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<P class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; TEXT-INDENT: -0.5in; LINE-HEIGHT: normal; TEXT-ALIGN: center"
align=center><B style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><FONT size=3>Theater family goes the
distance</FONT></SPAN></B></P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: -0.5in; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><?xml:namespace prefix = o ns =
"urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p><FONT
size=3> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal; TEXT-ALIGN: center"
align=center><SPAN
style="COLOR: #1f497d; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><FONT size=3>Bob
Abelman<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal; TEXT-ALIGN: center"
align=center><I style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal"><SPAN
style="COLOR: #1f497d; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><FONT
size=3>News-Herald, Chagrin Valley Times, Solon Times, Geauga Times
Courier<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></I></P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal; TEXT-ALIGN: center"
align=center><SPAN
style="COLOR: #1f497d; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><FONT size=3>Member,
International Association of Theatre Critics <o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal; TEXT-ALIGN: center"
align=center><I style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><o:p><FONT
size=3> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></I></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt; TEXT-ALIGN: center"
align=center><SPAN
style="COLOR: #1f497d; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><FONT size=3>This
review appeared in the <I style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">Chagrin Valley
Times </I>3/26/09</FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><FONT size=3>Sam Welch, 12 years old,
is spending four days a week in Willoughby while his 10-year-old sister Natalie
is spending six days a week in Lakewood.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>No, they are not victims of divorce or foreclosure.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>They are not doing missionary work.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Their story is much more dramatic.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>They are
actors.<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><o:p><FONT
size=3> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><FONT size=3>It all began innocently
enough.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Two years ago, word of a
casting call for adorable and naturally talented children led to a phone call,
which led to an audition, which led to a callback, which became a summer in Cain
Park doing a professional production of <I
style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">Oliver!</I><SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Little did Kim and Brad Welch
realize that a normal life for their offspring was no longer feasible and that
they would now and forever bear the title “theater parents.”<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN><o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><o:p><FONT
size=3> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><FONT size=3>Being a theater parent
means that your kids have more adult friends than you do.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>It means that you are recognized for the
accomplishments of your children and not your own.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>As a theater parent, you will be seeing
more plays than Tony Brown, spending more time in waiting rooms than a
subscription of <I style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">Sixteen</I> magazine, and
logging more hours on the road then a teamster. <o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><o:p><FONT
size=3> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><FONT size=3>Here is a page from last
week’s calendar, a slice of life from the blur of activity that is the Welch
household. <o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><o:p><FONT
size=3> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNoSpacing style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><FONT size=3>3:30 p.m.: The kids get
home from Chagrin Falls Intermediate School, although Sam often has travel
soccer practice, Natalie has Dance Team practice or they both have Select Choir
rehearsals and don’t get home until later.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>They get right to their homework, which includes reviewing scripts and
practicing choreography.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Kim
prepares dinner.<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNoSpacing style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><o:p><FONT
size=3> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNoSpacing style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><FONT size=3>4:30 p.m.: Eating, family
small talk and running lines in preparation for the evening’s play
rehearsals.<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNoSpacing style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><o:p><FONT
size=3> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNoSpacing style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><FONT size=3>5:30 p.m.: The kids get
driven to rehearsals by Kim.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Sam
has the title role in the Willoughby Fine Arts production of <I
style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">Willy Wonka Jr.</I>, an all-kids musical
production based on the classic <SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>children’s book “Charlie and the
Chocolate Factory.”<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>During the 4
weeks of rehearsals, Sam makes the half hour journey 4 nights a week and, during
3 weeks of performances, he is at the theater 3 times a week to perform before
several hundred people.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN><o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNoSpacing style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><o:p><FONT
size=3> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNoSpacing style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><FONT size=3>After dropping off Sam,
Kim and Natalie make the 45 minute voyage to the Beck Center for the Arts in
Lakewood.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Natalie is one of two
children in the nine-member cast of the professional production of <I
style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">Grey Gardens</I>.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>During the 3 weeks of rehearsals, she is
called 6 nights a week and, during the 5 weeks of perpetually sold-old
performances, she is at the theater 4 times a week.<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNoSpacing style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><o:p><FONT
size=3> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNoSpacing style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><FONT size=3>10:30p.m.: Rehearsals are
over and, during the run of the show, so are performances.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Brad <SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>typically picks up Sam in
Willoughby and brings him home. <SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Kim
stays with Natalie in Lakewood and brings her home.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>They occasionally swap assignments so
that both parents can see both kids perform. <o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNoSpacing style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><o:p><FONT
size=3> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNoSpacing style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><FONT size=3>11:30p.m.:<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>The kids are in bed, unless it is the
week before a show opens.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>During
“tech week,” all the technical components of the production—the lighting and the
sound—are worked through and perfected, which results in even later
rehearsals.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Natalie has some
rehearsals lasting until midnight, which puts her in bed at 1 a.m.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>On a school
night.<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNoSpacing style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><o:p><FONT
size=3> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNoSpacing style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><FONT size=3>This schedule does not
factor in the many nights devoted to bringing the kids to auditions for other
shows at theatres all around the city. <SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>It also does not consider that,
while in performance for one show, Sam and Natalie are often in rehearsal for
the next.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>When not in Lakewood or
Willoughby, for example, Kim or Brad delivers them to the local High School for
rehearsals for the upcoming production of <I
style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">Guys and Dolls</I>.
<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><o:p><FONT
size=3> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><FONT size=3>Sarah Palin tapped into
the hockey mom population to make a point about the personal sacrifice parents
make for their children.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Minus the
mouth guards, Kim and Brad Welch’s children are on the equivalent of an all-star
hockey team. On tour.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>With a
never-ending season.<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><o:p><FONT
size=3> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></P><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA"><FONT
size=3>As with the parents of young athletes, Kim and Brad wonder if their
children’s passion will someday become their profession.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Of course, the worlds of sports and
performing arts are equally competitive. But passion is what drives Sam and
Natalie to excel in theater and driving is what Kim and Brad do to support
them</FONT></SPAN></FONT></DIV></BODY></HTML>