It's showtime!

The Young Ambassadors, a song and dance performing group from Brigham Young University, visited Norway this week. We got to enjoy two different evenings with the talented performers. On Wednesday we attended a fireside at church and enjoyed more than one hour of beautiful and uplifting music. 

After the program was over, the YA members socialized with the audience and my kids were thrilled to speak English. How can they possibly be my offspring? Talk about the apple falling far from the tree. They were asked their names and age and whether they had lived in Norway their entire life. Nikki, one of the girls, said Natalie had a beautiful butterfly in her hair, and Annalece commented on their beautiful eyes.  Bailee said they spoke English very well.  They also spoke to three of the guys.

The kids were totally on fire and started the count down to the BIG show. We had fun in the car on our way home as we raced cars with one of the host families travelling with six of the YA members.

Picture from Wikipedia

It was our kids first visit to the Concert Hall. A very special place for me! Because of all the concerts my father took me to but also because it is the place where Glenn and I shared our first kiss. Romantic, huh?!?

On Friday we went to a fully booked Oslo Concert Hall where the Young Ambassadors showcased American musical theatre, music and dance. The Young Ambassadors company consists of 26 performers (13 men and 13 women) and a 10 piece show band.  The program was kind of challenging for us as we are not too keen on a lot of the Broadway musicals. That's kind of an understatement for Glenn who was almost suffering. Haha. Melissa was a little startled at the loud music and the applause but was quiet during the whole concert. Such a good girl!

Among our favorites were the Elvis tribute Can’t Help Fallin’ In Love, the Four Seasons Tribute Can’t Take My Eyes Off You,  Songs from the 80's - Billy Joels Tell Her About It, Break My Stride and Footloose and the highlight for the kids was the ABBA tribute. Take a Chance, Super Trouper, Mamma Mia and Dancing Queen was fun!

Picture from the Young Ambassadors web site

After the show we talked to PJ and Jeremiah who remembered the kids from Drammen. It was important for Natalie to talk to one of the girls. She would have been heartbroken if we'd left home without seeing one of them, so we tracked Shayla down and she was so cute to Natalie. So as a memory to cherish for the rest of her life, here is a picture of Nikki, the girl who lifted Natalies spirit in such a special way and won her heart.

Picture from the Young Ambassadors web site

I do have some fun memories from prior YA concerts, one from the 1981 tour when Eric who played the banjo fell through our bunk bed while sleeping at our place and also from the 1992 tour in Berlin, Germany - but that's another story!

It was nice to be able to thank Randy Boothe, the artistic director, for his awesome effort and talent that he has shared for more than 25 years together with different members of the YA.