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The parents of Holmes Elementary School student actress Esther MacDonald are incredibly proud of their daughter’s performance in the lead role of the school’s production “Sleeping Beauty, Kids,” an adaptation of the Disney animated classic.
Parents Donald and Maria MacDonald have played an important and active role in helping Esther prepare for her lead part, regularly attended rehearsals, helped other actors and actresses prepare for their respective roles, and assisted stage crews when the elaborate set was built.
“Esther is a wonderful daughter and we are thrilled that she is the lead actress for this great performance. My heart is full of joy when I see her on stage,” said Maria MacDonald.
“I am very proud of her. She has a lot of talent. I will always support her in any way I can,” said Esther’s father Donald MacDonald.
The amount of support for Esther and the Holmes Elementary School community by Donald and Maria MacDonald is profound, inspirational, heartfelt, and in some respects limited because of their lifelong disability: both have been deaf since birth, and can only communicate with Esther and the rest of the “Sleeping Beauty, Kids” crew through a sign language interpreter.
“My parents have been very helpful. Their encouragement made me a better actress. They’re especially helpful with facial expressions, how I move, and how I can communicate with body language,” said Esther MacDonald.
Her parents regularly attended rehearsals and provided stage direction for their daughter and the other actors and actresses. Donald MacDonald has extensive theater experience as an actor and stagehand going back to his college days at the Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT). Both Donald and Maria are committed to helping their daughter pursue her dream of acting.
“We helped our daughter with expressions, how to develop a character, and communicate feelings in a way that you don’t have to say a single word,” added Maria.
“I’m so happy for her (Esther). This is her first time in a lead role, an important role. We wanted to do everything we could to support her,” added Donald.
The proud parents have been deaf since birth due to complications associated with contracting German measles. Sign language is the only way they have communicated with both daughters, Esther who is eight years old, and Elizabeth who is 2 years old.
Esther was signing back to her parents when she was only three months old. Her first sign was a request for milk, then a kiss.
“My parents are such an inspiration. They have been really supportive during rehearsals. My Dad is really funny. I always thought of him as my dad and director,” said Esther.
The MacDonald family and the entire Holmes Elementary School community are strong supporters of the arts. Teachers Heather Holden and Angela Ziegler are co-directing the performance of “Sleeping Beauty, Kids.”
They also established “Holmes Total Child Theatre” (TCT) in 2006. It was started in an effort to produce the school’s first musical (Annie, Jr.) and evolved into a group of students, teachers, parents and community members who continue to design musical opportunities and experiences for the children at Holmes.
This work supports the school’s mission of creating lifelong learners. The Holmes Total Child Theatre does not receive funding by the school system. All show funds are raised through donations and events, which provide show materials, costumes, sound and lighting equipment, guest theater instructors and more.
Both Holden and Ziegler are impressed with Esther MacDonald’s acting abilities, and the support she received from her deaf parents.
“Esther is a beautiful singer and actress. Her parents, despite their impairment, have been a big help assisting our production. Esther’s father worked with the student actor playing ‘Prince Phillip’ on facial expressions and choreography. One time he spent an entire Saturday painting with us. Mr. and Mrs. MacDonald have a love for the theater that they are now sharing with their daughter and our entire school. It’s a beautiful thing,” said Holden.
Prior to their first evening performance for the Holmes Elementary School and Ken-Ton community, the MacDonald family reflected on the great happiness they all share in having Esther perform as the lead actress in the school play.
“I feel like I am going to explode with joy,” said Esther prior to a recent evening performance.
The parents of Holmes Elementary School student actress Esther MacDonald are incredibly proud of their daughter’s performance in the lead role of the school’s production “Sleeping Beauty, Kids,” an adaptation of the Disney animated classic.
Parents Donald and Maria MacDonald have played an important and active role in helping Esther prepare for her lead part, regularly attended rehearsals, helped other actors and actresses prepare for their respective roles, and assisted stage crews when the elaborate set was built.
“Esther is a wonderful daughter and we are thrilled that she is the lead actress for this great performance. My heart is full of joy when I see her on stage,” said Maria MacDonald.
“I am very proud of her. She has a lot of talent. I will always support her in any way I can,” said Esther’s father Donald MacDonald.
The amount of support for Esther and the Holmes Elementary School community by Donald and Maria MacDonald is profound, inspirational, heartfelt, and in some respects limited because of their lifelong disability: both have been deaf since birth, and can only communicate with Esther and the rest of the “Sleeping Beauty, Kids” crew through a sign language interpreter.
“My parents have been very helpful. Their encouragement made me a better actress. They’re especially helpful with facial expressions, how I move, and how I can communicate with body language,” said Esther MacDonald.
Her parents regularly attended rehearsals and provided stage direction for their daughter and the other actors and actresses. Donald MacDonald has extensive theater experience as an actor and stagehand going back to his college days at the Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT). Both Donald and Maria are committed to helping their daughter pursue her dream of acting.
“We helped our daughter with expressions, how to develop a character, and communicate feelings in a way that you don’t have to say a single word,” added Maria.
“I’m so happy for her (Esther). This is her first time in a lead role, an important role. We wanted to do everything we could to support her,” added Donald.
The proud parents have been deaf since birth due to complications associated with contracting German measles. Sign language is the only way they have communicated with both daughters, Esther who is eight years old, and Elizabeth who is 2 years old.
Esther was signing back to her parents when she was only three months old. Her first sign was a request for milk, then a kiss.
“My parents are such an inspiration. They have been really supportive during rehearsals. My Dad is really funny. I always thought of him as my dad and director,” said Esther.
The MacDonald family and the entire Holmes Elementary School community are strong supporters of the arts. Teachers Heather Holden and Angela Ziegler are co-directing the performance of “Sleeping Beauty, Kids.”
They also established “Holmes Total Child Theatre” (TCT) in 2006. It was started in an effort to produce the school’s first musical (Annie, Jr.) and evolved into a group of students, teachers, parents and community members who continue to design musical opportunities and experiences for the children at Holmes.
This work supports the school’s mission of creating lifelong learners. The Holmes Total Child Theatre does not receive funding by the school system. All show funds are raised through donations and events, which provide show materials, costumes, sound and lighting equipment, guest theater instructors and more.
Both Holden and Ziegler are impressed with Esther MacDonald’s acting abilities, and the support she received from her deaf parents.
“Esther is a beautiful singer and actress. Her parents, despite their impairment, have been a big help assisting our production. Esther’s father worked with the student actor playing ‘Prince Phillip’ on facial expressions and choreography. One time he spent an entire Saturday painting with us. Mr. and Mrs. MacDonald have a love for the theater that they are now sharing with their daughter and our entire school. It’s a beautiful thing,” said Holden.
Prior to their first evening performance for the Holmes Elementary School and Ken-Ton community, the MacDonald family reflected on the great happiness they all share in having Esther perform as the lead actress in the school play.
“I feel like I am going to explode with joy,” said Esther prior to a recent evening performance.