So we are two weeks in and we certainly do not yet feel settled (but I believe we are on our way...maybe....hopefully....). This past week, Cory had rehearsal Monday, Tuesday and Friday in addition to the eight shows he is now doing each week. It was a rigorous schedule. Cory is managing, but it was clear that as the week went on, he was getting tired. Then we hit the weekend - 4 shows - CRAZY TOWN, as we now fondly refer to it. Saturday Josh and I went to the city to be with Cory between shows and we ended up going to see the show Saturday night. It was feeling more normal to pick Cory up at the stage door, and of course, the trip to Guitar Center in between shows feels like old hat (see jam session with SOR kids at Guitar Center here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bq_edLJZvkk, Instagram: @coryloganmusic, @luke_bonenfant, @theofficialamadichapata, Troy Bell Jr, Jason Kisare), but this week, seeing the show felt **a little** more natural. I have spent so much time in the Winter Garden Theater in the last two weeks that in act two, standing behind the last row of the orchestra, I slipped my shoes off (they were killing me!) and I stood there barefoot, watching my son and his castmates on the Broadway stage. You know when you feel comfortable in a place...when it feels familiar enough, you can slip your shoes off and stand on the carpet barefoot? That's how I felt....at the Winter Garden.
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| Spira Family |
This week was full of friends and family that went to see Cory perform. It is exciting to be able to talk with Cory over breakfast about who will be in the audience that day! On Tuesday, the Rosensteins went to see the show and on Wednesday Grandma Sheri, Poppops, Aunt Lisa, Aunt Suzi, Cousins Hallie, and Carly went AGAIN :), and a former Nursery School classmate and their family were also there. We were in the audience on Saturday and on Sunday family friends, the Bartells, and Cory's drum teacher, Jim Weingast, rocked out. It is always fun for Cory to see a familiar face at the stage door.
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| Bartell Family |
When the schedule came in on Sunday, it was clear that it was going to be a long and tough week for Cory. When Cory got home on Sunday, at almost 11:00pm, after 5 shows in just two and half days, he was definitely unsettled to hear about the schedule for the upcoming week. Cory is learning the two roles he is understudying, Zack (who plays guitar) and Freddy (who plays drums). So while he spent the last month learning the part of James, who he plays in each show, he now needs to learn these other parts in addition. This means rehearsal, rehearsal, rehearsal. Many times it is just him in rehearsal with one of the music directors, dance captains, etc. And after rehearsal, Cory then goes and performs a show. This is a lot for anyone, let alone a not quite ten-year-old kid.
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| Grandma Sheri, Poppops, Aunt Liza, Aunt Suzi, Cousins Hallie & Carly |
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| Cory with his drum teacher Jim |
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Cory with his drum teacher Jim and John Arthur Greene,
photo-bombing, who plays the lead of No Vacancy in SOR.
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| Cory with Jim Weingast |
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| Rosensteins go to see Cory at SOR |
Cory and we are blessed that he has amazing child guardians caring for him on and off the stage! His chaperone Michael gets Cory to and from the city and rehearsals and makes sure he has lunch, dinner and snack....and some fun in his down time too! All of the child guardians at School of Rock are fantastic - really all about what's in Cory's best interest. We are so lucky!
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| Cory with one of SOR's amazing guardians |
While Cory continues to find his place on the Broadway stage, we continue to find our place as a Broadway family. This means explaining to Ryan, our 7-year-old, why he doesn't see his brother so much, splitting our time so Andrew, our 3-year-old, gets the attention he needs and deserves and making sure Cory continues to get our attention, love, and support as he navigates this new world he is in.
Cory is counting down the days until his birthday. He turns 10 this weekend - double digits! It is hard to believe that he is managing this intense schedule, learning all he has to learn AND perform in front of 1500 people each day, at not even 10 yet. We are so proud of him and grateful that he has been given this opportunity and that we are his parents!
Cory is looking forward to tomorrow. When he and his fellow "New Noodles" began, Connor Gillooly began his rehearsals to be the understudy for Dewey (the lead adult role) for School of Rock. Tomorrow, Connor is making his debut as Dewey and Cory is jumping out of his skin with excitement. He loves performing with Eric Peterson and Justin Collette and he is so excited his fellow "New Noodle" will be taking the stage tomorrow as Dewey. It is fascinating what our bedtime conversations have become and I am just a regular Mom trying to keep up with her son's new found, new-normal, life. It always feels good to feel comfortable in a place....comfortable enough to slip your shoes off.....I just never would have guessed that this place for me would be the Winter Garden Theater!
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