Post by Admin on Nov 15, 2019 15:59:44 GMT
Don't respond to this thread. Use the Google classroom thread to respond to this. I want all of the responses in one place. Thanks!
Notes from Thursday and a look ahead to next week:
1) Thank you for your patience while I attempted to repair that giant set piece. We found out the hard way that there was a weight limit and I'm glad no one was hurt. It took a long time because Drama Club has really crappy drill bits and a lot of bent screws. I'm thinking of tossing them all and buying new ones for the next show. That being said, there are double the number of screws holding the wheels in place, plus it's reinforced with a piece of wood with even more screws, so I don't think it'll break again. Let's just keep the people limit at the top at 3.
P.S. Nice job trying to project over the sound of the drill.
2)One of the main observations of Act II is that some cast members are still having issues with lines. There should've been some improvement since Tuesday, but some of the problem areas were the same spots. Even worse is that the cast members having problems just left their scripts backstage. I'm not going to call you out, but those scripts are right where you left them. I'm here until 2:30 on Friday. If you leave them there over the weekend and still have problems on Monday, I'm not going to be too happy.
3) Enunciation and diction cannot be stressed enough. It's going to be our #1 complaint from audience members. They can hear you, but if you talk to fast or mumble your lines...it's going to frustrate them. You do have the benefit that your audience probably is familiar with the story, but they shouldn't have to rely on prior knowledge to understand the play happening before them.
4) Specific Act II stuff:
-I don't think there was any attempt to follow the lighting script up top yesterday and I'm not sure why. The same lights were on the entire time, which probably made it difficult for you to know what to do at times. There are times that you are 100% in the dark and the opening of Act II is one of them, except for Ralph, who gets a spot light. After Ralph is done with his opening speech, the lights will come up on the kids waiting in line for Santa. Santa: Do not start talking the second Ralph is done with his speech. Give the audience at least 5-10 seconds to take in what they are seeing. Everyone, keep up your quiet conversations to each other during this time.
-Page 52 Randy forgot a "Santa! Santa!" same one as Tuesday.
-Santa, I'm not believing you are really that disgusted by Randy peeing on the arm of the chair.
-Old Man and Mom- Right after Ralphie says "Ewwww" you literally start your scene as the Santa set is being rolled off. It was pretty much off when you finally entered. We don't want to stop the show just for a set piece.The show is constantly moving.
-We have a snake to be thrown at the safari group. We just need a stage crew member to toss it out from the direction that Ralphie shoots.
-Props- Speaking of props- On Monday, I want everyone to find their props (they'll be backstage on a table.) We are going to be using all props that we have starting Monday.
-Ralph's energy. Your narrator has a lot of energy and enthusiasm. I love it. The Youtube version that we recommended that you watch has one main weak spot and that is their Ralph. He's like a Grandpa telling old timey tales. I want the rest of the cast to pick up on Morgan's enthusiasm for the show. He's having a good time, or at least acting like it.
-Ralph- You cannot narrate through the window though. There will be a leg lamp there. In your original blocking that I gave you long, long ago, I had you sitting on a stool at times by Ralphie's bedroom. That stool is still there on stage...waiting for you to actually use it to stay out of the scenes that are playing out.
-Mom- avoid the modern dancing in the house. Again this is a part of the show where there shouldv'e been no light on you because we can't have light on in the house when the lamp breaks. You'd actually have to break the lamp if the audience can see you. We can't buy a $150 lamp for each show each night, so the light booth needs to be on this.
-Page 104- No Schwartz. Missed entrances are just not acceptable at this point in rehearsals. Pay attention to the show as it's being played out and know when you're supposed to be on stage.
-We need to work on the Ralphie/Scut fight to make it more believable. Right now it looks like a tickle fight.
-I had another note about slowing down your lines. I had the script in front of me and without that I would've had no clue what some of you were saying.
Page 121- Old Man remove the reference to the window when you're talking about where Ralphie's present is hiding. I'm not making another window just for one line in the script.
Page 117- We'll need to coordinate the blackout with the stage crew and light crew on Tuesday. This was where I really realized that the light crew wasn't really doing lighting since BLACKOUT is in their script . This is where the Old Man is "fixing" the tree lighting.
5) Anyone hear from Aiden? He never answered the mic information thread and he's been gone the last two days. Both days I haven't received any attempt to contact me to tell me that he could not be at rehearsal. Did anyone?
6)For next week: '
-November 18- It's all about Act One. The last time we did Act One it was an hour and thirty three minutes. We need to shave at least 20-25 minutes off of that time. We won't do that one Monday because we are going to take Act One scene by scene. We need to make sure that the lighting is done correctly, the sound cues hit where they are supposed to hit and that the stage crew gets jobs assigned to them as needed. We're going to be adding the fog machines and other stuff. We're also adding props in your hands and we need to make sure that we have props in their proper spots and brought on and off at the proper times. There's some tricky prop work in this show, this is the day that we figure ALL of that out. Look for a table backstage with props on it. They should be separated by Act One and Act Two and if I have time, they will have your character names attached to them.
Get your mics on, check your props, and be ready to go by 2:45. I'd also like to have costume pieces worn this week, so if you have costumes that you'll need to change in and out of and if you think you'll need to practice doing so, wear them this week and next. I do want certain costumes, like the Santa Suit and Bunny outfit used.
If you had props from my list that you said you could bring in, do so by Monday for Act One and Tuesday for Act Two.
November 19- It's all about Act Two. It'll be like yesterday, but with a different Act. Act Two should last about 45 minutes maximum....we've been going over an hour with that. Knowing your lines and entrances will make a huge difference.
November 20 and 21- Both days we'll be doing the entire show for the first time. All of those things that we did on Monday and Tuesday will be put to the test on Wednesday and Thursday. The show is about 2 hours long (minus intermission) so we need to get going with it by 2:45. We are scheduled to end by 5:00, but we will go over time if we're not done with the show. That means if you want to go home on time, please have lines 100% down. Your version of the show right now is over 2 1/2 hours. We need to get rid of that extra 1/2 hour or so. That's our goal for these 2 days.
For the program- I didn't get the names of our stage, sound and light crew for the program yesterday because I was a little distracted by something big. If you can help supply names below that would help me so much. On Monday before we start, I want to do a 2nd attempt at a stage crew photo with everyone safely on the cement stage.
Costumes- If you don't know who to talk to, you haven't been paying attention. If you have costume needs or help, please see Julia and/or Nikole. The costume room will be cleaned up and ready for you on Monday. There are boxes on a long table with costume stuff, and there is a clothing rack with your names on tags and some costumes hanging up. Do not touch anything until you get the okay from either of those two.
Advertising- We'll have posters for you to take on Monday. We don't go big budget on the play posters, so they'll simply be 8 1/2 X 11 (or some bigger) copies of the poster. We can't hang a banner up where I usually hang a banner up because of the ingenious CEMENT siding, so we may have Drama Council and anyone who would like to volunteer make banners that we can hang on the outside of the auditorium. Please distribute the posters to wherever you can. I put out a press release, so hopefully we'll have some newspapers visit us before opening week.
Please respond on Google Classroom that you have read this. Please respond by Monday morning. I really don't want you to try reading these and responding seconds before rehearsal begins because it won't be as much helpful to you or to the group.
The show is really coming together, but we only have 8 rehearsals left! Thank you to all of you for your efforts! It's really been helping that most of you have been showing up every single day of rehearsal. That makes such a big difference to show rehearsals! I appreciate your dedication!
Notes from Thursday and a look ahead to next week:
1) Thank you for your patience while I attempted to repair that giant set piece. We found out the hard way that there was a weight limit and I'm glad no one was hurt. It took a long time because Drama Club has really crappy drill bits and a lot of bent screws. I'm thinking of tossing them all and buying new ones for the next show. That being said, there are double the number of screws holding the wheels in place, plus it's reinforced with a piece of wood with even more screws, so I don't think it'll break again. Let's just keep the people limit at the top at 3.
P.S. Nice job trying to project over the sound of the drill.
2)One of the main observations of Act II is that some cast members are still having issues with lines. There should've been some improvement since Tuesday, but some of the problem areas were the same spots. Even worse is that the cast members having problems just left their scripts backstage. I'm not going to call you out, but those scripts are right where you left them. I'm here until 2:30 on Friday. If you leave them there over the weekend and still have problems on Monday, I'm not going to be too happy.
3) Enunciation and diction cannot be stressed enough. It's going to be our #1 complaint from audience members. They can hear you, but if you talk to fast or mumble your lines...it's going to frustrate them. You do have the benefit that your audience probably is familiar with the story, but they shouldn't have to rely on prior knowledge to understand the play happening before them.
4) Specific Act II stuff:
-I don't think there was any attempt to follow the lighting script up top yesterday and I'm not sure why. The same lights were on the entire time, which probably made it difficult for you to know what to do at times. There are times that you are 100% in the dark and the opening of Act II is one of them, except for Ralph, who gets a spot light. After Ralph is done with his opening speech, the lights will come up on the kids waiting in line for Santa. Santa: Do not start talking the second Ralph is done with his speech. Give the audience at least 5-10 seconds to take in what they are seeing. Everyone, keep up your quiet conversations to each other during this time.
-Page 52 Randy forgot a "Santa! Santa!" same one as Tuesday.
-Santa, I'm not believing you are really that disgusted by Randy peeing on the arm of the chair.
-Old Man and Mom- Right after Ralphie says "Ewwww" you literally start your scene as the Santa set is being rolled off. It was pretty much off when you finally entered. We don't want to stop the show just for a set piece.The show is constantly moving.
-We have a snake to be thrown at the safari group. We just need a stage crew member to toss it out from the direction that Ralphie shoots.
-Props- Speaking of props- On Monday, I want everyone to find their props (they'll be backstage on a table.) We are going to be using all props that we have starting Monday.
-Ralph's energy. Your narrator has a lot of energy and enthusiasm. I love it. The Youtube version that we recommended that you watch has one main weak spot and that is their Ralph. He's like a Grandpa telling old timey tales. I want the rest of the cast to pick up on Morgan's enthusiasm for the show. He's having a good time, or at least acting like it.
-Ralph- You cannot narrate through the window though. There will be a leg lamp there. In your original blocking that I gave you long, long ago, I had you sitting on a stool at times by Ralphie's bedroom. That stool is still there on stage...waiting for you to actually use it to stay out of the scenes that are playing out.
-Mom- avoid the modern dancing in the house. Again this is a part of the show where there shouldv'e been no light on you because we can't have light on in the house when the lamp breaks. You'd actually have to break the lamp if the audience can see you. We can't buy a $150 lamp for each show each night, so the light booth needs to be on this.
-Page 104- No Schwartz. Missed entrances are just not acceptable at this point in rehearsals. Pay attention to the show as it's being played out and know when you're supposed to be on stage.
-We need to work on the Ralphie/Scut fight to make it more believable. Right now it looks like a tickle fight.
-I had another note about slowing down your lines. I had the script in front of me and without that I would've had no clue what some of you were saying.
Page 121- Old Man remove the reference to the window when you're talking about where Ralphie's present is hiding. I'm not making another window just for one line in the script.
Page 117- We'll need to coordinate the blackout with the stage crew and light crew on Tuesday. This was where I really realized that the light crew wasn't really doing lighting since BLACKOUT is in their script . This is where the Old Man is "fixing" the tree lighting.
5) Anyone hear from Aiden? He never answered the mic information thread and he's been gone the last two days. Both days I haven't received any attempt to contact me to tell me that he could not be at rehearsal. Did anyone?
6)For next week: '
-November 18- It's all about Act One. The last time we did Act One it was an hour and thirty three minutes. We need to shave at least 20-25 minutes off of that time. We won't do that one Monday because we are going to take Act One scene by scene. We need to make sure that the lighting is done correctly, the sound cues hit where they are supposed to hit and that the stage crew gets jobs assigned to them as needed. We're going to be adding the fog machines and other stuff. We're also adding props in your hands and we need to make sure that we have props in their proper spots and brought on and off at the proper times. There's some tricky prop work in this show, this is the day that we figure ALL of that out. Look for a table backstage with props on it. They should be separated by Act One and Act Two and if I have time, they will have your character names attached to them.
Get your mics on, check your props, and be ready to go by 2:45. I'd also like to have costume pieces worn this week, so if you have costumes that you'll need to change in and out of and if you think you'll need to practice doing so, wear them this week and next. I do want certain costumes, like the Santa Suit and Bunny outfit used.
If you had props from my list that you said you could bring in, do so by Monday for Act One and Tuesday for Act Two.
November 19- It's all about Act Two. It'll be like yesterday, but with a different Act. Act Two should last about 45 minutes maximum....we've been going over an hour with that. Knowing your lines and entrances will make a huge difference.
November 20 and 21- Both days we'll be doing the entire show for the first time. All of those things that we did on Monday and Tuesday will be put to the test on Wednesday and Thursday. The show is about 2 hours long (minus intermission) so we need to get going with it by 2:45. We are scheduled to end by 5:00, but we will go over time if we're not done with the show. That means if you want to go home on time, please have lines 100% down. Your version of the show right now is over 2 1/2 hours. We need to get rid of that extra 1/2 hour or so. That's our goal for these 2 days.
For the program- I didn't get the names of our stage, sound and light crew for the program yesterday because I was a little distracted by something big. If you can help supply names below that would help me so much. On Monday before we start, I want to do a 2nd attempt at a stage crew photo with everyone safely on the cement stage.
Costumes- If you don't know who to talk to, you haven't been paying attention. If you have costume needs or help, please see Julia and/or Nikole. The costume room will be cleaned up and ready for you on Monday. There are boxes on a long table with costume stuff, and there is a clothing rack with your names on tags and some costumes hanging up. Do not touch anything until you get the okay from either of those two.
Advertising- We'll have posters for you to take on Monday. We don't go big budget on the play posters, so they'll simply be 8 1/2 X 11 (or some bigger) copies of the poster. We can't hang a banner up where I usually hang a banner up because of the ingenious CEMENT siding, so we may have Drama Council and anyone who would like to volunteer make banners that we can hang on the outside of the auditorium. Please distribute the posters to wherever you can. I put out a press release, so hopefully we'll have some newspapers visit us before opening week.
Please respond on Google Classroom that you have read this. Please respond by Monday morning. I really don't want you to try reading these and responding seconds before rehearsal begins because it won't be as much helpful to you or to the group.
The show is really coming together, but we only have 8 rehearsals left! Thank you to all of you for your efforts! It's really been helping that most of you have been showing up every single day of rehearsal. That makes such a big difference to show rehearsals! I appreciate your dedication!