Curiosity Fills the Dad

Was it really a year ago I was walking outside Cabrillo’s Crocker Theater and saw a mom and her daughter eating lunch between the young one’s performance in the Nutcracker?

I couldn’t resist stopping to talk, even though it drives my boy, Parker, crazy. He complains that we never get anywhere because I always talk to people. How can I not? That’s one of the great things about journalism–meeting people and hearing their stories. I’ve always been curious, since before I was Parker’s age (I must have been 4) and I followed the mailman for blocks and blocks because I wanted to see where the mail came from.

Only, after a while, I realized I was lost and had no idea how to get home. These were the good ol’ days and the mail person was chatting with a group of moms sitting outside their apartment. I walked up to them, crying my eyes out and terrified. Luckily, it was a small neighborhood and they knew my mom, even though I didn’t know them. One of them walked me home.

I never knew where my curiosity would lead and more often than not it leads to great things. Like our cover story this month.

I started chatting with Brynn Campbell, 9, and her mom, Cara about what it was like to perform and they were both glowing. Parker caught the bug just listening. And it sparked my curiosity. How did it work? How long did it take to practice and learn? Was it fun? Was it rewarding?

Parker was already crazy for the glorious musical theater show and we have nutcrackers around the house year round. And then he said the most shocking thing, that he wanted to be in it next year.

And here we are. He’s been rehearsing since September and I don’t know which of us is more nervous and excited about his Dec. 16 and 17 performances.

And I finally got answers to my questions, what it takes to prepare, how do they learn all this, what’s it like to perform to a big audience?

I got director Shannon Chipman to keep a journal about her year-round work on the show. You can read it here and share the joy.

Thanks for reading!
Brad Kava,
Editor and Publisher