Tuesday, January 31, 2012

Vocal Rehearsal Added Feb. 3

Vocal rehearsal has been added for Friday, February 3, at 6:30 PM.  Please remember to enter and leave through the Multi Purpose Room door off Midway.  This will be a rehearsal for the entire cast.

Monday, January 30, 2012

Note Schedule Change Tonight

Please note that vocal rehearsal was moved to tonight, Monday night, at 6:30 PM.  I'd like to get as much vocal rehearsal done as possible, but if there's any time, we'll also block what we have left in Scene 2.  Remember to enter and exit throught the Multi-Purpose Room door off of Midway, as usual.  See you tonight!

Friday, January 27, 2012

Notes from tonight's rehearsal

Great job, everyone!  We got Scene 5 done!  This is a big scene, and it took a lot of effort to get it all done, so well done!
Remember:
  • Listen for cues.  Don't let them drop, and don't react to something that hasn't happened yet.  Listen and react -- just like you do in real life.
  • Don't make random movements.  Every move you make onstage as your character should mean something.  If it doesn't, don't do it.
  • Write your blocking down right away.  The longer you wait to write them down, the more likely you are to forget it.  If you didn't take notes during rehearsal, do it right after.
Good rehearsal!  Have a great weekend, and we'll see you Monday!

Thursday, January 26, 2012

Notes from tonight's rehearsal

A few notes from tonight's rehearsal:
  • We got both songs blocked and choreographed (and I think the new ending to "Trouble" will look much better!).  Good job!  Getting choreography down is tough -- it takes repetition and concentration, but we're off to a good start.  In time, these will seem really easy.
  • We didn't get to much of the blocking around the songs in Scene 2.  Again, let me remind you that "places" means to get in your starting position, don't talk, and be ready to go.  Cues come up fast, especially in the middle of a song!  Pay attention so you don't miss them!
  • As you start to remember the choreography better, the very next step is to make each move as crisp and sharp as you can.
  • Remember, in a musical, the rule of thumb is, don't do a small move when a big move will do.  Gotta make sure they'll see you all the way in the back of the house!
  • Use your CDs!  When we learn new songs and choreography, spend about 10 minutes going over what you learned.  It'll pay off big time when we come back and do the song and dance next rehearsal!
Tomorrow night we do Scene 5.  Get some rest, and come in ready to go!  Remember to check the calendar if you're not sure of the time.

Wednesday, January 25, 2012

Which scene am I in?

If you're not sure which scenes or songs you're in, these scenes and songs have the entire ensemble at some point:

Scene 2
Iowa Stubborn
Ya Got Trouble
Scene 5
Columbia, Gem of the Ocean
76 Trombones
Scene 8
Wells Fargo Wagon
Everyone appears in Scene 10.

And any other scene or song your character is in.

Notes from tonight's rehearsal

Good work from everyone at rehearsal tonight!  When we're missing people it makes rehearsal a bit harder, so good job everyone for keeping your concentration up.  Tomorrow night should be better as we won't have as many conflicts, so we should have more cast members at tomorrow night's rehearsal.

Please remember to text or call the phone number if you can't make rehearsal or think you'll be late.

A few more notes:
  • When I stop to give direction or answer a question, don't start talking to your neighbor.  Listen -- you'll probably benefit as well as the person I'm speaking with.
  • "Places" means to get in position for the start of the song or scene.  Be quiet and prepare by getting into character or thinking about what we're dancing or singing, or where you'll be moving.
  • Remember to enter and exit through the Multi Purpose Room entrance.
Go over the songs we did tonight with your scripts and CDs.  Especially those of you in the Rock Island number at the top of the show.  It's important to get the words in the rhythm.  Keep working at it, and you'll get it.

Tomorrow night we'll go over "Ya Got Trouble" again and catch up the people who were at Sports Awards Night.  We'll also be doing "Iowa Stubborn" and hopefully blocking the rest of Scene 2.

Tuesday, January 24, 2012

Great first rehearsal!

Thanks again to Mrs. O'Reilly-Greene, the Parents who attended tonight, and the fantastic cast we have for this show!  Great read-through tonight!  Remember, this is the first step on our rehearsal journey.  We got to hear the characters' voices all together for the first time, and we discussed our concepts for the show.  Good way to start, people!

As you go through your scripts, take note of the footnotes -- there are many references we'll need to make sure we get right, and some explanations of the language used in 1912.  Some of the words and phrases aren't familiar to us 100 years later, but they'll need to be as comfortable as the phrases we use with our friends today.  And they will be.  Because you guys are that good.

I was really impressed with how much you brought to your characters already.  Well done!  We're off to a great start.  Thank you for all your hard work over the break.

Tomorrow night, we'll start off with Rock Island.  We'll be working hard to get the rhythm down, then we'll put the characters in the rhythm.

Then we'll start working on "Ya Got Trouble".  The choreography won't be very heavy in this number, so we'll need to make sure we start working with getting our characters to come through in the song.

Remember to enter through the Multi-Purpose Room entrace off Midway, and come to Room 104.  Please remember to walk around the gym floor so we don't accidentally disturb the activity going on in there.

Thanks again!

Tonight's Rehearsal

Rehearsal tonight will be a short reiteration of the rehearsal rules, then we will read through and discuss the show.  Rehearsals the first few weeks will be choreography and voice, then blocking the scenes around the songs.  Please check the calendar daily to see what we're rehearsing -- and where.

Welcome back, everyone!!

Thursday, January 19, 2012

Welcome to the Virtual Callboard!

In a theatre, the callboard is the place where the director will post notes to the cast and crew.  With this year's show, I'm testing putting more information where it can be more easily reached by students and parents.  Please let me know how it's working, in comments or by e-mail, phone, or text.

I'm very excited about this year's show!  We have a great cast and a great musical!  I can't wait to get started!

Your Director,

Mr. Pickering