VIP's: Very Important Points

Excuse me for a minute while I post a few things specific to Midsummer and not drama class itself.

You'll hear me say these at rehearsal ... but they're important enough that I want you to hear them twice. So give me your full attention:


Take time to unwind after school (between 2:45 and 3:15).
This is important -- you are too brain-dead to have a good rehearsal if you don't let yourself "recharge."


Be on time to every rehearsal, no matter what.
In short: If I'm late to my own rehearsal -- it's my problem.
If YOU are late to my rehearsal, you are making me and everyone else wait for you.
Don't ...


Eat.
Really. You need a snack after school -- please bring something or save part of your lunch. And if you notice that you feel bad after you eat your snack (or before the end of rehearsal), adjust your snack so it's not so sugary.


NEVER, ever, ever miss a rehearsal without asking me for permission -- unless you're dead or truly sick.
If you surprise me the day of rehearsal with, "Oh, and I've got a dentist appointment this afternoon -- sorry!" ... I won't be pleased. We can't rehearse if you aren't here.


*AND THE BIGGIE*. . .
Rehearse your scenes with other actors beyond scheduled rehearsals.
There's NO WAY to get in all the rehearsals you need during the after school rehearsals. Trust me.... or just think back to how much you rehearsed your one, 5-minute scene back in December! Now multiply that times the number of scenes you're in (all of you are in at least 3, and many of you are in several more)... get my point?

Ever take music lessons?
Would your music teacher be happy if you showed up having never practiced after your last lesson? .... Of course not ... because the whole point of a music lesson is to give you stuff to work on so you can improve your skills before the next lesson.

Same with acting.

Think of your after-school rehearsals as "acting lessons" or "MND lessons."
It's YOUR job to

• run lines at home
• analyze your script for your character's objectives and motives (HINT: Use a pencil... I ought to see notes jotted in your script margins about this!)
• dream up new line readings and subtexts (write these down)
• improv situations with your fellow actors to explore your characters' relationships
  
• **rehearse** your scenes with the other actors-- on your own time.

I can't say it enough:
You've GOT to rehearse outside of rehearsals.

I'm not going to tell you when to do this. The obvious choice is during recess, but hey -- you guys are old enough to work it out on your own.

Remember -- working a little bit every day -- just 10 or 15 minutes -- is far more effective than a massive one-hour session each week.

_______________________________

Before you panic: ;)

-- your English & History HW load will be lighter this quarter
-- you don't have to tackle every scene you're in at one time -- work on the scenes you just rehearsed and skim the others
-- choose to view rehearsals positively ... this will be a lot of fun once all the line-memorizing-work is done


Praying for you all
Mrs R =)