While Brian was singing in the Utah Children's Choir, he got a unique opportunity–he auditioned to play an street orphan in the opera "Carmen" that was being performed at BYU. He performed several nights, had to learn the songs in French, and absolutely loved it.
This was Sue's second time in Music Man and she was supposed to play a townperson. However, at the last minute (kind of like happened in Arizona in 1989) she was asked to step into a lead role at the last minute when someone else had to bow out suddenly. This time she played Eulalie Mackecknie Shinn, the mayor's wife. She had a lot of fun doing it.
Brian was also in this play and was part of starting a love of drama in him. He played a townperson.
Brian is kind in the back center in the band uniform
In the summer of 2002, Mark had a great experience as part of a pioneer trek, pulling handcarts for three days over a 27 mile route in the Utah desert. They started at Kanosh, Utah, and ended at Cove Fort. It was quite an experience for him. One of the memorable things was there were huge Mormon crickets everywhere.
Mark pushing the handcart.
Sue, Brian, and others walking to meet Mark (see the pioneer clothes that we wore also!
Mark with Sue at the end. Check out that dirty white shirt!
The next day at the Cove Fort Museum. If you look closely at Mark's legs, you can see where the dirt line starts and stops.