Princess posse raises money for MacTheatre, creates Disney experience for kids
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Photos by Jasmine Barrera, Jazzabelle Davishines and Katie Nalle.
Singing, kids and tea, lots of tea. McCallum’s theatre program held their annual booster club fundraiser, Princess Tea Party, on October 28. The event invited kids and Disney lovers to come to the cafeteria and see MacTheatre students as Disney prince and princesses. These characters sang songs and interacted with the audience during the show while the attendees were served food and, of course, tea.
To open the show, Freshmen Helena Laing and Terrell Hall toured the cafeteria, greeting children and parents as Tiana and Naveen from Disney’s “The Princess and The Frog.”
“There was a lot of little kids [at Princess Tea Party],” Hall said “You could tell seeing their favorite princes and princesses really made their day.”
All of the Disney prince and princesses were represented during the tea party, including the newest one, Moana, played by Sophomore Abigail Lerma.
“I wish I could have auditioned for [Princess Tea Party] in the past but there wasn’t really a role for me,” Lerma said, “When Moana came out I was like ‘Oh I can be that’. You could tell the kids were really happy to see the ‘new’ princess perform.”
Many of the children in attendance were dressed up as their favorite Disney character and participated right alongside the McCallum Theatre students. “It was really nice seeing all the little kids in their costumes,” said freshman waiter Emma Lindsey. “They were all smiling and so excited to see all the princesses.”
McCallum theatre’s troupe officers were in charge of putting together the event, planning food, and creating a princess-ready set up for the event. Actors were invited to audition in front of the officers for roles as princes or princesses.
“It was very detailed,” senior officer Sarah Kay Stevens said. “We did a lot of pre-planning and coordinating with parents. We had to audition actors, find dresses, coordinate volunteers, and design the cafeteria.”
Sophomore Julia Blackmon, who played Rapunzel, said she usually gets nervous before she performs but seeing the little kids react when she came on stage calmed her nerves.
“It’s such a good experience,” says sophomore Julia Blackmon. “I loved feeling like a princess for a day.”
Katie • Feb 26, 2018 at 2:03 pm
This was so much fun and so helpful for the theater program! It was really heartwarming to see all of the kids so excited about seeing their favorite Disney characters. I hope to go again next year!
Kristen T. • Jan 23, 2018 at 12:24 pm
I wish I could have been there, that looks like so much fun! This is one of my favorite stories on here- such a great idea. I’m sure the kids and parents who attending had a lot of fun seeing their favorite Disney characters live. I’ll be sure to make it next year.
Rowan Lerman • Jan 23, 2018 at 12:24 pm
I think it’s heart warming to see fellow mac students either come to watch or act in it, it seems like such a minor thing for them but when I was elementary school I would’ve been excited for the tea party for weeks.
Mia Terminella • Jan 23, 2018 at 11:41 am
This is my second year experiencing princess tea party and I can confidently say that it keeps getting better every year. As the article says, the children really enjoy the experience and it is a great idea. It’s a good opportunity for actors who want to gain more experience and have a good time.
J. Mariana • Jan 19, 2018 at 2:51 pm
As a freshman I don’t know a lot about McCallum’s traditions or annual parties or events they hold. The idea of putting on a tea party for little kids with their favorite princesses and princes in brilliant! This story gives some insight to the actors and it is really, really cool!