Week 5: RENT

I thought RENT was amazing!!! The actors were great and the play itself was fantastic. I loved all the characters, especially Angel. I had never seen the movie version of RENT before going to see it on Tuesday but I had heard the songs. I loved them and the story sounded interesting too. RENT was better than I had expected and I was expecting a lot since I had heard how great it was. I can see why Adam Pascal ( Roger) and Anthony Rapp ( Mark) were part of the original cast. They are amazing. I loved them both. I am glad that I went to see RENT and I hope everyone else who saw it enjoyed it as much as I did.

Week 5: Response Posts

Kaley- I can't wait to see RENT. You are certainly right about RENT being so controversial. I think those topics that are not usually put on stage might be something that makes it such a good show. There is nothing else like it. I like the website you found. It was interesting to read and I learned some new information about the actors. I think it's pretty interesting that some of the actors had not even wanted to try out for RENT at first.

Clark- You found some good information on La Boehme. I didn't know it was such a popular opera. The character Mimi sounds a lot like the Mimi in RENT. La Boehme seems like a good opera but sad too.

Week 5: Theatrical Careers

http://www.collegegrad.com/careers/proft25.shtml

The theatrical career I chose to research is choreographer. This website tells you all you need to know about being a choreographer. Dance numbers are common in theater so there has to be someone to create those dance routines. That is the job of the choreographer. In our play, Mrs. Lindsey is our choreographer. A choreographer would be a good career in theater because the need for them continues to grow as fast as the average career. Most choreographers start of as dancers. They usually stop in their thirties and become choreographers because of the physical demand on their body. This is a great website for anyone who want to become a choreographer because it talks about the history of the profession, working conditions, training, employment, and payment.

Week 5: Information on RENT

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rent_(musical)

This is a great website to find a lot of information on RENT. Not only does it talk about the show itself, but it also gives some information on La Boehme, Puccini, and Jonathon Larson. There is also a full description of what basicly happens in each act and of each of the main characters. I think I will be able to enjoy seeing RENT more now after reading about the show because I understand what the show really is about. If you are not able to go see RENT, then you should really read this website. You will at least be able to have a backround of it and know what we went to see. The only problem with the website is that it is a lot to read at one time. I think it will still be helpful.

Week 4: Make up's Place in Wicked

http://detnews.com/article/20081219/OPINION03/812190301/+Wicked++green++Makeup+artist+transforms+Elphaba+the+witch

This website gives all the steps used to turn Donna Vivino into Elphaba in the production Wicked. Donna Vivino plays Elphaba in the First National tour of Wicked. Creating the look of green skin takes many steps and a lot of time. The whole process takes approximately forty minutes. I like the website because it explained each step and answered some popularly asked questions like how do they get Elphaba's skin green and how long does it take to get the green off. I think make up will play an important role in our play. Some people will have to look much older than their age and others will have to look scary and mean. All of us will have to look Chinese and the girls playing soldiers will have to look manlier. Unfortunately, I did not learn any special make up elements that we can use in our show.

Week 4: Costumes and Makeup

From what I have seen of my costumes, I like them. I really like the shirt I wear in the beginning as part of the ancestor ensemble. I think it's so pretty. I also think the pants for the soldiers look really good and the rest of our costume probably will too. I haven't seen my son costume yet so I don't know what it looks like but I'm sure I will like it. I also don't have any idea what my make-up plot is going to be because I have never played a boy before. I know being in costume and full make-up will help me get into character because I will be able to actually see myself as a male soldier.

Week 4: The Pieces of the Puzzle

After seeing the two productions Stomp and Peter Pan, I think they would not have been has good of shows if any pieces were left out. Stomp had to have great lighting to make the set look different even though it never actually changed. Plus, without props, Stomp would have not been good too. Peter Pan needed to have good sets to make you feel like you were in Neverland or that the stars were real instead of just lights on a black canvas. I think all the the elements of our play are finally starting to come together since we have costumes, the set, props, and some lighting. We have not been told about our makeup yet but we hopefully will soon. We also have not seen the full effect of the lights or all of our costumes. I think once all of the pieces of Mulan have come together, it will be a great show.

Week 4: Respose Posts

Austin- Seussical does use a lot of crazy makeup. I've seen the picture of it at HLT and the only one without crazy makeup on was you. The people on the website you gave have some very wild makeup too. Makeup will definatly play a large role in our play. Some people have to look scary like the Huns, and others have to look old. All of us will have to look somewhat Asian.

Kaley- I like the website you gave. Makeup definatly playes a large role in Wicked, which I really want to see. I also agree that makeup will play a large role in Mulan Jr. I forgot about the fact that the girls who play soldiers will need makeup to make them look like real guys. I am surprised that I forgot about that since I play a soldier. I did learn from the website. They won't really help in our play but I did enjoyed learning those makeup elements.

Peter Pan

I thought the performance of Peter Pan was very good. I liked everything about it except for the fact that Peter Pan was so much older. If I was the director, I would have cast someone much younger. He did sing good. I am also glad the director cast the person they did as Smee. He was my favorite character. My favorite part of the play was the different scenes. They all were very detailed and realistic. I also liked the dancing. It was very good except for the fouettés. I thought the technology in Peter Pan was very good. I like that they actually made the characters fly instead of trying to create the illusion of them flying. The lighting was very good too. I still think Stomp was better but Peter Pan was a good performance. I am glad we saw it.

Week 3: Stage Lighting

http://www.onstagelighting.co.uk/

I decided to find information on stage lighting. The website I chose has multiple articles on lighting. Some of these are Lighting Designer for the 21st Century and Lighting the Stage. My favorite article is Dance Lighting. It talks about the relationship between a dancer and the light, different angles of lighting, and side lighting. I love the simile it gives. “Dancers live in light as fish live in water.” This describes how dancers need the light just as a fish needs water. I also like the article Stage Electrics- Lighting Distro For Dummies. This article gives all the basics of stage lighting. It is very easy to understand for someone who knows nothing about stage lighting, like me. The information I learned did not contradict to my own ideas of theatrical technology because I did not know anything about it until reading the articles. This website is helpful because you can choose an article based on what you want to learn about lighting.

Week 3: Response Posts

Wow Clark. I never knew any information on Gobo. Actually, I had never heard of that term before. All the information you gave taught me a lot. I like that you told what gobo is most likely is short for. That helped me understand it a lot more. The website you gave is very helpful too. Thanks for the new info. =)

I agree with you, Sarah, about how the technical side of theatre will play an important role in Mulan. I forgot about how the time and place of Mulan will need very good scenery to make it seem real. Theatrical tecnology sounds interesting and I want to learn it. I agree that I really don't want to have to take the time to learn it but I guess I should. The age makeup is something I probably should learn in case I ever play a character older than me.

Set Day (June 22nd)

After set day, I think theatrical technology has a very important role in each and every play. It will definitely play a big role in Mulan. Mulan has a lot of set changes in it. Also, there are probably going to be constant changes in lighting. The fight scene with Shan-Yu, Shang, and Mulan will consist of a lot of theatrical technology usage just on its own. The lights will probably change a lot and there is Mushu's fire that will have to be created. I am interested in learning more about the technological side of theater. It would give me a different outlook on the theater and shows performed. Plus, theatrical technology seems interesting.

Week 2: STOMP

I loved seeing Stomp. I thought it was amazing that the performers could create music with basic, everyday junk. The dancing was really good too. I also liked that the performers could keep the audience entertained without saying a word. The whole experience of seeing Stomp was exhilarating. I am also glad that we got to meet the performers. I saw that they put a lot of themselves onstage when they perform and that they are not afraid of looking silly.

I did see some elements of Greek theater in Stomp. I really did not see any Kabuki elements. I defiantly did learn some things that I can use in Mulan and other plays. I learned that you can be entertaining even if you do not have any lines. I also have a better understanding of how you react to what other characters do on stage and how you can steal the show in the background. I am glad we got the chance to go to see Stomp.

Week 2: Response Posts

Hey larissa. After reading your blog, I am kinda wondering if Kabuki theater is as interesting as the website I found made it sound. I tried to watch the video to compare but it said that the video was removed. Oh well. I still think the costumes are pretty amazing. I agree with you that I would see a live performance at least for the experience. =)

Heyy cassady! I thought Stomp was awesome too. I liked the fact that the performers could keep the audience entertained even without speaking. The dancing was really good too. I learned a lot that I can use in Mulan and other plays too. I thought it was cool that we got to meet the performers too. =)

Week 2: Greek Theater

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theatre_of_ancient_Greece

I really like Wikipedia as a web resource for information on Greek theater. It really does cover everything there is to know on Greek theater. I am also glad that there is also so much information on the masks. There is a picture of some of the masks used in Greek theater (right), which I found on the website. I like how both masks have so much detail and have their own distinct character and emotion. While reading the information, I was able to see the many connections there are between Greek and Western theater, like trap doors and Pinakes. I think this would be a good website for anyone who just wants to know all about Greek theater. There are only a few images so if you are looking for pictures of Greek theater, this is not the website for you. Greek theater and Kabuki have a lot in common. The major difference is that Kabuki is a very traditional type of theater and Greek theater has a much more modern feel. I think I would rather go see a Greek theater performance.

Week 2: Kabuki Theater

http://www.japan-zone.com/culture/kabuki.shtml

I like this website as a resource because it talks about both the history of Kabuki theater and some important people involved in the theater. It also talks a little about the Kabuki stage. I think it is fascinating that the stage is able to rotate. I wonder what it would feel like to perform on a stage that could do that? I think this website would be helpful to anyone who wanted a basic history of Kabuki theater with some extra facts.

I had not heard of Kabuki theater until this year in the theater program so I had never had my own perception of what it might be. I do think I would have liked to attend Kabuki in ancient Japan. The stories seem to be romantic, the costumes are very colorful and dramatic, and the stage sounds amazing with the backdrops and trapdoors. Kabuki theater sounds like a very interesting form of theater.

Week 1: Musical Theater

http://www.theatrehistory.com/american/musical030.html
This website gives a full backround of American Musical Theater. It is really helpful if you want to learn about when American Theater started, what the first play was, what country that play stemmed back from, and the steps of how theater grew into what we experience today. I enjoyed reading the information on this website and I think I will apreciate our theater more now. I hope you enjoy this website too.
=)

Week 1: Respose Posts

Austin, I can understand why you would get nervous auditioning for a part you really want. You just want to have a perfect audition so you get the part. I think you will do great as Qian-Po. We all will have plenty of laughs, we have already had a lot. I can't wait till our amazing show at the end.
=)

Kaley, that is exactly how I am. I get shy around people I do not know. I think you are really good at playing a bride and a good singer. I hope to get to know you better this year and I think you are a nice person.

Week 1: The History of Fa Mulan

Well, while I was researching the history of Fa Mulan, I found a great website that gives an overview of the story and a history of the name Mulan. The website is http://www2.selu.edu/Academics/Faculty/elejeune/mulan.htm. After reading the information on this website, I got a real understanding of the true story. I also found a true respect for Hua Mulan, which is what she is called. She is very important in the Chinese culture. She is even used as a symbol for heroic behavior. I also enjoyed the fact that the website told about not only the story of Hua Mulan, but it also told about the background of the poem's construction. I found out that the poem is made in the song form of "Yueh-fu." This is a style that stemmed from folk songs. Then the website gave information on "Yueh-fu." Overall, I feel that this website is a helpful resource for information on Hua Mulan. I then found another website that gave the actual poem "Mu-lan" in English. The poem was written be an anonymous female Chinese poet in 5th or 6th century A.D. The website is http://www.geocities.com/Hollywood/5082/mulanpoem.html.

Week 1: All About Me

Hey, I'm Kristen. I am fourteen and I am going to be a freshman next school year at SHS. Even though I love theater, dancing is my passion. I was a part of this program last year and enjoyed it a lot. I believe that I was much more nervous about and during auditions last year than this year because I had less confidence, especially when it came to my singing ability. I had only tried out for the chorus. This year, I actually sang for a solo role and as a result, I got a bigger role than last year. Since I grew so much last year, I expect that I will make much more growth this year. I feel that I already have made some growth. I also expect to become a more confident singer so that I can try out for a solo role in the next play I audition for. I have been on stage before. I have done two plays: Into the Woods Jr. and High School Musical. I have also preformed in Dance Unlimited dance recitals and dance competitions. I feel that both types of these performances on stage connect together because you are always playing a character. You can take what you know from dancing into musical theater and vise versa. I think that this experience in the program will be a good one. It will not only help me grow as an actor, but it will also help me grow as a dancer and person.