Intro Update

I'm so proud of the Intro class today! Everyone has their lines memorized and we're able to work on the finer points of acting. We took it from the top and got over halfway through. Next week, which is also our last regular class, we will do the second half.

A couple of reminders as we approach performance week:

Monday, Dec 5th is our last regular Intro class

Wed, Dec. 7th 6-7pm Intro students are invited to join the intermediate/advanced class to start rehearsing together. If it is at all possible, please be there!

What students should work on this week:

• picking up their cues
• reacting to what's being said onstage
• making sure those lines and cues and stage directions are memorized frontwards and backwards and every which way!

If your director says, "Pick up your cue!" it means she wants there to be less space in between the lines.

This Week in Intro to Theater

We're getting down to crunch time. Students should have all of their lines, cues, and blocking memorized. We have two more classes before all of the drama classes are combined to rehearse. Yikes!

Today in class we worked on final blocking. Students learned about creating a pleasing stage picture and how to balance the stage.

Many of the scenes in this play have at least 20 actors onstage at once. It's important that they're not all clumped together on one side or all standing in a straight line across the stage. There needs to be depth and balance. Even in scenes that are supposed to look chaotic, actors must be aware of where they are scurrying in relation to other actors so that they create a balanced stage picture.

We also worked on projection and using the diaphragm to push out air and project the voice farther.

Next week, we'll take it from the top. Be ready!

Intro to Theater

Today the Intro class really buckled down, and we got through all of the blocking except the very end. We'll do that next week. And we'll have to go back and do the fireman scene, which I accidentally skipped. (Sorry Jenna and Ellie S.)

Here are some of the terms that came up while rehearsing:

ad lib: to add lines or business not in the script, especially as improvisation

upstage hand: the hand furthest from the audience

Students learned to use their upstage hand to gesture so that it doesn't obscure their face. Those playing kids in the pageant have many opportunities to ad lib as they react to the action onstage.

Intro Update

Today in Intro to Theater we continued working on blocking and should finish up next week. On Monday, Nov. 14th students will be expected to be off book.

When an actor or actress is off book, it means that he or she no longer needs the script to rehearse the play, having memorized the work.

Memorizing a part includes more than just memorizing lines. Actors are expected to know their cues, blocking, entrances and exits. (Except, of course, if we haven't blocked it yet.)

Happy Memorizing!

Tap Notes

Kids' Tap Class on November 11th will be cancelled, due to the instructor will be out of town. Also, there will be no tap class on November 25th (Thanksgiving Break)

We will offer a make up class on Monday, November 28th from 6pm - 7pm. Please let your instructor know if you plan to attend.