Feeds:
Posts
Comments

Posts Tagged ‘IPAL’

Thank you to Two Writing Teachers for creating an amazing community of writers and a safe, welcoming space to write and share.

Have you seen Matilda, the Musical? I’ll take any excuse to see a musical. Our local performing arts league, IPAL, does a musical every summer with kids under the age of 18. I am always impressed with the skills of these young people and their directors. Matilda was no exception.

Last summer I took Leo to Beauty and the Beast. We weren’t sure how he would like it, but he sat in his seat mesmerized for the whole play. We took a picture with Gaston.

Leo, age 5, with Gaston from Beauty and the Beast (IPAL, 2024)

This year Leo is 6, which means he’s all grown up and knows about musicals.

Sister Stella is four. So it was a long shot to try to take her to the show. My daughter decided to go with us because two kids are harder than one.

Stella was not as mesmerized as Leo. She asked a lot of questions.

“Why is Miss Trunchbull a boy?!”

I explained the beauty of theater is that boys can be girls and girls can be boys.

Stella also had a little trouble suspending belief.

“Her father is so mean!”

“He’s just pretending, remember?”

Leo and Stella both enjoyed the time called “Intermission” when they could get treats.

While Stella lost her patience about a half hour before the play was over, “Is it over yet?”, she can’t wait to go to another musical.

Stella with Miss (or Mr?) Trunchbull.
Intermission snacks!

Read Full Post »

See more posts at Two Writing Teachers Slice of Life

Katelyn Gulotta as Elle Woods

I am not a theatre critic, but I do enjoy a good musical.  Our local little theatre, IPAL (Iberia Performing Arts League) is in its production of Legally Blonde: The Musical.  I attended  the matinee on Sunday afternoon.

IPAL has a reputation for producing top-notch musicals, and this year’s is one of the best.  It wasn’t just the singing that was good (it was!) or the orchestra’s sound (amazing!) or the choreography (spot on!), it was the coming together of a team of actors to create a most entertaining experience.  I laughed until I cried!

Scene after scene, the play drew me in.  IPAL is not called “Broadway on the Bayou” for no reason.  These volunteers who practiced night after night delivered, and made me feel I was right there with them on stage.  I was glad, however, that I was not chosen from the audience to try a bend and snap, but the precious twenty-something next to me was.

You know that a play has totally drawn in the audience when the main character Elle is proposed to by the jerk ex-boyfriend, someone yells, “No!”

All of the acting was good, but I was impressed with how Katelyn, who played Elle, handled the transformation from a giddy sorority girl to a serious lawyer seamlessly.

You should make time this weekend to attend IPAL’s Legally Blonde.  Even if they publicly announce they are sold out, there are often seats available.  I know this first hand because my ticket on Sunday was apparently for March 24th, but they had a ticket they could trade with me.

Musical theatre in a small town can surprise and entertain you and make you proud to be from Da’ Berry.

Curtain call for Legally Blonde, the Musical.

Read Full Post »