Post by Admin on Nov 8, 2018 1:41:22 GMT
11-7-18
Rehearsal notes:
As before, you have until noon the next day (Thursday, October 8th) to respond to the notes. I'd be most impressed though if you respond tonight, so you have more time to work on the problem areas. You should never have to have someone text or message you to read these notes. I think that happened today because we suddenly got a large response from all of those who hadn't read them yet. It’s just part of your job!
There is a secret question that needs to be answered to prove that you read the notes. It’s embedded in here somewhere. Please just answer the question and don’t repeat it in your response that you read these.
Today, I was up by the light booth to hopefully get those light cues done better and I was also in shouting distance of the sound board too if needed. If you mess up a line or break character, I’m putting that in my notes. If you miss an entrance or mess up an entrance, I’m putting that in my notes too. It’s my goal to have few to none of those notes here. This is crunch time.
-Not a great start with 2 missing cast member s. This is why we’re not making improvements in some areas. Thanks Anthony for your explanation. I understand, but this was a bad week to be missing any cast members. You can see how it can mess up a rehearsal.
-McGonnagal- I really am not understanding your words from where I was sitting. I’m not sure what the problem is..possibly enunciation? Slow down your lines and that could help.
-Stage crew- The dense fog isn’t very foggy. I know the one fog machine is sucky, but the other one should be okay. I can add another fog machine or two if it helps.
-Sorting Hat- still coming across as if you are holding back. The Sorting Hat should be a bigger character, and you ‘re coming across as if you’re heart isn’t in it. You actually were at a better level when the music screwed up the 2nd time and you had to go a cappella.
-Sorting Hat- You missed the notes about not starting the 2nd ½ of your song so early.
-Sorting Hat- It was like you were a different character (for the better) than the one who sang. Better energy. You need that energy for your song.
-Lights : Black out after Sorting Hat and McGonnagal exit after the sorting. We can’t have a super long blackout though because this is supposed to move pretty fast. How fast can we get those ties on? Do we need to practice speed -tie putting on?
McGonnagal- Could hardly hear your line after Lily was sorted.
Albus-Lo-lo-locomortis- You used to do that center stage and now you’re in front of the screen out of the light. Have that happen more center.
Year 4- Since we are at the train station again, we probably should have bags again for students traveling to Hogwarts. Maybe if not with you, piled and stacked somewhere on the stage.
Enunciation is honestly not good today. I’ve got the script in front of me and the words are not matching what I’m looking at. Your first time audience members are going to be frustrated if they don’t understand the story because they can’t understand your words. I understand Albus, Harry, Ron. (Fake Hermione), Delphi and sometimes Scorpius.
Amos- You’re actually an older man. Don’t move and walk like a teenager. Your teenage son died almost 20 years ago. In the actual play, Amos was so old, he was in a wheelchair. You don’t need to be in a wheelchair, but you should act older. The accent is great! It’s one of the few accents in this show.
Scorpius: Page 26 Are we sure this is a good idea? I’m just really worried that-- come up with a few more words to come after that so Albus will cut you off properly. Right now you say “…that” and you’re not really cut off by Albus. You just stop talking and then Albus interrupts which looks weird.
I’ll work on figuring out the lighting stage left. It just is too dark. We want to see the screen, but we also want to see you.
Ron/Albus- We can really stretch out that “What? Why me?” on 31. “What? Whyyyyyyyyyyy Meeeeeeeee?” Be super whiny.
Hermione- I know you had a concert tonight, but I don’t think you realize how much you affected today’s rehearsal. You couldn’t have come for part of it, at least?
EVERYONE: EVERYONE better be at rehearsal on Thursday. Even if you are missing a limb.
Note for me: Find a better/light red for the bookcase scene. It’s too dark. It seemed lighter yesterday.
Scorpius- You can’t forget the time-turner. It’s kind of important to the plot. We bought 3 so the audience wouldn’t have to use their imagination.
Albus: P 40 “We can just wing it” That was a long pause before you said that.
Scorpius: I detect an accent…
I might spend a 2nd day up here at the light booth tomorrow…
Lights; Small spot on Scorpius and Albus (page 42) – We don’t want to see anything but those two.
Lights : need to come up on page 43 “Well, did it work?”
Ludo: This is Hogwarts (p 45) You realized your error and fixed it.
Albus! You remember that time twisted, turned over and spooled!
Harry: P 47 Listen for Scorpius to say “Now I’ve gone deaf.” You have a line that wakes up everyone who fell asleep during the previous scene. What can we do so you don’t miss your cue?
Harry- bottom of 53 “I’m going to give you the Marauder’s Map…” line Don’t admit that you messed up your line.
Harry- the patch change for Cedric works. It’s a simple way to show your character change without an elaborate change. Just take off the glasses and stick on the patch.
McGonagall- I think the problem is that you are rushing your lines. Seriously talk slower than you are now. If you think you’re talking too slow…that’s okay. At least the audience will understand you.
Nice job being out in Hermione’s class students! That 2 in a row!
Scorpius- the accent works, just slow down your lines too. There’s a trick to adding an accent and still being understood. Slowing down is the key. Notice how slow Albus says lines.
EVERYONE: Albus is your perfect example of enunciation and not rushing lines. I’ve rarely had trouble understanding a word Amanda says. Maybe Amanda can give lessons…? I don’t know…
We need to find a blonde wig for Scorpius. I know we have one somewhere.
What if I took a second to give you the secret task right now. Name a character from the Harry Potter books along with your response that you read this. You CANNOT repeat a character that someone already said. For instance, if someone says Harry Potter, you cannot say Harry Potter. Easy, huh? Do it.
There seemed to be a hesitation in setting up the 2nd task of the Tri-Wizard tournament scene. What were we waiting for? (page 62)
Scorpius- after the “Kick Me” sign doesn’t work, be more upset- You don’t have any emotion. Notice the line” No good, his clothing must be adhesive proof!” on page 64 has an exclamation point at the end of it. Usually that means yelling or shouting.
Just a side note for many of you. This is where I can see the more experiences actors vs the newer actors. The new actors seem to stop acting when they don't have lines and the experienced actors still are in character. For you newer actors, think about how your character would react in the situation you are in. React like that.
Snape: Cheat out more. You fixed yourself before “2 inconsistancies” – When you’r e in profile, you literally disappear on stage because you’re mostly in black.
Page 73 Snape, Scorpius, Ron and Hermione- Note how you all look at the audience and shrug in the middle of the page before Snape says 4
Time Warp- I know Hermione is gone, but the “Time Warp” lacks energy. Oh, I see Amanda pointing that out..
Dementors need lots of fog.
Snape- Nice line delivery especially the “Sacrificing yourself isn’t as cool as I thought…”
Scorpius- p 79 His full name is Neville Longbottom. You keep just saying Neville.
Harry: Page 80 top- double check that paragraph.
McGonagall: I’m still yelling at you! You’ve got to be on top of that line. You cut off Harry’s speech.
Delphi- Fine throwing the broken wand bit behind the screen.
Albus- The first time I didn’t catch a word from you today. “We need to find new wands before the battle scene”- Battle scene sounded like bathroom…which is so weird.
Note to someone, we do need a script on the plinth that Albus and Scorpius are tied up on.
Delphi: page 91 “I’m still taking you back further, I have one more trick to try.” Cedric exits. Forgotten line. You can’t just stand there. Albus and Scorpius may have to “guide” you with some improv if that happens again. For instance. “Well…any more tricks?” or something like that.
After Draco says “…so we’ll be right over!” we shouldn’t hear footsteps. We should hear Morgan saying the next line. Page 99
Dementors during your last appearance, you’re walking like teenagers.
Note to Delphi and Harry- Don’t actually shoot the fire wands at each other. They are pretty unpredictable..and It is real fire. Did someone play with Harry’s wand during rehearsal? I personally loaded both wands right after school with all 4 pieces of magic flash paper. I’m not sure what happened there, but again, the nice thing about this scene is that they aren’t really supposed to work anyway. It’s covered by the script.
As with yesterday, the end part is really your best part.
McGonnagal- Come down center stage for your final words. You should come down as close to the audience as you can and talk to them. When you're standing right in front of the screen (the worst place to stand in this show) you're not going to connect to the audience.
McGonnagal: As soon as the lights go down and the music starts..get off stage as fast as you can.
Tomorrow after we finish the run through, we will have bows added to the show. So don't plan on leaving until that is completed and rehearsed.
We seriously need 100% attendance from all cast members for these final rehearsals. We're never going to get this show right if we're not at 100% attendance.
Final thoughts: Amanda and Ashlyn are your Drama Club presidents. This show reflects on them, so that is why they are coming across as less than pleased with how things are going. It's at that point where it is painfully obvious who has been putting the work into the show and who has not. We can see who has read the notes and made adjustments and who has been making the same errors each time. For those of you planning on doing the spring musical, think of this show as part of your audition. If you didn't see it in the other thread, I don't want anyone in the show that doesn't show me commitment and dedication. I can't have that in another show, especially one that big.
Let's NOT do make up tomorrow and save that until Monday night when we have 90 minutes to work with it. I'd rather we get our mics, our costumes and do a warm up instead. This show needs that serious infusion of energy. I think that will help.
Please be on time tomorrow. When you arrive, there will be a report from the North County Outlook who will be interviewing some of you and watching our rehearsal and taking pics.
That's the notes for now. Hopefully you've read them. Respond now.
Rehearsal notes:
As before, you have until noon the next day (Thursday, October 8th) to respond to the notes. I'd be most impressed though if you respond tonight, so you have more time to work on the problem areas. You should never have to have someone text or message you to read these notes. I think that happened today because we suddenly got a large response from all of those who hadn't read them yet. It’s just part of your job!
There is a secret question that needs to be answered to prove that you read the notes. It’s embedded in here somewhere. Please just answer the question and don’t repeat it in your response that you read these.
Today, I was up by the light booth to hopefully get those light cues done better and I was also in shouting distance of the sound board too if needed. If you mess up a line or break character, I’m putting that in my notes. If you miss an entrance or mess up an entrance, I’m putting that in my notes too. It’s my goal to have few to none of those notes here. This is crunch time.
-Not a great start with 2 missing cast member s. This is why we’re not making improvements in some areas. Thanks Anthony for your explanation. I understand, but this was a bad week to be missing any cast members. You can see how it can mess up a rehearsal.
-McGonnagal- I really am not understanding your words from where I was sitting. I’m not sure what the problem is..possibly enunciation? Slow down your lines and that could help.
-Stage crew- The dense fog isn’t very foggy. I know the one fog machine is sucky, but the other one should be okay. I can add another fog machine or two if it helps.
-Sorting Hat- still coming across as if you are holding back. The Sorting Hat should be a bigger character, and you ‘re coming across as if you’re heart isn’t in it. You actually were at a better level when the music screwed up the 2nd time and you had to go a cappella.
-Sorting Hat- You missed the notes about not starting the 2nd ½ of your song so early.
-Sorting Hat- It was like you were a different character (for the better) than the one who sang. Better energy. You need that energy for your song.
-Lights : Black out after Sorting Hat and McGonnagal exit after the sorting. We can’t have a super long blackout though because this is supposed to move pretty fast. How fast can we get those ties on? Do we need to practice speed -tie putting on?
McGonnagal- Could hardly hear your line after Lily was sorted.
Albus-Lo-lo-locomortis- You used to do that center stage and now you’re in front of the screen out of the light. Have that happen more center.
Year 4- Since we are at the train station again, we probably should have bags again for students traveling to Hogwarts. Maybe if not with you, piled and stacked somewhere on the stage.
Enunciation is honestly not good today. I’ve got the script in front of me and the words are not matching what I’m looking at. Your first time audience members are going to be frustrated if they don’t understand the story because they can’t understand your words. I understand Albus, Harry, Ron. (Fake Hermione), Delphi and sometimes Scorpius.
Amos- You’re actually an older man. Don’t move and walk like a teenager. Your teenage son died almost 20 years ago. In the actual play, Amos was so old, he was in a wheelchair. You don’t need to be in a wheelchair, but you should act older. The accent is great! It’s one of the few accents in this show.
Scorpius: Page 26 Are we sure this is a good idea? I’m just really worried that-- come up with a few more words to come after that so Albus will cut you off properly. Right now you say “…that” and you’re not really cut off by Albus. You just stop talking and then Albus interrupts which looks weird.
I’ll work on figuring out the lighting stage left. It just is too dark. We want to see the screen, but we also want to see you.
Ron/Albus- We can really stretch out that “What? Why me?” on 31. “What? Whyyyyyyyyyyy Meeeeeeeee?” Be super whiny.
Hermione- I know you had a concert tonight, but I don’t think you realize how much you affected today’s rehearsal. You couldn’t have come for part of it, at least?
EVERYONE: EVERYONE better be at rehearsal on Thursday. Even if you are missing a limb.
Note for me: Find a better/light red for the bookcase scene. It’s too dark. It seemed lighter yesterday.
Scorpius- You can’t forget the time-turner. It’s kind of important to the plot. We bought 3 so the audience wouldn’t have to use their imagination.
Albus: P 40 “We can just wing it” That was a long pause before you said that.
Scorpius: I detect an accent…
I might spend a 2nd day up here at the light booth tomorrow…
Lights; Small spot on Scorpius and Albus (page 42) – We don’t want to see anything but those two.
Lights : need to come up on page 43 “Well, did it work?”
Ludo: This is Hogwarts (p 45) You realized your error and fixed it.
Albus! You remember that time twisted, turned over and spooled!
Harry: P 47 Listen for Scorpius to say “Now I’ve gone deaf.” You have a line that wakes up everyone who fell asleep during the previous scene. What can we do so you don’t miss your cue?
Harry- bottom of 53 “I’m going to give you the Marauder’s Map…” line Don’t admit that you messed up your line.
Harry- the patch change for Cedric works. It’s a simple way to show your character change without an elaborate change. Just take off the glasses and stick on the patch.
McGonagall- I think the problem is that you are rushing your lines. Seriously talk slower than you are now. If you think you’re talking too slow…that’s okay. At least the audience will understand you.
Nice job being out in Hermione’s class students! That 2 in a row!
Scorpius- the accent works, just slow down your lines too. There’s a trick to adding an accent and still being understood. Slowing down is the key. Notice how slow Albus says lines.
EVERYONE: Albus is your perfect example of enunciation and not rushing lines. I’ve rarely had trouble understanding a word Amanda says. Maybe Amanda can give lessons…? I don’t know…
We need to find a blonde wig for Scorpius. I know we have one somewhere.
What if I took a second to give you the secret task right now. Name a character from the Harry Potter books along with your response that you read this. You CANNOT repeat a character that someone already said. For instance, if someone says Harry Potter, you cannot say Harry Potter. Easy, huh? Do it.
There seemed to be a hesitation in setting up the 2nd task of the Tri-Wizard tournament scene. What were we waiting for? (page 62)
Scorpius- after the “Kick Me” sign doesn’t work, be more upset- You don’t have any emotion. Notice the line” No good, his clothing must be adhesive proof!” on page 64 has an exclamation point at the end of it. Usually that means yelling or shouting.
Just a side note for many of you. This is where I can see the more experiences actors vs the newer actors. The new actors seem to stop acting when they don't have lines and the experienced actors still are in character. For you newer actors, think about how your character would react in the situation you are in. React like that.
Snape: Cheat out more. You fixed yourself before “2 inconsistancies” – When you’r e in profile, you literally disappear on stage because you’re mostly in black.
Page 73 Snape, Scorpius, Ron and Hermione- Note how you all look at the audience and shrug in the middle of the page before Snape says 4
Time Warp- I know Hermione is gone, but the “Time Warp” lacks energy. Oh, I see Amanda pointing that out..
Dementors need lots of fog.
Snape- Nice line delivery especially the “Sacrificing yourself isn’t as cool as I thought…”
Scorpius- p 79 His full name is Neville Longbottom. You keep just saying Neville.
Harry: Page 80 top- double check that paragraph.
McGonagall: I’m still yelling at you! You’ve got to be on top of that line. You cut off Harry’s speech.
Delphi- Fine throwing the broken wand bit behind the screen.
Albus- The first time I didn’t catch a word from you today. “We need to find new wands before the battle scene”- Battle scene sounded like bathroom…which is so weird.
Note to someone, we do need a script on the plinth that Albus and Scorpius are tied up on.
Delphi: page 91 “I’m still taking you back further, I have one more trick to try.” Cedric exits. Forgotten line. You can’t just stand there. Albus and Scorpius may have to “guide” you with some improv if that happens again. For instance. “Well…any more tricks?” or something like that.
After Draco says “…so we’ll be right over!” we shouldn’t hear footsteps. We should hear Morgan saying the next line. Page 99
Dementors during your last appearance, you’re walking like teenagers.
Note to Delphi and Harry- Don’t actually shoot the fire wands at each other. They are pretty unpredictable..and It is real fire. Did someone play with Harry’s wand during rehearsal? I personally loaded both wands right after school with all 4 pieces of magic flash paper. I’m not sure what happened there, but again, the nice thing about this scene is that they aren’t really supposed to work anyway. It’s covered by the script.
As with yesterday, the end part is really your best part.
McGonnagal- Come down center stage for your final words. You should come down as close to the audience as you can and talk to them. When you're standing right in front of the screen (the worst place to stand in this show) you're not going to connect to the audience.
McGonnagal: As soon as the lights go down and the music starts..get off stage as fast as you can.
Tomorrow after we finish the run through, we will have bows added to the show. So don't plan on leaving until that is completed and rehearsed.
We seriously need 100% attendance from all cast members for these final rehearsals. We're never going to get this show right if we're not at 100% attendance.
Final thoughts: Amanda and Ashlyn are your Drama Club presidents. This show reflects on them, so that is why they are coming across as less than pleased with how things are going. It's at that point where it is painfully obvious who has been putting the work into the show and who has not. We can see who has read the notes and made adjustments and who has been making the same errors each time. For those of you planning on doing the spring musical, think of this show as part of your audition. If you didn't see it in the other thread, I don't want anyone in the show that doesn't show me commitment and dedication. I can't have that in another show, especially one that big.
Let's NOT do make up tomorrow and save that until Monday night when we have 90 minutes to work with it. I'd rather we get our mics, our costumes and do a warm up instead. This show needs that serious infusion of energy. I think that will help.
Please be on time tomorrow. When you arrive, there will be a report from the North County Outlook who will be interviewing some of you and watching our rehearsal and taking pics.
That's the notes for now. Hopefully you've read them. Respond now.