How did the characters overcome their problems?

With only two weeks before the play is scheduled to open, the community theatre cancels the production after Randolph refuses to cast the theatre president's daughter as Gretle, the youngest von Trap singer, opting to cast his four-year-old son in the role instead. Rather than throwaway the family's month-long hard work, the Applewhites transform their barn into a community theatre and thinking creatively the whole time to avoid various mishaps, produce the play to rave nationwide reviews. Through the course of the production, the family, which had been fraying due to their focus on individual artistic projects, bands together as a unified front. After being hired as her father's assistant manger, E.D. realizes that her talents truly are valued in the family and Jake realizes that acting is the first thing in his life to bring him joy. By the end of the novel, all the individual character flaws have been smoothed out in a testament to family love, dependence on others, and above all, believing in yourself.