After a pseudo first day/mini workshop at Hart High School, the South Tour cast finally had its first day of workshop. Now a few might have had their suspicions about starting a workshop on Friday the 13th, but as always the Young Americans pulled it off. We put our usual 5 hour work day into just 4 and taught our younger than usual participants at super speeds. If you thought the YAs were full of energy before, just watch us teach three choral songs in 9 minutes. Even through this fast paced day there was never a worry the kids wouldn’t pick up what we were laying down. We could only cross our fingers that their passion would last 2 more days.

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Day two started with a pump up jam from Katy Perry. We got our bodies in the mood for all the dances it would soon be doing, but nothing could prepare us for the personal insight yet to come. Classes went off without a hitch. Only a few tears were shed but with them went a fear of judgement as everyone supported their new friends. All minds were open for the rest of the day. It would be needed as the cast was about to teach a number never taught to kids before. Thankfully, the Sports Medley was successful. We hope it goes just as well in our future towns!

After lunch, everyone came back to learn a dance medley and collection of songs. Then came Lion King. No one really knew how it would go, but with cast so eager to bond the showing was powerful. The teaching went well before being passed to review and t-shirt time. The parents came and learned their part in Rock Medley.

When workshop finally ended, the cast quickly struck the set and booked our booties over to the Stevens’ incredible home for taco night. Whether people were outside by the firepit or inside playing Catch Phrase, it was wonderful enjoying some down time with our friends.

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Well, third day was interesting. The cast got to Masters College at 10am. Load, lunch, the most intense warm up ever via Tara Smart, walk through of the 1st act, run through of the 2nd act with the kids. Finally, we were supposed to eat dinner while the sound crew EQed the gym. What was supposed to take 20 minutes took about an hour and a half. Basically, after all the work the sound crew did, the sound board failed. All the things they just did to make our show sound good just went down the tubes.

Think about Jason Brown right now. A 20 year old from Michigan that joined the Young Americans in August 2011. This is his first tour. His first town. His first time doing sound for the Young Americans. What could he possibly be thinking? “It was stressful, but thanks to the help of others it was possible. In the end, it was a good learning experience.”

They put in call to Mark Martinez and the sound board came back to life. The sound in the first act was a little muffled, but all thoughts of the mishap went out the window when the kids finally took the stage and their eyes lit up.