A blog post by Heather Anderson Cox
More and more I am starting to feel like Fagin. You know Fagin – one of the villains from Charles Dicken’s Oliver Twist. No, I am not kidnapping orphaned children and teaching them to pickpocket, but I can’t help but think of what he says to his boys when he sends them out to do their “job” for the day.
“Good luck on your first job my dear. I’ll be waiting for you when you come back…
(Sings) You can go but be back soon
You can go but while you’re working
This place I’m pacing round
Until you’re home safe and sound…
Be back soon!”
You see, my youngest graduated high school this year. So, we have enjoyed a summer of celebrations for not only him but many of his classmates and friends.
As many parents have done before me, my son and I began looking through photos and memorabilia for his graduation table. When I opened the Rubbermaid with all his school papers and pictures, it quickly became evident just how significant a role Abrams Spotlight Productions was in his childhood. There were cast photos and signed programs from seasons of shows. On top of the pile was the program for Oliver – my son’s first play at ASPI.
I started to reflect on his role not only in Oliver, but Guys and Dolls, Beauty and the Beast, Gypsy, Chitty Chitty and so many others, and I couldn’t help but feel an overwhelming sense of gratitude. There is gratitude for the friends he made along the way; the community of theater families that welcomed us; the confidence he developed in facing his fears and standing on that stage, the teamwork and empathy he learned by collaborating with a group to create a production, and the volunteers who invested their lives into teaching him how to speak, act, sing, dance, operate a light/sound board, and work back stage.
Yes, theater involves the parents sometimes as much as the child. Driving back and forth to rehearsals, managing time schedules, and volunteering to help with plays are not always easy things to fit into busy family lives, but as a parent who has now had the chance to reflect back on the difference theater made in my son’s life, I am so thankful for the mission of ASPI. As my son begins to make the transition into his future, whether that be college or career, I know supporting him in theater is one decision I will never regret.