Another Double Header

Once more, I offer a two-fer of notes!

6/9/11

Today would be our last day this week with the choreographers.  This provided a great opportunity for the students to have repetition of the songs they missed, as well as to add some choreography to our other big number, the Finale!

The choreographers have designed a routine that is very manageable for all of the age groups of children, and they seem to be picking it up very quickly-not to mention really seeming to enjoy themselves in the process :)  Each of the students has taken a responsibility over their part, and could tell the choreographers themselves as to exactly which lines of the song he or she sang, including soloists that needed to be highlighted and which groups of students sang in which parts of the song.  It was really rewarding to see them take such a leadership role in each of their individual roles in the show, and it showed me just how important they took this as well.

The students also went another day without scripts in hand and still learning the songs merely by hearing the song itself.  I am learning more and more the different types of learning for each of the students and am now able to identify little details about them, such as which students tend to pick up a song easier, and which ones might need a little encouragement to begin singing at all.  It has definitely been interesting to see them grow throughout this process, and to see more and more how each one of them works differently.

I have also been able to pass around some of the theatre games that I know onto my stage managers, who seem to really love playing games with them.  It is to a point now where I can send off a group of students to work on singing, a group to play games with one of the stage managers while I can do a little character work with some of them.

I feel like up to this point I haven't spent as much time with the students playing the two big leads as I should be.  I know that once we are in the performance space that this will change, but I am beginning to have a little guilt at this knowledge.

The next rehearsal marks the last one in the Park District-hopefully, we will have scripts!

6/10/11

They came! The magic box came and now we can say that finally all of the scripts are here and accounted for and ready to go!!!

The students were all very eager to see their scripts-they had been inquiring about them since the start of the rehearsal process, and were all very glad to have their own books that they could write their names in and lay claim to.

Rehearsal with the books also really helped to improve focus level.  While they were a big distracting at first, during the singing rehearsals, they helped the students follow along immensely, and I only wish I had been able to get those to them sooner.

Along with scripts came "Family Matters" books, which explained to the students different aspects of theatre and how to properly be an effective member of a theatre troupe.  The students were not as excited about these as they were their scripts, but no one left them behind at the end of the day!

Today, I think I have made my first decision as a director that I am now questioning.  I have decided to have rehearsal for the students on July 4 because it is the start of our tech week for the show.  After looking at all of the conflict sheets, I noticed that only one of the students (out of the 72 that auditioned) marked that day as a conflict.  So, at the end of rehearsal, I announced that we were having rehearsal, and it was required that each of the students attend.  I fear that I may have angered some parents here, seeing as it would be a long weekend in the summer that might make for a good vacation time, but I also know that no parent marked such an absence on their sheet.  They all signed a contract saying that they could be there, but I am now thinking that it IS a national holiday, and maybe that might have stopped them from noting it...

My plan of action is to make sure to address any concerns at the start of practice on Monday, and to reassure students that if their parents have a conflict that I can talk it over with them.  Perhaps this is too harsh of a method, but many students have come to me with, "I won't be at practice on (this)day"  and I'll ask why to come to an answer that is not a valid conflict, such as leaving for recreational purposes that could easily be postponed until after rehearsal lets out at 12.

Hopefully, I'm wrong and I won't have too many problems, but I have a plan in place if I do, and that is all I can really hope for.

More next week! When we FINALLY get to rehearse in the performance space!