@danelle hevron studio
If you haven't checked out your local high school, college or community's latest theater production, you are truly missing out. 

The time and effort put into these productions and the quality of the products churned out are nothing short of amazing, especially when you consider a few things - many of these groups are putting on these productions with funds they are raising themselves, with talent who are juggling homework, jobs, families and, in some cases, all three.

I recently had the opportunity to take photos of Robinson High School's production of "Grease." Who wouldn't jump at that chance?!

The student actors started trickling in around 6 p.m. for hair and makeup, while director Dana Wachtel put some final touches on the set. Behind the scenes, the crew were busy with costumes, lights and sound checks. RHS productions are in the school cafetorium which means every night after rehearsal, an extra 30 minutes or so is spent disassembling all the lights and sound equipment so the facility is student-friendly the next day. No one complains. It's all worth it to be part of something special.

As sound checks were completed, things began to roll. The lights, the music, the dancing. I recognized several of the faces as children who went through Lincoln Trail College's Children's Summer Theater. They weren't the baby faces I remembered. They've grown into their voices.

So much action, so much legwork, so much fun! It didn't take long for my memory cards to fill. 

Arriving home, I immediately started importing the photos. I couldn't wait to see them!

Our own kids were excited to see them as well.

What was the show about? Who is that girl? Who is that boy? Why does she have pink hair?

They had to know every detail. In fact, they were so intrigued we decided to attend the Saturday night show.

They were mesmerized. I have to say I was too.

When you attend a rehearsal you only THINK you have a feel for what the production will be like. Having photographed plays before I can honestly say that isn't the case. Something happens when actors perform in front of a crowd. The performances become bolder, the acting more effortless.

The energy that graced the stage Saturday night was incredible! The big voices coming out of some of these young actors was astounding. To keep two 7-year-olds - and their mother - entertained for more than an hour is no small feat. Trust me!

I often wonder how children perceive plays and musicals when we attend, so after any show we take them to I immediate pump them with questions. Did you like it? What was your favorite part? Which characters did you like? Which ones did you not like? I know it drives them crazy, but I love getting their perspective.

This play was no different. I didn't get any straight answers since it was late and all they wanted to do was sleep on the way home. They were, however, obsessed with the watching the movie the next day. About 30 minutes in, they had completely lost interest. One begged for the iPad, while the other buried her nose in a library book.

"It was set in olden times," Hannah said. "The people were so old." (I can't imagine Olivia Newton-John as old in the movie, but I'm not 7 years old.)

"Did you like Saturday night's show better?" I asked.

"Oh yes."

There is something to be said for live theater. It is so much better!

@danelle hevron studio