Big and Small Happy Together, National Tour

Thank-you Jacie for submitting the post below on your evening at the Richmond Hill Centre For The Performing Arts.- Kim :)

I was one of the 3 very lucky mamas chosen by Richmond Hill Centre for the Performing Arts (RHCPA) to attend a performance of Big & Small in their state of the art facility.

I have always loved live theatre and was very excited at the chance to introduce it to my girls through a show they are familiar with.  And plus, I was looking forward to actually sitting IN a theatre, something I have not done nearly enough since having wee ones.  When we arrived I was instantly impressed at just how beautiful the building was.  Everything is very well appointed without seeming stuffy, with a beautiful bright lobby and a theatre with comfy chairs and great views of the stage.  Emily was quite impressed that they had toilet seat cleaner in each bathroom stall…although I did have to stop her from using it as antiseptic hand cleaner!  LOL

From the moment we arrived and were greeted at the door by the theatre manager and congratulated on our win, my girls, my mom and I felt like superstars.  The service at the theatre was awesome, for example before I could even stand up when I realized that Maddie’s light up toy that we had purchased in the lobby for the show was not working one of the ushers had come over, without us saying anything, and told us he would take care of it so we didn’t have to leave the theatre. He returned in moments with a smile and a new light for her.

The show itself was nothing less than amazing.  And so interactive for the kids which was great for keeping them engaged!  The girls were dancing in front of their seats and jumping up and down with excitement through the musical numbers, as were Kim’s Brayden and Alexandria and I’m sure Ashley’s baby Colby was dancing on the inside ;)  Maddie and Brayden were both so into the show that when Small left the stage at one point (he was off to get a hammer to hang a picture…something that never goes well if you know Small at all, LOL) both the kids were yelling for him to come back.  It was great to see.

As a side note, the theatre had arranged for the equivalent of closed captioning to play above the stage to ensure that all children, even those with hearing issues, could enjoy the show.  It sort of summed up what Big & Small is about: inclusion for all.  How cool is that?

After the show our star treatment continued and along with the Edmiston family (Kim worked tirelessly to set this whole contest up and establish a relationship with RHCPA for momstown – YAY Kim!) we were invited backstage to meet the stars of the show Big & Small themselves!!!  To say the children were excited would be a gross understatement.

Then while the kids were enjoying what we thought would be the perfect ending to a great afternoon, cupcakes with sparkles, we were proven wrong when the perfect ending actually became us meeting the writer and creative master behind the Big & Small musical!  Markus came over to introduce himself and meet his little fans.  I think us moms were a little giddy with excitement at this surprise!

Thank you againRHCPA and momstown Georgina for giving us this amazing prize and this wonderful opportunity.  I can’t wait to come back to your beautiful theatre and enjoy Clifford, Charlotte’s Web or maybe even escape on a date night with my hubby for an adult production J