PUT IN WENT GREAT! (THINK DRESS REHEARSAL)

Yesterday was the long awaited "put in". We learned that this was basically a dress rehearsal. It was A REALLY BIG DEAL! Hair, makeup, costumes, mics, etc. A full run-through with the entire cast. Now you may be thinking (like I have been thinking), "well of course they are doing a full run-through, the debut is Monday!" But believe it or not, this is the one and only run through they will do before Cory and his new cast mates take the stage in just 2 DAYS!

Cory was very nervous going in for the put in. He was a little distracted as we spent the first part of the morning heading down to the West Village, to Replay, for a guitar lesson. Then it was back to the Winter Garden stage door and in he went with the entire cast and crew. All of us moms (and John's Grandpa who has been handling John's rehearsal schedule for the month of July so he has been very enmeshed in the Mom group) lingered outside the theater for a while quite frankly, FREAKING OUT! "How is this happening?", "I can't believe this!", "This is nuts!" We all dispersed for a few hours to try and do something, anything to keep our minds off of the put in and wondering what was happening on that stage.

Although I am totally not a city girl, I am finding my way a little bit more as I have been spending more time in NYC. I took a subway to meet my friend Daphne who is visiting from Israel. We enjoyed some quality time catching up (over a manicure and pedicure) which was great. But there is no escaping the general unbelievableness on all of this. Every other moment, in between filling each other in on our lives, we kept saying to one another, "I just can't believe Cory is starting on Broadway on Monday". Daphne said it totally suits Cory (she's known him since he was born). It seems to, and we'll see soon enough.

Back uptown all the parents congregated at the CitizenM Hotel lobby about 45 minutes before pick up. More of the same from earlier that day. We are all in disbelief, excited and nervous. The moms who have been doing this for a while (remember, it was a full cast call) were good about calming down the newbies and reassuring us that this is just how they felt at their kids put in.

It was time to walk to the stage door and at 5:30pm the kids came flying out. Cory's smile could not have been any bigger. His hair was gelled in a "fohawk" and when I said, "SO?" Cory replied, "it went great!" The sentiment was confirmed by the child chaperones who said that everything went really well and the kids did awesome. Cory was exhausted but feeling really good about the performance. He said he has to learn how to get dressed in his costume quicker and Michael (his dresser) told him he has to practice tucking in his shirt. In fact Cory asked me, "Mom, how come you never taught me how to tuck in my shirt?", something I never thought I would hear out of my kid's mouth and yet another area I have failed him in, shirt-tucking-in. LOL. All the kids were giddy, the parents were clamoring to get details. The kids who are currently in the cast went to grab dinner before they needed to be back for their evening performance. These kids - it is just amazing!

Cory's back at the theater today. He's starting his morning with a drum lesson and then off to the Winter Garden to watch the matinee from the green room. He'll do this again tomorrow after his vocal lesson in the morning.

Tomorrow will be a big day for the SOR family! With the final performance for 5 of the kids on Sunday night (we will be going to the show) and the debut of the new kids just hours later on Monday....there are lots of emotions for everyone. The excitement and anticipation continue to grow. 2 MORE DAYS!