Pre Workshop Thoughts

So, Soon I have my Improv Workshop

To prepare for this workshop, I created a basic lesson Plan. It follows this.

-Start out with a Basic introduction to Improv
Such as the type of people that perform improv, how improv is beneficial to the mind, the origins of improv and some of the concepts that improv is founded on.

-Some Games
We will then play some games, to break the ice and get the mood right. The games would include,
One Word, a game where you create a story using one word inputs from each person in a circle.
Last Letter Roll, Where i say Ardvark, and the next person would say Kansas, and the next could say Sofa and so on.

-Basic Improv Idea's
Then we will discuss, and practice the most fudnamental part of improv, character creation.
To me, character creation is really the foundation of Improv. I will explain this to the class and hopefully help them create some characters.

-Practice the Characters
Next I'll have the class spend about a minute or two getting into their characters and developing them.This will prepare them for their next task, which is to have a 1 minute monologue/bit where they (while in character) talk about themselves or present a scene.

-Refine the Characters
Now, they will spend another 1-2 minutes refining their chracters, and editing the personalities.

-Test those characters
To finalize their characters, I will have them pair up and be given a controversial topic to debate over. This will hopefully put them in a situation they had not prepared for, and make their characters responses more genuine, and less prescripted.

-Wrap It Up
 Go over what they have learned, and what they will use it for.

Reflection

I have been a bit behind in my drama reflections, so now I am going to start up.

so far our production has taken alot of twists and turns.

but my role hasn't changed drastically.

I am the stage manager, and am playing a small role on stage. 

As I am do stage managing with a classmate, I have decided to take responsibility for the backstage and technical aspects of the play, while my collague focuses on onstage and actors. 

my responsibilities have been,

managing the backstage crew,

preparing the technical equipment and aspects

working with costume and props, to provide the right material.

I have been doing well so fa,r but the pressure is starting to come down hard. with time extremely limited to production, we have to get into overdrive. I think I am ready.

Dream On

As I have learned that documenting what I do during Dream On will help me prepare for future assignemtents, I will start recording day to day what I have done for Dream On.

So far I have been Helping Mr Espinosa with the blocking, as well as helping organise the actors and on top of all that, playing my role as Egeus.

As a Stage Manager, I am participating in my duties as an organizer of the cast ( making sure everyone is where they are supposed to be) brain storming with the director about stage ideas and props. As well as making sure actors are properly preparing for their roles.

Day Four, the last one

Today was the last day of the lighting course, it was much more relaxed and calm than the other days. The course went like this, first we had some guest speakers come in and discussed their experience and how they got involved in lighting. Both had gotten involved in lighting by chance and were much more of "lets see were this goes" types. Never the less, their input on different lighting techniques, the use of gels and programming lights were very valuable. Then the course went on to were we broke up into 4 groups and while one group went up to program a short sequence of lighting ques, the rest stayed in the theater. My group was the last to go, so for the time i was down in the theater i had an interesting conversation with one of the guest speakers about his experience in lighting musicals. I plan on applying that to my school's musical. I also had a very interesting conversation about networking, but that is unrelated to the course. When my groups turn came around, we programmed a short sequence on creating two pools of light, to display different sides to a character. At the end of the course, we send our goodbyes and i personally thanked Gautam (the workshop leader) on his effort. I really enjoyed the course and am looking forward to doing more courses in the future.

One more Journal Entry

How Does the Knowledge of Historical Periods Impact Overall Production Value?

This really depends on the play, there are two real scenarios where the application of historical knowledge could affect production value.

First scenario being a play with very little historical reference or setting. Such as Cats. In Cats there is very little, if any historical reference. Actually I am pretty sure that there is no historical reference. SO whether i had never heard of the 18th century, or if I was an expert, it would make no difference in the production value.

The second scenario being a play that is steeped in historical context such as Les Mis. If you knew nothing about the french revolution, then your costumes, accents and dance numbers would be terrible. they would make no sense with the story line and most of all would make the audience feel shipwrecked. (as if they are in a foreign land with no way out). 

The correct application of historical context is a key component of any theater piece  That is why for our spring musical I have brushed up on my Elizabethen and Shakespearean history. As well as reading the original play. The best production si one where the background effort is more than the effort on stage.

A Presented Question

Give your opinion on the statement -"The stage is not merely the meeting place of all the arts, but is also the return of art to life.” Oscar Wilde

I believe this statement has plenty of merit. theater by itself is just a written dialogue, or a collection of thoughts in a single mans mind. If time went on the information, emotion and character held in theater would be lost. No one would care for it, very few would even put a thought to it. But when it is put on stage, people cannot ignore it. With an audience, theater is given life and therefore impacts more than just the actor and creator. The audience sees it, feels it and most of all realizes that theater is a part of the human experience. Without this encounter all theater would be a rather small part of our culture. The same can be applied to music or art. The painting could be created, and could be a masterpiece. But unless it is showcased and people are made to realize that it is a valid part of humanity, it would be lost forever.

A stage provides a place for art, music and theater to be show cased in a space where you have a captive audience. It removes the barrier between the artist and their art, it brings life into the art.

I do believe that the stage brings art from, some secluded space, to the real world and life.

Dream On Auditions, Day One

On Friday we had our first Dream On auditions. We will have the second and third installment Monday and Tuesday Respectively. Hopefully we will be able to receive all the candidates by then.
I personally had my doubts about filling our required roles, as the play requires about 35 different actors. But i was sorely mistaken when the line started to form outside.
The days before the auditions I created a series of posters to advertise the auditions, it seems they did soem good ( they are attached below).
Though we were only able to receive about 5-6 auditions, I think we have found our Helena, in an grade 10 student named Sam, she has that pretentious tone of Helena and that voice of authority. Perhaps we will find someone more suited later on.
I was very pleased with the auditions  and the enthusiasm candidates displayed. I am looking forward to the plays in the future.

As per ways we could improve the audition process, I must admit that there was a bt of a pile up at the end, but as long as people come earlier, that can be avoided. Also the audition process would smoothen alot if we had more copies of the trial script, I will make sure we have more today. I am excited for auditions and hope we find some awesome talent hiding in our school.