You Made It!

Hey guys. You made it to opening night! Congratulations.
Last minute details...
I will need a few of you to usher, show people to seats, etc. Sean is managing tickets in the lobby. Yikes.
Remember that Sat. night is strike. That's an important thing in Pennington Drama, so don't flake out on me yet.

From what I saw this afternoon (end of Kacie's/Matt's/Darby's/Sean's) the show looks awesome. Lucy wouldn't let me leave. I am excited to see your work.

As for a gift for Mr. Harding please consider (aka: get him) a script light.

-Tomorrow's rehearsal will be filmed
-No extra help
-The sooner we start the sooner we end
-Everyone will stay to the end

-Some of you need to get your act together! It's embarrassing to the show, to myself and Mr. D, and the other directors.
-Also, the drama NEEDS to stop. You are acting absolutely silly and ridiculous over completely petty things

-Have confidence in each other and in the shows...they will be amazing!

-Dressing room: keep it organized check. Make sure your actors put their things next to your coat hanger marker. Also check the for your things on the "randomness" rack

Four days...

Hey kids.
Make sure that Tess and Adrienne have your program stuff, because as of tomorrow during 2nd period, Tess will be starting to work on it. This should include Cast/characters, time period/setting, and a brief paragraph explaining your inspiration, vision, etc. and any special thanks you have.

This week, your actors should run the show as if they are performing for an audience. Do not feed them lines or interrupt them for notes. Please write your notes down and either give them in person, or post them. If you are going to post them, make them appropriate and constructive. They should be using props and be in costume, if possible. Waiting until Thursday to do costumes will be a mistake. Seriously.

Also, get your ticket requests in. Michael will be starting to count numbers during class tomorrow.

Be sure to thank your tech crew, Mr. Moore, Mr. D and Mr. Harding for the long hours they have put in over the past few days. A small thank you will go a long way!!!!!!!

-Make sure you have everything ready for tomorrow's cue-to-cue: your ideas, thoughts, dreams, and knowledge of what you want.
-Props!
-Spike your scene/play before the cue-to-cue
-Don't forget to reserve your tickets NOW
-Costumes- remind your actors!

"Busted..."

-Cue-to-cue tomorrow- come prepared with everything ready! Transitions, etc...
-Make sure you "spiked" your scenes before the cue-to-cue tomorrow!
-Props should be ready in the dressing room. Keep props to minimum: it will be one less thing to worry about
-Tell your actors to get their costumes together
-Note: if you get things done now- it will be less to stress about later
-You are in the blackbox one more time- use it wisely- try and run it straight through, no stops, once more.
-EVERYONE must be at ALL the dress rehearsals and at both shows.

From: Mr. Harding

Spring Plays 2009 “Popcorn and Soda”

IMPORTANT THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT CUE-2-CUE, FINAL DRESS REHEARSAL AND ORDER OF SHOWS…
For the cue-2-cue, please have no actors in the theatre as they will only get in the way of various techies and the lift. Directors should sit in the audience with their scripts and a pencil ready. Have ALL of your music, projections and any other media ready to go. Please, have all of your lighting, Props and set change cues ready as well. The more prepared you are as a director, the easier it will be for everyone. Thanks!

Thursday, April 16th CUE-2-CUE ORDER:
1. Sarah Gardineer
2. Andre Jackson
3. Danielle Gabai & Sean McCarthy
4. Tess Kaytmaz & Adrienne Ervin
5. Sam Tydings & Chris Joy

Friday, April 17th CUE-2-CUE ORDER:
1. Kacie Friedman
2. Darby O'Hara
3. Michael Bennett
4. Colleen Wolters
5. Matt Liwosz

FINAL DRESS REHEARSAL, THURSDAY, APRIL 23rd:
"A" rehearsal will start at 3:15
"B" rehearsal will start after dinner.

Show A, Friday April 24th:
1. Tess Kaytmaz & Adrienne Ervin
2. Kacie Friedman
3. Matt Liwosz
4. Darby O'Hara
5. Sean McCarthy & Danielle Gabai

Show B, Saturday April 25th:
1. Sarah Gardineer
2. Andre Jackson
3. Michael Bennett
4. Colleen Wolters
5. Sam Tydings & Chris Joy

"Did you just spit a noodle on my shoe?"

CUE-TO-CUE Thursday 4/16
Sarah
Andre
O'Gab
Ermaz
Michael

CUE-TO-CUE Friday 4/17
Darby
Colleen
Matt
Kacie
Joydings

Monday 4/20
Joydings
Bennett
Colleen

Tuesday 4/21
Sarah
Darby
Andre

Wednesday 4/22
Kacie
McGab
Ermaz

Thursday 4/23
After school 3:15-5:30
Tess Kaytmaz & Adrienne Ervin
Kacie Friedman
Matt Liwosz
Darby O'Hara
Sean McCarthy & Danielle Gabai

After dinner 6:15-8:30
Sarah Gardineer
Andre Jackson
Michael Bennett
Colleen Wolters
Sam Tydings & Chris Joy

EVERYONE MUST STAY TO THE END- due to striking and getting everything ready!

"you should write that down for later use."

1.If possible, keep in contact with your actors to make sure that they are keeping up with their responsibilities

2.Music and sound effects has to be given to Mr. Harding by Wednesday

3.Tuesday and Wedenesday will be G,H, and I...both days...everyone will have one more day in the blackbox before the performance

4.Thursday and Friday are cue-to-cue: Directors only!

5.
Show A, Friday April 24th:
Tess Kaytmaz & Adrienne Ervin
Kacie Friedman
Matt Liwosz
Darby O'Hara
Sean McCarthy & Danielle Gabai

Show B, Saturday April 25th:
Sarah Gardineer
Andre Jackson
Michael Bennett
Colleen Wolters
Sam Tydings & Chris Joy

Next Week...

When you get back on Tuesday, you've got to hit the ground running.
All cast members need to be here all the time -- Mr. D and Mr. Moore will assign points to no-shows.
All of your sound and projections need to be into Mr. Harding by Wed. (Colleen and Sam, start nagging)
All of your lighting cues should be written into your scripts before you come in to cue to cue. (See Ms. Houston immediately if you don't know how to put that in writing).
All lines need to be learned (6th period, I am talking to you on behalf of Matt "Full-Bore" Liwosz)

I looked back at the jobs and Ermaz is in charge of the program. So, all of your program info. needs to be into Adrienne and Tess by Friday morning, April 17th at 8 a.m. That way it's in before chorus tour and they have time to lay out two programs and copy them, etc. Ermaz, we will go over this in 2nd period sometime next week.

Directors: What they need from you is the title of your show; a cast/character list; setting/time period listing; a director's note which should contain your inspiration/thoughts on the show - why you wrote it, what your vision/intention was, etc. and any special thanks you might have. You can use old Pennington Drama programs as a model. Each show will get one half of an 8.5 x 11 sheet of paper for their program stuff. So, be specific and brief. People in class with me will be graded on their director's note. Seriously.

Sean and Mike will be handling tickets next week. We will take reservations only; more to come on that next week.

Matt and Sarah - make sure all the directors have all the set pieces they need. Talk to Mr. Harding to make sure.

Kacie - likewise with props.

If anyone needs things purchased for them (I only know of sweatshirts/iron ons for Kacie)... Tell me via email by this Monday, April 13th. I will be shopping on that day.

Happy Holidays. LH

lmbo, brb, btw, wtf, totes magoats, brosenberg, etc

1. Darby we need the attendence as soon as you finish it.

2. Tomorrow Mr. D and I will be writing up students that come in late without notes, or that leave practice without permission or don't show up to practice without emailing us

3. We are collecting ipods, iphones, cell phones, MP3 players, gameboys, gamegear, pet rocks, mood rings, tacamocochi, calculator watches, pagers, laptops, dvd players, television watches, portable televisions, itouch, x-ray glasses or any other electronic devices FROM EVERYONE! No exceptions!

4. "No ifs, ands, or buts..do you have it, GUTS!"

character: "wait...what" (insert nervous laugh)

Motivational Quote:
"fifty told me. go 'head switch the style up'...
And if they hate then let 'em hate
and watch the money pile up."

1. Start rehearsing with the stage lights on. I will focus the actors. Mr. D, "It will give it a vibe."

2. We will be playing music in the black box during the warm up in order to focus the actors.

3. and...

Some Important Points to Live By...

1. Keep in mind that performing arts are like rubber....FLEXIBLE!!!  If you've ever seen "Gumby," that's what we're looking for... 
2. With Passover starting on Wednesday evening, we will be shifting the Black Box schedule a bit this week.  As of this posting, Wednesday's Black Box schedule is "B-A-C."  Kacie is looking to switch her Thursday slot with someone for a Wednesday slot.  Contact Kacie if you can; make sure you let Darby know so that master schedule is updated.  
3. T-SHIRTS!!!  If you want T-shirts made, the directors need to get on it.  Its not like we can order them a week in advance.  I do not have a record of who is in charge of getting the T-shirts, but this needs to get moving FAST!
4. If you have not given me your director's bio, get it to me this week, otherwise you'll be left off the display on play weekend.  
5. On Wednesday, April 15th the Black Box will be reserved in smaller slots to tweak particular acts, scenes, etc.  Sign up with Darby for 20 minute slots.  Each director is allowed ONE slot only.    
6. Cue-to-Cue tech rehearsals will be Thursday and Friday, 4/16 and 4/17.  Directors only need to be present, no actors needed.  
7. The week of  Monday, 4/20, will be as follows: 

• Monday, 4/20 - Black Box: Tess, Sean, Sam
• Tuesday, 4/21 - Black Box: Andre, Sarah, Darby
• Wednesday, 4/22 - Black Box: Kacie, Colleen, Bennett
• Thursday, 4/23 - DRESS REHEARSALS:  Friday night show @3:15, Saturday night show @after dinner.  PLAN TO STAY LATE THAT NIGHT!
• Friday, 4/24 - Call time @ 5:30pm, Show time @ 7pm
• Saturday, 4/25 -Call time @5:30pm, Show time @ 7pm.  

Last, but not least, order of plays for both nights will be posted on the blog on Thursday evening.  

Case of the Mondays

My day started off sad: monday, rain, clouds, ripped pants, missed belt loop, and a pull in my tie... but then I came to play practice.

1. Timed plays (for our use):
Andre: 18:00
Sarah: 12:00
Kacie: 13:00

2. Where is everyone? If you are going to miss a practice please let Mr. D or I know. We will be handing out points for those of you who were not here without (what we determine to be) a legitimate excuse.

3. Your actors need to be speaking loudly and clearly

Rehearsal: for running things one more time

-If you did not get Mr. D or I a list of your final cast list along with those students that are going to be on the chorus tour, you need to get it to us immediately.

-Directors Bio's need to get to Mr. D Monday.

-Get your costumes together

-Finalize your blocking

Tshirt

To respond to Sam's question, the t-shirt can be anything you want it to be (within reason, of course). But, we need to get a move on with it. So, one of you needs to collect sizes and someone needs to create a design. We have billed this show as Spring Play X: Ten Plays in Two Days -- so that should be somewhere on the shirt, obviously.

In terms of blocking, here are my suggestions. What I am noticing from Matt's play, which is the only one I am able to see at this point, is that the characters are not always taking time to listen and respond. I can only guess that that might be happening in the other shows. Make sure that is happening in your shows. Even the comedic shows have characters that listen to each other and respond. Look for trigger words in your text for clues about when characters need to move. If a character is changing their emotion ("How could you say that to me?"), saying something involving movement (like "I'm going to go now"), or trying to get a response from their scene partner ("Are you ok?"), that would be a sign that moving has to happen. Don't rush through these pieces. Take your time watching, take notes and be very clear in your directives. Telling them to "slow down" is not as helpful as telling them to "think it over, like you would think over an important decision" -- or saying something like "say it like a crazy person" is not as descriptive as saying "say it like Ms. Houston when she blacks out in a fit of rage at us for using our cellphones in class". Get it? Got it. Good.

After Monday, Mr. Moore, Mr. D. and I will make the order for the shows. The only conflict we have heard is that Ermaz is going first on Friday. We will make an initial order, and then have you and the actors check it for issues like someone doing two very large roles back to back or weird costume changes, etc.

Also, please use spike tape (get it from Harding) to spike out the furniture for your shows. Please use different colors, if at all possible, but I am not sure that spike tape comes in ten colors. So, just be aware of who is using what mark, etc. If you are confused, please see me.

Blog-king

a. BLOCKING! You all have great ideas for your plays. Mr. D and I understand your ideas because of how many times we have read your plays. BUT, the actors do not necesarily understand you "vision". Please describe to them what you see, what you think. They need to know what they are doing (check their scripts if you need to!). It wastes time to keep correcting them in the Black Box. "Outside time" would be the best time for you to desribe this to them.

b. EVERYONE OFF BOOK: Monday!

c. We will be timing your plays on Monday to see the approximate run time.

Spring is in the Air; Well, not Today...

So, to address some comments from yesterday:

1) Great to hear that some actors are off-book. Keep pressing them. It will be worth it in the end if people are truly solid on their lines.
2) It is hard to keep people from getting distracted when it is post-spring break. That's why we shortened the whole process. It is truly difficult. The more organized the directors can be about the hallway/outside time, the better. Gather props, have people try on costumes, communicate with each other about things other directors might lead or help with.
3) Outside can be a difficult rehearsal space; just stay firm with your actors about their behavior outside.
Once the re-visit days are over, the gallery will be clear again and you all can also use that space.

Did you all decide on a schedule of who runs warm-ups and hallway things? This could be helpful.
Also, did Mr. Moore or I tell anyone who might design, organize and order a t-shirt? Talk to me if you think it is you. Also, directors who have "technical" jobs like music, projections, etc, talk to Mr. Harding and tell him you are in charge of collecting CDs, songlists, DVDs, set pieces, props for all plays. You are then to be the "Naggers" so to speak and make sure all the directors are getting their acts together.
Thanks, guys.