Return to the Dragon

The talented cast of Growing Up is Hard to Do with their dedicated Director, Katy Haag Rogers.

It had been awhile.  Benjamin had moved on to other acting venues, and even my good friend Kimberly Beck and her daughters, Emily and Elizabeth, were moving on.  I had forgotten the importance of children's theater in a community, and the vital contribution the Flying Dragon Arts Center was making to it.

But I took an opportunity to go to a show this Sunday afternoon.  Alison and Benjamin were going to Jacksonville to see a science show form emceed by the guy from VSauce and a Mythbuster, and Tamara Jeffords, the theater co-founder, was kind enough to invite me to the show.

In a children's theater, not every child is at the same level of experience or performance.  But all striving, all are learning, all are gaining in confidence.  And their development is truly wonderful to see.

Sierra Baker and Marin Jeffords  singing a show highlight, I don't Want to Grow Up.  Please forgive my feeble photography.

It was a delight to see such young veterans as Marin Jeffords, Rihanna Herrin, and Emma Varnes continue to grow and mature in their talents.  I have watched Marin since she was a toddler, and she has shone brighter and brighter with each successive performance.

Another young talent, Sierra Baker, was perhaps the most adept young reader I've ever seen, telling a charming David Sedaris story.

The young emcees/comedians of the show.  They showed an amazing ability to charm and enthrall an audience.

Sometimes you see some very young talents who show an amazing ability to connect with their audience.  Such is the case with the comedy duo,  Lex Baker and Mason Rogers.  Their schtick between scenes, part jokes and part improv, showed a budding instinct to draw in the crowd, and make them laugh and smile.  It will be interesting to see how those talents develop over the next few years.

Kudos to Katy Haag Rogers, the dedicated Director of the show, and all the parents and friends of the theater that helped with this production.

The Flying Dragon Arts Center is truly a jewel in the area, one that deserves your support.  Please contribute, and come out to their next production!