Video Clips from March 21st

I missed all of Scene 1, Scene 2A, and most of Scene 2B.  Sorry.  I'll get those the next time we practice them.  I realize that our scenes don't have the best flow yet, since it was our first day at CHS, but I think you can still get a good idea of what you could do to tweak your performance.  I'll keep taping scenes throughout our practices.  You don't need to watch each scene, but please watch YOUR scenes.  Grab your script and a notebook.  Jot down some ideas as you watch.  Something like:

Scene ___ : My back was to the audience too much.  Make sure to face front more.
Song ________: I need to ask which way I'm supposed to spin on this dance.
Entrance for Scene _____: Not sure if I come in on stage left or right.  Ask a director.

Here are some questions to ask yourself as you watch your acting/singing/dancing in these clips:

• Am I facing the audience as much as I can?  Or is my voice to the audience, even if my body is at an angle?
• How is my diction?  Am I speaking clearly?  Am I speaking slowly enough?  If I'm English, is my accent convincing?  Am I speaking/singing loudly enough?  Listen with "new ears".
• Is my character reacting to the things that are happening in the scene?  What can my character be doing on stage when he/she does not have lines?
• Am I blocking someone on stage?  Am I hiding behind someone on stage?
• Do I know my cues of when to come on stage or leave the stage?  (If you don't know, then ask a director.)  Did I do a good job of paying attention to which scene was coming up next so I could be on time?  Did someone have to come and find me?
• Did I miss any of my lines?  Do I know my lines and lyrics without thinking too hard?  What about my dance steps? Could I polish up anything?  Do I look like I'm doing my dancing on purpose, or am I just sort of going through the motions half-heartedly?  Watch with "new eyes".
• Did I listen carefully while the directors were giving instructions, or was I goofing around?  When I wasn't on stage, was I responsible for a lot of background noise?

End of Scene 2B

Beginning of Scene 3A

(Mrs. Kluge starts repositioning people at 0:56.

You don't need to watch all of that.  Skip to the next clip for the rest of 3A.)

Scene 3A Continued

Scene 3B

Scene 4

Scene 5A Part 1

Scene 5A Part 2

Scene 5B Part 1

(From about 2:56 to the end of this clip, we're just repositioning people,

 so you can skip to the next clip if you like.)

Scene 5B Part 2

Scene 6

Scene 7

("Thomas Reprise" is too low in pitch. 

Should I make a vocal video for this song?)

Scene 8

"All You Need Is Cash" (Reprise)

Pronunciation Reminders

Monsieur Parimutuel = Miss-yur  Pah-rih-myoot-choo-ehl

Chang = Ch (as in church) and rhymes with "hang"

Koong-Se = Koong (oo as in "good") - Suh

Feng = Fehng (eh as in "send")

Zhong = Jzahng (It's like you're going to say the "j" sound, but you say "z" instead.)  Rhymes with "song"

Zhenjiang =Jzehn-jzahng

Did I miss any?  Let me know in the comments section if you have questions about any other pronunciations.  ~ Mrs. Green

Handle with Care Choreography

Hi Gang!

I thought I had posted this already, but I had only uploaded to my computer.  Sorry for the delay!

Thanks to Mrs. Ritter for a fun and funny dance!  I especially love all of the little extras she put in at the end--after the sweethearts come in.  Do it up, sailors and sweethearts!  This will get big laughs!  Nice job everyone!

~ Mrs. Green

T-Shirts, Ads, Bios & Cast Party

T-Shirts:

If anyone not in the cast (parents, siblings, etc.) would like to order a T-shirt, please let the Fregiens know soon.

Ads:

As a reminder, the deadline for submitting your ads is this Thursday, March 14.  Each family if responsible for making sure their businesses pay for their ads.
While we were out selling ads today, one of our business owners mentioned that we were the 3rd group that came by today (the others weren't from WRHS).  He averages 5-10 people asking for donations each week, and his business is extremely small.  (He did buy a quarter page ad from us.)
I'm mentioning this because I want to remind you to be sensitive to the fact that we are probably not the only group soliciting from these businesses.  Please be courteous, respectful and kind (I know you all are, but I just felt I needed to say it anyway.)  Be sure to express genuine gratitude to all of the businesses you visit, even those which don't buy ads.

Bios:

Another reminder that cast biographies are also due this week Thursday.
Your opening sentence should start out with your name, your character's name in parentheses, and then your age and/or grade in school.  For example:
Emily Smith (Mrs. Thernardier) is 17 and a junior in high school.....

Any Chinese family members who want to name your character, please include it in your bio.   (We're not able to include them in the cast list)

Keep your bios around 45 words, but NOT over 50 words.  If at all possible, send your bios directly to Maddi.

Cast Party

Please mark your calendars for the afternoon/evening of May 16 for our cast party!  The party will be held at the St. Martin, Belle Plaine, ballpark.  (This is adjacent to Kluge's house)  More details and a sign-up sheet will be forthcoming.

Whew!  I think that's it for now.  I missed you all yesterday, but it sounds like rehearsal went well.

After warm-ups and song practice, we'll start next Thursday's rehearsal with a review of Handle with Care.  Then, I think we'll start with Scene 1A and just run through at least Act One.

"Thomas" Song ~ Revised

This post is only for those in the "Thomas" song.  The changes only directly affect the four Workers (not the Artists), Camellia, and Cordelia.

Albert, Beatrice, Elizabeth, Artists, Thomas, and Kathryn--none of you have any changes in your lines, but it's good for you to know that these changes exist.

I've put *  *  around word changes.  ("He" is now *they*.  "He's" is now *They're*.)

Wherever I've added voices to a singing line, that line is highlighted in yellow.

I will have copies of what's below to hand out at practice on Thursday, so you don't need to print this out if you don't want to.  ~ Mrs. Green

____________________________________________________________

“Thomas” Song ~ Revised

ALBERT:                          Thomas!

WORKERS (4):               We haven’t seen the lad.

BEATRICE:                      Thomas!

LUCY:                                Must *they* shout?

ELIZABETH

& BEATRICE:                  Thomas!

WORKERS (4):               *They’re* getting quite annoyed.

ALBERT:                          Thomas!  Where’s that boy?!

                                           I sent him to the office.  He surely didn’t lose his way.

                                           It’s just a little errand.  It shouldn’t take all day!

BEATRICE:                     Thomas!

LILY & CAMELLIA

& CORDELIA:                I’d try the Biscuit Room.

ELIZABETH

& BEATRICE:                 Thomas?

POLLY:                             Or the yard.

BEATRICE:                     Thomas!

WORKERS (4):              Looked in the Slip House, guv?

ALBERT:                         Stop, I’ve had enough!

                                          That’s it, I’m going to sack him.

ELIZABETH

& BEATRICE:                He’s unemployed, dismissed; he’s done.

WORKERS (4)

& CAM & CORD:           That’s not a clever idea.  He’s the boss’s brother’s son!

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

~ The speaking parts happen here.  From now on in the rest of the song, there are no changes.  When it says “WORKERS (4)” above, that does NOT include the Artists.

Alternate Last Notes for "Now It Falls"

I  had promised this video for Erica weeks ago.  Thank you for your patience, Erica!  Anyone else on "Now It Falls" who would like to sing these alternate notes, you are very welcome to do so.  

Handle with Care ~ Two Vocal Videos

Hi Gang!

Here is the slowed down version of "Handle with Care".  I messed up once in there.  Sorry!  Hopefully it won't mess YOU up.  

And below is the up-to-speed version.  I have the performance CD playing in the background.  I can't stress this enough: MAKE SURE YOU ENUNCIATE!  If you're spitting, then you're doing it right!  The audience needs to understand your words.  Sailors, this affects you the most since you all pretty much carry this song.