I do not envy her this job- the child wrangler backstage at the Washington Ballet's Nutcracker. Good Lord, what a task. I also know one of the SM's on this show- she's a former OTC intern. She just posted this video on her facebook, which is also really interesting-

you can see her curly hair in front of the monitor in one of the backstage shots.

I would love to work on a show this big, I think it would be so much fun! The bank of cue lights at that console is intimidating. I also really want to call a show from the deck some time... The closest I ever came to that was Pops! and I didn't really call anything but rail cues for that because Joel took his own cues. I'm still bitter about that...

No really, never work with children.

This morning we had a school matinee performance of A Christmas Story. My 7-year-old actor playing Randy, the little brother of the main character, was late for an entrance. It went something like this:

Scene change where several things happen at once in a blue-out.

My realization- I didn't see Randy get behind the couch, but it's possible that I missed it in the scene change.

Mother's line "Randy, are you back there?"

Randy is not back there. Randy is entering the stage, from the wings. Sweatervest half on, suspenders dangling.

Mother has no idea that Randy is not back there, as she cannot see where he is supposed to be hiding, until he walks in the front door of the house like he's coming home.

Before Mother can attempt to cover this situation, he looks out at the sold-out audience of school children, says "I'm late," gives an apologetic shrug, and dives behind the couch.

Mother continues the scene, talking to the now-unseen Randy behind the couch.

I am thinking, at this point, "For the love of God, kid, just put your vest on before you come out from behind that couch."

Randy comes out from behind the couch. Randy has put on his vest. Backwards. Suspenders still dangling.

This kid is a hot mess, but he is so freaking adorable that it almost doesn't matter. Almost.