HAPPY SUMMER!!

Yesss! We made it!!!!
*dances*

As you celebrate your vacation, feel free to wander over here once in a while and tell me what you're up to.
And I'll generally keep my Xanga updated. If you're one of those barbarians who use only MySpace, well, I've got one of those too....


As things develop over the summer for the 2006-07 drama season at NCS, I'll post updates on the blog here.

Yes, yes, I realize that most of you will be happily worshipping the sun on some beach somewhere, or burying your nose in a favorite book.

But the curious shall be rewarded. ;)


Thanks so much for an AWESOME year.
Y'all were a-MA-zing.

Awesome job

can i say anything else?
nope.


you guys were awesome.
incredible work by the directors & ADs....
fantastic job by you actor-people.


I am *so* proud of you guys!

go forth and enjoy your summer


(but first, PLAY REVIEWS!!!)
Check TeacherEase -- if you owe me a review (or 2) I've marked it as a 0% so you can see your current grade.

Good News, I Hope :)

some good words:

1. All right.... I give in.
Yes, you can review the "other" NCS play for a play review if you need one.
sheesh, I'm turning into a softie.... and y'all had a YEAR to do this. So you'd BETTER be thankful for the grace.
*winks*

praise God for grace. He gives it to me all the time.

If you choose to review the other play (the one you're not in), then please write the review honestly. I promise that the directors will never read it. And I promise if you review my play, I'd like to read honest criticism of my acting. ;-)


2. Great work today.
It was a long rehearsal session .... but y'all did a good job. You came on time, worked hard, obeyed instructions, put out your "all," got into character, and generally gave us the best performances we've seen so far.

I know it's a struggle here at the end of the year -- but please reach down into your soul and pull out your "fun" gene. These stories are little gems of human nature, irony, and (sometimes dark) comedy. Enjoy them. The audience will too.

People have told me they can't wait till Friday because Midsummer was so good. We've got a good reputation ... and I think we'll keep it. ;-)



one more week

yessssssssssssssssss

Monday 5/15 -- Important Info

Monday's rehearsal will be a long one. Prepare yourself for it over the weekend.

First, I have something to say:
I am tired. You are tired. Everyone is tired.
But I've been frustrated by the number of absences, lack of preparation (aka: people don't know their lines), and the low energy & "fun" levels at the rehearsals.
Trust me -- I feel your pain. I have no mental energy left ... especially after two all-nighters for the yearbook and full days of teaching.
But folks, we have GOT to pull together for the sake of the awesome folks who are working so hard to direct these plays. Learn your lines. Do whatever you have to do to prepare yourself for rehearsals.
And, for Pete's sake, LIGHTEN UP! You're acting in a comedy! :) Enjoy it. If you don't, the audience won't either....

Come to rehearsal on Monday *ready* to work hard, be in character, have fun, and rehearse well. This is our last week -- let's give it our best shot and produce a great "last memory" of this year's drama class.

OK, end of pep talk....


Monday -- rehearsal notes:

• Come with ALL costume items (including shoes, hats, appropriate jewelry or watches or belts or "wedding rings") ... everything you need.
• Directors -- ALL set pieces need to be in place by Monday afternoon. (All items here, all props here.) ... who's gonna finish the coffin liner?
• Directors -- plan to warm up your casts with improvs while you're waiting for hair & makeup to get done. Also use the manpower to get the stage set up for Sam's play and prepped to run Bethany's stuff onstage after Sam's play is done.
  
• AD's -- please work out backstage details ASAP. Do you need additional backstage help? Ask them to come to rehearsal on Monday and Wednesday.
  

Call times for hair/makeup:
Nate/Alicia/me/Rebekah: 2pm in building C. for hair/makeup
Bettina & Sara: 3:15 (ish)
Coart: 3:30 (ish)

Dressing Rooms:
We'll use the nursery-- use the same rooms you did in MND. (Girls use the 3 yr old nursery that's beside the kitchen. Guys, take the room across the hall.)

Please leave the rooms in good order when you leave. Don't mess with the nursery items or leave your items all over the place.

You Can't Take It With You cast -- you have to change costumes (10 year difference between scenes). Girls -- go to the little room off the lobby that we used for a Green Room for MND. Boys -- change in the 4th grade classroom. Remember to put your stuff in those rooms before the play begins.


Schedule:
2pm: Early call time for a few (see above).
I hope to get the 6th & 7th periods switched on Monday so that the high schoolers (who would normally have rhetoric) will be free to go set up the stage for the plays at 2pm.
2pm (high school): Meet in C-108 to get instructions from your directors about setting up the stage for rehearsals this week and to discuss backstage stuff. Be willing to help the other play folks ...
3:15pm: Call time for everyone else to change for the play. Do NOT wander around the buildings. Stay in C-108 after you've changed.
3:45pm: Cast meetings:
Bethany -- 1st grade room
Sam -- 4th grade room
4pm: Full dress run #1
includes tech details & production photos ... so this will be kind of stop & start....
5pm: Break and supper (see below)
5:30pm: Full dress run #2
6:15pm: Done (I hope)

Plan to stay till we've done two solid run-throughs and worked out the kinks in lighting, sound, and set design. I emailed your teachers to beg for homework mercy on Monday night.... keep me informed....

Yes, it's a long afternoon. Deal with it ... we desperately need the practice. And it'll make Wednesday's rehearsal run much more smoothly....


Supper:
Unless y'all protest, please bring $2 with you on Monday. We'll order a massive amount of yummy pizza, cold drinks, and maybe even some fresh baked cookies for dessert to fill your hungry stomachs.
You'll have to eat in costume, so be careful.
Bring gum or a toothbrush or something nice like that. We don't want Uncle Basil keeling over early due to someone's onion breath. :p




I want you all to know that I have thoroughly loved working with you this year. You make me very proud. And these plays will come together this week and be awesome. Cause you guys are just that great. =)

PLEASE advertise the plays!
Get your family and friends to come!! Youth group... neighbors.... C'mon, we want to play to a full house on Friday night! But you've got to advertise it and get people to come ...


PS - please make sure you read the post below this one... and answer the question ...
PPS - don't forget to do the play reviews!!

Hang in There!!

hey there
everyone's busy so just a quick post:

1. Talk to your director about the rehearsal schedule if you have any questions. Some of you have asked about after-school rehearsals. As far as I know, the printed schedule is correct: After school rehearsals on M W Th... Drama class rehearsals on Friday afternoons. No rehearsals on Tuesdays, unless the director calls one during recess.
   
2. Go find your costume and prop items (talk with the director and AD first). You need **everything** by Monday.
   
3. Monday 5/15 is a long rehearsal -- it's a full dress/tech run. That means full set, costumes, makeup, props, lights, sound cues, production photos -- everything. Be patient. It'll take a while to get everything worked out. Expect this rehearsal to run until at least 6pm. I'll ask faculty to lighten up your homework load that night.
   
4. Advertise! We want to play to a full house on Friday night. Invite your friends, family, church folks, youth group, neighbors, online buddies ... Let's pack the place!
   

Friday's performance is free, but we'll ask for donations at the door.

Please try to get a relatively "firm" yes/no from the people you invite. I want to make sure we have enough seats.



Directors & ADs, keep me informed of your needs, worries, problems, or thoughts. I specifically need to know about set design problems, backstage issues, or other snags.



Drama class on Friday, May 19th will be a celebration period.
What shall we do to celebrate an awesome year of drama class????