how great it would be to watch my son in one.
ReplyDeleteI think one of the most amazing things, as a mom, is to watch your child grow into their own and find their way. We know they are amazing, but it's fun to see when others realize it too!
Theatre does amazing things for people. I was the same way as you, Jeanette. It totally brought me out of my shell and gave me a confidence I never knew I had. I went so far as to get a BA in Theatre and now I work with elementary and high school kids, instilling a love for this craft in them.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations to Jared, for seeing his dreams come true, and to you for encouraging him to do so.
I soo know what you mean!! My son has just starred in his 2nd drama production and he was amazing! His talent is God given and I am so blessed to see him "go for it" and succeed! I have him on my blog at: bethivanic.blogspot.com. What a gift our children are - God is sooo good!
ReplyDelete-Beth
That is awesome Jeanette! You must be so proud of him!
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