Sorry for the typo in the last post!!

If it’s Thursday, it must be a scenic construction day!  If you have time after school and waiting for choreography to start at 6:30, please come help with scenery.  The bed has taken a lot of time to design, through trial and error, and therefore has set me back with other construction.  I would like to be finished by the end of Labor Day, so that we can start decorating and clearing the shop and wings.  My daughter is past her due date, and her baby could arrive at any time, so if I am not there, that is the reason.  It is also causing me to really, really push to get done.  Any help is REALLY appreciated!!  Thank you!

Cya was installed this week!  It is so awesome!!

Ms Stowers

Sorry for any confusion. I understand the original post says 2-4. So we will go with that. Thanks Kimberlie

Because we have a number of new families with us, I wanted to give a run-down about some tech week expectations and what you can expect from us.

The weekend before a show opens is a critical time for a play. Tension can be high, because of the new elements being added very quickly, and morale can dip because of uncertainty. However, if these conditions are expected, it’s easier to see them for the butterflies that they are and put them in perspective.

On Saturday, the crew will arrive very early to prepare prop tables, test lights, make special marks for organization, etc. It can be hard to predict the order and duration of tasks because of the new tech elements that roll in, but somewhere at tech, at every moment, some team is working hard, efficiently, and quickly. A few hours later, the actors arrive and sign in. For us, ten minutes early is on time, and that’s standard in all theaters. After that, they organize the dressing room, try on costumes, etc. They also get a backstage tour and have safety features reiterated.

Ideally, the show is ready to roll around 1. We try to run the show with light cues often being added and written as we go. No two shows are alike. Sometimes, we can run the play straight through. Sometimes, complicated tech issues require us to go “cue-to-cue” and jump over sections that are unrelated to tech. We try to let out between 6-8, although we leave this open-ended in case of extraordinary circumstances. We’ve never gone later than 9, averaging a dismissal around 7. Usually a meal is served around 4.

Sunday is similar, except that we often focus on sound and body mics.

On both days, promptness and patience are key. Actors are asked to bring homework and books, and those who take advantage of the “wait” part of “hurry up and wait” tend to stay on schedule with schoolwork and are more relaxed as the week continues. They are asked to remain quiet once the run begins, listening for direction and making life easy on the crew. If people approach it with a mix of professionalism, team spirit, and good cheer, techs can be a good time for the team to cement.

In the weeks leading up to tech and tech itself, attendance is mandatory. If one person is missing or leaves early, it might affect a team of people whose lines, movements, scenery, and stage effects are based on them. No part is too small to be a keystone in moments like that!

The week following is for dress rehearsals. The actors and crew are required to stay on campus between school and the rehearsal to avoid traffic delays or worse. Parents provide food, ensuring that participants have a good meal, and there’s usually down time for homework if they take advantage of it. The runs usually begin around 6-6:30 because we have professional orchestra members who have day jobs, and that’s the earliest they can get here and get ready, safely and sanely. It’s well worth it. The shows usually run 2 hours or a bit more, however, we have to get both acts in, and we put a premium on using time as efficiently as we can.

Afterwards, I usually wait to give notes the next day so that they can clear out quickly, although they are asked to stay until the dressing room and green rooms are clean.

In all of this, family (and extended family) members are more than welcomed to watch any part of rehearsals they like. In fact, it can really help the performers! So, if you arrive to pick someone up, no need to stay in the car… join us!

HOUSEKEEPING:

Tech begins on October 27. Exact arrival time is TBA. Please do not sign up for ACT on that day.

We have had inconsistent attendance at choreography rehearsals. Non-attendance may result in removal from select numbers.

We have hired a professional costumer who will take care of the show. Independent additions or deletions to his plot are not options. Thank you for working with us on that.

Thanks!

FYI: There will be no rehearsals scheduled during Labor Day weekend (September1-3), Yom Kippur (September 19) or Fall Break (October 6-10).

Schedule change for this week:

Monday, August 27 – 4:00 – 6:00 – CANCELLED

Tuesday, August 28 – 4:00 – 6:00 – Music (ensemble men only)

Wednesday, August 29 – 4:00 – 6:00 – Music (ensemble women only)

Thursday, August 30 – 5:00 – Music (Dynamos and dads) – No Sophie, Lisa, Ali, or Sky

6:30 – 8:00 – Choreography Everyone – Voulez Vous

Next Week:

Tuesday, September 4 – 4:00-6:30 – Choreography – TBA

Wednesday, September 5 – 4:00 – 6:00 – Blocking Blocking scenes 1.1-1.2 non-music scenes only

Blocking scenes 1.3-1.4 non-music scenes only (if possible)

Thursday, September 6 – 5:00 – 6:30 – Music (everyone)

6:30 – 8:00 – Choreography Everyone – TBA

Looking ahead:

SEPTEMBER:

September rehearsals will continue to be Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesdays 4:00-6:30 and Thursdays 5:00 music 6:30-8:00 Choreography. Not everyone will be called to each rehearsal.

Sunday, September 9 – 1:30 – 3:30 – Choreography Everyone – TBA

Possible all Sundays in September – TBA

Saturday, September 15 and/or 22 – Kim would like to have rehearsal 10:00am-2:00pm – We need to know if you have conflicts on these Saturdays (All-East Auditions are September 15th, so you could come before or after you audition)

LeAnne Johnson
Choral Director
o:	865.291.3854 m: 865.256.0357
e:	leanne_johnson

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Monday – 4 – 6 – Blocking scenes 1.1-1.2 non-music scenes only

Tuesday – 4 – 6 – Music (ensemble men only)

Wednesday – 4 – 6 – Blocking scenes 1.3-1.4 non-music scenes only

Thursday – 5:00 –

Music (Dynamos and dads) –

6:30 – 8:00 – Choreography Everyone

Best,PMc

If you are waiting for rehearsal at 6 PM and have nothing to do this afternoon, I will be working on scenery on stage today.  We have had a few cast members and staff  show up to work here and there which has been INCREDIBLY helpful! I really, really want to thank Jack, Owen, and especially, Fox, Hazel, Lilli and Melissa Schweitzer for your help in ensuring the success of the show!  None of this is complicated, and you do not need to know how to use power tools (You will get training!).  I get to a stopping point because things are too heavy to move by myself, so having two or three people around is great!  I really like how these Thursdays and some free stage afternoons are working because it means that we do not have to devote a weekend to construction, but we will still have the scenery ready for all out rehearsals and blocking that will begin any day now.

Madalyn Mead, Lilli Schweitzer, and Riley Talmadge are in the scenic construction class during C period.  They will be working on the more complicated scenery pieces,  like the bed, scenic decoration, and stage props. Please thank them as well!!

Our cyclorama is being installed on Monday and Tuesday of next week!  This will be a very exciting addition to our lighting  capabilities!

Ms Stowers

The line learning app for MAMMA MIA just got approval from MTI!! The cost is $1.99.  The line learning app is limited to 20 cast members, so if you are in the ensemble and have no speaking parts, please do not purchase this app.  Also, please set up an account on StagePro.com.  This will allow you to access all the technical information about the show.  From the software developer, Randy Threewits:

Welcome to MyLines, the line memorization app! This app will make your role in the upcoming production of Mamma Mia! easier to memorize. You’ll be able to add notes to your script and get communications from your theatre about blocking and rehearsals. Let’s get started!

1. Download the MyLines app on your phone or tablet. It’s available at the Apple Store or the Google Play Store.
2. On the lower part of the left menu, choose Sign In. Create an account with a user name and password.
3. From the left menu, choose Download Script. Then choose ACTIVATE, and put in your activation code   WSN837269 . When you see the script Mamma Mia! on your page, select it and choose DOWNLOAD.
4. From the left menu, choose Select Script. Select Mamma Mia! and you’re ready to begin!

To get started, tap the right menu in the upper right corner. Among the options there you will see Select Role. When you choose that, all the possible roles in the play are displayed. If you have more than one part, choose Select Multiple Roles. When you’ve done that, all your role lines will be automatically highlighted for you!

Try the Brief Intro on the Info/Help option on the left menu to get started. The Learn Script function at the top of the left menu is where you will begin memorizing your lines. On the right menu, you will see many other options — hide your role lines, playback your lines to you, different ways to view the script, different view settings for sizes and colors on the screen. Tips about using the app and all its functions are accessed on the lower part of the right menu.

Here are just a few of things that MyLines can do:

• Highlights Lines Automatically
• Hints From Hidden Lines
• Custom Bookmarks and Script Annotations
• View Script by Scene, by Role or by Line
• Customizable Font Sizes, and Highlight Colors
• Your Customization For Each Script Is Available Across Your Devices
• Play Your Script Back Using Text-To-Speech
• Audio Recording And Playback of Lines

Go to www.MyLines.com for more information about how MyLines will make memorizing your lines easier and better than ever!

Thank you,

MyLines LLC
Apps for Cast + Crew

For various reasons, rehearsal is going to be short today. If you cannot make it, don’t worry about it. Just send me a text or something. 865-748-3636. I’m largely working with Lilli. Sorry for the late notice. It is somewhat health related. No worries though!

Best,
PMc

The read through is in the choir room at 4:00. Bring a pencil, just in case!

Best,
PMc