A Passion for Wicked

Before I go any further, WARNING!!!!  This is an unabashed Grandma's Brag Book post but one I definitely want in my next blog book.  Besides, I am proud of my grands and I want them to know it!

Yesterday Russ and I went to Gresham, OR to see one of our 12 year old granddaughters perform in her middle school talent show.  Other than a couple of lines at a choir concert earlier this year, this was Bekah’s first public solo performance.  She was terrified but she overcame her fear and did an outstanding job with her selection.

Regarding her song selection; while other kids went with the modern tunes familiar to the teen age set, Bekah went with her heart and sang a show tune.  Her parents (bless them) have exposed her to live performances from time to time and Bekah has recently discovered a passion for live musical theater.  She even knows who Rodgers and Hammerstein are lol!!  That’s a pretty good passion to have at her age.

"Wicked" is a Broadway musical set in the time before Dorothy arrived in the Land of Oz, when the witches were still young girls and good friends. Glinda, the Good Witch is preparing to give Elphaba, the Wicked Witch of the West, a makeover in this song. There was no coaching from the teachers. You have to imagine that Elphaba is present, as this was simply a solo and not a scene from the play. Pardon the acoustics, this was in the gym! The background is not so great either tee-hee.  I was so proud of Bekah for doing something out of the ordinary and not just a song from popular teenage music. Great job Bekah!  (I added the words in post-production as the echoes made it hard to hear her words.)


And that, my friends, is what we did yesterday…and it did my heart good.  There were lots of other talented kids in the program too and I am so thankful that there is still a school that places importance on things like music and art.