a few final shots from rehearsal

Some more rehearsal shots

Rehearsal shots

Show week is here!

On Friday and Saturday evening, November 18-19, at 7:30 p.m. at United Methodist Church in Gales Ferry, We will present Edgar Lee's Masters Spoon River Anthology. In Spoon River, we are introduced in a cemetery to the ghosts of those who were inhabitants of the town and whose secrets have gone with them to the grave. There are sixty odd characterizations and vignettes in this constantly interesting entertainment offering an amazingly varied array of roles and impersonations, from young lovers and preachers and teachers to the chronicle of the poor mixed up soul that has ended up in the wrong cemetery. Both the sordid and humorous sides of life are portrayed, through fetching ballads, and the free verse form of Masters Poetry. The cast features ten actors playing a wide variety of roles and five musicians who sing and play guitar throughout the course of the evening. Tickets are $5 and they will be available at the door the night of the performance. For more information contact Russ Hammond at 860 464-9600 ext. 145.

Marriage of Bette and Boo at Waterford High School

On Friday, October 14, all drama students should plan on joining the fun, as Waterford High School Drama performs Christopher Durang's The Marriage of Bette and Boo. Mr. Hammond will cover your ticket cost. The plan is to meet at Waterford High School no later than 7:15 for the 7:30 curtain. Bette and Boo is outrageously funny but it is also quite mature. Please read a review or two of the show and make sure you have your parents permission to attend. This is not a Ledyard High School field trip. I am simply attending the show and would love to have all of you join me for a great evening of drama bonding and good theatre.

Plan Now to attend!!

The CT Educational Theatre
Association Conference


A Frightfully Fabulous Festival!!
Hosted by CT Troupe #6979
on Saturday October 29th
at Waterford High School in Waterford, CT

A day of individual Events -
- Workshops -
- Performances -
- Tech Challenge -
- College Scholarships -
- Coin Wars & Raffle -
- Lots of Spiders! -

Congratulations cast of Spoon River Anthology

First rule of Ledyard Drama

Act well your part for there lies all honor

Second rule

There are no small parts only small actors

Read thru Thursday 2:30-4:00 in the auditorium.

Congrats!


Cast:

Bob Ai
Nick Archibald
Melissa Billing
Alec Chattin
Amber Coombe
Ashley Giordano
Victoria Gordon
Sara Harvey
Patrick Lockaby
Forest Smith
Sarah Stryker

Here we go!

Hello! Let me start by saying that I am excited at taking on the challenge of being Drama Director for Ledyard Drama. Having been Director of Theatre Arts at Lyme/Old Lyme High School for fourteen years, where I directed over thirty shows, I feel confident that, together, we can build on the already successful tradition of excellent theatre at Ledyard High School. I am also aware that change can be difficult and I am sure there will be a transition period as we get used to each other. Let's all promise to be open minded as we move forward and let's keep focused on our primary goal of bringing to life wonderful characters and telling wonderful stories. Our efforts should make both ourselves and our audience’s laugh, cry, think, and experience all the rest of the wide range of emotions associated with the human condition. Theatre is the exploration of life and ultimately it is the sharing of our findings with our audiences. I look forward to the journey.

Mr. Hammond

DVD's of Scapin are available...we only have Thursday night. Please come and see Mrs. Gwin in the Nurse's Office to reserve your DVD!

SCAPIN - Thursday & Friday May 12 & 13 at 7 PM

O'Neill Theater Center Junior Cabaret Program - 5/17 auditions

The Eugene O’Neill Theater Center invites New London County residents ages 12-19 to audition for its Junior Cabaret program.  Junior Cabaret Fellows will have two weeks of master classes and performance opportunities alongside the O’Neill’s professional guest artists at the 2011 Cabaret & Performance Conference.  Students selected to participate must be available August 3-13, from 9am-10pm daily.  Due to the generous support of donors, the Junior Fellows program is fully funded and students will be provided with classes and meals at no cost.

 Auditions will be held Tuesday, May 17 from 2-6pm by appointment only.  Students auditioning should prepare a song to sing.  A pianist will be provided and if accompaniment is desired, students must bring sheet music to the audition.  Auditions will be held in the O’Neill’s Dina Merrill Theater with Cabaret & Performance Conference To schedule an audition, email Jill A. Anderson at generalmanagement@theoneill.org.

Saturday, May 7 - Final Tech Day plus PIZZA!

Saturday, May 7th is our last Saturday Set-Building/Painting day to put the final touches on the tech-side of SCAPIN. We'll be there from 10 till at least 1 PM - and we will have PIZZA hot from the oven served-up to anyone who can join us and lend a hand. Pizza will be served on the stage for anyone who has helped work on the crew.

Take a walk on the tech-side and get a little lunch on LHS DRAMA.

LHS Drama Student Kyla Wingrove-Haugland will be at O'Neill Festival this May

Kyla Wingrove-Haugland (in fez) practicing for her role as the miser Gerante
in the upcoming production of SCAPIN with Melissa Billing as Nerine.

LHS Drama is very proud to announce that Kyla Wingrove-Haugland will be representing Ledyard with a short play included in The Eugene O'Neill Theater Center's 6th Annual Young Playwrights Festival.  The student festival is modeled on the O'Neill's National Playwrights Conference dedicated to new works for the stage.  A presentation of the plays on May 8 at 5 PM is free and open to the public.  Kyla originally wrote this piece for the LHS Drama project 6 IMPOSSIBLE THINGS BEFORE BREAKFAST.

This year's line-up of works were chosen for development from among 109 submissions:

The End by Alma Doran, Fitch Senior High School;
Elevator by Brianna Matava, Rockville High School;
Facebook World by Sarah Riemann, Clark Lane Middle School;
Notebook by Kevin Schlink, Waterford High School;
The Truck Stop by Kyla Wingrove-Haugland, Ledyard High School

During the Young Playwrights Festival, student playwrights spend two days working collaboratively with a professional creative team consisting of a director, dramaturg, and actors to explore, revise and develop their plays, bringing their written words to life.  The Festival will culminate with a script-in-hand public reading of the students' work at 5:00 pm on Sunday, May 8 in the Dina Merrill Theater, Eugene O'Neill Theater Center, 305 Great Neck Road, Waterford; the performance is free and open to the public.

INFO: http://www.theoneill.org or e-mail Sophia Chapadjiev, Festival Director, at sophia@theoneill.org.

Set painting and construction continues Saturday 4/30 & 5/7

We will be meeting from 10 to 1 PM  Saturday 4/30 to continue construction and painting of the set for SCAPIN and to set the lights.  We could use your help, and the help of parents or friends.  Please come dressed for work with closed-toe shoes and an old shirt if you'd like help paint. If you have a power drill or other hand tools, please bring them.

Work Crew Sign-Up for SCAPIN

Thur, April 7 - Hannah & Grace
Sat, April 9 - Laura Forte
Tues April 12 - Kyla & Abby
Thur, April 14 - Hannah & Melissa
Tues, April 26 - Paige & Abby
Thur, April 28 - Hannah
Sat, April 30 - Justin
Tues, May 3 - Abby
Thur, May 5 - Abby
Sat, May 7 - Hannah

Also - any of the Saturdays, we could use as many hands as possible from 10 AM to 1 PM - well be building, painting and setting the lights.

Scapin April/May Rehearsal Schedule

WEEK 6

Mon. 4/4   2:20-3:50   Full Cast  

Tues. 4/5   2:20-3:50   Act I; Sc 1, 2, 4 – Scap, Syl, Ocr

Wed. 4/6   2:20-3:50   Act I; Sc 3 – Scap, Syl, Oct, Hya; Act II; Sc 1 –  Hya, Zerb, Scap, Syl

Thur, 4/7   2:20-3:50   Act I; Sc 5, 6 & 7 – Scap, Syl, Ner, Ger, Arg

Fri. 4/8   2:20-3:50   Act I; Sc 2, 8, 9, 10 – Lean, Ger, Oct, Scap, Syl, Hya

WEEK 7

Mon. 4/11   2:20-3:50   Full Cast

Tues. 4/12   2:20-3:50   Act I; Sc 11 & 12 – Scap, Syl, Arg

Wed. 4/13   2:20-3:50   Act I; Sc 13, 14, 15 – Lean, Oct, Scap, Syl, Ner, Ger, Act II; Sc 1 –  Hya, Zerb

Thur, 4/14   2:20-3:50   Stage Crew Meeting & work on set

Fri. 4/15   2:20-3:50   No Rehearsal

WEEK 8 – Spring Vacation

Work on your lines EVERYDAY!  

  

WEEK 9

Mon. 4/25   2:20-3:50   Full Cast

Tues. 4/26   2:20-3:50   Act II; Sc 1, 2, 3 – Scap, Syl, Hya, Zerb, Ger

Wed. 4/27   12:30-3:30   Act II; Sc 4, 5, 6, 7 – Scap, Syl, Ger, Arg, Hya, Zerb, Oct, Lean, Ner

Thur, 4/28   2:20-3:50   Act I; Sc 5, 6, 7, 11, 12 – Scap, Syl, Arg, Ger, Ner

Fri. 4/29   2:20-3:50   Act I; Sc 3, 4, 8,  9, 10 – Scap, Syl, Oct, Hya, Lean, Ger

WEEK 10

Mon. 5/2   2:20-3:50   Full Cast & Crew – Act I

Tues. 5/3   2:20-3:50   Full Cast & Crew – Act I

Wed. 5/4   2:20-3:50   Full Cast & Crew – Act II

Thur, 5/5   2:20-3:50   Full Cast & Crew – Act II

Fri. 5/6   2:20-3:50   Tech Check & TBA

Sat. 5/7   10:00-2:00   Stage- set-up – full crew and anyone who can be here!

WEEK 11 – PRODUCTION WEEK

Mon. 5/9   2:20-6:00    Tech Rehearsal – Full Crew @ 2:20 –

      Full Company @ 3:45 (no costumes)  

Tues. 5/10   2:30-6:00   Full-Dress Rehearsal – Crew 2:20; 3:30 PM actor call – Full Company

Wed, 5/11   6:00-10:00   Final Dress Rehearsal – Crew 5:30; 6 PM call – Full Company

Thurs. 5/12   6:00-10:00   Opening Performance – Crew 5:30; 6 PM call – Full Company

Fri. 5/13   6:00-10:30   Final Performance – 6 PM call – FULL COMPANY

      stay after to strike set & clean-up spaces

Set Construction & Painting continues this Saturday 4/2

We will be meeting from 10 to 1 PM this Saturday 4/2/11 in the auditorium to continue construction of the Scapin set and begin painting. If you can come lend a hand for a couple of hours, we would love to see you. 

Dress for work - shoes that cover toes, and clothes that can get dirty. If you have work gloves or hand tools like a hammer or power drill, bring those too.

See you!

Rehearsal Wednesday March 30th is Canceled

There will not be a rehearsal for SCAPIN Wednesday, March 30th.  We will resume the posted schedule on Thursday.

No set building this Saturday

We will not be meeting Saturday, March 26th to build sets -- but will resume construction and painting of the set Saturday April 2 from 10 AM to 1 PM in the auditorium.

Set Construction starts this 3/11

On Saturday 3/11 we will begin set construction and costume search! We're meeting from 10 AM to 1 PM in the LHS Auditorium for anyone who wants to bring a hammer, a portable drill, or other implements of destruction and lend a hand! 

SCAPIN revised rehearsal schedule

SCAPIN – REHEARSAL Schedule — REVISED 3/3/11

Read the entire schedule 

There will be a separate schedule for the crew and tech.

WEEK 1

Mon. 2/28   2:20-3:50   Read the play – ENTIRE CAST AND CREW

Tues. 3/1   2:20-3:50   No rehearsal

Wed. 3/2   2:20-3:50   No Rehearsal

Thur, 3/3   2:20-3:50   Act I; Sc 1, 2, 4 – Scap, Syl, Ocr

Fri. 3/4   2:20-3:50   Act I; Sc 3 & 5 – Scap, Syl, Oct, Hya, Arg

WEEK 2

Mon. 3/7   2:20-3:50   Full Cast

Tues. 3/8   2:20-3:50   Act I; Sc 6 & 7 – Scap, Syl, Ger, Arg

Wed. 3/9   2:20-3:50   Act I; Sc 8, 9, 10, 15 – Lean, Ger, Oct, Scap, Syl

Thur, 3/10   2:20-3:50   Act I; Sc  14 – Scap, Ger (in chorus room)

Fri. 3/11   2:20-3:50   Act I; Sc 11, 12, 13– Scap, Syl, Arg,

WEEK 3

Mon. 3/14   2:20-3:50   Full Cast

Tues. 3/15   2:20-3:50   No Rehearsal – CAPT testing

Wed. 3/16   2:20-3:50   No Rehearsal – CAPT testing

Thur, 3/17   2:20-3:50   Act I; Sc 1, 2, 4 – Scap, Syl, Oct

Fri. 3/18   2:20-3:50   Act I; Sc 6, 7, 8, 9, – Lean, Ger, Oct, Scap, Syl, Ner, Arg

WEEK 4

Mon. 3/21   2:20-3:50   Full Cast

Tues. 3/22   2:20-3:50   Act I; Sc 5, 11, 12 – Scap, Syl, Arg

Wed. 3/23   12:30-3:30   Act I; Sc 10, 13, 14, 15 – Lean, Oct, Scap, Syl, Ner, Ger

Thur, 3/24   2:20-3:50   Act II; Sc 2, 3 – Scap, Ger, Syl

Fri. 3/25   2:20-3:50   Act II; Sc 1 – Scap, Syl, Hya, Zerb; Act I, Sc 3 – Oct, Hya

WEEK 5

Mon. 3/28   2:20-3:50   Full Cast

Tues. 3/29   2:20-3:50   Act I; Sc 11 & 12 – Scap, Syl, Arg

Wed. 3/30   2:20-3:50   Act I; Sc 13, 14, 15 – Lean, Oct, Scap, Syl, Ner, Ger

Thur, 3/31   2:20-3:50   Act II; Sc 2, 3 – Scap, Ger, Syl

Fri. 4/1   2:20-3:50   Act II; Sc 1 – Scap, Syl, Hya, Zerb

Everybody OFF-BOOK starting NOW! 

WEEK 6

Mon. 4/4   2:20-3:50   Full Cast  

Tues. 4/5   2:20-3:50   Act I; Sc 1, 2, 4 – Scap, Syl, Ocr

Wed. 4/6   2:20-3:50   Act I; Sc 3 – Scap, Syl, Oct, Hya; Act II; Sc 1 –  Hya, Zerb, Scap, Syl

Thur, 4/7   2:20-3:50   Act I; Sc 5, 6 & 7 – Scap, Syl, Ner, Ger, Arg

Fri. 4/8   2:20-3:50   Act I; Sc 2, 8, 9, 10 – Lean, Ger, Oct, Scap, Syl, Hya

WEEK 7

Mon. 4/11   2:20-3:50   Full Cast

Tues. 4/12   2:20-3:50   Act I; Sc 11 & 12 – Scap, Syl, Arg

Wed. 4/13   2:20-3:50   Act I; Sc 13, 14, 15 – Lean, Oct, Scap, Syl, Ner, Ger, Act II; Sc 1 –  Hya, Zerb

Thur, 4/14   2:20-3:50   Stage Crew Meeting & work on set

Fri. 4/15   2:20-3:50   No Rehearsal

WEEK 8 – Spring Vacation

Work on your lines EVERYDAY!  

  

WEEK 9

Mon. 4/25   2:20-3:50   Full Cast

Tues. 4/26   2:20-3:50   Act II; Sc 1, 2, 3 – Scap, Syl, Hya, Zerb, Ger

Wed. 4/27   12:30-3:30   Act II; Sc 4, 5, 6, 7 – Scap, Syl, Ger, Arg, Hya, Zerb, Oct, Lean, Ner

Thur, 4/28   2:20-3:50   Act I; Sc 5, 6, 7, 11, 12 – Scap, Syl, Arg, Ger, Ner

Fri. 4/29   2:20-3:50   Act I; Sc 3, 4, 8,  9, 10 – Scap, Syl, Oct, Hya, Lean, Ger

WEEK 10

Mon. 5/2   2:20-3:50   Full Cast & Crew – Act I

Tues. 5/3   2:20-3:50   Full Cast & Crew – Act I

Wed. 5/4   2:20-3:50   Full Cast & Crew – Act II

Thur, 5/5   2:20-3:50   Full Cast & Crew – Act II

Fri. 5/6   2:20-3:50   Tech Check & TBA

Sat. 5/7   10:00-2:00   Stage- set-up – full crew and anyone who can be here!

WEEK 11 – PRODUCTION WEEK

Mon. 5/9   2:20-6:00    Tech Rehearsal – Full Crew @ 2:20 –

      Full Company @ 3:45 (no costumes)

Tues. 5/10   2:30-6:00   Run thru the show Full Company

Wed. 5/11   2:30-6:00   Full-Dress Rehearsal – Crew 2:20; 3:30 PM actor call – Full Company

Thur, 5/12   6:00-10:00   Final Dress Rehearsal – Crew 5:30; 6 PM call – Full Company

Fri. 5/13   6:00-10:00   Opening Performance – Crew 5:30; 6 PM call – Full Company

Sat. 5/14   6:00-10:30   Final Performance – 6 PM call – FULL COMPANY

      stay after to strike set & clean-up spaces

SCAPIN rehearsal info for 2/23 thru 3/2

Thanks to those who were able to make today's work-crew meeting.  We managed to get a head-start on some of the backstage duties and chores. We will not be meeting this Wednesday.

This Thursday 2/24 we are having a pre-rehearsal -- anyone from the cast is welcome to join us, but in particular I'd like to see Nathan, Forest, Bodhi, Ashley, Grace and Paige. We'll be reading thru a couple of scenes, working on comic timing and discussing the structure of the play.

Next week we will be reading the play on Monday and Wednesday.  Our regular rehearsals begin on Thursday next week.  You can pick up a schedule at the nurse's office or in the envelope on the stage door of the auditorium.  I will be creating another schedule for crew and tech meetings. 

Stage-managers - please come to as many rehearsals and tech-dates as possible.

The SCAPIN Cast is Announced!

Cast

Octave: Paige Gruszkowski

Sylvestre: Forest Smith

Scapin: Nathan Watrous

Hyacinth: Grace Chattin

Argante: Tori Gordon

Géronte: Kyla Rose Wingrove

Léandre: Justin Carroll

Zerbinette: Hannah Posey

Nérine: Laura Forte

George: Bodhi Poth (also male understudy)

Georgette: Ashley Giordano

Messengers, Gendarmes (police), Porters: Melissa Billing (also female understudy); Isabel Archibald

Crew

Stage Manager: Cole Poth

Assistant Stage Manager: Isabel Archibald

Lights: Abby Bora

Bill Irwin- some short videos worth viewing

Check out this video with Bill Irwin and Michael Cerveris running a workshop called Storytelling and the Body at the New School Summer Theater Immersion for young actors.

Bill Irwin works with props at a workshop in Florida.

Anybody who can manage some of these "hat-moves" as seen in the segment from The Regard of Flight will get extra points at the auditions.

And a trailer for last fall's production of Scapin at ART.

Young Plawights Festival at Eugene O'Neill Theater Center

Have you ever written a play or had an idea for one?

Would you like to see a play of yours workshopped by professionals and presented at the world renowned O'Neill Theater Center in Waterford, CT?

If you answered yes to both these questions, the Young Playrights Festival (YPF) is for you. All you have to do is write a play that is between 10-15 pages, fill out an appalication form and mail your completed application with 2 copies of your play to the O'Neill by Feb. 24, 2011. Plays will the be selected on a competitive basis. The Festival begins the evening of May 6th with rehearsals and culminates with a public reading of selected works on Sunday, May 8th. Vist the "young plawrights" link at www.theONeill.org for more information or for an application...or see Mrs. Gwin in the Nurse's office for the application.

About SCAPIN

 Scapin

Bill Irwin and Mark O'Donnell, adapted from Molière

This adaptation of Molière's 325-year-old farce Les Fourberies de Scapin follows—with some alterations—the play's original structure. It keeps the play in period setting while adding a late twentieth century spin to the language and action, and borrowing some final lines from Molière's La Contesse D'escarbagnas. "This SCAPIN, directed by Irwin…from his felicitous adaptation with Mark O'Donnell, would probably have gone over big with the same audience who first saw Molière's Fourberies de Scapin…in Paris in 1671." —NY Times. "Commedia dell'arte and vaudeville have at least two things in common: baggy pants and Bill Irwin. All make for a natural fit in the celebrated clown's entirely unconventional adaptation of Molière's SCAPIN." —Variety.

THE STORY: The crafty Scapin, servant to the household of Geronte, jumps into the story as he first promises to help in the affairs of his neighbor's son, Octave, then to aid in those of his own charge, Leander (Geronte's son). Both young men have fallen in love with unlikely, and penniless beauties, and both need money to help solve their dilemmas. Scapin knows a good ruse will always win the day and he drafts Sylvestre, Octave's servant, into his schemes. Convincing Sylvestre he's a wonderful actor (and allowing him to build characterizations using movie cliches), Scapin has him play characters who will deceive the family patriarchs into parting with large sums of money. The final scene of the first act is a vaudeville/music hall version of Molière's famous scene in which Scapin spins a tale of kidnapping, foreigners and ransom. Once the money is obtained, however, Scapin pushes further in order to exact a little revenge on those he's served. Thinking Geronte has said something nasty about him, Scapin sets out to teach him a lesson. The roguish words, however, are Scapin's own lies and stories finally coming back to him, his revenge backfires and he must flee. In the end however, Scapin's schemes aid in revealing the penniless beauties to be the exact right mates for the young charges—being of high birth after all since they are discovered to be the missing children of both patriarchs—and Scapin returns to his post, with the pleasant punishment of having to marry the maidservant of one of the daughters. There is a final chase and dance among all the participants, which, inevitably, becomes the raucous, delightful curtain call.

Characters

Octave: (male) Son of Argante and lover of Hyacinthe

Sylvestre: (male or female) Octave's servant

Scapin: (male or female) Léandre's servant

Hyacinth: (female) Daughter of Géronte and lover of Octave

Argante: (male) Father of Octave and of Zerbinette

Géronte: (male) Father of Léandre and of Hyacinthe

Léandre: (male) Son of Géronte and lover of Zerbinette

Zerbinette: (female) Daughter of Argante and lover of Léandre

Nérine: (male or female) Hyacinthe's servant

George: (male or female) playing the keyboard

Other Musicians

Messengers

Gendarmes (police)

Porters

your word Teen Creative Writing Residency

July 24 – August 6, 2011

Application Deadline: April 4, 2011

 _____________________________________

Atlantic Center for the Arts’ your word Teen Creative Writing Residency is a one-of-a-kind, multi-genre summer writing residency that offers 9th through rising 12th grade writers workshops and mentorship by distinguished authors in poetry, fiction, and creative nonfiction/memoir, on the grounds of a breathtakingly beautiful ecological preserve.

your word Teen Creative Writing Residency will beheld from July 24 through Aug 6, 2011, offering 21 participants an extraordinary opportunity to explore and expand the power of their individual voices through writing workshops. The program will take place at Atlantic Center for the Arts, an artists’ community on the east coast of central Florida.

The Residency

Students will join three Master Writers-in-Residence, one in each of the following genres - Poetry, Fiction, and Creative Nonfiction/Memoir. Teens will have opportunities to explore each of the represented genres. Scheduled recreational activities include evening events with guest writers and readings, a trip to New Smyrna’s beaches, writing workshops, as well as movies and art workshops. Atlantic Center for the Arts’ Community Arts Manager will facilitate the program, and chaperones will be on-site 24-hours a day throughout the program. The residency provides mentorship by Master Writers as well as the opportunity to meet and interact with peers.

Admission

The selection process for your word Teen Creative Writing Residency is competitive. Atlantic Center for the Arts receives the applications, and the Master Artists-in-Residence provide the rankings that determine acceptance into the program. For application procedures, or to download an application form, visit us online

http://www.atlanticcenterforthearts.org/press/teen_creative_writting.html

Tuition

$1,295 for the residency includes instruction, accommodations, workshops, meals, and all activities. Scholarships for tuition and travel stipends are available on a limited basis.

Facilities & Housing

Atlantic Center for the Arts is located on 10 acres of pine and palmetto forest, representing the interaction between nature, environment and creativity. Nestled within a 67-acre ecological preserve, the campus is connected by raised boardwalks. Students will reside in two buildings containing 28 single occupancy housing units (4 handicap-accessible) furnished with double bed, private bathroom, work desk, small refrigerator, and linens. Atlantic Center’s award winning studio complex includes a dining hall, digital media lab, library, administration building, and a visitor center & gallery.

For more information, email Community Arts Manager, Sarah Higgins at shiggins@atlanticcenterforthearts.org,

phone 386.423.1753 or visit us online at

http://www.atlanticcenterforthearts.org/press/teen_creative_writting.html

SCAPIN auditions Feb 14 & 15, callbacks Feb. 17

SPRING SHOW – SCAPIN (pronounced: skah-pin) adapted from Molière

            By Bill Irwin, Mark O'Donnell, Molière

2/14 & 15      Auditions for SCAPIN

2/17      Callback auditions

2/28-5/11      Rehearsals for SCAPIN– Mon-Fri (including Spring Break)

5/12 & 5/13      SCAPIN performances

Tips for auditions: prepare a short monolog to perform – preferably memorized.  We will also read scenes from the play.  Come dressed in comfortable clothing and shoes that will allow unrestricted movement.

Latest update: Impossible Things eaten by SNOW!

This afternoon the writers and directors for 6 IMPOSSIBLE THINGS held an emergency meeting.  Because of the extensive cancellations due to weather conditions since the beginning of January, we are canceling the winter production. 

Thank-you for all of your time and commitment to this project.  We will keep you informed of plans to perform the plays later in the year.

The auditions for SCAPIN will be held on February 14th & 15th - with snow dates possible for the 16th, 17th & 18th if needed!

Perusal scripts are available from Ms. Gwin in the nurses' office.  Please note that the show uses physical humor but will NOT be performed as a "clown" show.  The clowning workshops were simply a way to begin an exploration of physical humor.

Hope to see you at the auditions!

Sarah Ruhl public talk 2/10 in Middletown

Playwright Sarah Ruhl - author of EURYDICE - will be at Wesleyan University at 8 PM on February 10th to talk about her work in a 90-minute public appearance. She will be introduced by Professor David Jaffe.

(originally scheduled for 2/3 but moved due to weather)

http://newsletter.blogs.wesleyan.edu/2011/01/20/playwright-ruhl-begins-2-day-residency-at-wesleyan/?ref_homepage

6 IMPOSSIBLE THINGS - Playwright & Director EMERGENCY Meeting 1/31

This weekend a couple of the writers and directors for 6 IMPOSSIBLE THINGS have contacted me because of the number of snow-days and postponements in the rehearsal schedule.  Because this week's forecast is predicting 2 similar storms for this week as well, we will hold a meeting of the playwrights and directors for an emergency meeting after school Monday 1/31 at 2:20 to discuss our options regarding the upcoming show.

I hope to see you at this meeting--

--kato

Rehearsals begin today

After delays for snow and ice -- at last we will hold a rehearsal!

Be sure to note which plays you are in and what days they rehearse.

Please be on time, and come prepared with your scripts and with a pencil.

Let's get to work!

Tuesday, January 18th 6 Impossible Things Starts!

We've been delayed by the snow this week - but we will begin rehearsals for 6 IMPOSSIBLE THINGS BEFORE BREAKFAST on Tuesday, January 18th after-school.  Check the casts and schedules noted below to confirm your rehearsal days.

6 Impossible Things Before Breakfast Cast Lists & Rehearsal Days

6 Impossible Things Before Breakfast
Casts and Schedule

DIARY OF A BUG (Mondays)
By Tori Gordon
Directed by Abby Bora
Grace Chattin
David Tang

WHERE IDEAS GO WHEN WE”RE NOT LOOKING (Mondays)
By Tara Pealer
Directed by Tori Gordon
Forest Smith
CC Simmons
Katie Pealer

RIVER TAM BEATS UP EVERYBODY (Tuesdays)
By David Sindel
Directed by David Tang
Justin Carroll
Amanda Hutchinson
Tara Pealer
Jsana Strong
Grace Chattin
Nastasia Humphries

STRANGERS (Tuesdays)
By Justin Carroll
Directed by Nathan Watrous
Kyla Wingrove-Haughlan
Paige Gruskowski
Forest Smith
Abby Bora
Justin Carroll

SARAH ACKLEY'S TEST (Wednesdays)
By David Tang
Directed by Forest Smith
Nastasia Humphries
Nathan Watrous
Tori Gordon
Amanda Throop

THE CRACKER BARREL (Thursdays)
By Nathan Watrous
Directed by Amanda Hutchinson
Amber Coombe
Abby Bora
Ashley Giordano
Jenni Disco
Forest Smith
Tori Gordon
Tara Pealer
CC Simmons
David Sindel

TRUCK STOP (Thursdays)
By Kyla Rose Wingrove-Haugland
Directed by Justin Carroll
Hannah Posey
David Sindel
Laura Forte
David Tang
Paige Gruskowski

You've got an audition, now you need an acting resume

A map is not the territory it represents, but if correct, it has a similar structure to the territory, which accounts for its usefulness. - Alfred Korzybski

Your resume is a lot like a map; it renders a representation of you through a clear and focused list of your accomplishments.  Jam it full of too much detail and it becomes indiscernible, too little and it is useless.  How do you create a concise document that creates a useful and detailed "map" of you as a student actor? Begin as soon as possible.

In her article Respect, Create, Learn, setting the stage in a new theater classroom (Dramatics Magazine) author and educator Gai Jones describes directing her students to track their theatrical accomplishments by logging details into a "“conflated” résumé":

Students often forget their past accomplishments until they are required to list them. This résumé should include every theatre performance, monologue, scene, original work, dance recital, and vocal performance they have completed in their lifetime in order from the most distant to the most current. They should also list every bit of theatre training they have undergone, every festival they have attended, and every honor and award bestowed upon them, no matter how mundane. This includes best smile, most improved, best runner, speller of the week, and so on. Encourage the students to type up a special skills section, specifying whether they are at the beginning, intermediate, or advanced level, and tell them to round out the résumé with accents, novelty talents, and athletic skills. Now they have a résumé that they can add to or hone down depending on their needs.

But what if you need to compile your resume for a task right away?

Begin by sitting down and listing what you've been doing in the theater.  Start with roles and plays, note where and when they were performed, and who directed them if noteworthy (Ms. Carter in 4th grade may have been very nice, but wracking your brain over her name and researching the play in which you played an owl won't win you any admiration).

As a high school student it is best to include any roles you have performed with your school program, classes held at the school that you have taken, and perhaps reach back to middle-school productions if necessary, but your grammar-school work is best left off of the listings unless there is something exceptionally notable.

If you have performed any work with community or other groups outside of your school programs, these should be listed along with making note about where and when these events occurred.  They serve to illustrate your willingness to pursue your goals as a theater artist beyond the easy reach of school programs.

Do you sing in a choir? Perform in other ways like public speaking? Are there other places that you have worked or volunteered in a public forum? These are all possibilities for inclusion on your resume.

Make several lists of the various categories that your work could be organized under.  Examples include School Productions, Classwork, Community Productions, Professional Productions, Technical Theater, Volunteer Work, Awards, or other choices particular to your experiences.

The website Ace Your Audition lists several examples of beginner and student resumes, and has this to say about composing your page:

Keep it simple.  You'll notice there's a lot of white space. That's okay. Just make sure it's well formatted and attractive to the eye. Make it look professional.  [...] [A]ny experience is experience. Were you a spear holder in Hamlet at your high school? Were you Joseph in your church's Nativity play? Done any children's theatre? Put it all on your actor resume. Had any training? Write it down. Put it in bold so that it draws the eye. Training shows that you're serious. And there's always the chance that your auditors know your teachers.

You've made your lists, now look at the information and begin to organize it.  What is the most important information you want the reviewers of your work to know?  That goes near the top.  Think about that map: what is the important information that is needed to include.  You don't need to represent every tree on the road, you need to sort out the best information and make it concise but clear.

In his book The Actor's Audition (Vintage Original, 1990) theater director David Black describes the goal of a clear and well-organized resume:

The most important function of your résumé is to support the opinion of someone who has taken an interest in you. [...] If you do not have enough credits to fill up a résumé, list what you have done under the heading "Representative Roles." This allows you to put down parts you have performed in college, school, camp, and so on. Even roles you have studied or wish to perform can be listed under this heading. (pp. 94-5)

He cautions against excessive padding, or listing false credentials, "What may seem , in a moment of poetic license, to be harmless padding can come back to haunt you and might even cost you a job rather than get you one." (p. 94)

Remember that you are drawing a map -- creating an easy to follow, informative representation of your history in theater.  That history will indicate your intent as a theater artist and serve to point toward your continued goals.  Remember that the people requesting your resume are interested in learning more about you.  Make that process as simple and straight-forward as possible.

Make a map that the people interested in your work can follow, a map that represents your experience, your common-sense, and your accomplishments thus far as a theater artist.

Break-a-leg!

For more information and samples online check out these resources:
Ace Your Audition

Respect, Create, Learn, setting the stage in a new theater classroom by Gai Jones

Or get some books:
The Actor's Audition by David Black

I GOT IN! The ultimate Guide for Acting and Musical Theatre! by Mary Anna Dennard

Auditions conclude January 10th

Due to the cancellation of after-school activities on Friday, the final day of auditions for 6 IMPOSSIBLE THINGS BEFORE BREAKFAST will be held Monday, January 10th.

Six Impossible Things Before Breakfast auditions postponed!

The second day of auditions for our winter show "Six Impossible Things Before Breakfast" scheduled for Friday, January 7 has been postponed until Monday, Jan. 11 after school in the LHS auditorium. Please come prepared to perform a short monologue.

Audition Tips and online Info

Audition Techniques and Tips for Students Online

Want to know more about how to prepare for an audition -

Checkout these online resources as eHow:

Acting Audition Preparations

For our auditions it is a good idea to come prepared with a short, memorized monologue.  Your piece could be anywhere from 30 seconds to 2 minutes in length.  Checkout this monologue advice article on Ask.com all about Performing a Monologue.

How do you find a monologue to perform? Check out these tips on How to Pick a Monologue that Works.

And - of course - BREAK A LEG!

Standard Play Format

For online information about standard play format you can download the industry standard from Samuel French:
FORMATTING GUIDELINES

You can also get advice from The Playwrights Muse.

Playwright/Director Meeting January 4

There will be a Playwright/Director Meeting after school January 4th for 6 Impossible Things.  We will be discussing the auditions and individuals' responsibilities for the production.  Playwrights should bring any new works or rewrites to this meeting.