Dear Parents, today was a milestone!!! I felt like I was at a professional rehearsal. Your students were so well behaved, so attentive, and so eager to learn! Not once did I have to ask for people to pay attention or to settle down. HOPEFULLY this will run into tomorrow's rehearsal as well, but I wanted you to know how well they behaved and rehearsed today. It was amazing. As a result, we got tons done, too!
I am getting ready to head back to Australia for a job come Sunday, so today I tried to put a box in the mail to meet me there. Instead, I got the slowest person alive trying to help the single-most confused person alive. Needless to say, I ran a few minutes late today. I apologize again to your actors. Nate and Katie were there to jump in with the check-ins, and Mary Kathryn was there to help with getting all our props moved from the lobby to the performance space. Thanks, guys! Today's check in (courtesy of Nate) was what type of dog would we be. Lots of interesting answers yet again. We then did a vocal warm-up and then we jumped right into blocking and some bookwork.
Let me start right off by saying that blocking and bookwork is the SINGLE MOST BORING part of the rehearsal process. It has to do with a lot of sitting around doing pretty much nothing but watching your fellow actors work while you sit and glaze over.
Can I just tell you that we were able to block pages 39-83 today? That is amazing! We only have about 15 more pages and then we are finished blocking the whole show! I have three more musical numbers to stage, and then we are finished! Who knew? It is because of the patience and talent of your kids that we were able to accomplish this today.
We finished doing the choreography to "You're Never Fully Dressed Without A Smile" as well as "Easy Street." Both are numbers that are a lot of fun for me. I hope they are for your actors.
Mary Kathryn worked a bit with Maddy's "NYC" solo also.
We took a long break form 3:10-3:45 and then worked on the musical numbers. At 5:00, we stopped for a discussion about costumes.
Your child should have brought home with them a list of things they will need to wear for the show.
Our "base" costume is jeans/jean shorts and a white t-shirt. I don't mind if the girls want to wear a woman's fitted t-shirt... but no tank tops, and nothing with pockets or any kind of print on them. The reason for this is to use the shirts/jeans as a type of "uniform as well for the servants/butlers/cooks/housekeeping staff scene.
Without going into too much boring detail, you should have the info needed from your actor as to other "embellishments" they will need. Some of the guys, for example, will need a jacket or an overcoat. Some of the girls will be using hats and coats for their other characters.
I have been working on props all weekend and I am trying to finish them up tonight. I am trying to keep it as minimal as possible, but if anyone knows how to mount a paper poster to a piece of foam core without it getting wrinkled or bubbled forming, please let me know. I have about ten large poster sized postcards to be mounted to foam core, and I don't want them to get all wrinkled by using spray adhesive.
Tomorrow's goal is to finish blocking the show, finish staging the musical numbers, and starting a run-through! This way, we will hopefully get a few run-throughs in before you get a chance to see it. I am looking at Thursday as a full dress rehearsal, so all costumes will be needed by Thursday.
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