Friend to Friend Theatre class

Jena finished her semester at Wonderwood/BYU and is back at home full-time for the summer.  The timing was good because the first week she was back, she had theatre practices every evening (thanks, Gary, for getting her there.)  They were preparing for their two performances for "Joseph and the Technicolor Dreamcoat".  They performed it twice--on Friday night and Saturday morning.  It was quite a performance.  This group is a free theatre class for individuals with disabilities.  Shelley Davies and all of the amazing coaches who help truly know how to help these adults shine when they are on stage.

Jena was one of the many people who did the part of the narrator. She loved it, of course.  The costumes were amazing and everyone looked like they were having the best time.

Gary took this picture during a dress rehearsal. The young women you see behind Jena are
some of the coaches.  During the performance, they dress in dark clothes and help
the actors get to their spots and help with their lines if needed.

Gary went to the Friday performance and I went on Saturday.  I took Jena's friend, Emily.  This is Jena, Kaitlyn, and Emily.

Jena and Kelsey Hayden who was also a narrator.  Jena did not like the headpiece so took it off before she came out for pictures.  She loved the rest of her costume.

Kayla, Kelsey, and Jena
They are also on the same Special Olympics team.

 Cory--the tall one--is also on their Special Olympics team.  He was one of the brothers in the play.

So after the performance, we headed out for lunch and then came back to the theatre so Jena and I could usher.  Emily had to wait for us, so we put her on a chair behind Jena. Jena is often very quiet when she talks and I am always reminding her to speak up.  Emily started thanking the guests like Jena and I were doing.  At one point, Jena turned to me and said, "Emily is my announcer."  It made me crack up!  I love it when she says something funny...and she knows it is funny.  It is the best.

Then Jena and Emily spent the rest of the afternoon and the evening, singing and dancing to the Wii.  Emily is Jena's roommate in Provo and you could tell they were excited to spend time together.

You would have thought that Jena would have been tired of singing and dancing after three days of dress rehearsals lasting 2 hours each and then two performances.  But no, she just kept on singing and dancing.

I love that Jena enjoys the theatre so much and that amazing people like Shelly Davies and others are willing to share their time, passion, and talents for such a great cause.