Check Your Email

Hello! Please check your email regarding some decisions about the tshirt. We have a survey we need you to take. Also, the survey title is a bit misleading...we were going to put some bulletin board questions on there, but actually didn't do that. So, don't be confused. If you continue to have issues with actors just saying/reciting lines without the emotion or motivation behind it, please ask for help. This is something that won't just magically solve itself. It takes some thought and action by the director to make it happen for the actors. Just ask Jackie and Michael what kind of things I made them do to make their characters' relationship more substantial in KMK. It takes work from the director and the actors. Someone's entire job needs to be getting people off book - like CFP. He needs to get off book!

The train keeps chugging along.

Things keep getting done, which is great. Don't get frustrated with the process, understand the hard work that goes into the entire process... then keep yourselves motivated. The end is coming... you should be both excited and startled.

Gardineer get the props in! Or else...

Community day announcement.

Memorizing lines and acting are two different things. Now is the time to start enforcing both.

Challenge: make a slogan/ bumper sticker for the spring play.

Off book! Enforce it! At this point it should concern you!

Challenge: Write a haiku about a leadership skill.

Enforcement of law
Without being very mean
Respect the actor

No eating in the blackbox.

Efficiency. Plan out what you are going to do. Try to get three scenes done (20 minutes each).

Kudos to Amber and Alison for organizing the mass organization of costumes, but if the dressing room looks like that again it won't be good.

Details, details, details...

Class was productive today. It should be that way everyday until the show is over. And then, if you're lucky, you go on internship! Wow! Remember to print out and give your actors the scene lists. Also, email it to Justin and Tim Secrest, Mr. H, Mr. D and Mr. Moore. To respond to some comments from last night's blog... There is always a time in the rehearsal process when things get sloggy. (Sloppy + Foggy = Sloggy). It usually comes around the time the blocking is done or almost done, tech week seems far away, lines are mostly learned, and the newness of the group has worn off and people start to get on each other's nerves. You have entered the sloggy phase. How will you get out of it?

Diction...

Here are some tips from Ms. Vander Schaaff about diction. One thing that is always of concern in the Blackbox, where the ceiling is so high, is sound carrying. You have one advantage, in that your audience is all on one side of the room. Please remember that your actors need to be heard by 7 rows of people, and the crew in the booth. You might want to check sooner rather than later, if they can be heard at those distances. Experienced actors should be fine; however, sound carries differently in the BBox than in the LC. Another thing Ms. V always says about understanding your actors is that sometimes when an actor can't be loud enough or heard clearly, it is because they actually don't understand the intention behind the line. I think I talked to you all in class about the emotion/intention behind lines and balancing that with action. The clarity of what your actors say is dependant on how well they understand their character's goals and intentions. Vocal warm ups need to be done with focus and seriousness. Even if someone has one line, they need to be heard clearly. People should not be going through the motions with vocal warm ups. It might be a good idea to sit in on each other's rehearsals once or twice before tech week to be that outside ear for each other. It will make a real difference.

Finish the sentence, "Kenny..."

Slooooooow down. The delivery of lines is key. Funny, sad, slow, creepy...they are all delivered in a certain way. Start watching for this next week.

Get Gardineer in the loop!

Did I see some fantastic directing today? Yup!