Last Things

I've enjoyed seeing your scenes these past few days and look forward to how they'll improve over the next week as you work hard at rehearsing them. (*ahem*) =)


Reminders that everybody needs to heed:

SLOW DOWN
Your words, that is.

You know the lines. That's good.
Stop flying through them like they're memorized. That's bad. The audience will not be able to understand you -- especially the little kids!!!

You've got to give some words more "weight" or stress than others ... s t r e t c h them out!

Don't read your lines in one big clump. Sometimes you need to pause ... to let your partner react ... to chew over something you just said or he/she just said.

slow down in rehearsal
slow down in performance
just plain slow down!

you are ALWAYS speaking faster than you realize.


TALK LOUDER
You've got a diaphragm. Use it. =)

Everyone so far has been far too quiet to project from the stage to the back rows. I realize you feel funny speaking loudly in a small room like the drama room. But you've got to. If you don't train your voice now to speak OUT and speak UP, you'll totally forget to do it in performance.

If the audience can't HEAR you, they don't CARE what you say.

Speak from your belly -- make your stomach muscles tighten & expel air forcefully when you talk. Your whole "gut" should be moving as you say your lines. Put your hand there once in a while and check ...


OVER-ACT
You're never projecting as strongly as it seems to you, the actor.

What you think is "intense emotion" often comes across as a mere emotional blip from the stage. The audience isn't sitting in your lap-- they're 10 or 20 feet away. And they don't know the scene.

You have to push the emotions out across the space into their faces. For some of you, that's uncomfortable -- you don't like to show emotion. But you've got to do it. .. it looks sillier to say words that should carry emotion -- without feeling.

If you actually manage to "overdo" it, I will tell you to pull back.
But I haven't seen anyone yet who's even come close to going too far.


Practice those three things in rehearsal this week, every rehearsal (even ones at half- energy -- which you should do sometimes to give yourself a break).


Slow down, speak up, and "overdo" it.
Push your partner to do the same. Hold each other accountable.

One More Thing

I forgot to mention down there (and make sure you read the post below this one) ...


STUFF
We have permission to use the room that's in between the science room & the drama room for temporary storage of props & costume items that you need for your drama scenes.

Please don't sling your stuff all over that room. Pick a tidy corner & keep it all in a small neat pile.

Please do keep anything you leave at school for your scene either in your locker or in that room. Don't leave items lying around anywhere else, including the closets upstairs or the bathrooms.

Please don't ever "borrow" an item from another person's stuff. Period. Ask permission first and every time ... and make sure if you EVER borrow someone else's stuff that you return it exactly as you found it ASAP.


HOMEWORK this week
Rehearse your scene as much as you need to for it to be solid for the workshop on Thursday/Friday. For some of you, that means every day this week ... ;)


*-*-*-*

Welcome to theater -- the rest of your life won't slow down just because you have a performance coming up. You're going to have to make it all "fit"-- homework, drama, sports, friends, time for goofing off, life in general...

The best advice I've ever been given:

You have time for what you make time for.
Plan ahead.
You'll make it through


praying for you all


(and read the posts down there ...)

Workshop Schedule

Hope your Thanksgiving has been wonderful! I've slept in and enjoyed visiting friends and family. :)

Remember to work on your King Lear review ...

*****
All MND cast: The table reading of the script is this coming Tuesday from 3-5pm. Bring a change of clothes (to be comfy) and all your pent-up excitement -- this is the kickoff!

*****
Scenes

Consultations
I desperately want to watch each of your scenes sometime on Monday, Tuesday, or Wednesday. I'm available during lunch, recess, & after school.

I'll post a sign-up sheet in my classroom -- sign up on Monday for a time slot. And it would help a lot if some of you could meet w/ me after school ... I can have you on your way home by 3:10.

I'll give you suggestions for blocking, characterization, costumes, props -- whatever I notice. And I'll answer any questions you have.


Workshops = "Dress Rehearsal"
I will take drama class this week to watch each of your scenes & offer critique (and a small grade on your progress). I'd like this to be as close to a dress rehearsal as possible -- with the understanding that there will still be loose ends (costumes in progress, maybe a prop missing...)

You will perform your scene for me and the other group in the room at the time. You will give your classmates feedback (and receive it from them)l.

The other groups scheduled for that day need to rehearse when they aren't meeting with me. My current plan is to give you a study hall on the day you aren't doing a workshop -- with the request that you run your scene once or twice first.


The workshop schedule is as follows:

Thursday
1:00 (note early start time)
Hamlet & Ophelia -- Sam & Alicia
Perelandra -- Bethany & Mr. Ramey

1:30
Antigone Retold -- Taylor & Bettina
Turkish Delight -- Jessie & Ryan


Friday
1:10
Silver Chair -- Nate, Rebekah, Claire
Jill Meets Aslan -- Abigail & Sara
Scrooge & Marley -- Casey & Aaron


Stuff To Work On
1. Stay in character throughout the entire scene, from before you step onstage until the scene is finished.

In fact, try staying in character throughout the entire *rehearsal* ... it's a good exercise in how "you" react to events outside your scripted scene. Encourage your partner to do the same ... support one another's efforts. So will I.

2. Continue to act (react) when you aren't speaking. Don't distract the audience from what your partner is saying, but your face and body need to communicate a subtext that is a reaction to what is being said.

3. Try different blocking ideas for your scene.
Maybe switch sides with your partner ... try standing right behind him (her) and speaking from behind his (her) ear, both of you facing forward ... do SOMETHING different.


performance time draws near!
i am SO excited.
and kind of jealous... *whines* I don't get to do a scene!


OK, enough of that.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

Play Reviews

How to write a review of King Lear


King Lear reviews are due Thursday, December 1st.

Remember that you need three play reviews this year ... if you haven't written one yet, you probably need to write one for Lear.


Otherwise,
Enjoy the break. =)

The Last Stand

**don't forget to write up a play review if you saw King Lear**

Feel like you're hauling a pile of rocks uphill right now?
so do I ....

TAKE A BREAK

Friday's drama class will be our last one for two entire weeks. Sad ...

Next Thursday I hope you enjoy lots of turkey & stuffing ("dressing" for you Southerners) and gravy and sweet potato casserole and dessert and football and a nap and whatever else you need to feel rested & recharged after this oh-so-stressful few weeks.

Let your scene rest over the break ... however, don't let your lines get rusty. Run lines with some human once or twice during vacation (or as needed) so they're rock-solid when you come back to school on Monday the 28th.

THEN BACK TO WORK

After next week (the holiday), there are only two weeks before performance! Hit the ground running on Monday the 28th with rehearsals. My goal during Nov 28-Nov 30 (Mon-Wed) is to watch everyone's scene at least once. Be nice to me if I ask you to do it during recess. =) This is my only chance to really work with you on characterization.

During drama class on Thursday & Friday, Dec 1 & 2, I'll watch your scenes and give you a "workshop" grade. You'll perform your scene in front of me and another group so they can offer ideas as well.

*Do you know your lines?
*Have you worked on characterization? Is your character distinct and well-rounded?
*Have you thought about blocking and stage movement?
*Can I hear you clearly?

The following week (performance week), I'll schedule a "dress rehearsal" time with you on Monday, Tuesday, or Wednesday during recess or after school. That's your last chance to ask me any questions ...

Performances are Thursday and Friday, Dec 8 & 9.
Thursday -- 3rd & 4th grades, plus any parents who can't come on Friday
Friday -- 6th-8th grades, plus parents who want to come



Please give yourself a break over Thanksgiving, especially if you're "tired" of your scene. Come back to school after the break with renewed enthusiasm -- and enjoy it! Y'all are working on some awesome scenes. Let me know how I can help.

*Applause*

{{Pat on the Back}}

Fantastic work, y'all. ... Truly

I was very happy with what I saw in auditions yesterday and today. In fact, I'm sure Midsummer is going to just rock. Wow. This is going to be a blast.

Even the audition scenes were giving me ideas for blocking & staging. I look forward to turning you guys loose to improv those situations and dig into Shakespeare's lines ... good things will follow.

Likewise with the PTO meeting tonight ... Wow again. You guys were awesome! So many parents thought you were witty & funny & hilarious & creative & talented .... But I already knew that. It was nice to show you off, though. :)

but I should stop lest you get a big head. :p


OK, back to work.

Make sure you read the post below this one.
Make sure you're doing a line rehearsal EVERY day until you have your scene lines down cold.
Make sure you do two rehearsal sessions this week before Friday's drama class (not counting any rehearsals we do in drama class this week).

Much love to you all. I am humbled & amazed that the Lord has given me this opportunity to work with you. I'd do it for free.

I'm praying for you -- I know this is stress time.
Mrs. R


**CAST LIST** posted (click on link)
Stuff About Midsummer (announcements page) -- check often

Now What?!

Thanksgiving is about to roll over us, along with the crush of work that seems to follow it. Something about the holiday season seems to breed both extra stress and extra work.

So amid everything else you have to do, you might be wondering "Now what?!" when it comes to working on your scene.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Short and sweet, some things to work on in the next 3 weeks:

Location
I'm planning on doing these scenes on the big auditorium stage, but not in the way you expect.

I'll set up chairs in a rough U-shape on the choir risers against the back wall of the stage, facing out into the auditorium. The stage is deep, so that leaves several feet of "stage" space for the actors to use ... and that means you actors will be standing on the stage, with the steps to your back and your face toward the back wall of the stage.

Basically, I'm creating a small "stage" on the stage, facing the opposite direction.
Make sense? ;)

________________________
...............-- (audience)--
.........------- ......--------
....--------............ ----------

...............X (actors) X

_________________________
.............l ________l
.............l ________l
.............l ________l


Line Rehearsals
Keep up the line rehearsals. If you & your partner know your lines well, still do a line rehearsal (completely from memory, as fast as you can, with no emotion or inflection) once a week.

And if you don't know your lines yet ... your assignment is to do at least 1 line rehearsal a day until you & your partner know your lines well.

poor memorization = bad characterization
bad characterization = bad scene

Blocking
Talk with your partner about blocking (the way you'll move around on stage).

Experiment with different positions during the scene:

• can you move around during the scene or must you stay in one position?
• use your position on stage to communicate who's "in charge" or "has the upper hand" at that moment -- an actor in the center of the stage facing the audience fully is in a "strong" position, for example ...
  
• don't block the audience's view of your partner
• *usually* the audience doesn't want to see your backside except in very special circumstances (examples: a character is totally isolated or alone ... a character who isn't "in the scene yet" but has to be on stage ... )
  
• try something unusual:

*lie down ...

or

*stand behind / beside your partner with both of you facing the same direction (like talking from behind his/her ear) ...

or

*try having one of you cross in front of the other and change sides while talking (the person talking crosses downstage) so you end up on opposite sides by the end of the scene

etc

In the Moment
Once you know your lines really well, push yourself to imagine what your character is feeling & thinking at a given moment ... and focus on that at that moment

For example,
If your character is supposed to walk on stage with a stack of presents, hide them behind a chair, and then pretend you didn't buy your friend anything for her birthday ....

try to focus on what your character would be thinking at that moment ... and THINK that as you walk on stage.

Like this:
*enter from stage left*
(thinking to yourself as you move)
"I hope I can convince Mary that I forgot her birthday. Won't she be surprised when I pull out this huge stack of boxes! ... I hope she's not in the living room .... No, the coast is clear. OK, where can I hide the presents? .... Behind the chair!! Perfect!!"


Why do this?
Because we humans instinctively show on our faces what we're thinking.
Some of you hide it better than others, but most of the time I can pick up at least a general sense of your mood based solely on your facial expression.

If you're thinking
"Don't trip . . . don't trip . . . set the boxes down behind the chair . . . look happy . . . . remember my line!!"
Guess What: THAT's what will play across your face as you walk on stage!!

So stay "in the moment." It takes practice (read: rehearsal and experience). You won't succeed perfectly when you're just starting out ... but remind yourself and your partner to work on it.


Rehearse!
Finally, a few rehearsal tips:

Don't "wear out" your scene during any one session. Vary what you do in rehearsals. You might just walk through your scene (especially if you need to move around a lot) and not talk. Or you might try doing one run at half-energy to give yourself a break.

Try to give your partner something new every time you rehearse ... even if it's just a new gesture ... a different facial expression ... a change in the way you read a line ... a different emotional subtext from what you did last time.
Why? It keeps you both "on your toes" -- otherwise, this is going to turn into a mechanical, robotic rehearsal of memorized words.... Bor-ing.


Next week is pretty much shot because of Thaksgiving. Yeah, we've got 2 days of school, but you know how that goes ....

so that means you've got 3 weeks of rehearsal time before performance. That's plenty of time if you work on characterization this week, give things a rest over the holiday, and then hit it again in early December.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
HOMEWORK this week
1. Survive. =)
2. Come to MND auditions.
3. Come to the PTO meeting if you can.
4. Rehearse your scene w/ your partner on at least *2* different occasions this week outside of drama class. And you will have a chance to rehearse during drama this week ...
5. Run a line rehearsal daily until you know your lines cold and without hesitation.

*****
I need to see you do your scenes ... so let me know if you're rehearsing during recess/lunch & I'll come watch. In order to fulfill my own responsibility (to make sure you don't kill each other or damage property during recess), you probably need to do your scene for me in the general area of recess. We'll go somewhere quiet.


I plan to ease up on English homework in general for the next few weeks ... and I'll ask the other teachers to be merciful to you on Monday (auditions) and Tuesday (PTO meeting).

=)

Just an encouraging word

We are all beleaguered....
tired of school ...
staring out the window at the beautiful fall weather,
wishing for a release.


Believe me, I understand.



Since I don't have the power to change the universe or its schedule, I'll stick with this:


Let me know how I can help lighten the load.

And know that I truly appreciate all your hard work
... the way you've all tackled your scenes with enthusiasm
... your great attitude toward Midsummer Night's Dream.
And the fact that you show up to drama class and have a blast. That's worth the price of my paycheck, I tell ya.


Can't wait to see these scenes .... cause they're gonna rock. =)

PTO Meeting Nov 15th

If you looked at your Friday folder stuff, you may have noticed the announcement that "the NCS Drama Class will be presenting a special skit at our next PTO meeting on November 15th."

Yes, that was a surprise to me as well. I know we're all slam-busy.... I didn't ask for this. ;) But we'll go with it.

I think we've got 20-30 minutes to fill. Let me know if you've got any other ideas, but this is what I've come up with:


1. If you think your scene will be at least decent by then (a week from this Tuesday), think about performing it. I'll make it very clear that these are "scenes in progress." To be honest, some of you guys have enough characterization already to do a decent performance. It's a matter of memory and your own comfort level.
I'm not going to push you. Come talk to me at school if you're willing to volunteer.


2. If you still know your monologue and would be willing to brush up on it and perform it again, that would be cool. Come talk to me.


3. I think we'll spend a bulk of the time showing the folks some of the games we play in class. So I do need to ask for as many of you as possible to consider coming to the PTO meeting.

What are our best games?
Post a comment with ideas ....

remember that the games need to make sense to an audience not familiar with drama ... and they need to be remotely entertaining to an audience (not like "Honey if you love me," which is fun only for those in the circle).


4. This is the same day as call-back auditions for Midsummer Night's Dream and a PE field trip (climbing). Yay for bad timing. I won't give any homework that day to 8th & up, and I'll try to get other teachers to go easy on you as well.

Clemson people, many of you will probably be coming to call-back auditions anyway ... so the Rameys are offering supper & a couch to crash on between call backs and the PTO meeting. Perhaps a Clemson parent could drive over and pick up the lot of you at 8pm.



Yay for a chance to show off a little, even if it hits at a busy time.
The PTO folks have always been really supportive ... and this might be a great excuse to hit them up for some money for the stuff we're gonna need for Midsummer. And maybe Mr. Bills will offer us an extra drama hour in exchange. =)

so it's all good ...

MND Monologues

Audition monologues now posted on Rameyweb.com


With the crisp air of fall comes ... Midsummer Night's Dream auditions!


You've noticed (I hope) a quarterly rhythm developing: we do a performance project each quarter. Last time it was a monologue; now we're working on scenes.

Next quarter (Jan -- March) your performance grades will come from Midsummer Night's Dream (MND). That means every drama class student will participate in MND, either as actors or in major backstage positions (stage manager, props manager, light, sound . . . ).

Full information available on Rameyweb. This is just an overview.


AUDITION INFO
When: General Auditions: Monday, November 14th, 3:00pm
Call-backs: Tuesday, November 15th, 3:00pm

What: Prepare to read well a short speech (monologue) by one of the major characters.
List of character monologues is posted online

**You do not have to memorize the speech**
In an ideal world, you would have it memorized. But your off-book date for the scenes is the previous Friday, and I don't want to interfere with that.

Where: Drama classroom

Who: All drama students must audition for at least one role.
If you're primarily interested in a backstage job, you can tell me that on your audition form ... but I want you to audition anyway (for the experience) and I reserve the right to cast you in a role ...

Auditions are open to any student in 6th & above (see CASTING, below)

Bring: A copy of the monologue for the top role you want to try out for.


CASTING

• Major roles (the 4 "lovers"; Puck; Oberon & Titania; Bottom & Flute) will be filled primarily by drama class students and a few faculty members (we don't have enough guys w/o the faculty men). I need you drama folks to be the "backbone" of a strong cast.
  

• Minor roles (the other 4 mechanicals; Theseus & Hippolyta, Egeus; Philostrate; the "talking" fairies) are open to anybody in 6th & up who shows the necessary skills/talent at auditions and "looks" the part (a 6th grader can't play Queen Hippolyta against a faculty member playing Theseus without it just looking silly).
  

• Walk-on roles will be cast last. I need 8-10 kids to fill out the entourage of faries who hang out with Queen Titania & King Oberon. I might also pull a few of those folks to stand around and look servant-ish in Theseus's court (Act I and Act V)

• Backstage Positions are very important. [But parents can fill those spots too, so I'm going to use you onstage first, if I can.] I might approach you with a combination of a minor role and a backstage position ... but I probably won't have roles for everyone in the drama class. So you people who don't love the limelight -- this is your chance to be VERY useful.
  

Calendar (so far)
Auditions
Mon/Tues Nov 14/15

Cast List Posted
by Friday Nov 18

Table Reading of Script
Tuesday, November 29

One Rehearsal a Week
December 5-9
December 12-15

(we'll do some character exploration; do some MND improvs; describe production design & costumes; run through some pivotal scenes ... just getting your feet wet)

Off Book Date
(All lines memorized!!)
Monday, January 9
(School starts up the previous week)

Expect Two Rehearsals / Week
All of January & February

Longer Rehearsals (full run)
February 20-24

Dress & Tech Rehearsal
Sat, Feb 25 (probably 9am--1pm)

Performances
(Dates not yet certain)
Tuesday, Feb 28 (7pm)
Thursday, March 2 (7pm)
Saturday, March 4 (2pm matinee)

Cast Party
Saturday, March 4 (evening)?
Could also be on Friday ....

_________

If February looks like a bear already .... I agree with ya.
(I've got my masters' comprehensive exams on the 23rd/24th, so it's not looking too hot for me either....)

But ....
I'm going to ask the other teachers to extend grace and make sure major projects don't come due in Feburary/first week of March.
I'm also going to ask Mr. Bills about ways to provide "homework grace."
I'm definitely not assigning homework during performance week and hopefully I can get all the other teachers to do the same thing.


Despite the work, it's gonna be a LOT of fun.
can't wait ....
:)

Staying "in the moment"

I've seen a few of your scenes, and already I like what I see. The work we've been doing in drama class on subtexting, objectives, and characterization is showing up in your scenes -- that makes me happy. ;)

A few tips:

1. You don't always have to run the entire scene from beginning to end. People with longer scenes might want to break your script into 2 or 3 parts and sometimes work on only one part during a particular rehearsal.
Try to break the script at a "natural" place -- not in the middle of the "flow."


2. I'll try to point this out as I see you rehearse but ...
Get an idea of where the audience will be in relation to your stage setup. Put chairs there if necessary to remind yourself "that's where the people are." It's OK to turn your back to the audience IF YOU HAVE A REALLY GOOD REASON.

It is NOT a good thing to block the audience's view of your partner! Be mindful of where you are "on the stage."


3. Next week while you're trying to get "off book," consider just running lines with each other -- no emotion or expression, just say your parts line by line with a 3rd person in the room to listen and mark where you're messing up.

A "lines rehearsal" like that will help those of you who struggle with memorization. (And that's just about all of us, to be honest.)


4. The challenge will be to keep the subtext in mind as you say the lines (which will soon become so familiar that you'll have a hard time making them sound "fresh"). Ideally, your audience will BELIEVE that this is the very first time these words ever came out of your mouth (in a good way -- not like you're stumbling over them. :)

which leads me to . . .

"IN THE MOMENT"

Train your brain to really focus on exactly what your character is thinking and feeling during each moment of the scene, whether you're speaking or not.

This is called "staying in the moment" --not letting your mind wander or focusing on "what's my next line?"

If you spend your onstage time thinking about what's coming next, your performance will feel very "mechanical." The lines & gestures will be there, and might even look good, but the audience will know your heart isn't in it.

Instead, once you really know your lines, you can start "thinking" your character's thoughts (subtext!) as you say the lines and REACT to your partner. Acting isn't about memorizing "how" to feel or "how" to make your face look as soon as your partner says a particular word. It's about molding yourself into the shape of another character who is then free to REACT to what happens around you ...

I strongly recommend throwing something new at your partner once in a while.
Change the way you say a line.
Move to a new spot on the stage.
Hold an object and do something with it that's unexpected ...

MAKE each other REACT instead of just falling into a rut.


enjoy!
these are gonna be awesome ....


*****
MND audition info will go online at rameyweb.com/english/drama later tonight (Wed). The rumors are true: all drama students MUST audition for at least one role, and expect to be either onstage or backstage. Most of you will work onstage.