Friday 31 May 2013

Friday, May 31:  Journals

Grade 9/10 Drama:  What is the theme of your final project?  How did you choose it?  What character will you play?  Describe it (in detail).

Theatre Production:  What is the theme of your final project?  What prop will you make?  Describe in detail your thoughts on how to make this prop. 

Grade 8:  How do you think the world was created?  Could you make a play about it?  How would you do it?
How is your group functioning?  Is anyone taking a leadership role?  Is anyone having difficulty cooperating?  How are you making group decisions?  What part of the story would make a good tableau?  (Describe it, or draw it.)

Have a great weekend.

Tuesday 28 May 2013

I've been remiss in keeping up my blog.  It is quite a challenge to put on a play ("The Steve Life of Jack and Brodie" playing today at 1:40 and 7, tomorrow at 7 and Thursday at 1:40) and I've been consumed by trying to get sound and props for it, even though it's supposed to be small and easy.

Journals:
Grade 8 -  Was your myth logical (within the context of the story)?  Which group presented your favourite myth play?  Explain why you liked it.

Grade 9/10 and Theatre Production:  How do you create a romatic scene?  (Suggest at least three techniques that make a scene romantic.)  Describe your favourite romantic movie or scene in detail.  Why do you like it?

Try to come and see "The Steve Life of Jack and Brodie".  It's a short play and lots of fun.

Tuesday 21 May 2013

May 21, 2013

I haven't posted for a while -- no journals and I've been busy with my play.  Our last performance was last night in Surrey.  It went quite well, although our sound technician had a family emergency and couldn't be there, so there were some technical glitches.  The audience was very receptive and what a difference that makes!

Grade 8's -- Remember that you will be doing your "show and tell" presentations next week.  Think of something about which you can speak in an engaging way for two minutes.  Practice your speech at home to make sure you have enough material and that you can speak clearly and project your voice.

Grade 9 and 10's -- You need to memorize Scene 13 from "After Liverpool".  Think of what the eyelash and the repetition of the "I" might signify.

Theatre Production -- We need to get ready for "The Steve Life of Jack and Brodie" and also put together your sound and light shows.  We are painting today.  Tomorrow on Grade 7 Fun Day, the students from the play will perform Scene 2, so we need costumes for six zombies, a robot, and Swiper and the Map from "Dora the Explorer".

Thursday 9 May 2013

Journal Day has come again!

Journals:

A Block:  Which fairy tale did you choose?  What made you choose that story?  Which role will you play?  How will you create that charcter?  (Think of actions, facial expressions, body language and anything else you can do to make us think you are not yourself but someone else!)

C and D Blocks:  Whose joke performance was most memorable to you?  What did that person do to make you remember their joke or their performance?  Who is your favourite comedian or comic actor?  Explain why you think they're funny.

Theatre Production:  You need a detailed script with light effects and sound cues on it.  This is due on Wednesday of next week.  Use your piece of text as a basis for your light and sound script.


Friday 3 May 2013

Theatre Production!

I forgot you when I posted my Friday missive.  I hope you all handed in your pitches for your sound and light show.  You want to make them compelling so I understand what it is you want to do and what you're trying to express!

See you on Monday!
May 3, 2013

Hi everyone!  My earache has moved into my throat!  All that comes out at this point is a croaking noise!  Not good!  We should have a mime day in class when nobody talks at all and just mimes everything.  I did think about doing that today, but then just decided it would be best to lie in bed and rest.  My window looks out into a forest and I can hear the birds singing and see butterflies -- very good for what ails a person.



A Block: Journal:  What is your experience with working in groups?  Are you good at it?  What skills can you bring to a group to help it work smoothly?  Would you say you are a good leader?  What qualities do you have that makes you a good leader?  Or that make you a good group member.

Next week, some of you will be gone to Strathcona.  It looks like you will have great weather for your trip.  I hope you all have a wonderful time.  Please try to be ready to recite "All the world's a stage" when you get back.

Next week, we'll be putting together a play using mime and tableau.  It will be based on a fairy tale.  Strathcona travellers, I think it would be a good idea if you worked together on this.  Choose a fairy tale that uses everyone in your group and think of how you could mime the story.  You will need to use three tableaus within the mimed story -- one at the beginning, one at a climatic moment and one at the "happily ever after".  Think of music that would help enhance the atmosphere of your story.

C and D Blocks:  Actors, I want to see your first scenes of "After Liverpool" on Monday.  The "dress rehearsals" we saw yesterday came off with varying levels of success, but you could all do better.  Think about the subtext of the scene (what your character is thinking, but not saying) and how you can show that to the audience.  It is important for an actor to think about what he wants in each scene.  That gives your scenes, scripted or improvised, a sense of direction -- you're advancing the scene by keeping that in mind.  That is what I want you to write about in your journal.  Don't tell me you don't know what your character wants.  It is up to you as an actor to figure that out.  Use your imagination!

Have a great weekend, everyone!  Make sure you get outside -- it's going to be beautiful!