We have decided to go ahead with our Family Reunion despite the Covid-19 social distancing and quarantine regulations this summer. We are doing some of the familiar things, but definitely not the high adventure activities we usually try to do. Most activities will be close to home and won't involve spending much money. I guess that is a good thing in the long run.
As part of our Family Reunion, we are doing a Cousins Theater Camp. Many of my grandchildren live on opposite coasts of the country. As a result, they have not been involved in any of Grandma's shows before. In fact, I realized that these young people really don't know any of my background and history. With that in mind, I decided to write and illustrate a few formative stories from my youth and put them into an Early Reader Chapter Book format. These stories are about how I got involved in singing and doing Musical Theater.
As part of our Family Reunion, we are doing a Cousins Theater Camp. Many of my grandchildren live on opposite coasts of the country. As a result, they have not been involved in any of Grandma's shows before. In fact, I realized that these young people really don't know any of my background and history. With that in mind, I decided to write and illustrate a few formative stories from my youth and put them into an Early Reader Chapter Book format. These stories are about how I got involved in singing and doing Musical Theater.
My mother, Carolyn Thompson Lee was extremely talented. She could sing and dance, could play the piano effortlessly, and could throw together a show at the drop of a hat. She had her children performing from practically the day of their births. Even though these are memories from my own childhood, in a way, these stories honor her most of all. She was such a driving force in making exciting things happen for me, as well as my siblings, and anyone else within her sphere of influence.
The first story, Betsy Takes a Bow, tells how my mother taught me little songs to sing and had me performing from the time I began talking. She always told people that I learned to sing before I learned to talk. When I was two, she coaxed me into singing by allowing me to wear what I considered my fancy costume --- my "ruffly, fluffly" white petticoat.
The first story, Betsy Takes a Bow, tells how my mother taught me little songs to sing and had me performing from the time I began talking. She always told people that I learned to sing before I learned to talk. When I was two, she coaxed me into singing by allowing me to wear what I considered my fancy costume --- my "ruffly, fluffly" white petticoat.
The second story, Betsy Loves to Sing, is about how Aunt Janie Thompson began including me in a children's trio when I was 5. We sang for some pretty big gatherings in front of very large audiences.
Janie Thompson was actually quite a famous entertainer and director in her own right. At the end of World War II, she toured the world as a Big Band singer with the Ike Carpenter Band. She and Tony Bennett were the singers. Janie was asked to return to BYU to train young performers in the early 1950's. She then took those talented college kids performing all over the world.
Janie Thompson was actually quite a famous entertainer and director in her own right. At the end of World War II, she toured the world as a Big Band singer with the Ike Carpenter Band. She and Tony Bennett were the singers. Janie was asked to return to BYU to train young performers in the early 1950's. She then took those talented college kids performing all over the world.
The third story, Betsy Takes Piano Lessons, is about the problem of being the 6 year old daughter of a talented mother who desperately wanted her own daughter to have advantages that she did not have growing up.
Unfortunately, I did not think any teacher measured up to my own mother and I did not appreciate piano lessons very much.
Unfortunately, I did not think any teacher measured up to my own mother and I did not appreciate piano lessons very much.
The fourth story Betsy Directs a Musical is actually dedicated to a favorite Elementary School Teacher. Mrs. Richardson not only allowed, but encouraged a group of over-zealous 5th graders to put on their own version of Peter Pan in front of the entire school.
I hope my grandchildren can humor their Grandma and get to know the reasons why I do the things I do. I blame it all on my mother!
I hope my grandchildren can humor their Grandma and get to know the reasons why I do the things I do. I blame it all on my mother!
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