Summer is a great kid, no like she is really a great kid. She’s in all AP classes, never slacks when it comes to her grade and people respect her smartness. However, Summer also loves the arts. She loves to paint, play an instrument and even dance. Her dad loves her spirit, appreciates that Summer may not be great in the arts but she’s having fun and she’s earned some fun time in her life, but her mom does not. Mom thinks the arts are a waste of time and energy because if you’re not good at something that is not attached to your future, what are you doing. As she says “everyone doesn’t get a trophy.” Summer hears how her mother feels and leans on her Dad for support- he gives it. “Have fun.” So on this day of school she is practicing in her dance class when her teacher Mrs. P applauds her for all of the hard work she puts in…and before Summer could enjoy the moment Mrs. P calls in the class and points out Summer’s hard work and how awesome it would be… a dance off… at the school assembly… later that day… WITH PARENTS INVITED! Summer falls into a dream state of all the things she does well- hearing the support of her Dad- feeling the negative words of her Mom- and of course the terrible attitude of Rachel and her minions who is the girl she is to dance off against. But like all great kids Summer finds her strength, her voice and her heart to stand in front of the school and eventually in the loving eyes of her Mom who finally understands the joy. A loving story of standing up to your parents so they can see your heart and accept that it lives outside of AP classes and a book. A story of creating art while creating balance and the strength to stand up- head up- and just DANCE!
Art= Life + Laughter
(Scene opens with Summer, she stands in front of a mirror doing vocal warmups. As a person she is a little bit nervous and unsure of herself, but when she gets going, she shines… no matter how good or not she is at any given activity. Her heart is always in the right place, and we want her to win. She is committed, loud and struggling to hit the right pitch. One thing is for sure; she loves to sing.)
Summer: (sings) Do- Ra- Me- Fa- So- La- Te- Doooooooooooo (big breath, goes a pitch lower) ooooooooooooooo (big breath, goes a pitch higher) oo-
Mom: Summer!
Summer: ooooooooo-
Mom: Summmmmmmer!!! (Summer still doesn’t hear her. Dad enters)
Dad: SUMMER!
Summer: (startled) Oh, hi mom and dad.
Mom: Honey, isn’t it a little early for… this.
Summer: I’m practicing. I can only get better if I work on it. (nudges Dad) You taught me that. (Dad smiles, Mom glares)
Dad: That’s right honey. (pushes Mom out of the room) Keep working hard. (slams the door)
Summer: (smiles as Dad peeks in on last time and closes the door softly, resumes) Do- Ra- Me…
Dad: (outside the door) You can’t do that.
Mom: What?!
Dad: Sure, she’s bad-
Mom: Cold pizza for breakfast is bad-
Dad: But-
Mom: Pizza boats in elementary school, bad-
Dad: Sweetheart-
Mom: Pizza flavored chips, bad- (Dad laughs)
Dad: (side eye) Are you done?
Mom: Vegan cheese on pizza, the worst! (beat) It just doesn’t melt. (beat) I’m done. (Summer has stopped singing and is now listening to her parents on the other side of the door)
Dad: She’s not some variety of cheese. She’s in high school, she makes good grades, let her do whatever she wants to do with her free time.
Mom: It’s not free, this is “wasting our” time.
Dad: Stop it.
Mom: (pouting) She’s a dreamer honey. She thinks she’s an artist that can sing, and dance, have you seen her paintings? (Dad takes a breath as if to speak) Heard her play the trumpet- (Dad tries to talk again) Her Shakespeare monologue for the school talent show-
Dad: She got a lot of laughs.
