Drama Week 7

Intro - Today we worked on projection and learned to push out our breath with the diaphragm. While one group worked on blocking their sword fight scene, the group of trolls experimented with different troll walks.

Interm/Adv. - Today students performed their scenes for the rest of the class. We practiced giving and receiving constructive feedback. We got through half of the scenes and will finish next week. Also next week: adventure in the costume closet!

Keep working on memorizing those lines! Five minutes a day and you'll be there in no time. Nov. 12th we are off-book.

Happy Halloween!

Drama Week 6

Intro to Theatre – This week we continued to work on blocking and reviewed stage directions and parts of the stage. Next week we will be talking about costumes, so students should come with an idea of what their character should look like. Drawings, internet searches, photocopies from books…any research is welcome. We have a hero, a leprechaun, and three trolls. Oh my!

Interm/Adv Drama – This week students finished blocking all of their scenes. Next week, each group will perform for the rest of the class. Their peers will offer feedback. In addition, small groups will visit the costume closet with Marta to look for costumes, so everyone should come with costume ideas—drawings, internet printouts, copies from books.

Don’t forget: November 12^th we go off-book! That means all lines, cues, and stage directions must be memorized and scripts are no longer allowed on stage. (Students must still bring scripts to every class for reference and notetaking.)

Drama Week 4

I posted the cast list for all drama classes. Hopefully, everyone is pleased with his/her role. I am thrilled with the casting and the variety of roles to showcase our many talented actors!

The Intro to Theater class got their scripts and spent some time going over the anatomy of a script (spoken lines, stage directions, etc).

The Intermediate/Advanced Drama class also got their scripts, did read-throughs, then worked on character-based improvisation.

Students in both classes are expected the have all their lines highlighted by next class. Also, they are to make note of any props or set pieces needed for their scene and note any questions they have about the script (word pronunciation, meaning, character motivation, etc). Students must bring their scripts to every class, even after they memorize their lines.

Next week we'll focus on blocking.

Drama Week 3

Today was the last day of auditions. Students in both classes did cold readings from various scripts including Anne of Green Gables, Steel Magnolias, The Importance of Being Ernest, and The Kind of Ireland's Son. Now comes the big task of casting. I try really hard to give each student the part they deserve, but there are inevitably disappointments.

I will post the cast list before Wednesday's Advanced Drama class, and students will get their scripts at their next class. Exciting!