Christmas All Over Again

Our last day in New York was Sunday. I had so much fun but I was ready to go home and open the rest of my presents. Sadly at the second show, Marquis got sick. So I had to fill in for him so he could go home and get better. I was happy to go on for him but the bad part about it was that we would be on a later train and we would open presents really late at night too. After the show, I was so excited to get home. I quickly put my bags in my room and ran to my presents. My first gift was a Nerf Long Blaster. It is so cool. It is 3ft long and can shoot far away. It also is a 2 in 1 shooter. So you can take it apart and have 2 shooters. That gift was from my sisters. My mom got me a sweat hoodie that was reversable. So now I have a reversable belt and hoodie. The last and final gift was from my dad. He got my sisters and I Dell laptops. I was so happy and amazed at the same time. I loved all of my gifts. On Monday, I went over my Great Grandmother's house to open my presents from her and my extended family. My Aunt Marion bought me a brown and gold winter coat. My uncle Arthur gave me dress socks. My great grandmother gave me a basketball. Finally my cousin Semaj gave me a Hot Wheels monster truck set. I was so thankful. But the sad part of the day was that I had to do a show that day. All of my family was at the house and I couldn't spend a lot of time with them. My cousins and uncle were here from Alabama and I didn't even get a chance to see them. I was so upset. When my dad and I got to the theatre, I was still feeling down. My mom gave me a pep talk on the phone and I felt much better. When we got home, guess what... my cousins were at my house waiting for me to get home. I was surprised and very happy! It was great to see them. Today was a quick day. It went by so fast. I played with all of my Christmas presents but mostly my Nerf Long Blaster. Then it was time for me to go to New York. At the theatre, one of the past Young Nalas came to visit Niki. She still looks the same as her pictures when she was younger. She is going to college. The show was great and I had a great Christmas. TTYL

Alphonso

Christmas In New York

Yesterday was one of my favorite Christmas days. We are staying in a hotel in New York for the Christmas weekend. We didn't open as many gifts because we did not want to have to carry a whole bunch of gifts home. We will open the rest of the gifts on Sunday when we go home. We also went to see the Radio City Christmas Show and the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree. The show was amazing. My favorite part of the show was when they did a 3-D flight on Santa's sleigh. The tree was beautiful and big. There were alot of people at the tree. But I still had a good view so I could marvel at the gigantic tree. When we were leaving the tree, a car was trying to go through the people walking. This man hit the top on the car so hard that we thought he had dented the hood. The man yelled at the driver then the driver rolled down the window and started yelling back. It was crazy! We ate at Park Ave Cafe and this comedian named Jackie Mason came in. He sat right next to us. People were asking him for his autograph even while he was eating. My mom told me that I should watch how he handles himself because I may have to experience the same thing. Today I was so tired that I thought it was Sunday. By the time it was 12:00pm I realized that it was Saturday. We got to leave the hotel so much later because we did not have to catch the train. That's another plus about staying here. At work, I did not know I had the morning show. I pulled myself together and I prepared to go on. Between shows my family and I went to a new place called Dukes. I got my food from the mini buffet. They had good food. The second show went well and now my dad and I are going back to the hotel to join my sisters and my mom. TTYL

Alphonso

God is Still Working Miracles

Today I had a very crazy morning. There was a power outage between Newark and New York. We had to get off the train at Newark, get on the Path to the World Trade Center, then take a #3 train back to Times Square. We just made it there by 5 minutes. We would have never did it without the help of a God sent stranger. He was very nice and showed us how to get to the subway from the World Trade Center and then to the theatre. When I went to the theatre, I went backstage and started getting dressed when I couldn't find my biker shorts. I went outside the room to see if they were hanging up but they weren't. I tried to go back in the room but the door was locked. I felt so embarrassed standing outside my room with no pants or shirt on. After a while, my dresser found me and helped me get back in the room. She also gave me my biker shorts. At second act, Niki and I made Christmas picture frames. They were great fun to make. My frame was really nice. Between shows my mom and I stayed in the lobby. I had so much energy that I was flipping and dancing around the whole time. By the time I went backstage for the second show, I was on the verge of a deep sleep. When the show started, I stayed in the control room with the operator Butch. He controls Pride Rock and all of the elevators on stage. It was so much fun watching everything happen. I even learned about a few of the buttons and cues. Today started frantic but ended wonderful. TTYL



Alphonso

PS. If you'd like to see my holiday interviews backstage at the Lion King, go to Broadway.com and look under videos. I have on a Santa hat. Enjoy!

Malls, Toy Stores and Saying Good Bye

On Friday, my mom and I got on an earlier train than we usually take so we could go to Manhattan Mall. As we started to walk, we ran into a big problem. We could not find the mall. We looked and looked until finally we saw little letters on a sign that said Manhattan Mall. We laughed at ourselves because the sign was right in front of us. If it was a snake, it would have bit us. The mall was kind of small inside. It was not like any other mall I've ever been to. The food court was small too. All they had was soup and sandwiches. I got some soup for lunch. After we left the mall, we went to Kmart to buy some Christmas cards and some gloves for me. There were a lot of cards for me to choose from. I picked the cutest ones.

On Saturday between shows, my dad and I went to FAO Schwarz. It was so cool in there. The store had big animals and helicopters and the big piano. My favorite thing was the puppet making area. You could make a Muppet that looks just like the ones on Sesame Street. I wanted to get one, but my dad said we would get it another day. After the show, there was a big snow storm. The snow in only a few inches in New York but Trenton's snow was past my knees. My dad said he was two seconds away from booking us a hotel room.

On Sunday, my dad and I took an earlier train to New York because of the snow. We did not want to take any chances. It was Jeremy's last day filling in for Marquis so it was really gloomy backstage. Between shows was our last Green Couch Series for this year. All of the performances were phenomenal. I loved it. When Jeremy was about to leave, it took us forty minutes to say goodbye. I was really sad.

Today was a easy day. We helped my teacher unload and deliver gift for the Boys and Girls Club. There were about 100 toys in the classroom. I thought that was very nice of him to give gifts. Before I left school, he gave me a remote control car and a MP3 player. I said thank you about a million times. Before we left to go to the train station, we stopped over my great grandmother's house. She was so glad to see me and so were my god parents. My mom and I stayed at her house for about fifteen minutes then we left. At work, everyone was excited to see Marquis. There was great anticipation to see him walk by. When he finally came, he was very excited to be back too. Today's show went by fast. Time flies when you are having fun. TTYL

Alphonso

Math is Not That Hard After All

Yesterday I had a rehearsal. We rehearsed the Grasslands scene. We changed alot of things in that scene. After rehearsal, Jeremy and I went to Dave & Busters. We won 2,168 tickets on one game. That's the most tickets I've ever won. We were dancing around the machine every time we won the bonus amount of tickets. The people in there were looking at us like we were crazy. I had so much fun. When we got to the theatre, we showed Niki all of the things we got from the prize store. Today, my mom taught me some math techniques on the train going to work. It really helped me figure out the value of fractions and decimals. I was happy when I caught on and I was able to figure the problems out. Suddenly it was so easy. Thanks Mom. I had rehearsal at Ripley Grier today also. We rehearsed our scenes with Mufasa. We didn't change much though. After rehearsal, Jeremy and I went to the movies to see Planet 51. The movie was super hilarious. I loved the movie. Today's show was great. TTYL

Alphonso

Getting Use to Interviews

Yesterday I went to the dentist. I was so happy because the dentist said I had no cavities. After my appointment I went to the shoe store and bought some UGGS. They are so warm and they look very nice. I got them in a chesnut color. When I went home my Godmother came over and gave me my birthday present. She bought me the newest Hess truck. It looks like a sports car and you can store another car in the hood. It is really cool. After that my cousin came home from college and then my family, cousin and I went to the movies to see The Princess and the Frog. I loved that movie. Some parts were very scary though. Today I had an interview with Time Kids Magazine. The reporter was very nice. This was my first time being interviewed by a 9 or 10 year old. She asked Shannon and me about the audition process. She also took pictures of the sets and the costumes. Today was also my first time performing on a Tuesday. I noticed that the performance was the same as any other show. At second act I did my home work. I had to define 20 words. I finished it all. My mom was very proud of me. TTYL

Alphonso

A Sweet Weekend

On Saturday, I performed both of the shows because Marquis had a contractual obligation. Jeremy came just to be standby backstage just in case I get sick. I'm enjoying the process so far and Jeremy and I can talk more. It's so good to be able to see him instead of talking on the phone or texting all the time. Saturday was also the big sale on everything in the merchandise shop. Almost every cast member was shopping for Christmas in there. I bought a new Lion King sweat hoodie. I needed the extra warmth. Niki also sold some of her candy at the sale too. I helped her give change and prepare orders. The sale was great and it was alot of fun.

Today I also did both shows. Everybody kept asking me if I was tired yet. My response was no I am not tired. I'm enjoying it. During second act, Shereen, Shannon, Jeremy, and I helped set up for sweets and treats. Sweets and treats is a big party with candies, cakes, cookies, and more. I didn't eat too much knowing I had to do both shows. I had what I thought was an oatmeal raisin cookie with vanilla drizzle but it was actually a pumpkin cookie with cranberries and vanilla drizzle. At least I got the vanilla drizzle part right. Our break was very short. By the time I was in the middle of eating, it was call time for the second show. This weekend was filled with sweets and treats. TTYL

Alphonso

A Really Cold Day

Today was really cold. I had so many layers on. I couldn't believe how cold it was. What made it worse was that our rehearsal today was not for any of the kids. There was a change on the schedule but we didn't get it. So we sat and watched the rehearsal in the theatre. I was really bored for those hours after the rehearsal. It was a long time before my report time so my mom and I just hung out in the lobby of the theatre. I did my show and when we left, it was freezing outside. I was so glad that the train was warm. TTYL

Alphonso

Happy Birthday to Me

On Tuesday, in school, I made a card in art class. The card was wishing my whole family a Merry Christmas. On the inside of the card, I made a pop-up Christmas tree. I brought the card home and showed my mom. She said that it was absolutely wonderful and it was good drawing. My mom was feeling a little under the weather so she didn't take me to the show. My dad filled in for my mom. I thought that it was nice of him to take me to the show. At the show, I was so eager for the day to end because my birthday was the next day. On the way home, I found out that I wasn't going on Wednesday because the producers were coming and they already saw me and wanted to see Marquis. I was perfectly fine with that because I wanted them to see both of us and not just me. When I got home, I went straight to bed. I could not wait for my birthday.



Wednesday was my birthday. I woke up, ran down stairs, and into my mom and dad's room then yelled," Birthday Boy!" My mom tickled me for a long time after my big appearance. I was so happy for it to be my birthday. What made it better was that I got to leave early from work and be with my family even longer. At intermission, the cast sang "Happy Birthday" and then ate cake. When I got home my family went out to eat at the "Golden Corral". We had so much fun and ate a lot. I was stuffed like a turkey on Thanksgiving. At home we watched tv for the rest of the night. I had a really good birthday.



Today Shereen and I interviewed the cast for Broadway.com. The interviews were about the holiday season. The questions were, what's your favorite carol, what's your favorite gift, what's the craziest thing that ever happened on Christmas, and what is your favorite tradition for Christmas. I thought the interwviews were hilariuos and so much fun. I felt like a news reporter. I did an interview with the hyenas and they were acting really crazy. Backstage, I played board games and played on the computer. One more day to go then the weekend is here. TTYL



Alphonso

And The Winner Is.....

This morning, I did not want to wake up. My bones hurt from all that Cub Olympics, which was yesterday and my nose was running because I was taking pictures in the lobby and it was cold. Yesterday was the last Cub Olympic session and today was the awards ceremony. Before the ceremony, there was a Green Couch Concert series. All of the acts were totally hilarious. They were also very melangulous. My favorite was the Pridelands News performed by Dashaun Young and Ta'rea Campbell. They made jokes on everybody in the cast. I thought their skit was super funny. At the award ceremony, I won most improved in up/downs and 2nd place overall. I was proud of myself for doing the best I could. My mom was proud too. During the second show, I made a mouse and a cat shadow puppet. When I finished making those, I played with the little dogs that were in my dressing room. You could say they were mine because they are always in my dressing room. The only bad thing is that my room smells funny when they come in. But I don't mind the smell because dogs will be dogs. That pretty much sums up the weekend. I'm gonna go home and get some rest for school tomorrow. TTYL

Alphonso

Are You Merlangulous?

Yesterday I had the biggest head ache of my life. It felt like someone was throwing rocks at my head. That is the reason I did not do my blog. I could not think very well. I went home, took some medicine and went to bed. Today I woke up happy and head ache free. In school we wrote a story on how a fifth grader was ship wrecked on an island. He lived for a month and then was rescued. The first story I wrote was completely off topic. It was totally merlangulous. Merlangulous is a word I made up that means extremely outrageous. (I'm trying to get people to use it so that it can be put in Webster's Dictionary) I re-wrote the story and it was great. It was much better than my first story. At work I had rehearsal. I basically laid down for the staging of the Hakunna Matata scene the whole time. The stage managers were saying jokes like "You worked pretty hard" or "Your going to get major notes on that". (Laugh) During the show I practiced my guitar for a long time. I wanted to get the chords right so I could learn more. My fingers were hurting badly. After I played my guitar I sat around and signed more Lion King posters for Broadway Cares Equity Fights Aids. We are raising lots of money for the people in need. Today went very fast. Tomorrow it Friday and then the weekend is here. TTYL

Alphonso
PS: Don't forget to use merlangulous as much as possible. (mur-lan-gu-lus)

Christmas is Coming

Today we made Christmas trees in class. They were made out of paper. At the theatre, Niki brought her puppet backstage. I was making funny jokes with it. After that, I hung out with the dogs. The dogs were grumbling because they didn't want to play together. It got kinda boring because the dogs had to split up. I had to get new shoes because I grew out of my old ones. This time I got a size seven. I didn't know my foot was that big. Our dresser, Katherine, came back from a leave of absence. We were so happy to see her. Oh, I forgot to say that my dad rented the movie "Holes". Some parts were better than the book. I would suggest that you read the book and watch the movie because both were great! TTYL

Alphonso

I Got Straight A's!

Today I stayed in school all day. I found out I had straight A's on my report card. I was so happy that I was dancing and flipping in my head. I tried to trick my mom into thinking that I had a bad report card, but it did not work. I bust out laughing as soon as I saw her. I could not pull it off. At after school program, I went to the tennis program. It was fun and I learned how to do some of the swings. It was awesome. When we went back to the school, I finished the rest of my homework. We decorated out house for Christmas when I got home. It looks great. I am so glad today is over. Now I can go to sleep in my beautiful room. TTYL

Alphonso

Happy Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving everybody. Boy do I have alot to be thankful for this year. We had Thanksgiving day off. That meant we had to do two shows on Friday. I did the matinee that day and it felt so weird because I usually do the evening show on Fridays. And guess what... my whole family spent the day in New York. We walked around and took in some sights. On my break, we went to Toys-r-us. I bought New Moon dog tags. It was so crowded in the store because it was Black Friday. Yesterday my sisters, my cousin and my dance teacher re-did my room. They painted it blue and put up a mural with dolphins on the walls. They also put glow in the dark stars on the ceiling. They are so cool. I love my new room. Yesterday we also had another Cub Olympics session between shows. I did better than all the weeks before. I was so proud of myself. Before I went to the Cub Olympics, my dad and I went to ESPN Zone. I played alot of games. It was so much fun. Today, since it was Thanksgiving weekend, we only had one show to do. It was a matinee. I did the matinee like I always do. Today went really fast. Tomorrow I have school. TTYL

Alphonso

A Time For Celebration

Yesterday, my God sister and brother came over so we could give my God brother his birthday gift. We got him a talking truck that came with a hard hat, a vest, and a stop sign. He did not like the costume but he loved the truck. He was racing around the house with his truck. I ran around with them too. They are so cute.
Today in school, I stayed on Study Island most of the time. My class was having a party for Thanksgiving but I wasn't going to be there. I was going to get picked up before the party. My cousin came over my house today. He is in college. He said he might finish in May. I am so happy for him. At the theatre, I got creative and found an old build a bear box. I put it on my head and said that I was an astronaut. They laughed at me. Everybody thought it was hilarious. It was pretty funny. The day went by fast. Tomorrow comes another. TTYL

Alphonso

A Fun But Busy Weekend

Friday was my father's birthday. As a birthday present, my mom took him to B. Smith. It is a restaurant in New York. Unfortunatly I had a show so I could not go. But I am glad they had a great time. I had my first guitar lesson that day too. I learned two chords. I was happy. After the show, a boy was with his family in the train station and he had a Lion King playbill. My mom asked if he just saw the show. He said yes. My mom finished,"You just saw him in the show!" His mother's face lit up and she said," You did an awesome job." Then she continued,"You got out of costume fast!" I smiled.
Saturday was our second Annual Cub Olympics session. I ate light so I could do my sit ups. We had to bring our 1st scores up or we had to do that excercise two times a day. I was determined to beat my score. I beat every one of my records. I was proud of myself. My dad and I went to the M&M Factory. It had so many colors. You name a color they have it.
Today I finished my book. I bet that I could finish it in one week and I did. I read all 50 chapters. I knew I could do it. I had another guitar lesson today. This time I learned a third chord. The cast member who is teaching me said that I will be on my way in no time. Between shows we had a pot luck for a cast member. It was so much fun. At the second show, I relaxed. I took my shoes off and laid down. That was great. TTYL

Alphonso

Just Call Me Little Guitar Boy

Today was the best day ever. I had a rehearsal at 1:00. It was just to clean up some scenes. After rehearsal, my mom and I went to Dallas BBQ's. The portions were so big for such little money. That is now a plus on my list of good restaurants. After we left BBQ's, my mom took me to Sam Ash. It is a music store. She bought me an acoustic guitar as an early birthday present. I was so happy. A member of the cast agreed to teach me some things. I was so excited to have a guitar. It came with an amp, instructional dvd, picks, and a strap. It was a good deal. I took it back to the theatre and everyone was so happy about me getting a guitar. I love my guitar and I love my mom for getting it for me. TTYL

Alphonso

Tests, Tests, and More Tests

In school, we took nothing but tests on the computer. First we took a test on Learnia. We did Math and Reading. The questions were not really hard, but some of them needed serious thought and work. When we finished that, we did Study Island. I aced my pretest in math. I was so proud of myself. When I finished Study Island, I started to read more of "Holes". Soon it was time for me to get picked up. On the way to New York, I read a chapter of my book then I went to sleep. When I woke up, I tried to zip up my jacket but I was zipping up my jacket pocket. I almost broke the zipper. I was so bushed. At the theatre, I was pretending to be my character "The Weirdo". The Weirdo laughs at everything and always has a sinister smiles. I also practiced for the next round of the Cub Olympics on Saturday. This week went by fast. Tomorrow is my show night. TTYL

Alphonso

PS. My schedule for December and January is Wednesday, Friday, Saturday evenings and Sunday matinee.

Are We There Yet

Yesterday, my dad and I went to see Mary Poppins on Broadway. I only got to see the Second Act because the train had a mishap. As we went into the tunnel, another train broke down in front of us. So we had to back up to Secaucas and switch trains. When we switched trains, the train that we switched to broke down too! The third train finally took off and got us to New York. By that time, the show was already an hour in. All of the good parts were in the Second Act. A guy walked on the walls and we saw Mary Poppins fly out. I thought that was really cool. Today I started a book called "Holes" by Louis Sachar. I read 58 pages so far. It's about a boy named Stanley Yelnats who is accused of stealing a famous baseball player's shoes. But what really happened is that the shoes fell from the freeway that he was walking under. His dad was an inventor and was trying to find a way to recycle old sneakers. Stanley thought it was a sign so he ran home. A cop saw him running with the shoes and arrested him. He was given a choice of going to jail or Camp Green Lake. He chose the camp. The camp was desert and he had to dig holes all day. The book is really good. Today was picture day at my school. I took a nice picture. I even picked out my own pose and background. At the theatre, I read most of the time. Today was a reading day. All that was missing was the rain and the hot chocolate. TTYL

Alphonso

Action Packed Weekend

Friday was the 12th anniversary of The Lion King on Broadway. The producers and company management gifted us with a passport. It was so cool. I put my Mary Poppins tickets inside of it. They also gave us a card. I thought that was really nice of them. Niki was not here on that day. Emily filled in for her. She flew a jet here because she was in St. Louis helping choreograph her high school theatre group. She said it was an all expenses paid trip, going there and back. Guess what? I found out that I will be spending Christmas in New York. My Aunt Marion booked us a room for three nights in a hotel for a present. She paid for everything. This is one of the best presents I ever received.



Saturday we had our 1st Annual Cub Olympics. We have been working out all week to be put to the test. We will have one every Saturday until December 6th. December 6th will be the award ceremony. My teachers from my school came to see me perform and my mom came with them. They said they loved the show. I rode the bus back home with them. I was so excited and they were too. I took lots of pictures and I got lots of hugs.



Today my church came to see me. There were lots of them, 56 to be exact. They loved the show too. When I came out everyone said, "SIMBA!". When they were getting ready to leave, I went on the bus and said, "Thank you for coming to see me." The next trip they are taking is going to be in January. Between shows we had another Green Couch event. They did two singing acts and 1 skit. Niki, Shannon, Shereen, Marquis, and I did commercials. Niki and the girls did a commercial about how if something stinks, blame it on the boys. The second commercial we all did. We were advertising the Cub Olympics. So we all did slow motion workouts to the song "A Space Odyssey". It was so funny. This weekend was action packed. I fell asleep on the train. When we got home I was so tired that I put my jacket on inside out. Funny huh!

I'd like to take this moment to thank everyone who has come to see me perform. It really means alot to me that I have so much support. I'm glad that you loved my performance and I hope that I made you proud! TTYL


Alphonso

A Little Time to Chill

Yesterday, my teacher gave me a bunch of books to read. I took the book, "To Be a Slave" with me to New York. I read two pages on the train and I fell asleep. It was so boring and did not hold my attention. Niki, my wrangler, was reading this book called Tunnels. The cover looked so interesting. She loves books about slaves so we exchanged books. I read the first chapter on the train ride home and it was so good. Today I had a day off from school. It was Veteran's Day. I was so happy to have a day off. It felt so good to have a longer sleep in the morning. I went with my sister to her dance rehearsal today. Then I went to the train station. My dad did a park and ride today. When we arrived in New York, we took the subway to the theatre. Backstage at the theatre, I played "Sorry" and watched "Home Alone 2". We didn't finish the game because we started watching the movie first. Today was a great day to have a day off. TTYL


Alphonso


PS: I have pictures and audio interviews at Broadway.com then click on show buzz and at NYTimes.com then click on theatre. I'm having a blast!

Meeting Niecy Nash and Star Jones

Yesterday during my break, I went to see A Christmas Carol starring Jim Carey. It was in 3-D. That movie was so cool. I loved the special effects. Today I was tired. But I was not too tired to do my show. My friend found his phone and called me. I was happy because he hasn't talked to me in a long time. It was like a reuniting. My favorite part of today was meeting Niecy Nash. She sounded the same as she does on her show Clean House. My mom told her that I was in the Lion King on Broadway and she started singing I Just Can't Wait to be King. My mom was super excited. She says that's her girl. I was excited too. We told my dad that we met her. He did not believe us until we sent him a picture. Then he started to ask a bunch of questions. I also met Star Jones and she was very nice. She is from Trenton too and told us that she used to date our mayor, Douglas Palmer. Boy, was I surprised because my mom knows the mayor and my dad works for him. What a small world. Meeting them made my day. TTYL

Alphonso

Happy 5,000!

Yesterday was our 5,000 showing of the Lion King. I was happy to be on stage that night. Julie Taymor was in the audience which made it even more exciting. She is the master mind behind the Lion King; the show's creator. Before the show, she told us not to go all out because she was there. My mom asked me if I was nervous. I said I wasn't. I thought it was an honor to be doing the show that evening. After the show, they had a big party at the Bond Club and we were allowed to go. The party was great! They had a cake with a big lion on it. It was cool. I took so many pictures. If you'd like to see some, you can go to playbill.com and look for them. I didn't get home until 3:30am, but I had so much fun. TTYL

Alphonso

From Division to Solving Mysteries

Today we had a substitute teacher instead of getting split up. She was nice but sometimes she was mean. She told everybody in the school that we were such a good class. I thought that was very nice of her. I did not have any problems with her. I realized I had a problem with division in school. So I told my mom and she helped me. She showed me a super fast way. It is very easy too. The train ride went so fast. Maybe it was because I played video games the whole time. While I was at the theatre, my mom went to Barnes and Nobles. She bought me a set of Encyclopedia Brown books. On the way home, I started reading the first book and I couldn't put it down. I'm half way through already! I can't wait to read again tomorrow. TTYL

Alphonso

This Is It

Today my teacher was not in school. My class got split up into different classes. I went to my fourth grade class but then I was sent to Pre-K to help the teacher. After school I went to the movies to see " This Is It" by Michael Jackson. That movie was amazing. The special effects were so good. They had elevator toasters that fly you up and out of the elevator and land. The video effects on the screens at the concert were superb. They made one video where they took 9 men and made 1,000,000,000 of them. I thought that was very cool. Today was the perfect day for a movie. If you haven't seen it, you should. It's great for the whole family. Michael Jackson was so talented and he was a great man. Since I've been working, I've learned that he came to see the Lion King with his children. Everyone said that he was so friendly and came backstage to personally meet the cast. What a nice man and a great human being. We will all miss his talent. TTYL

Alphonso

Banana, Banana

On Halloween Day, Niki, Shereen, Shannon, Marquis, and I dressed up. I was a magician but I forgot my wand. So the puppets department made me one. Niki did not show us her costume until the second show. I found out that her costume was a banana. She said it was really lame. The ends of the banana were very droopy and floppy. The picture in the magazine looked great. But when the costume came it was bad. So she asked some people from puppets to help fix it up. She stuffed the ends, painted the banana with brown spots to make it look rotten, and she put on make-up to blend in with the costume. The costume was alright but the make-up was freaky and weird. I had to do all of my cues with a giant banana. I asked what if somebody from the audience sees you in the wings. That made me nervous. I could not wait until she took that costume off. Today was smooth and fast. They had a new Green Couch Series today. J-bo performed his original songs while he played the electric guitar. I thought it was wonderful and Enrique did a spoken word and comedy skit. Enrique said that people say he looks like Jackie Chan. I laughed so hard. When I finished work, my mom and I headed for the train station and guess who we saw..... my Godfather, Joe L. He works for Amtrak and he was changing trains in New York from Chicago. So we came home on Amtrak with him. That train is much, much faster than NJ Transit. Before I knew it, we were home. A perfect ending to a perfect day. TTYL

Alphonso

Niki's Back!

Today my wrangler, Niki, came back from Texas. She was on vacation. We all missed her so much. I gave her a card. She gave me a big hug. We told her everything that happened while she was gone. We had to take the Halloween decorations down because they were having a concert at the theatre last Monday. The singers were using the dressing rooms. Niki was not happy when she came back and saw no decorations. So she took the decorations and put them back up in the hallways. They were having a Yankees pep rally today in the middle of Times Square. The people were really excited. On the way home, we caught an earlier train than the one we planned. We got home earlier so I took a nap. It was a good nap, especially since my dad bought me a new mattress set. TTYL

Alphonso

Sporty Day

Today we caught up on our work. We graded our papers and put them in the file folders. We got a lot of work done. I got 100% on my math test! I also got my progress report today. I got the honor roll. I'm working hard to get straight A's. In gym, we played baseball and my team won. After school, I went to the Boys & Girls Club. I played soccer with the elementary team. My team won with the score of 2 to 1. Even though I did not score one point, I was happy to play on a school team. We had a big celebration after the game. When I came home, we went shopping. We got a lot of stuff. Overall, I had a sporty and energetic day. TTYL

Alphonso

Giving Back Feels So Good

Yesterday, we had a huge Halloween party at the theatre. We invited the kids from Billy Elliott, Finian's Rainbow, and Mary Poppins. There were haunted houses in the womens and mens dressing room. They were partly scary. We could not get fully scared because there were too many babies there. Lots and lots of babies. But it still was fun. At the show that night, I did "Just Can't Wait to be King" without my ostrich and everybody said that I was great. After the show, Shereen and I took pictures with people who came to see the show. It was a fundraiser to help people with AIDS in Africa. I felt so good because I knew that I was helping somebody else with the money that was made from the pictures. Today, Mufasa was played by one of the understudies. He picked me up like an airplane. I wasn't expecting that, but it was so much fun. I took a picture with Rafiki today after my show. It was her turn to raise money. In case you are coming and want to take a picture with me in my costume, I take pictures after the 8:00pm show on Saturdays until December. Well, it's late so I'm gonna get some sleep. TTYL

Alphonso

PS. Thank you to the people who came to see me from my Dad's job today. Sorry I didn't get to meet you , but I hope that you enjoyed the show!

I Had A Little Boo-Boo

Yesterday I was having such a great show. Then guess what happened? I fell on my way out of the theatre. It's very dark when I run out during the Scar scene and I missed the step. I fell and landed on my face. Boy did it hurt. I wanted to cry but I knew I had to make it to my next cue and I didn't want to mess up my makeup. So I told myself that I had to get through Hakuna Matata. I did it! Backstage, they put ice on my face to keep it from swelling. After the show, I signed autographs and took pictures. It really hurt my face to smile, but I couldn't disappoint the fans. It was raining really hard so my mom and I took the subway to the train station. Tommorrow I'll be more cautious. TTYL

Alphonso

PS. Thank you to everyone who came to see me from my Dad's job on Thursday. It was great having you!

One Step Closer to President Obama

Today was so cool. I finished my work in school and it is ready to go up on the board. I was so happy to get that writing done. It was so tough. But I put my all into that writing. I think I’ll get a good grade. I had no homework today so I was glad about that. At the theatre, my mom told me to do my blog for Monday. I did that blog, but I didn’t do this one until now. I didn’t do it then because I thought I would wait until the day was over to write. Guess what happened… the president’s motorcade rode right past 8th and 35th. We were standing right there watching. It was amazingly cool. First the motorcycles went by, then the police cars, then the president’s car. It had American flags on the front of the car. I did not believe what I saw for a long time. Today was the best. TTYL

Alphonso

PS. My performance schedule is going to remain the same through November 29, 2009

Hard Writing Monday

Monday was very hard. We had so much work to do. We had to do writing. We had to give more details in our pre-writing before we even got to write our stories. So we spent a lot of time doing that. Then we did everything on the first paper all over again on the second paper. My brain was hurting so badly. I got my glasses fixed because they were bent. So we went to the eye doctor and she fixed them perfectly. I was so happy because with my glasses I can see better when I am doing my work in school. After I got my glasses fixed, I went Halloween shopping. I went to two different stores, then I found my costume. It is a midnight stalker. It is like a vampire but cooler and less bloody and messy. I like it. Monday was really hard. But I’m glad to have gotten through it. TTYL

Alphonso

Putting the Past Behind You

Yesterday we had two shows. Between shows we had a signing party. I signed all of my posters before the rest of the cubs showed up. The food was better than the last time. That show was my day to learn that once you make a mistake, you put it in the past. I slipped on the graveyard bones when I climbed up. I was trying so hard to get up. I got up in time to roar. After that, I missed one of my cues. But it was alright. Today I had the matinee show. It was easy. It gets easier and easier every day. My mom always reminds me that every time I go on the stage, I have to give it my all, even though it's easier now. Between the show today, I had Mc Donalds. Then I talked with Nate. He plays Mufasa. We played Questions. That is a game when you ask questions rapidly and you have to answer every one. When the show started, Niki and I set up Halloween decorations. That was very spooky. Today was great. TTYL

Alphonso

My Tail Went Astray

Yesterday, my show was sold out. That is a very exciting feeling to be in a show that is sold out. I put on a great show for them. My tail was being mean to me on stage. I went to jump and it scratched me. Then, I was tripping and falling on it. I did not like that. During the second act, we had food from the Chicken Bar. I got chicken fingers and fries. That was some good food. Niki said everything from Chicken Bar is good. I believe her. At the train station, we missed the early train. So we had to wait for the next one. There was a guy talking to himself. He was scaring me. My cousin and his mentor rode the train home with us. They were coming from seeing Hamlet. I was so tired that my mom let me sleep in. That rest was great. TTYL

Alphonso

Preparing For Bad Weather

Today we had an early matinee. It was nice to have an early show. Backstage, I played with two dogs that members of the cast own. Their names are Lucy and Zui. Zui's name is pronouced Zooo-eee. It's kind of complicated. Lucy loves food. If you hold your hand in a fist, she will lick your hand like you have food. They are both cute and small. I was sad that I had to do my home work. I got it done though. We can't have a dog at home because my mom is allergic to dog hair and I wanted to continue playing with the dogs. On the way home, we caught a train that only made three stops. I couldn't wait to get home. When we got home we went winter shopping. We got coats and rain boots. I'm wearing them tomorrow because it's gonna rain. Today was great but tomorrow is supposed to be bad weather. So bundle up everyone. TTYL

Alphonso

A Good Early Day

Today in class, we worked on our multiplication facts. We also had a test on averages. The test was easy to me. Once I got the division, I understood the problem well. I think I did well. At the theatre, I played with my new PSP GO. It is a new gaming console. But first I finished the rest of my homework. I didn't have a lot left to do and it was easy too. I played Rock Band Unplugged. I've been trying to download that game ever since I got it. Then I ate and watched Home Alone 2. I didn't finish watching it but I'm gonna. That movie is so funny. I can't wait to finish the movie. I had an early day today. I got home a little after nine. It feels good to be home. TTYL

Alphonso

It's Hard to Keep a Tough Cub Down

I guess you've been wondering where I have been. Well, let me catch you up. On Thursday, I performed but there was something stirring up. On Friday, I went to the doctor and she said I was having an asthma flare up. She gave me a breathing treatment which makes me sleepy. Now I have to take all of this nasty medicine. There is nothing that I can do to make it taste better. So I just chilled for the rest of the day. I didn't want to, but I had to. So that meant no show and I was so dissapointed. I begged my mom to take me but she said that we had to follow the doctor's orders. Saturday I performed and I got so many hugs from everybody when I walked in the theatre. Even though I was gone for just one day, I was so excited to be back and I did a super job. Between the shows, we had a signing party. I joined the party right after my dad and I came back from ESPN Zone. We got on a simulated roller coaster and a simulated NASCAR race. Sunday I performed too. I felt like I was really refreshed. Between the shows on Sunday, part of the cast started the Green Couch Concert Series. Cast members get to showcase their hidden and secret talents. The cast did wonderful and funny performances. Our parents got to come too. I can't wait to perform again. I just love it! TTYL

Alphonso
PS: Hi Jennifer, Right now I perform every Thursday, Friday and Saturday evening and also Sunday matinee until October 25th. When the schedule changes, I'll make sure to post it. Thanks for your comments.

Compliments From the Cadillac

Today as we were going to catch the train, a car full of guys recognized me from the newspaper. They started beeping the horn and yelling out of the windows. They were saying things like, "Way to represent young man", "You go boy", "We're so proud of you" and "Keep up the good work". It was a little weird at first because I didn't know that they were talking to me. I started looking around for the person they were yelling at. Then I realized that it was me. I felt very honored. On the train ride, I did some homework. I tried to do as much as I could before I got to rehearsal. After rehearsal, I had an interview with the New York Times. The topic was kids who made their Broadway debuts. We did an audio recording and the interview will be on the NYTimes.com along with some pictures of me. When I got back to the theatre, I had some hot chocolate. It was so good! Then I did more homework. Afterwards, Shereen and I played cards. When my mom came to pick me up, I didn't want to leave because I was having so much fun. Tomorrow I'm on again so I'm gonna rest well tonight. TTYL

Alphonso

I Could Use a Nap

Today we had a girl's birthday party in my class. We had crackers and cheese and cake. But as soon as I was about to get the food, my mom was in the office ready for me to leave. When we left, I showed my cousin my crafts that I made. I used straws to make animated paper puppets. I made a crocodile, a cheetah, and a bird. My mom said they were creative. So did my cousin. My cousin also rode the train up with me to his college in New Brunswick. He was good company and very loquacious. He taught me that word. It means talkative. I like to learn new words. When I got to the theatre, since I wasn't on, I took a nap. I got the cot out of the girls dressing room and laid on it. I was gonna sleep until places. But then the warm ups started. What woke me up was,"Woooooooooooooooooooo! Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh! Bleeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee Bloooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!" from the cast. I also heard people vibrating their lips in different pitches. Then I tried to order food but the phone wasn't working. That was weird. The day went fast because I got picked up early from the theatre. We caught an express home so I was glad. Today was a day for a perfect nap. But I didn't get it. It was all right though. TTYL

Alphonso

The Normal Life

Yesterday completed the first week of our opening nights and it was great! My Grandma came on Sunday. She said I did good. Today school was good and I learned a lot. My class was in the Sunday paper and one girl kept on pulling it out of her desk. It was so funny. There was a pretzel sale too to raise money. It was to go to my show. I thought that I should get one free. They said yes and they're were gonna save one for me. TTYL

Alphonso

Spreading Happiness

Yesterday was a two day show. Marquis and Shannon did the matinee. Shereen and I did the evening show. On my dinner break, Daddy and I went to Dave & Buster's. I had buffalo wings and fries and it was good. Then we played games. A man and his son were playing the crane game. They were trying to get an alligator. Then they gave up. Once I looked at it, I thought that I could get it. So I tried. The first time I missed it, but the second time was the charm. Then the door didn't open and I couldn't get it out. So my Dad went to get some help. A man came and got the alligator out for me and I was so happy. I put it in my dressing room. I had a lot of tickets, but the line was too long for me to get a prize. I would have been late for my show call time. I looked around and found a little boy and I gave him all of my tickets. I had about 100 tickets and he was excited to get them. We went back to the theatre and sat in the lobby. One of the rams, named Bongi, was playing an african drum and other cast members were singing and dancing. Bailey, Marquis' little sister, was dancing around and the cast said that we have another dancer. After the first act was over, Shereen and I watched the movie, "Fat Albert". It was funny and Shereen was laughing. Making people happy is a great feeling and I am so blessed to get to do it over and over again. TTYL

Alphonso

President Obama's Call

Yesterday was a changing day in my life. Opening night was great, but now I have to get in the groove of things. Everyday, I have to try to be better than the day before. Even though I made little errors, I will correct them and the most important part is that I am having so much fun. Before the show started, I practiced going up and down on the ostrich. Then I ran back and forth on the stage to get my endurance up. I have to remember not to dig my heels into the floor. Oh I almost forgot, President Obama had one of his aides call my house! He sent his regards that he couldn't make it to my opening night, but he congratulated me just the same. He had to go to Denmark so he couldn't come. How great is that! Well, I'm off to New York now. TTYL

Alphonso

Opening Night!

Today was my opening night. I had tons of energy and I think I really killed it! Everybody kept telling me to conserve my energy, but I just couldn't stay still. Then when I went out on the stage, I was fired up! When I did the Morning Report, my dance teacher Shonquay Washington, said that I was awesome. He even asked my to teach him some of the moves. He said that it was hot. I felt like I didn't mess up at all, but even if I did, I just kept on going. I did my very best during my performance. When I finished, Shannon and I had Chinese food again while we watched the movie "Clueless". Then I heard my cue for the bows (curtain call). When I ran out, the crowd went crazy! I was so excited. Then the lights came up and I saw all of the people..... sooooooooooooooo many people! OH MY GOD! The place was packed. I tried to see my relatives, but there were too many people and I couldn't find them. My fellow cast members were congratulating me all day and it felt so good! I took off my costume and makeup and headed outside. Then BANG! There was so many people outside to get autographs. I don't even know how many I signed. I stopped counting at about 30. Unbelievable! My family came to support me, but the best thing was that my Great Grandmother who is 94, was able to come. I think that she is my biggest fan and I'm so glad that she was there. Well, it's been a long day so I'm signing off! TTYL

Alphonso

Preparing For Opening Night

Today, on the way to New York, I read a book called, "Treasure Planet". It is a really good book and very interesting. This is my kind of book. Luckily, we didn't have any commuting problems like yesterday. Yesterday, something was wrong with the bridge right before the Secaucus station. So the train had to switch tracks. The train went backwards for about fifteen minutes. Then we had to wait for the other trains to pass so that we could get on the other track. But we ended up okay. When I got there today, we rehearsed in another Ripley Grier studio on 55th and 8th Ave. There was alot of space in the hallways, but I had to wait until rehearsal to dance. I got the worm down pack, but I didn't have to do the Morning Report dance. Tonight, I watched a little bit of Circle of Life. Then I ran down the stairs at the BOOM. Afterwards, I played games on the computer and watched "Big Momma's House 2". Then my mom picked me up. Tomorrow is my OPENING NIGHT!! Hooray. TTYL

Alphonso

The New Crew is in Effect

Today was our first show, but I didn't perform and neither did Shannon. It was Marquis and Shereen's turn. Tomorrow, Marquis is performing with Shannon. Since I did not perform, I took the time to decorate my dressing room. I brought pictures of my family and things to play with. It looks really good, but I still want to do a few more things. I was checking the Lion King website all day to see if our headshots were posted, but they weren't. While Marquis and Shereen were performing, Shannon and I talked and we ate Chinese food. I haven't had Chinese food in a long time. It was so good. Two more days and it will be my opening night. Yeah! TTYL

Alphonso

Another Day Off

Today is my day off. The best thing about it is that there is no school or work. So my mom took this time to shop for things I need for the show. We also bought my baby cousin's birthday present. We got her a learning laptop. It helps her learn how to type words, phonics, and it also has music and games. I bought my self a mood ring too. After that we went home and I played outside. I rode my scooter. Today was a very relaxing day. Tomorrow is opening night for Shereen and Marquis. I am so excited for them. Break a leg!TTYL

Alphonso

Learning To Be Fierce

Today we picked up from where we left off yesterday. Shereen and I went first. We started from "Hey Nala" to "Stampede". Then we were caught up with Shannon and Marquis and they finished. We had a few things wrong today. After we both finished, we worked on the fight scene and being fierce. Every time, we got more and more fierce. Tomorrow I have a day off from work and school. I am really going to relax because the hard work is just about to begin. My dream is finally going to come true......I am Simba! TTYL

Alphonso

Getting It Right

Today we rehearsed at Alvin Ailey Studios. We went over all of our notes. Then we rehearsed them. The good thing about it is that they were only minor things like numbers on the stage and specific spots in staging. I was so glad about that. During our down time, we were playing with Marquis' Miachi. It is a type of sack that you bounce around on your hand. It is kinda like Hacky Sack. It is fun to play with. Time flew by today. It was so calm and I liked it. Tomorrow we will pick up from where we left off today. I was the last to leave the studio today. When I got home, my family and I went out to eat and I had a good time. TTYL

Alphonso

Well Prepared

Today we did the whole show with the entire cast of Act One with full makeup, hair and costumes. Marquis went first. He did a very good job. Then it was my turn. It felt like a breeze going through the show. I had another ostrich problem. First my foot got stuck on the wing. Then my pants got hooked on the steps. I was still on time for every part. I didn't get lost or mixed up with any of my cues and staging. Overall everything went really smooth. I met a young woman on the train coming home. Her name was Kelsey and she was very nice. She was looking at me kinda strange. I think it was because I still had some of the makeup on my face. She got so excited when I told her that I was in The Lion King on Broadway. We all talked for a while then she asked me for my autograph. She had a suitcase that was bigger than she was. It was so funny seeing her handle it. We laughed when she told us that she was only going away for the weekend because it looked like she was packed for a month. I am so excited and I am well prepared for opening night. TTYL

Alphonso

I'm Flying! I'm Flying!

Today I did "The Stampede" scene. We ran through it and then it happened.....I was FLYING! Even though I only went straight up, it was still fun. The harness can't be too tight or you will get a really hard pull on your lower area. We also did "The Elephant Graveyard" scene. It was better then the last time because we remembered more of the staging and choreography. We did a better job at looking at the puppets and not the people. My favorite things in the scene are the hyenas. Their costumes are so creative. It consists of a body suit, a puppet, boots and fake hyenas legs. They are really cool. Then we did "Hakuna Matata". I got to meet Timon and Pumbaa. The actors' names are Danny and Ben. Today I noticed that even the adult actors make mistakes when they are singing too. The mistakes were mostly the notes on the harmonies. I made some mistakes too. In the beginning of that scene, I ride up on an elevator. I rode it today and it was so cool. I had to do it with my eyes open because it's kinda scary going up with my eyes close. Tomorrow is my "Put In", also known as my dress rehearsal, including hair and makeup. I am ready to go. I've got one week until opening night. Yes! TTYL

Alphonso

Ostriches, Giraffes and Fans, Oh My...

Today we ran through the whole "I Just Can't Wait to be King" number. We did it with the ostriches, giraffes and all of the dancers. I got on my ostrich kinda late, but I got on stage in time. Then I got off too slow, but got on stage in time again. It was so great. Then we did "Day With Dad". That was fun too. I got to work with the main Mufasa. His name is Nathaniel but we call him Nate. I was really energized. After we did all of that, Marquis and I had a recording session. We recorded saying, "Dad" over and over again. It was so cool though. When we were getting ready to go on our dinner break, someone asked to speak with me at the stage door. I couldn't figure out who would want to speak to me. I went out and there were seven people who were there to see the show. They were talking to my Godfather on the train and he told them that I was in rehearsal and they wanted to see me in person. I haven't even done my first show and people are already waiting for me at the stage door. Wow! After our break, we got to track again. It was better than the other time because funny things were happening left and right. Tomorrow I will be flying! I can't wait! TTYL

Alphonso

Becoming a Group of Four

Today we did notes and fixed our staging and choreography. Marquis finally started today and he had a lot of catching up to do. Mr. Paul had to switch from room to room between us and Marquis. We didn't get to see him until after our dinner break. This was the first time we had a dinner break and we all went out to a restaurant called Schnippers. The food was really good. Afterwards, we went back to the studio to meet Marquis. This was the first time that Shereen and Shannon met Marquis, but I met him when I went for my wig fitting. We all went into our next rehearsal session. Shannon and Marquis ran through the show and they did a good job. It is going to be fun having another boy around. TTYL

Alphonso

Hard Work Monday

Today was my second full Monday at school. It was much harder than the first Monday. We took some tests and did review work. I got 100 percent on my math test and I felt so happy. Homework today took a lot of time, but I got it done. Tomorrow, I do not stay in school all day. I have to leave early because we have to catch the 9:50 train to New York. I have to step up my game with my homework. My mom told me that my teacher is going to give me all of my work for next Monday on Friday. It will be challenging but I am ready. Now I see how much hard work it's going to take to succeed, especially with my homework. TTYL

Alphonso

Acting Can Be Hazardous

Today we rehearsed all of our scenes and music for Act One with Mr. Paul and Jen. It went so smooth. There were just a little bit of errors. I never knew that working could be dangerous. Let me tell you why. Shannon's tail was safety pinned to her corset. The pin came loose and stuck her in the back of her leg. There was a loose wire in my corset and it stuck me when I was doing the worm. I have bruises on my ankles from dancing and I got scratched several times during the fight scene. I'm glad Mrs. Shereen is going to cut Shereen's nails because they are brutal. Thank you Mrs. Shereen. TTYL

Alphonso

I Can't Wait Til Opening Night

Today I rehearsed in Alvin Ailey studios. It's been a long time since I've been at that studio. We rehearsed in a studio that looked just like a theatre. It was awesome. All of our notes and dancing were so good. We only had a few things to work on. I also got to track today. Tracking is when you follow another Young Simba around through the show. I got to track with Jeremy Gumbs. I learned a lot of things today like crossing under the stage and my entrances. I also learned some of my exits and what to do. I can't wait til opening night. TTYL

Alphonso

The Lion King Coaster

Today we ran through the whole show in my shoes and corset. I did everything twice because there are two Nalas. I did the Morning Report dance great. The first time it needed some work. But the second time was awesome. We sat in the front of the train when we were coming home. We got to watch the conductor drive. He was very nice. All of the buttons looked so cool. It was awesome. I had some ups and downs today, but it came out to be great. TTYL

Alphonso

My Arrival at Pride Rock

Today I came in the middle of someone playing, "I Just Can't Wait to be King". Ruthlin saw me and told me to get on the stage and dance. So I did and I danced to the rest of the song. All of the props are so cool and huge. It gets a high mark on my coolness chart. I also met some of the other actors; Timon, Puumba, Scar and Mufasa. They are such cool guys and great to work with too. My favorite is Timon because of his voice. It sounds small and tiny. The best part of today was that I got to get on Pride Rock. It is really, really high. To my surprise, it wasn't scary at all. There are steps that take you all the way to the top. It kinda reminds me of the graveyard bones because they also have steps. It is so exciting to run and jump on things and not get in trouble for it. How refreshing! TTYL

Alphonso

A Day With the Hyenas

Today we sang for a long time. Mr. Karl was trying to make sure that we had all of the harmonies and that they stuck with us. It was exhausting, but it was necessary. Finally, we got to do the "Elephant Graveyard" scene with the other actors. It was great. The set spins around in circles and we have to run on it. It can be very tiring, but I got use to it. In the play, there are three main hyenas. They look scary but cool at the same time. They make me feel scared which helps me stay in character and that is good. The actors play their hyenas role so well. Jen told me that they, the hyena actors, depend on me being a lion and I have to depend on them to be scary hyenas. Overall, it was a day full of hyenas. TTYL

Alphonso

I Finally Made It to the Theatre

Today I got to rehearse in my corset and shoes. It is very different than wearing regular clothes. It's harder to cartwheel because the corset is designed to keep me standing up straight. The shoes are a bit slippery too. I slipped a few times. As for my singing and dancing, I did well. I rehearsed my acting and singing in the lobby of the Minskoff Theatre where "The Lion King" is showing. But the best thing was that we danced on stage! It was fantastic. The stage is really huge. I had lots of room to move around when I danced. Tomorrow we start rehearsing "The Elephant Graveyard" scene. Those hyenas are gonna be so scary. It will help me stay in character. I did have two embarrassing moments today. At the end of rehearsal, I went to put my socks on and the seat part of the chair in the theatre closed up and I didn't realize it. When I went to sit back down, I almost fell. I refuse to disclose the other embarrassing moment. You can try and guess. TTYL

Alphonso

My First Full Day of School

Today was my first full day of school. I had a lot of catching up to do in class work, but I caught myself up. Lunch was awful. One of the boys in my class had a hot dog that was not cooked all the way. It was not satisfying. I also found out that I have to pay $1.75 for lunch. I'm gonna start bringing my own lunch because in my opinion, that lunch is not worth a single penny. On a good note, I did well in class. It seemed easy, but it is always easy at the beginning of the school year because teachers are reviewing what was learned in the previous grade. I went to my first after school session. It was so much fun. We played games, a had snack, then we did our homework. I loved it. When I finally got home, I was so tired that I took an hour nap. I really needed that. TTYL

Alphonso

A Glimpse Into The Future

Today was filled with anticipation. On every break I would look at the time. I knew that we were going to see the show after rehearsal. I could not wait to see it. After rehearsal we walked to the theatre and tried on our shoes. Then Jeremy, one of the young Simbas showed me around. Cypress, one of the young Nalas showed Shereen and Shannon around. It was overwhelming. My dressing room is AWESOME. Then we went on stage and compared it to the rehearsal room. Soon it was time for the show to start. We took our seats and we were so excited. The show was great. Today was a fun day. TTYL

Alphonso

Bringing Them to Tears

Today we rehearsed all of our scenes starting from my first scene, which is "Day With Dad". Once I did "He Lives in You", Shereen and Shannon were in tears. Then I did "The Stampede" scene and they were really crying. The fact that they were so moved gave me a great big boost of confidence. What a wonderful compliment. I did a good job. They were asking me, "How are you so good?" I didn't know what to say. But as I reflect, I realize that my mom taught me everything I know. She taught me how to draw on my own experiences to bring out emotions. Thanks to mom, I brought people to tears. I am glad that I will have the chance to give the audience what Simba is feeling. TTYL

Alphonso

My Sister's Birthday

Today was my sister's birthday. For her birthday gift, I gave her a pink shirt that said, " New York Princess". I told her it was earrings in the bag but it was a shirt. I sang with Mr. Paul today. He is a real jokester. He sent me a text message that said, "You smell". What a crack up. Ruthlin came to rehearsal for dance and choreography. I practiced all the choreography with Shannon and Shereen. They are both young Nalas. It is fun working with them. I wrote my blog so late because we went to the movies for my sister's birthday. All of her friends were there. It was a very good time. TTYL

Alphonso

The Short Day

Today, I woke up at 6:41 in the morning to get on the train at 7:46. When we got to the train station there was a train already on the track so, we got on that. I slept on the train because I was so tired. By the time we got in New York, I was all rested, awake, and ready to work. We sung harmonies today. We did a very good job. Then we did the scene leading into ”I Just Can’t Wait to be King”. I did not have choreography today and that made rehearsal really quick. Rehearsal was short because the directors had to put in a new Zazu. Today was really fun and smooth. It was a short day of rehearsal.

Its All About the Details

Today I got on my first New Jersey Transit Bus. I rode it to the train station. I arrived at rehearsal 30 minutes later because Mr. Paul had to work with the Nalas. My mom bought me 2 books to read. The one I started reading is entitled, "The Tiger Rising". I could only read one page because I had to start singing. Today I did singing with Mr. Karl with a "K". He is the Music Director and he is very fun to work with. When I sang, I was missing some of my details. Details are accents on words, anticapations on words, and pitch. Once I learned them, I was singing like a pro. Then came the dancing. We did a run through of "I Just Can't Wait to be King". I did not have to do "The Morning Report" dance though. In acting, I did the Simba/Nala fight scene. She pushes me down and pins me, but I'm in control of falling and making it seem like she is really pushing me. There were specific details on how to fall and also details with my dancing. It's all about details. TTYL

Alphonso

I Can't Believe It....An Easy Day

Today the Nalas actresses came and had to learn their songs and dances. As a result, I got to leave early. So that felt good. That gave me more time to play outside. But tomorrow I can't slack off. I have to bring my "A" game. It was fun not to be alone today. I'm with my sisters all day, so I'm kinda use to having other girls around. I flew through my singing and dancing. I did well too. My mom and I reviewed my lines on the train ride home. I'm so glad to be home. TTYL

Alphonso

The Hardest Week of My Life

This was the hardest and most exciting week of my entire life. It was so intense. And guess what? Today was my last day alone. Tomorrow I have a day off and on Tuesday, the Nalas come. I am so excited. Having a day off means no rehearsing, no lines, and no worries(Hakuna Matata). This morning my mom put “Bite It” on my nails. It is a solution that helps you to stop nail biting. My dad and I went to Subway to eat. I had a meatball sandwich and I licked my fingers. WHAT A NASTY UNBEARABLE TASTE! My facial expression just flipped from a smile to a grossed out face. It was nasty, but it worked. I did not bite my nails all day. Everything went fine in rehearsals. I got my singing, acting, and dancing down pact. I am glad to have Monday off so that I will be rested and get re-energized for Tuesday. TTYL
Alphonso

Its The Lion in Me

Today I worked on character. Being a lion is what I do throughout the whole show. It is not very easy. You have to move with grace and keep your eyes focused on what you are hunting. I got some inspiration from the cat in the pizza shop I went to. He was sleep but then he got up and looked at my sister and me. It never took its eyes off of us until it had a good look. Then it walked away. When it walked it was all in grace. In rehearsal I tried to harness my inner lion. I know all of my scenes that invole me and someone else besides Nala. The only scene that I still have to learn is The Stampede. I will learn that tomorrow. Then on Tuesday the Nalas come. TTYL

Alphonso

That's a rap....No that's a rat

Today was the best rehearsal ever. I sung well, I did the Morning Report dance all the way through without forgetting anything at all, I acted well, and I got my check stub. I did so well that I got out early. There was just one thing that messed up the day. No we didn’t get lost and we weren’t late. There was huge a dead rat in the subway. I almost stepped on it. I screamed at the top of my lungs. My mom thought I sprained my ankle, but no…. IT WAS A RAT. When we were on the train, we kept on thinking that we were on the wrong train. Why? We were sitting backwards on the train. My mom asked a passenger where the train was going and he said Trenton. My mom and I said, “Whew!” I have to memorize the Hakuna Matata Scene. It won’t be hard, but it is a lot. While I was on the train a man named Ken asked me for my autograph. It was strange but he was excited to get it. I guess Igotta get use to it. TTYL
Alphonso

Third Day Pay Day

When I woke up this morning, I felt like I was hit by a truck. It was such unbearable pain. I couldn’t twist move or bend without it hurting. But Mommy rubbed me with Ben-Gay. Before we left for New York we went to my school orientation. It wasn’t too long so we were just in time for the train. On the train my mom and I rehearsed some of my scenes. To my surprise, a lady recognized me from the newspaper. I was shocked and happy at the same time. We pulled into Penn Station, took the A subway and got off at Columbus Circle. We thought we would end up on one side of Columbus Circle, but we ended up on the other side. Thankfully, we got to Ailey on time. Rehearsals were the same as always, singing first, acting, and then dancing. My bones were still hurting. Guess what, I’m going to take my first hot bath with some Epson salt. I hope it works. TTYL
Alphonso

Second Day of Broadway

Today I had a fitting for my costume. I have 2 hand beaded corsets, tailored pants with African print and a loin cloth attached. Why do I have 2 corsets? One is for flying and on is for just wearing. Then after the fitting, I practiced for the show at Ripley Greir Studios. I started with singing again then choreography. I learned the dance to the Morning Report. Trust me it is no joke. That dance is very tiring. There are cartwheels and round offs and Russian jumps. I also get to do the worm. Then we did some more singing. It was so hard that on my break I cried. But my mom gave me a pep talk and I felt all better. She kissed me and said,” We're made from strong stock so go get’em” and I did just that. After that the day was a little easier. I was so exhausted that I fell asleep on the train home. TTYL

Alphonso

My First Day

When we first left on the train at 10:20am, I felt nervous and excited at the same time. It was a bubbly type of feeling, kind of like the butterflies in your stomach. The train ride was 2 hours long. It was such a relief to get off. But then came the hard work. We walked to 6th Avenue and 34th Street, got on the subway, and rode it to 59th Street. Then we walked a few more blocks and Bam! There it was, Alvin Ailey Studios. It was a big glass building. When I walked into the studio, I was nervous. But the people in the studio were nice. In the beginning, I did some singing. Then I had a break, did some more singing then a break. On my second break I knew how much work I had to put in to live through this role. There were a few people that I met there. I met my Wrangler, Vocal Coach, Music Director, and my Stage Director. For now I just work by myself so I can get my acting down pact. I was sort of lonely today but I won’t be for long. My Nala comes next week. Over all I love this role. TTYL

Alphonso

The Day Before The Beginning

Today is the day before I start my role as Young Simba in "The Lion King" on Broadway. I am so excited but it is gonna be alot of hard work. I have to go to school on Mondays, which are my equity days off. I stay from 8:00am to 5:00pm. For the rest of the week I stay in school for 90 minutes. My criteria contains Math, Language Arts, Science, and Social Studies. When I go to New York tomorrow, I will go to Alvin Ailey Studios for Music, Staging, and Choreography. The best part about it is that now I can get to know all of the people in the cast. TTYL(talk to you later)

Alphonso