Notes from rehearsal and updates

"Old Glory" rehearsal notes:

Obviously, I wasn't able to see the whole thing, so I don't know how it all went, and my notes will be general.

You really have to get beyond reciting your lines (and to do this, you need to know them!)  You need to live the part.  Imagine that you are the person you're playing and listen to what the other people say to you and react.  That's a huge part of being convincing on stage.  You listen to the other person like it's the first time you've ever heard what they're saying and then react to it.  Choose the big emotions. If you're sad, be terribly sad.  If you're excited, let's see wild excitement.  The audience uses you as a way of exploring the extremes in emotion.

The laughs you're getting are helping you practice what to do when you get a laugh in the show.  Wait for the laughter to die down a bit before you keep going.  You don't want to discourage laughter by talking while people are laughing.   Then they miss what you're saying.

Anyone who has to dance -- practice the steps so you don't have to look at your feet or count.  Practice talking while dancing.  Smile!  Look like you're enjoying yourself.

You need energy on stage.  Just because you're speaking quietly, it does not follow that your energy level drops.

Cheat to the audience.  Don't turn your back.  When you're in the car (Happy Journey), imagine you're looking out the front window at all the cool things passing by.  Imagine you haven't been on many car trips -- everything is just amazing!  Include the people who aren't talking in your conversation -- you can use them to cheat out.

Find stillness.  Don't wander around the stage and don't move because you're nervous or because you think it's interesting (it isn't).  You need to choose when to move and think about what motivates your movement and then not move around randomly or repetitively (which is irritating to the audience).  Every move you make on stage should be motivated by something and you should be able to articulate what it is.

You need to be ready for your entrance!

Drama Classes:  No journals today -- because it's not Friday.

Grade 8's:  Make sure you bring music to accompany your extended mime on Monday.  It should be instrumental music.

Everyone else:  Memorize the "speak the speech" passage.  We will recite on Wednesday.