Post by Admin on Oct 2, 2018 14:25:26 GMT
-Get a 3-ring binder as soon as possible. There are cheap ones that don't cost more than a couple of bucks. I noticed some of you really struggling with your scripts because they were falling apart on you. One of you (someone who apparently is playing Harry (Cedric) and is a member of our own Drama Council, actually left his/her script in pieces on the table in the auditorium. Which leads us to the next thing...
-Remember you have literally 3 weeks to memorize your lines. Whenever you have down time, pick up your script and work on those lines. Don't leave your script somewhere where you can't access it for long periods of time. Definitely don't leave it in the auditorium. Some of you don't have too much too do, but others have quite a bit! Don't try to put it off until the weekend before, that rarely ever works unless you're Young Sheldon.
-Every once in a while we'll have a meeting, either club or council that will leak into our scheduled rehearsal time. We try to avoid that, but yesterday we had an unusually high number of cast members who failed their first test of these boards. I mentioned it to some of you, but these boards are our way of communicating with each other when we're not here from 2:30-5 Monday through Thursday. We may say things like "Rehearsal cancelled!" or "We're not doing this, we're doing that" or "Rehearsal is starting late today" or "I need help with this...." or something. Preferably you'll check the boards everyday before each rehearsal (sneak on sometime during or between classes), but no more than 2 days at most. We've had cast members who had trouble doing this and we've had to let them go. When we called you in yesterday, we weren't as serious, but if it's a continuing problem, it is serious. It's in your Actor's contract.
-Tagging on that. We used to accept excuses for lack of wifi, phones and computers, but EVERYONE has been given a Chromebook and everyone has access to the school wifi every school day. No excuses from now on.
-Make sure that you bring your script to each rehearsal! Yesterday was the first time that I had cast members show up without scripts. I hope you memorized that blocking! A pencil is handy too for writing down your movements and any changes we might make to the script.
-During rehearsals, don't wander off out of earshot. We probably could've finished even faster yesterday if we weren't waiting on or having to find people. During blocking, I know it can be boring, but if you can stay in the auditorium that would make things go smoother. If you do go into MC-8, make sure that you're not needed within the next 10 pages or so.
-Everyone loves to talk...who doesn't? But during blocking rehearsals, it can get to be a problem if the actors on stage can't hear me or each other. If you're not on stage and in the auditorium, learn the fine art of talking quieter.
-Remember that blocking is just the first part of the puzzle when putting together a show. I heard some people stressing or correcting people for delivering lines wrong. Don't worry about that now. The only people who should be correcting others are me, your director and anyone of the four Drama Council members in the show. The main focus for this week is figuring out when you come and come off stage and where you go while your out there. That's not written in stone though, so there may be changes as needed throughout the rehearsal process. One thing you can do though is be conscious of where you are standing on stage. I noticed it yesterday that people were literally hugging the giant screen. That's too far back. Look at where the screen is at. Look at where the front of the stage is at. Find the place in the middle (unless I told you to be closer or further away.)
-Once blocking is done, I'm okay with you experimenting or adjusting your blocking to whatever works for you. Don't make drastic changes, but if you think it works better to be in another spot, try it out. I'll say something if I hate it.
-Be conscious on stage of NOT having your back to the audience. It's a rookie mistake that many actors make in their first show. You just need to remember you're doing the show for an audience, not for yourselves. No one wants to look at your backside. There are times it is called for, but int his show, those times do not exist.
-If you ever have any questions, just ask! One thing that I ask though is that you ask it when I'm not directing. If I'm not working with actors, go for it. If you see that I'm busy...hold off.
-Rehearsals may end early, but for this show never later. If they end early and I have to leave, you can't stay in the auditorium or my room. You've gotta go. Sorry!
-Any questions? This isn't a test, but I'll know pretty quickly this week who has read it and who hasn't.
Have a great rehearsal!
-Remember you have literally 3 weeks to memorize your lines. Whenever you have down time, pick up your script and work on those lines. Don't leave your script somewhere where you can't access it for long periods of time. Definitely don't leave it in the auditorium. Some of you don't have too much too do, but others have quite a bit! Don't try to put it off until the weekend before, that rarely ever works unless you're Young Sheldon.
-Every once in a while we'll have a meeting, either club or council that will leak into our scheduled rehearsal time. We try to avoid that, but yesterday we had an unusually high number of cast members who failed their first test of these boards. I mentioned it to some of you, but these boards are our way of communicating with each other when we're not here from 2:30-5 Monday through Thursday. We may say things like "Rehearsal cancelled!" or "We're not doing this, we're doing that" or "Rehearsal is starting late today" or "I need help with this...." or something. Preferably you'll check the boards everyday before each rehearsal (sneak on sometime during or between classes), but no more than 2 days at most. We've had cast members who had trouble doing this and we've had to let them go. When we called you in yesterday, we weren't as serious, but if it's a continuing problem, it is serious. It's in your Actor's contract.
-Tagging on that. We used to accept excuses for lack of wifi, phones and computers, but EVERYONE has been given a Chromebook and everyone has access to the school wifi every school day. No excuses from now on.
-Make sure that you bring your script to each rehearsal! Yesterday was the first time that I had cast members show up without scripts. I hope you memorized that blocking! A pencil is handy too for writing down your movements and any changes we might make to the script.
-During rehearsals, don't wander off out of earshot. We probably could've finished even faster yesterday if we weren't waiting on or having to find people. During blocking, I know it can be boring, but if you can stay in the auditorium that would make things go smoother. If you do go into MC-8, make sure that you're not needed within the next 10 pages or so.
-Everyone loves to talk...who doesn't? But during blocking rehearsals, it can get to be a problem if the actors on stage can't hear me or each other. If you're not on stage and in the auditorium, learn the fine art of talking quieter.
-Remember that blocking is just the first part of the puzzle when putting together a show. I heard some people stressing or correcting people for delivering lines wrong. Don't worry about that now. The only people who should be correcting others are me, your director and anyone of the four Drama Council members in the show. The main focus for this week is figuring out when you come and come off stage and where you go while your out there. That's not written in stone though, so there may be changes as needed throughout the rehearsal process. One thing you can do though is be conscious of where you are standing on stage. I noticed it yesterday that people were literally hugging the giant screen. That's too far back. Look at where the screen is at. Look at where the front of the stage is at. Find the place in the middle (unless I told you to be closer or further away.)
-Once blocking is done, I'm okay with you experimenting or adjusting your blocking to whatever works for you. Don't make drastic changes, but if you think it works better to be in another spot, try it out. I'll say something if I hate it.
-Be conscious on stage of NOT having your back to the audience. It's a rookie mistake that many actors make in their first show. You just need to remember you're doing the show for an audience, not for yourselves. No one wants to look at your backside. There are times it is called for, but int his show, those times do not exist.
-If you ever have any questions, just ask! One thing that I ask though is that you ask it when I'm not directing. If I'm not working with actors, go for it. If you see that I'm busy...hold off.
-Rehearsals may end early, but for this show never later. If they end early and I have to leave, you can't stay in the auditorium or my room. You've gotta go. Sorry!
-Any questions? This isn't a test, but I'll know pretty quickly this week who has read it and who hasn't.
Have a great rehearsal!