Note: If you don't have actors in every scene you need to come up with character exercises.
James: awesome activity!
Sadat: awesome activity!
Evonne: awesome activity!
Think about this: you have 10 days for blocking. So you really need to think of constructive ways to use their/your time. You are training these students not just for your play, but for all future Pennington plays.
Note: Zombies cannot eat other zombies. Proven FACT!
Also, and most importantly, all directors must stay at the end of the rehearsal for a group meeting.
Make sure you know who is running warm ups when. It might work better to have set days when people are running games. If you need ideas, we can generate some in class. Enough of the "I hate games." I cannot tell you what a difference it makes to do a warm up. Even if you hate it. I don't care :) Do it anyway. You can delegate the job to other seniors, like Ali and Tommy, who actually like it, once they school the MS in warm ups. I will not allow it to fall on one or two people's shoulders. It needs to be scheduled and organized.
ReplyDeleteAlso, in line with what Mr. D or Mr. Moore wrote as the post...the sooner you each individually block your scenes, the sooner you get to do run-thrus of the whole show and have people practice sitting frozen. Once you get to run-thru, you also will see where you might need random CTC interludes or music or what have you.
ReplyDeleteIn general I thought it was a very productive day. I'm not sure how things went in the Art Gallery, but down in the black box things went swimmingly. Dillon had everything under control and I agreed with his ideas and commands most of the time. The actors will need to keep pacticing their blocking though, because it was a little rough when we went to do it a second time.
ReplyDeleteWhat did you guys do in the Gallery since you couldn't really block, it might help for tomorrow.
Note to James: Tim was telling me he needs to go to Lavin extra help a lot this week so let him know when you desperately need him for the songs or else you might be "up the creek without an ore" so to speak.
Overall though, it was a good practice, we just need to get warmups down.
P.S. Dillon and Ms. Houston: Happy International Women's Day!
i thought things for dillions and my scene went fairly well. We got through the first three scenes and then I skipped ahead so that Jimmy and seeman, who were left doing nothing because they are only in the last scene very shortly, could get a chance to do something. I definatley could use some good advice for an activity for these two to do when I'm running the other scenes. Also I'm thinking of giving them just one or two more lines each, just so they feel like part of the production, cuz i was feeling some seriously gloomy vibes from them about their characters. As to working in the gallery, it is really difficult, just because of the lack of actual couches, chairs, and filling cabinets that I need for our scene, and until I have a final clear cut visual of our set, blocking is going to continue to be a challenge... perhaps it'll be much easier in the bb, and to the problem of running games, i think we should split up into smaller circles, perhaps the circles of our scenes so that everyone isnt so distracted and we can minimize the talking?? thoughts???
ReplyDeleteI would advise against splitting up the circles, Xander. It makes the cast feel divided and "in pieces" when in reality the point is to make one seamless, coherent play (and group!). I don't think we should split it up - but I wasn't there today for warm-ups.
ReplyDeleteMy one real concern during this rehearsal was Tim. When he heard he'd be staying until 5:30 (when I was actually blocking with him and Tyler, whilst slightly neglecting the CTC by that point) he gave attitude and lip saying that if he had realized that he'd have to be here everyday until 5:30 he probably wouldn't have done the show. I briefly reprimanded him for the statement and he seemed to get back to focusing on the blocking - but it was frustrating and annoying nonetheless.
Things went well with my group. Everyone playing the CTC is so crazy and developed great characters - I'm even going to be writing a CTC interlude in which Josh, the College Essay kid, has a nightmare that he is eaten by the CTC. I'll try to send it to everyone when it's complete.
-James
Well...costume crew is pretty boss this season. We have great ideas being workshoped and my colleagues are reliable when it counts. We got looks started for Garfield, lepinski, and ms. summer (YAY) so major creeper moment happened when i asked Sadat about lepinski and we realized we both had the same idea whoa talk about awesomeness. other than that really tired and realized being in charge is wayyyy harder than it looks so yea props to anyone whose ever been in charge in a theater (D,M,H)
ReplyDeleteAlso what is this about adding things and interludes...the show is done... we're in a rehearsal process... why are we thinking about adding stuff? I'm so confuzzled... night
I think that everyone has fair points. I think James is right - to start with a group warm up, then break up and do what Xander is suggesting (is Alexander, Xander?) and run smaller group games or activities. I don't mind a brief CTC interlude - perhaps coming out of intermission? I think it could add something awesome. Yes, the script is done, but since the writers are living, breathing and right there in the room...little tweaks, additions and subtractions are fine as long as you run it by adults and tell the crew to make notes. In terms of Tim's attitude. Yes. It exists. I would just breathe and bear it. It's not you, in other words. He'll come around. It seems like Math is stressing him out, from what Charles says. It's fine, if you feel you have exhausted all means with your actors to let them out a bit early - say 5 pm, with Mr. D and Mr. M's blessing. Make sure they are writing things down!!! Make sure they are learning/running lines. We can put some furniture in the lighting booth to be pulled into the gallery each day, if that helps. There is a bench in there, and we can pull some chairs upstairs. I hope everyone gets on here tonight and reads through thoroughly.
ReplyDeleteHey HDM i was wondering how much money is allotted to the costume crew in the budget?
ReplyDelete"Yes, the script is done, but since the writers are living, breathing and right there in the room...little tweaks, additions and subtractions are fine as long as you run it by adults and tell the crew to make notes."
ReplyDeleteExactly. I was telling my cast about this, the CTC. It's the beauty of both writing and directing a play. Or just being a playwright who's involved in the rehearsal process. You're able to make tweaks and changes during the process.
In some cases, shows will workshop several times before making their true premiere in NY (or wherever) to work out the wrinkles before it goes to NY.
Alexander = Xander.
ReplyDeleteAlex = Sadat.
Right?
Lena, for the record: Ms. Summers is not meant to come on stage and with the limited space we have, I'm not sure we're going to change that. if you want to design a costume for her that is fine, but I would suggest putting it at the bottom of your long list. It's good to hear costume crew is going well though.
ReplyDeleteAfter a fair amount of work my group were playing the bench game today since Don was not here. After we played for like 40 minutes people kept asking if they can leave (Especially Joe D).They did a good job on the game. Mr. Moore eventually was running through the line for Don's character Oliver. I asked Coleman for help a lot but he was really busy with tech crew and stuff. i really hope that he could be there with me a couple days in the beginning because Joe doesn't listen to me and I feel like he wants to run away any time.
ReplyDeleteThere is a budget. I am not sure where we stand post-musical. So, I'll have to get back to you.
ReplyDeletei agree with james idea for the CTC interlude. I think that would be really cool.
ReplyDeletebut to the point of evonne, im sorry for not being there today, its hard to try and do both. i think we just need to plan out better how it will work.
design wise the detailes seem to be ironed out. me, veno, kate and sometimes pible shot some ideas around about how to make this bookcase work. lets say i hope it works.
on another note, veno is becoming one hell of a draftsmen overnight.
Things went a hell of a lot better for me than I thought they were. For me personally, I can't stand dong warm ups so I found myself just kind of walking around and thinking about what I was going to do in terms of how I was going to work with my actors today. We blocked every thing today It seems and I told them about their characters and then we played bus stop in order for them to get used to their characters. Games like that are a lot more useful to me than something like Hey Dude. I understand some people like it, but I really just find some of the games unnecessary considering (for me at least) the best way that I get focused is by just sitting in a corner alone and not talking to anyone with my iPod on.
ReplyDeleteOverall, today went really well for me and I'm really happy with the people that Pibl and I chose.
Austin get your butt down here one of these days!
yea i know that she's not on stage but i thought to make her feel more in character and a part of the cast we'd give her a costume and it's already done so no big deal except for like minor details which are def at the bottom of the list...right now i need to find identical outfits and fanny packs haha
ReplyDeleteabout the budget no biggie i just wanted to know cause i was checking out those two websites you gave me (THEY ARE MY NEW HEAVEN)
Evonne i feel ya... i think though from what i saw you were really holding your own so props girl!!! whooo the two ladies are getting things done! not saying the boys aren't... :P
I'm just worried that our show will end up competeing in the Best original score category at the academy awards next year and James I still need to hear music from you....
todays tech went pretty well. some people were not to happy that we had to continue organizing, but then again these people have never done tech. and the set isn't that intensive, and so its hard finding work for 14 people, because we can't all be constructing.
ReplyDeleteThere was heavy discusion about the bookcase and I think a final design is nearing completion. along with the bookcase, 1 of the flats has been framed out as well.
I think that as Coleman and I begin to figure out everyones strengths, and everyone gets put on more permanent projects, we both will be able to leave the tech shop periodically to help with directing. It was just really hard to do so today with people that we have never seen work.
We were able to completely block Charles' scene so we are far ahead, but we have to keep on track because I feel like it will be really easy to get distracted. Xander and I want to figure out a way that we can both work on our scenes together, but I think we might have figured it out earlier today.
ReplyDeletehey sorry i fell asleep super early yesterday just wanted to say it sounds like everyone is doing a really great job. I was really struck how small our stage is but if anyone can pull off the blocking its you guys! LOVE & PEACE see you next period ADJ
ReplyDelete