It all started at the Center

What is more exciting to a 12-year-old than getting to see the

Pacific Symphony Orchestra perform with Mickey Mouse as the

conductor? A lot.

But listening to music in comfy chairs beats school work any day.

Well, that’s how my sixth-grade class felt about our annual field

trips to the Orange County Performing Arts Center. It was a day to

dress up in “fancy clothes” and wear our dresses, slacks and

button-down shirts. We girls even brought purses and finally had a

reason to wear our shoes with the slight heel -- the ones we

convinced our moms we were old enough to have.

At the time, we didn’t realize the generosity of the Performing

Arts Center. We had no clue about the extensive educational campaign

designed to introduce us to the arts. To be honest, we really weren’t

all that enthusiastic about the performance itself. But we got out of

the classroom and met kids (boys) from other schools, and that was

reason enough to look forward to it year after year.

Our buses would arrive, just one in a line of many, and we would

file into the Center with our shoulders back, heads held high,

feeling very sophisticated.

We even tinted our lips with cherry-flavored Chapstick for the

occasion. We actually got busted for that. Our teacher called our

parents and told them we were putting on makeup in the back of the

bus. Chapstick! Our parents had a good laugh later. But I digress.

So, I never really thought much of these little field trips until

recently.

I listen to people talk about the importance of the arts for

children and so on and so forth. Nod and smile. Of course, kids need

art. Who can argue with getting more culture?

It wasn’t until I started to cover the Center for the Pilot that I

really thought about how those field trips influenced me and my

friends.

After we’d outgrown the field trips, we found our niche in the

arts.

In seventh grade, Liz, Lauren, Rachel and I would meet after

school and listen to tapes of “Les Miserables,” “Phantom of the

Opera,” “Cabaret” and “Miss Saigon.” We would work our way through

each musical, assigning certain songs to certain people and

practicing them in the living room. Once we had it all down, we would

perform the entire musical in Lauren’s living room.

Some of my greatest hits were “Castle on a Cloud,” “On My Own” and

“Master of the House.” (Can you tell which was my favorite?) I can

remember working to hit various notes and experimenting with

harmonies. Sure, some of the songs were a tad racy, but they were fun

to sing. I can still remember the words.

I went on to perform in musical theater, honors chorus, concert

choir and school talent shows, as well as play softball and soccer.

As I got older, sports got more competitive, and I had to chose.

Sports won.

But music never lost. Singing is a regular part of my life. I

still belt out songs in my living room, or car, and so does my son,

Donovan.

Had it not been for those field trips to the Center, I would not

have realized the power of live performance. How a perfect note can

send chills down your spine. How the stance of the performer exudes

confidence and energy. How beautiful they looked on that great big

stage.

It was that stage that served as the imaginary setting for our

after school musicals. And it is that stage that continues to carry

the revival shows performed in my apartment today.

* LOLITA HARPER writes columns Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays and

covers culture and the arts. She may be reached at (949) 574-4275 or

by e-mail at lolita.harper@latimes.com.