SCCT Character Breakfast

Today, the boys and I went to their second annual South Carolina Children's Theatre Character Breakfast. They enjoyed themselves - and especially loved meeting Pete the Cat, the Cat in the Hat, and Tigger - but what I enjoyed was their behavior. They were very, very, VERY good, and made me very, very, VERY proud. For the second year in a row, Daniel, Elaine, and Reagan Moore went with us. Maribeth, Olivia, Wren, and Jasper Scott met us there, as well. The event is so spectacularly done. As I sat there, I marveled at how far the Children's Theatre has come and think how proud I am of all that it's accomplished and how honored I am to be a part of its Board. The best part of the whole affair, though, may have been getting to crash at Mayme and Pop's lakehouse the night before. Mom and Daddy are gonna have to change the locks to keep me out of that place this Summer. Anyway, here are some pictures!

These are the guys from "A Year
with Frog & Toad." Jones really liked
"the Skinny One."

SCCT Character Breakfast

Today was the South Carolina Children's Theatre Character Breakfast. 

A long, long time ago - back when I would order a Chef's Salad from Steak Out, because it was delicious and $6, delivered to apartment door - I worked at SCCT, and when I worked at  SCCT, I performed as Tigger for several straight Character Breakfasts. Now that I'm on the SCCT Board, that little bit of personal history made it an easy choice when deciding which fundraising event I'd sign on to sponsor. 

As soon as we arrived today, it was obvious I'd made the right decision.

The boys had a BALL - and while they were somewhat ambivalent about meeting the characters, as we drove home, Jones said, "I wish we could go back there again. It's my favorite Character Breakfast." 

Of course, his enjoyment - and Freddie's, too - was enhanced by the presence of Gideon Greene and Reagan and Brice Moore, all of whom came along for the ride. Freddie's only request for the occasion was that he sit beside Reagan. He didn't really request that so much as demand it. 

His other demand was a gross tonnage of jelly packets. As the characters paraded in - and I think there were 30 or so of them - Freddie sat almost completely uninterested. He was way more concerned with spoon feeding himself grape jelly, which I allowed, because he ate such a great breakfast. 

As we walked out of the Poinsett Club, I saw the Theatre's Director of Development and enthusiastically committed to sponsor the same event next year. The boys will most definitely age out of it about the time my board service is over, but until then, this event seems like a great fit for Jones and Freddie Pressley.

Kristi Greene took this picture as we drove down to Greenville.
I LOVE Jones's face in it - not because I LOVE
it when he makes that face, but because he makes it
pretty regularly, so I'm thankful that we have
such a clear picture of it for posterity's sake.

another photo by Kristi that I love

Freddie's First Show!

This time last year, I took Jones to his first-ever mainstage play. He and I saw "A Charlie Brown Christmas," presented by my beloved former employer, the South Carolina Children's Theatre.

Freddie definitely wasn't ready then, and when I bought the tickets, I wasn't sure if he were ready this year - Jones can watch cartoons all day, every day. Freddie ... can't, so it was a big risk buying for four, but I figured we'd never know if we didn't go, so off we went.

But first, we had lunch with Lila. She turned 11 on Thursday, so we celebrated today at Trio (Freddie INSISTED on cutting his own chicken fingers, inspired, I think, by seeing Fred Flintstone cut his own steak, and no. That's not a joke. BOTH of my boys are perpetually reenacting cartoons).

Then, Jeremy, the boys, and I walked the four or so blocks down Main Street to the Peace Center. It was a beautiful day - perfect weather with lots of folks milling about, as they do in downtown Greenville.

Jones recognized the Peace Center as "where Mama works," and he and Freddie loved running around the plaza, while I went to the box office to collect our tickets. They even got to play in the fake snow created by a machine near the Concert Hall entrance.

Because I had lots of loose change, they also got to make a wish in one of the fountains, as we went into the theatre. They wished for the same things they asked Santa for - Jones wants a trolley with a key to make it go, and Freddie wants a Batman watch.

At least, they're consistent.

Also, notice how Freddie throws his coin and then blows their air as if to blow out candles. Apparently, all he knows about wishes comes from birthday cakes.



We got settled into our seats about ten minutes before showtime. Because of my Board involvement, Jeremy and I gave a (very small) donation to the theatre. I asked that they list it "in honor of Jones & Freddie Pressley," and Jones was 1000% enamored with seeing his name in the playbill. He kept opening it up and saying, "Mama, I wonder if my name is in here?" and then he'd make a big to-do about seeing it.

The show was awesome. I remain amazed at the incredible caliber for performances SCCT continues to do, and I am so, so proud of my affiliation with the theatre - both past and present.

Both boys did really well. There were a handful of times that Freddie'd say, "Is it over yet?" and he got restless for a minute, but for the most part, he behaved perfectly. I definitely won't hesitate to take him back, which is a good thing, because we've already got tickets for both "Flat Stanley" and "Madagascar the Musical."

In what may have been the highlight of the whole day, Jones got included in the musical! At one point in the story, they're trying to decide who's on the naughty or nice list. Several elves come down into the audience and ask kids their names. When they yell the name to Santa on stage, Santa tells them whether they're on the naughty or nice list.  When the elf Tenchie asked Jones his name, he wouldn't speak to her, but I did. "It's Jones," I said. She yelled, "Jones!" to Santa, and he said, "NICE!!!!!" Jones said, "I'm on the Nice list! How 'bout that?" All afternoon, he gloated about that, which was adorable. 

I am so excited that now both of my boys are old enough to be my theatre buddies. I hope it's a habit we keep for many years to come!

I love this picture of Jones with the cousin
he calls his girlfriend. 

The house lighting in the Gunter
makes for HORRIBLE pictures. The color is
AWFUL and, in my feeble, iPhoto attempts,
unfixable, but still. At least, he'll have a few
photo memories of his first show.

Because of their excellent behavior
(and because I had some extra change),
they also made wishes on the way OUT of the theatre. 

Batman watch & Cat Boy shoes.
Something tells me BOTH of these wishes will
come true this Christmas season.