Monday Letters 20-21 Archive
Hi Drama!
Hello! It is REGISTRATION time! Go to the HOME page of our WEBSITE to view the Video Course Outline, and share the video with your friends who are considering Drama for next year, including your friends or family or neighbors at the middle school who want to do Drama. Seniors: you are not registering (wow!), but you are excellent ambassadors for the program, and particularly for explaining how after school works. Share the video! ALL are welcome to link to wwwjuanitadrama.org on social to share the video! Parents who are reading the letter this week: watch the video! You will see your amazing students in it as well as see what we are up to when working in the theatre! We are on remote at least through Thursday. I do not yet know the Thursday schedule to put in the remote classes, but Tuesday/Wednesday are in. Tech Theatre is working on scenic and costume design for The Hound of the Baskervilles. Please read through at least ACT 2 for Wednesday's block class. Go to the One Note Collaborative PROJECT page and fill in whether you are doing Scenic or Costume for your project. It is time to make that final decision! Drama 1 & 2 will continue READING ITW on Tuesday during remote block. Be ready for a quiz on Act I! After School Class
Hi Drama! Go the HOME page of our WEBSITE to view the Video Course Outline, and share with your friends who are considering Drama for next year! Monday introduces COSTUME or SCENIC DESIGN projects in 6th period, Tech Theatre. It is time for PERFORMANCES in Drama 1 & 2. I am looking forward to working with all of you as you grow your theatre skills! Questions? Ask me in your Monday Letter responses. AUDITIONS for the role of RAPUNZEL, for Juanita Drama's production for Into The Woods, are on Monday. The audition is open to everyone at Juanita. Rapunzel is a high soprano part. If you want to sign up and receive audition information please email at emcmurray-hauk@lwsd.org. Here is the 8th Period schedule: MONDAY
ITW TECH + PA's: 2:45 - 3:35
WENESDAY:
THURSDAY ITW Cast + PA: 2:45 - 5:30pm FRIDAY ITW Cast + PA: 2:45 - 530pm SATURDAY ITW Cast + PA: 11am - 2:30pm THESPY INFO: Click on this link for details: https://www.wathespians.org/thespys. We are Troupe 3422, and you will use Elizabeth McMurray-Hauk (emcmurray-hauk@lwsd.org) as your Troupe Director and COLLABORATOR. PREPARE your submissions, but WAIT to submit until we are back in January! We will have a submission day, TOGETHER! Questions? Just ask! Take care, Mac emcmurray-hauk@lwsd.org1/10/2022 Monday introduces COSTUME or SCENIC DESIGN projects in 6th period, Tech Theatre. It is time for PERFORMANCES in Drama 1 & 2. I am looking forward to working with all of you as you grow your theatre skills! Questions? Ask me in your Monday Letter responses. AUDITIONS for the role of RAPUNZEL, for Juanita Drama's production for Into The Woods, are on Monday. The audition is open to everyone at Juanita. Rapunzel is a high soprano part. If you want to sign up and receive audition information please email at emcmurray-hauk@lwsd.org. Here is the 8th Period schedule: MONDAY
ITW TECH + PA's: 2:45 - 3:35
Hi Drama! I hope everyone had a nice break! I will see you on Monday to pick up where we left off last year! Here is the 8th Period schedule! CHANGES DUE TO SCHOOL CLOSURE ON MONDAY
OPP's are DUE on TUESDAY, December 14. The full assignment is on TEAMS. Is your information on One Note, OPP page, updated? The One Note info needs to match your OPP. If you are in TWO DRAMA classes make sure you complete for both classes! 6th Period: I am looking forward to the Harvey recast PPT presentations! 7th Period: This week brings us more work on monologues and solo songs! 8th Period Calendar: Monday, December 13: 2:45-5:30pm
Tuesday, December 14: 2:45 - 4:30pm
Wednesday, December 15: 1:15 - 3:30pm
Thursday, December 16: 2:45 - 4:45pm
Friday: December 17: 2:45 - 6:00pm
OPP's are DUE on TUESDAY, December 14! The full assignment is on TEAMS. Is your information on One Note, OPP page, updated? The One Note info needs to match your OPP. Have you seen West Side Story on stage or perhaps the original 1961 movie version? Sondheim wrote the lyrics, and he has a cameo in the upcoming Spielberg version. The movie is getting good reviews. Check out the TRAILER! On Sunday night there is a special about the new movie, with Stephen Sondheim's final interview. Here is an article from the New York Times on the ongoing controversy that follows West Side Story: https://www.nytimes.com/2021/12/01/theater/west-side-story-steven-spielberg-movie.html I am leaving up last week's Thespy Info in case you need it. Remember, all members of 8th period are required to register, and consider submitting. 6th and 7th students not in 8th are also invited to participate! THESPYS are 100% optional and 100% highly suggested! The International Thespian Society, and the Washington State Thespians sponsor this amazing experience for ALL Drama students. Thespys is a one of a kind opportunity (no-risk) for you to submit a performance or technical presentation and receive feedback from three adjudicators. All submissions are by recordings that I can help you with. You MUST submit works from a published (not internet published) play or musical. Click on this link for details: https://www.wathespians.org/thespys DID YOU MISS THIS LAST WEEK? On THURSDAY of last week we registered anyone who is planning on submitting a performance (monologues, duo scene, solo song, duet), or technical presentations. If you have done this before, or are confident you can follow the directions, register at any time (I have already seen some registrations come through). We are Troupe 3422, and you will use Elizabeth McMurray-Hauk (emcmurray-hauk@lwsd.org) as your Troupe Director. Be BOLD, take advantage of this opportunity and plan to do Thespys! I will help anyone who is putting a submissions together. 6th Period: This week we will finish watching Harvey, discuss, and move on to Technical Scenic or Costume Designs! We will also pop into the Theatre to rig down the lighting and take a closer look at the lighting instruments. 7th Period: This week we will continue exploring character objective with each of you choosing and performing monologues (this can be your Thespy submission) OR choosing and performing a solo song from a musical (this can be your Thespy submission). LOTS more information in class! 8th Period Calendar: Monday, December 6: 2:45-4:00pm ONLY students who are interested or already working on TECHNICAL for Thespys Everyone else: use this time to work on your OPP’s at home Tuesday, December 7: 2:45 - 4:00pm ONLY students who are interested or already working on Monologue, Solo Songs, Duets for Thespys Everyone else: use this time to work on your OPP’s at home Wednesday, December 8: 1:15 - 3:00pm ONLY Drama Leadership Interested in joining Drama Leadership? Talk with Mac before Wednesday Everyone else: use this time to work on your OPP’s at home Thursday, December 9: 2:45 - 3:35pm ALL Drama Friday: 2:45 - 4:00pm Optional Thespy Day Thespy Help session: Let Mac know if you are attending this session Everyone else: use this time to work on your OPP’s Questions? Just ask! Take care, Mac emcmurray-hauk@lwsd.org year, at this same time, the Drama website had under 50 daily hits. The past two weeks it has over 1000. Times change, yes? PUFFS was a huge success from the page to stage, from front of house to backstage, from our creative collaborations to the audience response. With noting, self reflection, practice and commitment every member of the PUFFS Production Company grew the show and responsibilities right up to closing on Saturday. The post-show event with Booth Awards and sharing was very special. Congratulations to everyone! Remember, you can craft and leave a note on my classroom door next week. 6th and 7th: ALL students who were part of the production or purchased a ticket and were in the audience: go to TEAMS to complete the PUFFS EXTRA CREDIT FORM! DUE BY TUESDAY AT 9pm (it is quick, so do it now so you get your points!). All Drama Students: We are beginning THESPYS THIS WEEK! Final submissions are due on TUESDAY, JANUARY 4, 2022, but I would like to get as many of ours as possible submitted before the December break. If you did Thespys last year, you know what it is all about and can help with the buzz about the opportunity. ALL Drama students are eligible to submit performance or technical pieces (3 categories is the limit per student). My goal is to submit both technical and performance pieces from PUFFS, along with individual pieces. I will be sharing information over the next few days in Production Workshop, and working with you over the next few weeks. You can get a head start on reading through the information and rules at: https://www.wathespians.org/thespys Drama Leadership: make SURE you read and understand this information. This SHORT week in 8th: Monday: 2:30 - 5:00pm Strike and clean; Thespy info PRODUCTION ASSISTANTS, STAGE MANAGER, BOOTH, CAST Tuesday: 2:45-4:00pm ALL PUFFS COMPANY Thank you notes, end of play report; Thespy Info Wednesday: NO DRAMA! Have a great break!Hi!!! (Puff Style), Opening Week was a fabulous success! Congratulations to everyone involved in the Production! Please read through the following information carefully, so everyone in Classes and Production understands the week ahead! Show Shirt Official Days: Monday, Thursday, Friday BUT wear them as on the other days! Wear your button visible ALL days. INVITE people to the show! It is important to share that we sell tickets at the door, not just online. Spread the news! Invite your teachers! GREET THE BUSES IS THURSDAY AT 7:20am at the BUS DROP OFF! DISHA, TYLER and EVE are in charge of CANDY and POSTERS and Drama Leadership will meet you outside the entrance to the COURTYARD. ALL DRAMA from ALL DRAMA CLASSES are invited to be at GREET THE BUSES to join in handing out candy, waving posters and inviting people to the play. If you are riding on a bus just hop off and join in! The Focus this week in 6th and 7th will be on OPP's, plus starting new units! AND you will get to see PUFFS TECH!
***THURSDAY CALLS: 7PM SHOW NOTE TIMES FOR ALL HOUSE are slightly different than last week. ALL House will leave to go home when the audience leaves. No talk back with Mac (school night). Booth leaves immediately after notes (by 9:30). Cast leaves
***SATURDAY CALLS: 2PM SHOW
***SATURDAY CALLS: 7PM SHOW
We open our show this week on FRIDAY, and I am so very proud of the100+ students who have contributed to the design and production of PUFFS! Many of you have your work featured in the set dressing for the Puffs Common Room; a brilliant idea from one of you gave us the costumes for the DB's; and a spell sound built by a member of the tech class is a big part of the battle at the end of the show. It has been fun to be immersed in the world of PUFFS with all of you and I am looking forward to bringing an audience in for the first time since November 2019!! Wow. History keeps being made in these crazy times! THIS IS OUR BIG WEEK TO GET ONLINE TICKETS SOLD! Everyone in DRAMA helps with getting the word out. We will sell at the door if there are any tickets left, but we highly encourage everyone to get their tickets ONLINE. ALL online reservations will be seated in PODS following the Covid Guidelines. Online tickets will be picked up at Will Call starting one hour before each show. Go to the ticketing link at the top of the page and look through it. ALL students in ALL Drama classes will be taking a ticketing QUIZ on the information located on the ticketing link, sometime in the next two weeks, as part of the HOUSE curriculum. Production Crew in 8th will be serving as House Staff, which includes ticketing (selling and will call), greeting and ushering). You will be see your HOUSE ASSIGNMENTS on the HOUSE PAGE on ONE NOTE by TUESDAY. Juanita Drama is being highlighted in a film being put together by the district! The filming is taking place on Monday during 7th and after school during dress rehearsal. NOTE: House meets TUESDAY and FRIDAY this week. SHOW SHIRTS ARE HERE (They look AMAZING) AND WILL BE DISTRIBUTED DURING LUNCHES IN 526 ON MONDAY! Show Shirt DAYS this week are TUESDAY, WEDNESDAY and FRIDAY! Wear your BUTTON on the right side of the shirt opposite the logo. A few of you need to pay and bring me a receipt. DO THAT MONDAY! Make SURE you pick up your SHOW SHIRT on Monday during lunches. Not in 8th but want a shirt? I bought extras so just let me know! WRISTBANDS: I have wristbands for 8th and a few extras for you to ask your friends to wear to promote the show! POSTERS: Know a place where a poster can go? Pick one up and POST IT! BIG POSTER: I made you a present. Check it out in the Commons:). eBlast (which means sending out electronically and posting on social media info and invitations to the show): ALL DRAMA set up for an eblast for PUFFS for WEDNESDAY at 12:55!! Use the poster at the top of the letter. Be clever! Show me what you have sent out! GREET THE BUSES IS FRIDAY AT 7:20am at the BUS DROP OFF! Bring left over Halloween Candy in (leave it on Mac's desk) this week to pass out at GREET THE BUSES! The BOOTH CREW is in charge of meeting you with CANDY and POSTERS and everyone will either be handing out a piece of candy or holding up a poster and inviting people to the play. Since our new school has buses from one direction and student parking from another we will have two places for candy/poster PUFFS to be. More info about that this week! ALL DRAMA from ALL DRAMA CLASSES are invited to be at GREET THE BUSES to help with publicity. If you are riding on a bus just hop off and join in! Please note the HOUSE meetings are changed from the original Calendar due to Filming by the District on Monday in the Theatre.
***FRIDAY CALLS: 7PM SHOW
***SATURDAY CALLS: 2PM SHOW
***SATURDAY CALLS: 7PM SHOW
Summary of extras for this week! Show Shirts/Wristbands: Monday at Lunch Show Shirt Days: Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday this week Eblast: Wednesday at 12:55pm Greet the Buses: Friday at 7:20am by Bus Lane Show Calls Above Drama for the week of NOVEMBER 1, 2021 Post on your social media! You, too, Alumni!! Hello Drama! Happy Halloween! (or as I like to call it, Theatre People Day!). November is SHOW MONTH with Juanita Drama. PUFFS opens on Friday, November 12, at 7pm! Tickets for PUFFS are on sale at Brown Paper Tickets. Every student in Drama, in all classes, over 100 of you, have been working on PUFFS. It is YOUR show, so make sure the people that you want to see it have bought their tickets! Invite your teachers, friends, families, neighbors and especially that kid who sits next to you in class! Theatre is community, a shared experience that brings us all together and makes memories for a lifetime! In 6th and 7th we are studying Dramaturgy and exploring the world of Hogwarts to create Spell Sounds, Bookshelves and Bulletin Boards! Ideas and products from these tech tasks will be used in PUFFS! You have two more work days in class and the final products are DUE to submit IN CLASS on Block Day this week. 8th Period PRODUCTION WORKSHOP We have a FUN week ahead of us! It is VERY important for all PUFFS Company to respond to the Monday Letter. Include your thoughts, feelings and questions, and share what you know and understand about your responsibilities for the upcoming week, including anything you are supposed to bring in on Monday. Please respond by 9pm, Sunday. Production Crew: You are meeting on WEDNESDAY, and have TWO remote assignments due by WEDNESDAY:
The costumes are racked, checked and ready, the Props are organized and set to be placed, and with few exceptions we are ready to run Dress Techs with costumes, and scenic pieces. If you are working on something, or are bringing something in make sure it is done and in on MONDAY. Saturday was a BIG day for PUFFS for costumes, props and LIGHTING! We now have over 245 lighting cues in the show, all the way from the opening cue to the curtain call! Sound will be coming into the show throughout the week as the soundscape design joins the world of the play, adding a dynamic dimension to PUFFS. We will see the full lighting by Dress Tech on Saturday. The character words CUE each others lines and movement, and critically the sound, lights, rigging, curtain pulls. It is vital cast members are word perfect because even the tiniest word in the show is a cue for the show to move forward! It is a very cool thing to see a show come together at this point in the calendar, but it is also a huge (and awesome) responsibility for actors to not let a single word be changed or dropped. You got this! Go work those lines! Please note that there are calendar changes for the week due to absences.
Tickets for PUFFS are selling at a record rate! Remind friends and family to purchase tickets NOW. If you are not in 8th period Production Workshop you will need to purchase a ticket to see the show. Get a group of friends together and buy tickets online by clicking the link above. Remind your teachers to get their STAFF Tickets! I will be sending an email to them with the link on Monday. In 6th and 7th we are studying Dramaturgy and exploring the world of Hogwarts to create Spell Sounds, Bookshelves and Bulletin Boards! Ideas and products from these tech tasks will be used in PUFFS! I love the work I am seeing. 8th Period PRODUCTION WORKSHOP We open two weeks from Friday! Check your school email for an important email sent out to ALL PUFFS COMPANY. Follow the instructions for responding. It was FUN to have a Tech Saturday to work on props, lighting, sound and costumes! Please note that there are calendar changes for the week due to absences.
Tickets go on Sale ONLINE starting on Oct 15! Hello Drama! Tickets went on sale on Friday and In less than a day we sold 100 tickets! Wow. Make sure you get your friends and family to buy their tickets right away because it looks like we are going to sell this show out! The ticketing link at the top of the Monday Letter is now LIVE. I want everyone in all Drama classes to explore the site to see how we do Online ticketing for our shows. Remind your teachers to get their STAFF Tickets! I sent them an email so they have the link for STAFF ticketing. In 6th and 7th we are studying Dramaturgy! Theatre detectives! 6th will be moving on to three Tech Tasks associated with PUFFS and connected to researching the fictional world of Hogwarts. 7th will be sharing their Dramaturgy work on the characters in MCM and exploring characterization based on the Dramaturg assignment. I am looking forward to a week of Dramaturgy! 8th Period PRODUCTION WORKSHOP
Please note that there are calendar changes for the week due to absences.
And just like that it is October, or should I say HALLOWEEN SEASON!! What do you love about this time of the year? Congrats to the 6th Period Tech Theatre class for pulling off the first TECH TASK of the year. All of the GENERAL PURPOSE BATTENS are wiped clean and ready to rig for PUFFS. This week we are moving into a Production Management unit with a look backstage at WICKED! 7th Period Drama 1 & 2: It was fun hearing the lines from MCM, the laughter and the different character perspectives from each group. This week we are going to explore the work of a DRAMATURG and what their role is in a stage production, and at the same time go deeper into the names of people and places of the 30's and 40's spoofed in MCM! 8th Period PRODUCTION WORKSHOP
IMPORTANT ATTENDANCE NOTES for after school Drama: The Conflict Sheets were vital to making sure that each individual could have the time to fulfill their responsibilities in the Fall 2021 Play Company given their weekly conflicts. I use these sheets to make company position decisions. FROM THIS POINT FORWARD, you will need to share your WEEKLY CONFLICTS with Mac in your Monday Letter Response, so that we are all in good communication about attendance. You will also be asked to text or email Kaylee Starr or Aria Eddleman who will be in charge of handing Mac an attendance slip each day at call time for anyone who is expected at a meeting or rehearsal who is not present. You ONLY need to share conflicts on days you are called . Please be responsible and respectful about ATTENDANCE. ALL students in ALL Drama classes will be reading and responding to the Monday Letter each week. It is easy to do! Send an email to emcmurray-hauk@lwsd.org by 9pm on Sunday. It is important that you respond on Sunday because it helps me to understand what we need for the week. Add a subject heading (not Monday Letter) that relates to what you are telling me (2-3 words, make them fun!). Keep the letters short and to the point, letting me know what you know and understand about what we are doing, deadlines, comments. Ask questions! Drama for the week of September 27, 2021 Juanita Drama's FALL PLAY Opening in NOVEMBER!! Hello Drama! It is our final week of September, 2021! Congratulations for making the giant leap back to in person education with grace and compassion for each other and for your teachers. I am enjoying getting to know each and every one of you in our classes, and am grateful to be back in the Theatre as we begin our work on PUFFS! Our state of the art Rigging System is fun to learn and explore, and the 6th period Tech class spent last week learning how a counterweight system works and seeing it in action with Juanita's amazing fly system. If you missed the test on Friday you will find a makeup version in your TEAMS. 7th Period is studying The Musical Comedy Murders of 1940, preparing to read the play out loud in groups starting on Monday. Make sure you have completed the MCM TEAMS assignment so that I have your input on casting the reading groups. If you haven't finished the play you will find a link to an online script on that same TEAMS assignment. 6th and 7th: I have posted feedback and scores from the Come From Away assignment. If you did the Bonus you will see that added to your score. If you did the BONUS but didn't add a note, interview or sketch to your TEAMS submission, then re-submit and let me know. PRODUCTION WORKSHOP (AFTER SCHOOL 8TH PERIOD) SCHEDULE FOR THE WEEK FOR PUFFS!!
IMPORTANT ATTENDANCE NOTES for after school Drama: The Conflict Sheets were vital to making sure that each individual could have the time to fulfill their responsibilities in the Fall 2021 Play Company given their weekly conflicts. I use these sheets to make company position decisions. FROM THIS POINT FORWARD, you will need to share your WEEKLY CONFLICTS with Mac in your Monday Letter Response, so that we are all in good communication about attendance. You will also be asked to text or email Kaylee Starr or Aria Eddleman who will be in charge of handing Mac an attendance slip each day at call time for anyone who is expected at a meeting or rehearsal who is not present. You ONLY need to share conflicts on days you are called . Please be responsible and respectful about ATTENDANCE. ALL students in ALL Drama classes will be reading and responding to the Monday Letter each week. It is easy to do! Send an email to emcmurray-hauk@lwsd.org by 9pm on Sunday. It is important that you respond on Sunday because it helps me to understand what we need for the week. Add a subject heading (not Monday Letter) that relates to what you are telling me (2-3 words, make them fun!). Keep the letters short and to the point, letting me know what you know and understand about what we are doing, deadlines, comments. Ask questions! Drama for the week of September 20, 2021 Hello Drama! The weekly Monday letter is for ALL Drama students in ALL classes! Welcome to our fourth week of school! That flew by, right? It is always good to take a moment to think where you were a month ago, and where you are now. So much has happened, so many new people to become friends with! Expect that the people around you are happy to see you. I know I am delighted to be part of your school day. I love seeing your eyes light up as you greet me each day coming down the Drama hallway! 6th and 7th: The Come From Away Teams assignment is due on Monday at 12noon. Make sure it is your BEST work. If you have already submitted check to see if you want to revise, edit, add anything. Be prepared on Monday to share your RESEARCH and TEAMS work in small groups. Tuesday we move on to a new unit! ALL Members of Juanita Drama: Watch Come From Away! Click on the photo on this week's Monday Letter to see the trailer for the movie - a filmed Broadway production! ALL students in ALL Drama classes will be reading and responding to the Monday Letter each week. It is easy to do! Send an email to emcmurray-hauk@lwsd.org by 9pm on Sunday. It is important that you respond on Sunday because it helps me to understand what we need for the week. Add a subject heading (not Monday Letter) that relates to what you are telling me (2-3 words, make them fun!). Keep the letters short and to the point, letting me know what you know and understand about what we are doing, deadlines, comments. Ask questions! PRODUCTION WORKSHOP (AFTER SCHOOL 8TH PERIOD) SCHEDULE FOR THE WEEK FOR 8TH PERIOD: This week is significant and will answer a LOT of your questions, and hopefully teach you that many of the questions that we have when producing a play are revealed during the evolution and collaboration that is fundamental to how Theatre works. Most of what will happen is not 'decided' on day one . . . we journey together making many, many decisions along the way. You will, however, find out the play we are producing and your position in the Juanita Drama Fall 2021 Play Company on Monday!
IMPORTANT ATTENDANCE NOTES: The Conflict Sheets are vital to making sure that each individual can fulfill their responsibilities in the Fall 2021 Play Company. However, AT THIS POINT FORWARD, you will need to share your weekly conflicts with Mac in your Monday Letter Response. You will also be asked to text or tell a designated student who will be in charge of handing Mac an attendance slip each day for anyone who is expected at a meeting or rehearsal who is not present. It is VERY important to know at the beginning of each week if you are leaving, for example, 30 minutes early from rehearsal because you have a dance lesson. IF you are ill, and your absence has come up unexpectedly, you or your parents can email Mac the morning of the absence. If possible you should also text the designated student in charge of daily attendance. You are ONLY required to attend meetings and rehearsals on the days you are called. You will know when you are called based on your placement in the Fall 2021 Company and the calendar everyone will receive. Please do not attend on days you are not called. Starting on TUESDAY of this week, we will be using CHECK IN SHEETS for all Daily Calls. You will learn more about these next week. You will be timing in and out of your rehearsal or meeting (just like at a professional theatre). Only YOU can mark next to your name on the Check In Sheets, which will be located on the wall in the Drama Hallway, outside of 526. We will talk more about this next week. , September 6, 2021 Hello Drama! The weekly Monday letter is for ALL Drama students in ALL classes! It was a lot of fun starting up the year and getting to know each of you. The classes are packed, and for Drama that just means more people to connect with, more friends, more creative energy! All students in ALL Drama classes need to have a dedicated notebook for the year. This can be any shape or size - it is yours to take notes, sketch designs, create lists, and document your time in Drama. This is part of your participation grade in each of the Drama classes you are in (you only need one if you are in multiple Drama classes). If you need help with getting a notebook just ask me! ALL students in ALL Drama classes will be reading and responding to the Monday Letter each week. It is easy to do! Send an email to emcmurray-hauk@lwsd.org. Add a subject heading (not Monday Letter) that relates to what you are telling me (2-3 words, make them fun!). Keep the letters short and to the point, letting me know what you know and understand about what we are doing, deadlines, comments. Ask questions! 6th Per: Remember that Tuesday is your 5-7 pieces of recycle deadline! The remainder of the letter is for the 8th Period Production Workshop Group. Tuesday is the final open class for anyone at Juanita to attend to be a part of the Play Production Workshop Class!. Hello Production Workshop!
HERE IS THIS WEEK'S SCHEDULE: Tuesday: Open Enrollment - anyone can attend 2:45-3:35 Leadership until 4pm *NOTE This is the school's ID PICTURE day taken during your English Class Period. We are going to start a NEW Tradition of taking a full group photo on this day during 8th Period (After School Class) that will be for the YEARBOOK. We will be doing this at the start of class. Please drop your backpacks off on stage right and sit in a group on the stage floor. You will be blocked (put in stage positions) for the photo! Wednesday: AFTER LUNCH (see CLASS SCHEDULE) 1:15 - 2:05 Thursday: 2:45 - 3:35pm. Friday: 2:45 - 3:35pm. Take care! Mac emcmurray-hauk@lwsd.org CONGRATULATIONS To Juanita Drama's Two National FINALISTS Who Earned TOP OF THEIR CATEGORIES in the COUNTRY for THESPYS!! -Claire Charvet, Lighting -Caroline Yim, Scenic Design Only 26 Students Nation-Wide earned this designation! Click to Visit the THESPY Page for the National List of Winners Congratulations to the Class of 2021! You are taking so many memories with you: Theatre, Pop-up, New Theatre, Remote, Concurrent, beginning with The Addams Family! Wow. There will never be another four years like the ones we have traveled together. The Senior Farewell was very special. Thanks to all who helped with the Costume Parade, flowers, cards and memories. The senior presentation was amazing as you recreated the past four years of our time together. The final song had me in tears, and then you came up with that hilarious twist that had us all laughing - a true metaphor for how this year has been and how you have coped with it; with laughter and with love! Thank you having a significant impact on my life and the Juanita Drama program. We will all miss you! This week's featured photo is from She Kills Monsters, with 2021 Graduate Jade Buist in a battle with the Succubi! I chose this pic to honor Jade's amazing career with JHS Drama, and because of the stage combat choreo this pic captures. I imagine those of you in Drama 1&2 can relate to the action in this shot! Drama 1 &2: The stage combat unit has been so much fun. I am proud of everyone, at home and in-person, for diving into the work with such energy and creativity! From old people battling it out, to siblings dueling over the last slice of pizza, the final combat choreographed scenes were memorable and super fun to watch. We have one more group on Monday to look forward to! I could not have asked for a better group to do this crazy year with. You were always up for everything I came up with. I love how supportive of each other you are. I would love to keep teaching this group, and hope to see all of you who haven't graduated in Drama next year in Drama 2 or 3, the after school class, or the tech class, or both! Technical Theatre: I have enjoyed our discussions about the art and science of Theatre throughout the year. You amazed me with the energy in the class right from the start, and helped me to find my way through teaching a theoretical online tech class. You have been patient and super helpful with tech issues. The projects were great, and the support you gave each other made the class grow as a group. I really enjoyed our final unit on filmic techniques. There are quite a few film buffs in the class, and it was so fun to talk films with you! Those of you that created short films did an amazing job. I showed them all to Gary and he made the same comment that someone said in class: Caroline's opening was like a teaser for a new show on Netflix! I am going to take what we did for the filmic unit and expand it next year in class based on your contributions to the assignment. I am finishing up my grades for all classes. If I am missing something you submitted make sure you let me know! TO ALL DRAMA STUDENTS: If you would like to join the Drama Leadership Group there are a couple of spots open now that our seniors have graduated! Let me know by email! Drama Leadership: 2:45 - 4pm after class on Tuesday for our final meeting this year. SUMMER WORKSHOP REGISTRATION! Sign up for the Juanita Drama SUMMER WORKSHOP that will be happening the week before school begins for the 21-22 School Year. ALL JHS STUDENTS who plan on being in Drama (6th, 7th or 8th) are welcome to attend the workshop. This is a DRAMA INTENSIVE with all kinds of Theatre activities over a three day period! I will be sending out reminders and updates about it in August, but sign up NOW so you get those updates! https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0544AAAD2CA1FB6-juanita1 ALL In-person books and materials are now past DUE. Make sure you give them directly to me. Remote students: you can drop off your books and scripts (Drama 1 & 2) directly to the Performing Arts Dept right outside Rm 513, on Tuesday, June 15. If you take them to the Commons make sure you put a sticky note on them with my name so they get to Drama! IN CLASS THIS WEEK:
The pic posted on this week's Monday Letter is a blast to the past! Isabel Grizzard is demonstrating the Addams Family gates, circa Fall 2017, the year our Seniors were 9th graders. The photo is also a foreshadowing of things to come with the Drama Senior Farewell on Friday, June 11, during 8th Period. CONGRATULATIONS on a successful show on Saturday, with our first live audience since November 2019! House crew, booth crew, production crew, performers and all those amazing family members in the audience helped to make the event memorable and fun! It is ALWAYS a good idea to check through your grades. Teachers have a lot going on this time of year and it is easy to miss something. If that is the case with any of your grades in drama classes let me know! Drama Leadership: Look for a separate email:). Make sure you respond! ALL In-person books and materials due BACK on Monday and Tuesday of this week! IN CLASS THIS WEEK:
Juanita Drama * Posted Saturday, May 29 for the SHORT week of Monday, May 31, 2021 We are always, it seems, waiting for . . . something. As wonderful as those somethings may be - a birthday, seeing someone you haven't seen for a long time, graduating from High School! - it is all the moments in between that define our lives. Pause long enough in the looking ahead to enjoy the daily moments that enrich your lives, strengthen your character, and gives you the clarity to love the life you are living. 8th Production Workshop CLASS: The SATURDAY, June 5, showing of 9 REASONS, with live showcase performances, HAS BEEN CHANGED TO 3pm, with the doors opening at 2:30pm. PLEASE have your family fill out the RESERVATION form found at https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=P2fUH5bfIUaGOKHYjEyF1wnqkYpqeixPiygQU3O0IPpUMElCTDM5VFdJUU9ZRTJJSkRKQjc5VFNYSC4u The final OPP for this year is now past due. Please let me know if you are uploading a late file. Drama Leadership: we will meet this FRIDAY after class to be READY for the June 5 Show!! Leadership will last until 5pm. If you need to go home earlier just let me know! IN CLASS THIS WEEK:
Juanita Drama * Posted Saturday, May 22 for the week of Monday, May 24, 2021 Hello Drama! The year, which, last fall, seemed as if it was going to stretch forever, is tap dancing to a close! There is so much going on in Drama. Don't miss a moment of it! Take advantage of this rich time of year in class and meetings. Stay engaged, be happy and cheerful, and make good leaps as you connect everything you have learned in Drama this year to our final weeks together. Smile and greet each other and enjoy the bonds and friendships you have made over this remarkable year. Is there something you want me to cover or talk about? Let me know! Do you have any books or materials (even from last year!) that belong to Drama? If you are in-person bring them in this coming week. If you are Remote, gather them for the material drop off day the final week of school! We want to make sure that all of the materials and books are ready for classes next year! 8th Production Workshop CLASS: You and your parents will be receiving an email on Sunday with an invite for a Drama presentation, Saturday, June 5, 7pm start time (doors will open for seating at 6:30). We will be presenting a showing of 9 Reasons AND some live solo performances. Attendance is by RESERVATION ONLY so it is important that your families see the email with all the details about this. There will be a link attached to reserve seats with a deadline for doing so, and details about attendance. The final OPP for this year is now past due. I am making my way through all the submissions (wow - wonderful personal analyses of plays and musicals!), and returning each as I go. If you have not turned in your OPP, and plan to, make sure you communicate with me. If you have any questions or need help, please let me know. Drama Leadership: we will meet this TUESDAY after class! No meeting on Friday. IN CLASS THIS WEEK:
Juanita Drama * Posted Saturday, May 15 for the week of Monday, May 17, 2021 Hello Drama! Congratulations to this year's Thespian Initiates! I am looking forward to welcoming you into Juanita Drama Troupe 3422 of the International Thespian Society. Follow your letter and if you have any questions let me know! The final OPP for this year is now past due. It has been great reading your OPP's and hearing about the shows you have experienced. There are so many opportunities to stream great Theatre. Enjoy the shows! Drama Leadership: we will meet this TUESDAY after class and do some work on props and sets! No meeting on Friday. Mark your calendars for FRIDAY, JUNE 4, 7 & 8pm, for two showings of Juanita Drama's Virtual Production, 9 Reasons! Stay tuned for more information! IN CLASS THIS WEEK:
May 10, 2021 Opp's are DUE by Satureday, May 15, at 4pm. That is THIS FRIDAY! Please do not miss this deadline. If you need help, ask. Covid Safety: In person Drama students need to be very, very careful to maintain social distancing in the various classroom settings within the Theatre facility. Please keep your distance as we move from space to space. This week in Drama:
ALL CLASSES: In Person AND Remote are required to leave a final comment in the CHAT section of the class about the day's lesson. Tech Theatre and Production Workshop Students: Have you signed up for Dual Credit? It is a GREAT DEAL! Make sure you sign up to get college credit for your JHS classes! I have submitted the class lists to the Dual Credit people, so all you need to do is to sign up. If you need help ask! Show your parents this information! The two Drama classes that can receive Dual Credit are Technical Theatre and Theatre Production Workshop. www.PNWcollegecredit.org Drama put a back to school video together and it is posted on the home page of this website, HERE. It is super fun and I am proud of all of you involved! Share the link with your friends and family = post this anywhere you want. Let me know what you think of the video in your Monday Letter response. I have heard from some of you that you are having problems viewing the video. It views just fine on all of my devices, so I am not sure what the problem is. Remind me in class and we can watch it together. Responding to the Monday Letter is part of your participation grade for 4th quarter in all Drama classes. It is an easy way to keep your grade up. There is a lot to talk about beyond what I post on the Monday Letter each week. OPP CHOICE Links: https://www.playbill.com/article/schedule-of-upcoming-and-current-free-live-stream-broadcasts-com-322823 https://insidethemagic.net/2020/07/musicals-on-disney-plus-lp1/ Drama 1&2: There is a 90 minute Romeo and Juliet that looks interesting! *********** 5/3/2021 ALL Drama students are invited to attend the National Thespian Festival! Click on the masks in the picture posted to learn more about all the cool opportunities the Festival has to offer. A virtual festival makes it super easy to attend, meet people from other schools and states, and get to experience amazing workshops. If you were a National Qualifier for Thespians you can submit your original recording OR you can do a NEW one. I want to encourage all National Qualifiers to submit. Book a rehearsal with Mac to go over the adjudicator comments and improve your original submission! Now that we are back in the Theatre, and moving about the space, it is extremely important that SAFETY is at the front of everything we do. COVID SAFETY: Listen carefully when given instructions on where to sit, and how to move about the space. Maintain social distancing, keep your masks on securely (including covering your nose), step outside the door for a mask break, snack or water, and most importantly be conscious and aware of your responsibility to the other members of our class. Keep each other safe! THEATER SAFETY: We will be discussing Theatre Safety and how you move about the Theatre safely in all classes. In order to participate fully in the experience of being in the Theatre it is vital that you listen carefully and follow all safety protocol. This week in Drama: 6th: Rigging!! 7th: Character Movement 8th: Showcase & Working in the Theatre ALL CLASSES: In Person AND Remote are required to leave a final comment in the CHAT section of the class about the day's lesson. Tech Theatre and Production Workshop Students: Have you signed up for Dual Credit? It is a GREAT DEAL! Make sure you sign up to get college credit for your JHS classes! I have submitted the class lists to the Dual Credit people, so all you need to do is to sign up. If you need help ask! Show your parents this information! www.PNWcollegecredit.org **************** 4/25/2021 Hello Drama! Would you like an Into The Woods Show Shirt? We are selling them again!! $10 per shirt. S, M, L & XL. Reserve your shirt now. This is a limited edition piece of art on a shirt! I will have them to show you in class on Monday and Tuesday. Last week was a lot of fun as we settled into concurrent classes in the Theatre spaces. I am looking forward to Soundscapes in Tech Theatre, exploring stage movement in Drama 1&2, and lighting in Production Workshop this week. Tech Theatre and Production Workshop Students: Have you signed up for Duel Credit? It is a GREAT DEAL! Make sure you sign up to get college credit for your JHS classes! www.PNWcollegecredit.org Drama put a back to school video together and it is posted on the home page of this website, HERE. It is super fun and I am proud of all of you involved! Share the link with your friends and family = post this anywhere you want. Let me know what you think of the video in your Monday Letter response. Responding to the Monday Letter is part of your participation grade for 4th quarter in all Drama classes. It is an easy way to keep your grade up. There is a lot to talk about beyond what I post on the Monday Letter each week. I am interested in whatever you want to share with me. How is concurrent working in our classes? In your other classes? What fun things have you been up to besides school? Any interesting movies or theatre productions you want to share? Questions you want to ask me? OPP #3 IS DUE ON MAY 15! If you MISSED filling out the Asynch form (on Teams) about the OPP choices do that now. It is quick and easy to fill out. ***************** 4/12/21 Time for another change! We have one week of Asynchronous (no remote classes) and then we head into the unknown, but undoubtedly exciting world of concurrent school. Some of you have chosen to stay remote, others are heading to Juanita. I am working on ways to show ALL of you our Theatre spaces, and to make 4th quarter a successful and fun experience for Juanita Drama! Have some ideas of your own? Share them with me! This week's Asynch work for ALL Drama classes will be posted on TEAMS by Monday at 9am. In order to receive credit for the Asynch week's work you need to complete the Microsoft Form attached to the assignment. Read the instructions carefully. You will need to know what play or musical you have chosen for OPP#3, due May 15. Here is a link to get you started in case you haven't chosen a play yet: https://www.playbill.com/article/schedule-of-upcoming-and-current-free-live-stream-broadcasts-com-322823 Drama 1&2: There is a 90 minute Romeo and Juliet that looks interesting! I am available all week via email! Write to me! See you from/at Juanita starting April 19! ****************** 3/22/21One week before Spring Break! Let's have a great week together. Penda! You deserve a shout out for your participation in the Cameras On video that will be shown this week in Homeroom. I admire students who step up to help out in projects that impact the whole school. Well done! Thank you to all of you that turn your cameras on. What a difference it makes. I would much rather have a conversation than conduct a lecture! I honestly just feel better emotionally, physically and mentally after a class where students have their cameras on. Challenge yourselves this week and pop those cameras on at the beginning and end of classes, and if you can have them on during class that is wonderful. Sound Design is a fascinating area of Theatre Production. We take it for granted, the soundscapes that are part of our every day life. It is interesting to go inside of the world of Theatre and Film Sound Design and connect what you find out to the amazing movies and productions you love. Perhaps consider this as a career choice (hot demand for sound designers). ALL Drama please read through the linked article and watch the clips from Frozen; then let me know what you find interesting! 7 Sound Design Tips In OUR Theatre classes this week:
Looking forward to seeing all of you!*********************** 3/15/21 Ali Stroker, the first actor using a wheelchair for mobility on the Broadway stage, was nominated and won a Tony award for her portrayal of Ado Annie, in the revival of Rogers and Hammerstein's OKLAHOMA! Watch this video featuring Ali, and when you respond to the Monday Letter this week let me know how YOU 'find the gift'! (If this link is blocked on your computer let me know - we will watch it in class). In honor of Women's History Month check out these other amazing women who are making history in the entertainment world! Your OPP (Outside Performance Paper) is DUE this Wednesday, March 17. The assignment is on Teams. If you have any questions make sure to ask! Here is a link for those of you who still need a play or musical to watch! The OPP is worth 11% of your grade - it is so important that you complete this assignment. Make sure you confidently bring to the write-up all that you have learned this year in Drama! In OUR Theatre classes this week:
I want to invite ALL of Juanita Drama from ALL classes, to go with me to the VIRTUAL THESPIAN FESTIVAL, Fri and Sat, March 19-20! I have 10 of you signed up so far. Who else wants to join in the fun? All you have to do is let me know and I will register you AND pay your entry fee! The cut-off date is this Monday, March 8. After that the registration is closed. ALL Juanita students who are attending have a chance to submit a LIP SYNC! You can show off your mad Lip Sync skills by submitting a 30-60 second Lip Sync from one of your favorite musicals. On Friday night of the Festival there is a Lip Sync Battle between schools attending!! SO MUCH FUN!! Send Mac your Lip Sync entry no later than Thur, March 11 (last day to submit LIP SYNCS to the Festival). There is a wide range of workshops offered at the Festival:
Send Mac an email NOW if you want to be registered for the Thespian Festival (March 18-20). This is an AWESOME opportunity to join Theatre students from all over the State - imagine all that creative energy! Are you busy part of the time? You do not have to attend all the sessions, just let me know if you have any conflicts. The event is flexible. THESPY RESULTS (WASHINGTON STATE DRAMA REGIONAL AWARDS) I am proud to announce that Juanita Drama had 6 NATIONAL RANKINGS in Monologue, Duet, Lighting, Scenic and Stage Management, and 9 STATE RANKINGS in Monologues, Solo Songs and Duet at this year's Thespys. For a complete list of everyone who ranked at the Washington State Thespys please click on file at the top of this page! Congratulations to Gracie and Audrey Lloyd, who have been chosen to have their Nationally Ranked Duet (What is the Feeling, from Wicked) shown at the Thespian State Festival. Their performance will be shown several times during the weekend of the Festival.********************* 2/27/2021 I am leaving up the featured article for two weeks to make sure everyone had a chance to see it. We will be talking about these designers in ALL classes so be ready for that! The Monday Letter this week features the creative talent of two Black costume designers: Paul Tazewell (pictured) and Jerome Lamaar. Here is an except from the source article (link below): Over a tenure of 25+ years, Paul Tazewell has brought his magic touch to every production he’s been part of, so it’s no surprise that this man has won both a Tony and an Emmy. He’s been behind some of Broadways and television’s buzziest shows, including Hamilton and The Color Purple. More recently, Paul created costumes for the play Ain’t Too Proud—the Life and Time of The Temptations, the film Harriet, which hits theaters this November, and is currently on set for Steven Spielberg's film adaptation of West Side Story. In the Q&A ahead, he dives into his career, accolades, and what costume designing means to him. INTERVIEWER: In layman's terms, what goes into creating costumes for a show? Are you designing the costumes yourself, are you pulling them from collections or vintage shops? What does that process really look like for you? MR. TAZEWELL: "Well, it depends on the needs of the show. With a musical or Broadway show, those costumes are rarely rented ever because of the wear and tear of the show. I’ve done a lot of time-period shows, and the costumes for those shows are custom created in independent shops around New York and around the country. For film, it can be a combination of creating or curating, but it depends. Like for West Side story, there are scenes where we might have 400 people that are all in the background, that are all extras, so there’s not the need to build all of those costumes, so there are costume house that we rent from—but even with that, they’re fit, and I approve each of the looks. Then, my challenge beyond that is to design costumes that fit into the main character's role, to ensure the costumes we are using from the rental houses marry with what we are actually building and the story we are trying to tell." Intrigued? Click on the llink to learn more about Costume Design! https://www.whowhatwear.com/broadway-costume-designers/slide2 In our Theatre classes this week: 6th Period: Sharing Gobos all around us! 7th Period: Hamlet Flipgrids are PAST DUE. On to more Shakespeare! 8th Period: MCM plus THESPY Results!**************************** 2/15/2021 Hello Drama! This week's Monday Letter features Miranda Haymoon, Theatre Director. Read her bio and interview, and check out the source article below for other amazing Female directors! Newly appointed resident director at Roundabout Theatre Company (New York); leader of RTC’s Directors Group; assistant director on Broadway’s Travesties; Roundabout Directing Fellow (2018); Select credits: Really, Really Gorgeous (The Tank), Everybody (Sarah Lawrence College), In the Penal Colony (Next Door @ NYTW, The Tank), and Mondo Tragic (National Black Theater). First production you ever directed: I directed Post-Its (Notes on a Marriage) by Paul Dooley and Winnie Holzman in high school. Directing that ten-minute play totally engulfed me, and I'm still really proud of it. Professionally, I toured my adaptation of Kurt Vonnegut's novel Slaughterhouse-Five and it premiered at Capital Fringe. What made you want to be a director: I've tried performing, designing, stage managing, writing, backstage—everything. Directing gives me the chance to pursue knowledge in the craft of everything. A show you want to direct: The Threepenny Opera by Bertolt Brecht. Describe the attributes of your ideal project: I like projects that encourage audiences to move away from assumed norms, and I have an open vision of what that looks like. It could be non-normative in terms of structure or narrative, but also who gets to be considered "universal" on stage, or characters facing obstacles that we don't usually get to see them battling. A production you worked on and are particularly proud of and why: I'm really proud of the opera of Intimate Apparel, which I am the associate director on under Bartlett Sher. Our team became a real family through the process, and have become even closer as an ensemble since being halted by the pandemic. (We have bi-weekly Zoom calls!) It's an honor and a joy to be part of presenting the canonical story of Intimate Apparel in a new form. I am so excited to share with audiences when it's safe to do so. A guiding principle of your directing style: A tenet of my directing approach is to carefully learn how my collaborators learn, so that I can responsibly guide a process filled with experimentation, courage, intention, and care. That is my mission—to be a facilitator for perpetual learning and thus, unlearning. https://www.playbill.com/article/20-powerhouse-women-directors-theatre-fans-and-industry-pros-alike-need-to-know In our Theatre classes this week: 6th Period: A deeper dive into Lighting equipment; quiz on Tuesday! 7th Period: Exploring Shakespeare's career; intro to Hamlet Monologue 8th Period: MCM! Make sure you take the casting quiz on Teams - open the assignment and follow the link! ********************************** 2/8/2021 We have a short week ahead and then a lovely five day break. Work smart for a couple of days, and then have a great break! This week we continue the celebration of Black History Month with a look at the phenomenal talents of Audra McDonald. "Born in 1970, Audra McDonald is arguably the most well-known black theater talent of the 20th and 21st centuries. She has received multiple Tony, Drama Desk, and Drama League awards, among others, for her roles in such shows as "Carousel," "Master Class," "Ragtime," "A Raisin in the Sun," "110 in the Shade," "Porgy and Bess," and "Lady Day at Emerson's Bar & Grill." Ms. McDonald is featured in this week's Monday Letter playing another legendary singer: Billie Holiday! Look them both up! For a deeper dive take a look at this article from the Virginia Tech Magazine Archives on the Most Influential Black Artists in Musical Theatre. Break is the perfect time to watch a show for your OPP's that are due BY March 17! Here is an article of FREE streaming choices! There are productions that cost money that are streaming, and one of them is SCHOOL GIRLS: OR, THE AFRICAN MEAN GIRLS PLAY. Check it out, it may be something that you and your family would be interested in. In our Theatre classes this week: 6th Period: Lighting Equipment 7th Period: Shakespeare! 8th Period: Secret Pal Valentine Party! Intro to Musical Comedy Murders of 1940! THESPYS: ALL THESPY RECORDINGS NEED TO BE SUBMITTED TO YOUR THESPY EVENT REGISTRATION AND SAVED (not in cart) BY SUNDAY FEBRUARY 7th. Please make sure that Elizabeth McMurray-Hauk is a PRIMARY Collaborator for EACH of your events. If you are having any problems with the registration or recording immediately email Mac. I am still accepting and responding to FLIPGRIDS for songs and monologue submissions, so send them in! Reminders: 1. Film in all black against as plain of a background as you can find. 2. Film using the best recording device you have - for many of you that is your camera on your phones on the back side. 3. Set the recording device so that the camera is even with your eyes. You can use a stack of books to do this. If you have a family member that can help, have them stand in your 'place' and get the camera angle just the way you want it. They could start and stop the video, but you can also do this and just edit out that part. Or ask help with that. 4. Practice your slate (examples are on the Teams Assignment) so you are completely comfortable. SMILE!! Remember the Thank You at the end of the performance, and smile again. Show your pride and gratitude for being able to share your work. 5. Be confidant. YOU are the reason that Thespys exist as much as any other student in our State and Country. 10's of thousands of students are doing just what you are doing this month - choosing to submit to Thespys! Just go for it! 6. Need help? Just ask! I am glad to help you! 7. Need a 'rehearsal partner' who will help you make sure you are on your lines? Ask a Drama friend, or ask me to recommend someone who I think would be delighted to help you. If someone does ask you for prompting help, remember that you are NOT directing them. Please don't tell other actors how to act. You hold script and feed lines when they call 'line'. Your ONLY job is to support by telling them they are doing great, and by doing the factual work of helping them to be line perfect. I have seen people deeply affected and hurt when another student tells them what to do or what they are doing 'wrong'. Don't be that person. Looking for the notes on the feedback loop? Go to the Archive tab, and Past Monday Letters! ******************************************* 1/31/3021 Black Lives Matter. The artwork featured this week was created last summer in Seattle as artists and activists took to the streets to do what they do so well: use art to engage the community. This week is Black Lives Matter in all the schools at LWSD, and the beginning of Black History Month. The superintendent of the Lake Washington School District said this in a recent letter to the community: 'I am the proud Superintendent of 31,000 students and today, I am delighted to celebrate our Black students and tell them they matter, that they are seen and heard, and we are committed to their success'. Throughout the month of February the Monday Letter will feature Black Theatre artists in recognition of the powerful contribution Black playwrights, directors, actors, designers, technicians, choreographers and producers have made to strengthen the human experience and world Theatre. We celebrate Black Theatre Artists' contributions, but we also need to recognize that their contributions are not matched by the opportunities to be a part of the theatre experience they have helped to create. We need to do more than just recognize, we need to be a part of the conversation, to move forward, to not be afraid to speak up, to question, to share and understand. That takes the willingness to join in the conversation, even if it is difficult. Here is a quote from Stephanie Ybarra, the head of Baltimore Center Stage, and an anti-racist leader in the Regional Theatre Community : "Learning and unlearning in public can be embarrassing and painful. This work requires thick skin,” says Ybarra, “and deep humility. When somebody comes and tells you ‘This is a problem,’ or ‘What you said is problematic,’ it is one of the hardest things to understand — but you can receive that as a gift, like, ‘Oh, somebody just turned on a light." Here is the link to the article from where the quote came from: Building Trust After Inclusivity Failed: Lessons for the Theater Here is another article with specific data you might be interested in: broadways-race-problem-is-unmasked-by-data-but-the-theater-industry-is-still-stuck-in-neutral/ In our Theatre classes this week: 6th Period: We will continue watching and discussing Lighting Design, Working in the Theatre 7th Period: Shakespeare's language, iambic pentameter as a tool for the actor 8th Period: Thespys/Secret Pal Q/A's, Secret Pal Name Drop, then time to work on your Thespys THESPYS: ALL Drama students are encouraged to submit to Thespys. This is our FINAL week to work on the submissions. ALL THESPY RECORDINGS NEED TO BE SUBMITTED TO YOUR THESPY EVENT REGISTRATION AND SAVED (not in cart) BY SUNDAY FEBRUARY 7th. Please make sure that Elizabeth McMurray-Hauk is a PRIMARY Collaborator for EACH of your events. If you are having any problems with the registration immediately email Mac. I am still accepting and responding to FLIPGRIDS for songs and monologue submissions, so send them in! Reminders: 1. Film in all black against as plain of a background as you can find. 2. Film using the best recording device you have - for many of you that is your camera on your phones on the back side. 3. Set the recording device so that the camera is even with your eyes. You can use a stack of books to do this. If you have a family member that can help, have them stand in your 'place' and get the camera angle just the way you want it. They could start and stop the video, but you can also do this and just edit out that part. Or ask help with that. 4. Practice your slate (examples are on the Teams Assignment) so you are completely comfortable. SMILE!! Remember the Thank You at the end of the performance, and smile again. Show your pride and gratitude for being able to share your work. 5. Be confidant. YOU are the reason that Thespys exist as much as any other student in our State and Country. 10's of thousands of students are doing just what you are doing this month - choosing to submit to Thespys! Just go for it! 6. Need help? Just ask! I am glad to help you! 7. Need a 'rehearsal partner' who will help you make sure you are on your lines? Ask a Drama friend, or ask me to recommend someone who I think would be delighted to help you. If someone does ask you for prompting help, remember that you are NOT directing them. Please don't tell other actors how to act. You hold script and feed lines when they call 'line'. Your ONLY job is to support by telling them they are doing great, and by doing the factual work of helping them to be line perfect. I have seen people deeply affected and hurt when another student tells them what to do or what they are doing 'wrong'. Don't be that person. Looking for the notes on the feedback loop? Go to the Archive tab, and Past Monday Letters! 1/25/2021 It was SO MUCH FUN seeing some of you Friday for material pick up. As one of my students said: 'you have legs!' I am so grateful that we KNOW each other now, and that remote is no longer a mystery to solve. I am looking forward to continuing our journey! ******************************************************************* 1/24/2021 I want to remind you that your teachers are better (and happier) when you engage with us. Reach out, talk in class, turn on your cameras, email, text - just stay in touch and keep it real. Each day choose one or two of your classes to turn your camera on as you come in to class. That will IMMEDIATELY brighten the day for everyone. It is pretty cool what smiling faces can do in this world! Take the short break between each of your classes to do a minute or two of something other than sitting! Run outside, grab some juice, do some jumping jacks. Get your metabolism up and moving so that your brain is sharper, you are more focused, and you are happier to come to class! Go OUT the door of the room you are doing remote in, spend at least a minute doing something, then come back in the door to your new class. Brain research tells us that passing through physical doors does a reset, creates a portal to a new level. You just feel better, and ready to go. Try it! The image this week reflects the power of imagination. It is our greatest tool, fueling every dynamic, artistic idea through the ages, from the lives of Shakespearean characters to the stylings of your favorite musician. If we can imagine it, we can do it, but the doing takes work, and determination, and self-love. Each day imagine the possibilities of YOU and your right to engage fully in the world, and then do the work to get you there, day by day, bursting with tiny explosions of thought and art and love! Time for 2nd semester and new units! -In 6th period we will be discovering the art and science of Theatre Lighting! -In 7th period we will be exploring Shakespeare! -In 8th period we will jumping into our Play Reading unit, and making sure we are all on track to upload to THESPYS In ALL classes your next OPP is due by March 17th! THESPYS: We are down to the final opportunities to be ready to upload to Thespys. What can I do to help you? Small Group Work: I can FILM your Thespys! I am available next week to work with you on your song or monologue or theoreticals. Please let me know if you want to be booked for a session on Wednesday or Thursday of next week. I am going to keep the groups small, will offer multiple sessions if needed. Book NOW to get a spot! What is FEEDBACK? What is your role in FEEDBACK? 1. Feedback is not criticism, or even constructive criticism. I know others have used those terms with you. Critique (criticism) is one-way communication of someone's opinion. Feedback is an assessment process that involves the performer in a two way conversation. This is called formative assessment, and is a powerful way for you to work with a teacher or coach to improve your skills. 2. When I give feedback I am looking at a specific skill set and where you are at this time in your vocal development in relationship to skills like breath control, character objective, pacing, etc. This is different from telling you what you are doing 'wrong' or what you need to do 'better'. Every performer, on every level, from beginning, to long time professional, is constantly working on breath control, a dynamic process because it involves so many parts of our bodies. I am giving you feedback on what I am seeing and hearing as you perform, whether you are at the beginning of understanding how to use your vocal tools, or somewhere in the middle of your journey with vocal production (you have been in a choir, have a voice coach, taken classes). Everyone will get feedback to be able to specifically and in practical ways be stronger performers. 10 years from now, working with a vocal coach or teacher, you will be working on the same skill sets! It is the nature of the work. 3. Performing with a speaking or singing voice is essentially the same, so the feedback for vocals, whether a monologue, solo song or duet, will always target the skills needed to control your vocals. 4. Creating a character is far more complex than just singing a song. Theatre is centered on character and narrative, specifically how your character fits into their world. So you can't just focus on what you sound like, you have to fully embody a character and the world of the play. The good news is that the more character you develop, the more you understand what you want and need, the better you will sound and the stronger your performance will be. Your body, the physical nature of the character, therefore, needs to be 100% engaged. Who are they? How do they stand, move, gesture within their world? What are their facial quirks and expressions? How does that affect their pacing, pitch, intonation? 5. Feedback is a partnership. I am using your Thespy submissions to be both your vocal teacher (improve vocal skills) and your vocal coach (work a specific song or monologue). I learn as much from your response to the feedback as I do from your performance. What do you understand, for example, when I give you tips on musicality (musical artistry)? How can I help you to put into practice the ideas I am sharing with you? What I am hoping is for you to tell me what you know and understand from the feedback, and to ask questions. Sometimes, especially when this process is new to them, students respond by saying they were nervous or weren't warmed up. Try to look past your worries about not doing it 'right' and instead work with me to build your emerging and deeply personal performance skills. 1/18/21 Congratulations, JHS Drama Students, for making it to the final week of the semester! I want you to take a moment and reflect on your successes and achievements over the past 5 months, on the new friends you have made, the new ideas you have explored, the challenges you have overcome. You are amazing, and your determination to keep growing and learning in the midst of all you have to had to endure is remarkable. We are better at what it takes to do school remotely, and as we move into 2nd semester it will be easier because of that. Meanwhile, I know that there is a lot going on to finish out first semester for all of us. 100% of your teachers want you to do well. If you need help from any teacher at Juanita be willing to reach out to them. They want to hear from you. That includes me, of course, at any time and for any reason. The final two showings of 9 REASONS are TODAY, Saturday, at 1 & 7pm. I hope you all had a chance to see the show! In classes this week!
Small Group Work: I am available next week to work with you on your song or monologue or theoreticals. Please let me know if you want to be booked for a session on Wednesday or Thursday of next week. I am going to keep the groups small, so I will offer multiple sessions if needed. Book NOW to get a spot! What is FEEDBACK? What is your role in FEEDBACK? 1. Feedback is not criticism, or even constructive criticism. I know others have used those terms with you. Critique (criticism) is one-way communication of someone's opinion. Feedback is an assessment process that involves the performer in a two way conversation. This is called formative assessment, and is a powerful way for you to work with a teacher or coach to improve your skills. 2. When I give feedback I am looking at a specific skill set and where you are at this time in your vocal development in relationship to skills like breath control, character objective, pacing, etc. This is different from telling you what you are doing 'wrong' or what you need to do 'better'. Every performer, on every level, from beginning, to long time professional, is constantly working on breath control, a dynamic process because it involves so many parts of our bodies. I am giving you feedback on what I am seeing and hearing as you perform, whether you are at the beginning of understanding how to use your vocal tools, or somewhere in the middle of your journey with vocal production (you have been in a choir, have a voice coach, taken classes). Everyone will get feedback to be able to specifically and in practical ways be stronger performers. 10 years from now, working with a vocal coach or teacher, you will be working on the same skill sets! It is the nature of the work. 3. Performing with a speaking or singing voice is essentially the same, so the feedback for vocals, whether a monologue, solo song or duet, will always target the skills needed to control your vocals. 4. Creating a character is far more complex than just singing a song. Theatre is centered on character and narrative, specifically how your character fits into their world. So you can't just focus on what you sound like, you have to fully embody a character and the world of the play. The good news is that the more character you develop, the more you understand what you want and need, the better you will sound and the stronger your performance will be. Your body, the physical nature of the character, therefore, needs to be 100% engaged. Who are they? How do they stand, move, gesture within their world? What are their facial quirks and expressions? How does that affect their pacing, pitch, intonation? 5. Feedback is a partnership. I am using your Thespy submissions to be both your vocal teacher (improve vocal skills) and your vocal coach (work a specific song or monologue). I learn as much from your response to the feedback as I do from your performance. What do you understand, for example, when I give you tips on musicality (musical artistry)? How can I help you to put into practice the ideas I am sharing with you? What I am hoping is for you to tell me what you know and understand from the feedback, and to ask questions. Sometimes, especially when this process is new to them, students respond by saying they were nervous or weren't warmed up. Try to look past your worries about not doing it 'right' and instead work with me to build your emerging and deeply personal performance skills. See you for another great week in Drama classes!12/5/2020 T'S SHOW WEEK!! This Friday, at 7pm and Saturday, at 7pm, Juanita Drama is presenting 9 REASONS! The LINK for both shows can be found on the Home Page and at the TOP of this Letter! The show is FREE, 35 minutes long, and fun! Can you help us out by spreading the word, downloading the poster image and sharing on your social media? Put it on your story, and eblast to everyone you know! Ask your families to help to reach even more people. It is crazy, but the link can be used by up to 10,000 devices!! Let's see how many people we can get to attend the show! This week we are smack in the middle of performance and technical units in all classes. Make sure you are all caught up with your assignments on Teams. 8th period, Production Workshop: Drama Leadership will be presenting Secret Santa at class on Tuesday, and letting you know how to get involved. Make sure you are at class by 2:30 so you don't miss out! There is NO Production Workshop, 8th period class, on Friday, since we will be getting ready for the Live Stream. Plan to attend 9 REASONS Friday and Saturday at 7pm! ********************* 11/21 Can you believe this is the final week of November? This past month flew past! We are into the holiday season now, with only three weeks to a two-week break! There are lots of fun things ahead! The featured pic reminds us of one of the basic ideas in life; we grow a little every day. It is especially important to remember this because it keeps us working, a little at a time, for big pay offs. I am proud of my students for the tenacity and creative risk taking in all classes, in all of our work together. Keep choosing to do things a bit out of your comfort level; that's when amazing growth happens! In Technical Theatre we will be exploring the scenic design needs for The Hound of the Baskervilles with a choice project coming up! Make sure you have turned in the current Teams assignment. In Drama 1&2 we will take a deep dive into how you prepare your monologues. Have your monologues printed so you can 'mark them up' in class! it is good to double space them on a page for easy notes. Have a yellow highlighter handy if you have one. Production Workshop: if you are not in 9 Reasons then you don't have class on Tuesday this week. Tuesdays' class will only be for the students involved in the 9 Reasons' production. Use the Tuesday time to make sure you have your Thespy pieces chosen, and all information correctly typed into the Thespy collaborative page. We will continue working on Thespy entries on Friday. I will also be sharing new deadlines because the Washington Thespian Board has changed the submission deadlines a bit. Please continue to email me with needs, requests, follow ups. If you have asked for help but haven't heard back by Sunday evening, 9pm, then email me. I will be offering drop in sessions on Monday, 2:30 - 2:50, and on Wednesday 1:30 - 2:30 for help with Thespy monologues, solo songs. These are optional drop in sessions. I am going to schedule some classes and optional work times just for the technical theoreticals next week. Our Fall play, 9 Reasons, is moving right along and will be all set with the production to open on Friday, December 11, at 7pm. This will be a Teams Live Event, and a link will be made available for all of you, your families and friends. Everyone in Drama: mark your calendars for Friday, December 11, at 7pm, and Saturday, December 12th at 7pm (with a possible matinee, and other showings to be announced!). If you have any questions about this let me know. ******************************* 11/21 Short week! As odd as our lives are these days we can always find things to be thankful for. What tops your list? I am grateful that I have kind, creative, and intellectually curious students to explore Theatre with. I am thankful for all the cheery hellos, the interest in the work and the smiles from the boxes stacked on the screen. And even though my family can't be together over Thanksgiving I am happy for the technology that is going to zoom us all together! I hope that this holiday is special for you and your family. Wish them all a Happy Thanksgiving from everyone at Juanita Drama! Our Fall play, 9 Reasons, has a big day coming up this Saturday as we do our first full recorded run! Everyone in Drama: mark you calendars for Friday, December 11, at 7pm, and Saturday, December 12th at 7pm (with a possible matinee, and other showings to be announced!). We will be sharing a link to get you to the showing, and asking for your help to publicize the show. Stay tuned! All classes have Teams assignments due this week so make sure you are on top of your assignment calendar. If you wrote me asking for help with monologues and song choices in 7th or 8th expect a reply by Sunday night. If you haven't written me, and need help then send an email letting me know what you need. **************************** 11/14 SHE KILLS MONSTERS opened the brand new Juanita Theatre one year ago this weekend! The show was a high octane flight of fancy set in the magical world of D&D, a brilliant tale of courage, love and family. One of the coolest things about our new Theatre space is the rigging, and we had a lot of fun designing and flying in the Gelatinous Cube, Orcus' Map, and the show stopping Beholder, with voice over by Isabel Grizzard. The featured pic this week is Diana Plenefisch and Cate Gray, as sisters Agnes and Tilly. To everyone involved in the show: Congratulations! We brought an amazing show to life, had a blast doing it, AND we did it while breaking in the (really complicated!) space and learning to use all the fun technology. If you want to see more pics of the show go the Archive tab! Every student in the Juanita Drama Classes has the incredible opportunity to present performances and design projects for Regionals (Thespys) this year. The virtual submission makes it easy, and I am here to help you every step of the way! More information about HOW to submit will come in the next week or so.
One change I already know is this: you do NOT have to pay an entry fee. We have received a grant from the Juanita Foundation, a non-profit group that supports schools in the Juanita Learning Community, that will be paying ALL Juanita Drama fees for Regionals (Thespys). I worked with Principal Clapp to make this happen, and am proud that the Juanita Drama program is being given this support! TECH THEATRE: I am really looking forward to your scenic sketches for The Hound of the Baskervilles. You are only required to respond to one set of questions and sketch one of the scenes for this week's assignment (see Teams), but you are more than welcome to submit two! If you have questions email me. Drama 1&2: You need to have 2 short monologues to drop into the Collaborative page by the beginning of class. You should have already put in your song selection. If you need help finding monologues/songs email me and I will send you suggestions. If you have found some that are too long, I can help with cuts that bring them to the time limit of 3 minutes for both monologues. This week we will work with the monologues you have chosen during class time. Production Workshop: make sure you have complete information on the Collaborative page. Double check that. I am running extra drop in classes on Monday, 2:30 - 3:00, and Wednesday, 1:30 - 2:30 for 8th period, for help on monologues, songs, and to answer any questions you might have about Regionals (Thespys). 9 Reasons, our virtual Fall Play, is so much fun! We can't wait to share it with everyone. The show dates are December 11 & 12, so mark your calendars. More information (and a POSTER!) to come. 9 Reasons Cast and PA's: we will be recording every day from now on, so you will need to be in costume. Please check your email for additional information. ************* Nov 9, 2020 Hello Drama! We have reached 2nd quarter! Congratulations! Time to level up. All students in Drama classes will be submitting performance and/or technical designs as class assignments, using the National Theatre Rubrics to guide us. These performance and/or tech design class assignments can ALSO be submitted to the Washington State Thespian Regional Individual Events, now called Thespys! All classes will receive training and information to complete this class assignment and to learn how to submit monologues, solo songs and technical designs for this year's virtual Thespys. This is an AMAZING opportunity to work at your highest level and receive feedback from Industry professionals. I will help you choose what you want to perform or what technical design you want to present, and I will help you as you prepare. You are required to choose at least one event for the class assignment, but you can do up to three events to submit to the Thespys! Here are the dates for Thespys:
Why submit to Thespys?
If you are in 8th Period Production Workshop, and you were not in class on Friday, go to the November Calendar on One Note to see the Calendar update. We will meet 8th period on Tuesdays and Fridays for check in and updates on Thespys, and I will be holding open meetings on Monday, 2:30-3:00, and Wednesday, 1:30 - 2:30 for anyone who wants more help. **************MARK YOUR CALENDARS! Juanita Drama's Virtual Fall Play, 9 REASONS, will be streamed on December 11th and 12th. Stay tuned for more information! Nov 2, 2020 Happy Dia De Los Muertos! I enjoyed putting last week's lesson together for Mexico's Day of the Dead, and enjoyed even more the discussions in 6th and 7th about the responsibility Theatre artists have to accurately and respectfully incorporate cultural traditions and ideas. Here are the thoughts of one of our tech students: "Theater should spark questions about our society, and from there help shape it. As such, for us as people to move in a positive direction, we need to make sure everyone . . . has their culture accurately represented." I am so proud of my students. You are kind, supportive and growing as Theatre artists. Each class has become a working ensemble with distinct voices, clearly choosing to lean into the lessons and explore the ideas we are discussing. I am amazed at all we have done in two months! This last round of performances and technical work shows your deepening understanding. It was very cool to see you bring what you have learned in class into your OPP's (so many to read!). I particularly liked the confidence you demonstrated bringing personal opinion and thematic connections into your reviews. Let's have a great week! We will be adding your 2nd quarter OPP Choices to the Collaborative Space, introducing Regional IE (Thespy) opportunities to ALL classes, and rehearsing Production Workshop's virtual Fall Production, 9 Reasons. If you are in 8th Period you will find our calendar for November in One Note/Fall Play section. I will post an announcement about the calendar in the general channel for our class in Teams. Whenever I post an announcement please show me that you have read the announcement by 'liking' it. Responding to Monday Letters, announcements and emails are a very important part of our collaborative communication. Communication = all of us in the know! *****October 26, 2020 The Photo on the Monday Letter is the current assignment in Tech Theatre class. We are examining Scenic Design as an Art Form, and each student has created a collage filled with color and texture connected to how a chosen quote makes them feel. Here is mine for Fall. I love living in the Northwest where dramatic scene changes are happening all around us! Take the time to go outside and breathe in Fall. Invite your family to go for a walk with you! Take your camera and capture the beauty, or bring your sketchbook and do some quick draws. Bring home a sprig of vibrant fall foliage and put it in a jar on your desk. Stay connected to the amazing world around you! This week is OPP week! Make sure you have uploaded your quarter project to Teams by 4pm on Wednesday. All the information you need is on Teams, but if you have ANY questions just send me an email. Follow the example I showed in class. Have fun writing these up! 6th: We will continue with our presentations of the ppt. slides. Make sure you go to Teams and follow the instructions for re-submitting your work in PNG form by 9am on Monday. I have a Halloween lesson for Friday! 7th: Your Flipgrids, 8 Emotions, are due by Monday, 9am. Get them done this weekend if you haven't already so that you are ready to enjoy a week of going deeper into our study of acting/reacting. We will also have a Halloween lesson for Friday! 8th: NO class on Tuesday. If you need help with your OPP let me know! We will be meeting on Friday for our Halloween Party. I am going to start class at 2:40 to give people time to get costumes on, have a bit of a break. See you then! Fall Play Company: We begin Rehearsals on Monday with our Fall Play. Everyone who is part of the company will be receiving an email from me this weekend. Look on your Teams to see if you have been added to the new channel. If you can read my message there then please follow the prompt. Looking forward to seeing everyone this coming week! October 19, 2020 Are you as glad as I am to make it back to a regular week's schedule? I am looking forward to all of our Synch classes this week, and to do the Fall Play Reveal to Production Workshop on Friday! The photo on this week's Monday Letter is Sutton Foster as Reno Sweeney in Anything Goes. I saw this production at the 5th Ave and I have had the great fun of directing this classic Musical Comedy. If you want to see two amazing Reno Sweeneys first check out the fabulous Patty Lupone in 1988 as she performs Anything Goes! Tap alert!! and THEN Sutton Foster at the 2011 Tony's performing Anything Goes. Again, TAP ALERT!! It is REALLY interesting to compare the changes in performance styles between the two pieces. This week in 6th Technical Theatre we will continue exploring the Scenic Design as an Art Form. Have you been working on your Quote collages? Make SURE you have viewed the Collage and OPP Assignment on Teams. This is part of your participation grade. This week in 7th Drama 1&2 we will be continue to work on the 8 Emotions assignment and exploring tips for virtual recordings. Make sure you have viewed the 8 Emotion and OPP Assignments in Teams. This is part of your participation grade. This week in Production Workshop is Audition Week for the Fall Play. Make sure you view Part One in Teams, AND the Flipgrid Assignment for Part Two. Do NOT submit either one until after our class on Tuesday. Full information and instructions are on the assignment pages. ALL members of 8th are required to turn in Part One. If you want to continue with the full Audition you will also do the Flipgrid Interview. We will be having a regular class on Tuesday and Friday this week. Tuesday I will be presenting Audition tips and answering questions. Friday I will be revealing the Show and the Company Roles and Positions. Looking forward to seeing everyone! ********************* For Monday, Oct 12, 2020 We have a four day school week with a whacko schedule so make sure you pay attention to when your classes are meeting on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday! The pic featured on this week's Monday Letter is from an exuberant and joyful moment in the musical Newsies! How are you doing with keeping up with your homework? The majority of students in my classes are getting 100% of the assignments in. Good job! I know it is harder keeping track of everything in remote learning land. How are you organizing your assignments and your time? My best advice is keeping a day planner. It is a big help when you have so many things to remember. My other bit of advice is to do one thing at a time, and then check it off! If you have a to-do list that becomes a to-done list it feels great! Need help with assignments you missed in our classes? Just ask me! I want you all to be successful and feel great about your Theatre classes. This week in Technical Theatre Class and Drama 1&2 we are starting new units! Make sure you have your notebooks, turn those cameras on, and be ready to explore new ideas! You should check to make sure ALL assignments are in. Look at your grades, and if something is missing or wrong let me know. There are a LOT of things for me to get right so your help is appreciated! Production Workshop - see your calendar below. This week we finish up the Under Fives! I expect ALL of you to be at your recording sessions on Tuesday, on time, rehearsed and ready to be amazing. Your group leaders will be sending out some reminders for you after our Monday meeting. Make sure you respond back to them to let them know you received the message! Want to earn an easy 5 points? Respond to the Monday Letter! Here is the calendar for 8th period:
For Monday, Oct 5, 2020 The pic on this week's Monday Letter features the amazing Duncan Arnold, as the out-of-luck Mage, being drawn into the Gelatinous Cube in last year's production of She Kills Monsters! Are you new to Drama this year and saw SKM? Share with me what you thought about the show! I want to give a huge shout out to all of my fabulous Drama students who are making this year work for me, and for everyone else in Drama. Your energy, willingness to TURN YOUR CAMERAS ON (yay!!), and clear interest in all things Theatre are a bright spot in my day. OPP's should be in full swing by now. The first quarter OPP is DUE on Wednesday, Oct 28. Go to TEAMS to see the full assignment. Have you watched your show? ALL classes, ALL students are required to read and respond to the Monday Letter. This is part of your weekly participation grade. Beginning this week if you do not respond to the Monday Letter you will see a loss of points for the week. Remember to respond to the week before, let me know what you understand is coming up for the new week, and share thoughts, ideas, family game nights, cooking experiments, etc. I love getting to know you better. Three paragraphs per Monday Letter response is the minimum, but you can write as much as you would like! Hey! Check your grades. Participation is the KEY to success in Theatre classes, especially with our Remote challenge. Participate by turning your cameras on, speaking up in class, and completing all digital assignments, including filling in the collaboration page docs for things like OPP choices and rehearsal responses. Completion of assignments is part of your Participation grade. SKYWARD is the official place where your final grades land, so look there for updates. Am I missing something? Let me know! Tech Theatre is exploring Stage directions and vocabulary as we begin our study of Hamilton. If you can watch Hamilton on Disney+ do that! As you learn more about what it takes to put a play together you will appreciate Hamilton even more. It is a master class in Theatre design and Production! Make sure you have taken all the quizzes! If you have a zero on SKYWARD that means I did not receive a quiz from you. Email me about this! Drama 1&2 have an assignment due on Flipgrid on Wednesday by 4pm. Review the assignment PowerPoint pages for 'The Other'. You will find them in the Content Library in One Note under FLIPGRID. If you missed turning in the first FLIPGRID I will still accept it. Let me know if you have questions about anything, but especially about getting the Flipgrid assignments in. In this class missing a Flipgrid is going to make it very difficult for me to get to know and help you with performance. Production Workshop began performances for the UNDER FIVES original scripts and productions we have all been working on for the past three weeks. The live performances were BRILLIANT and so much fun to see. I am looking forward to next Tuesday to see the rest of the performances. Please make SURE you follow the weekly calendar for Production Workshop listed below!! AND make sure you are doing the Rehearsal and Performance Responses on the Collaboration Pages. I have graded all entries as of this morning. If you have questions about this just ask! Monday 10/5: Group leaders 3:30 - 4:00 Monday 10/5: Drama Leadership: 4:00 - 4:30 (same call) Tuesday 10/6: Under Five Performance Day Two: 2:25 - 3:45 Thursday 10/8: Group Leaders 3:30 - 4:00 Thursday 10/8: Drama Leadership: 4:00 - 4:30 (same call) Friday 10/9: Under Five DeBrief and What's Next?: 2:25 - 3:25 *************** For Monday, Sept 28 Hello Drama! This week September slides into October, and for Juanita Drama that means the Halloween Month has begun! Want to plan a virtual Halloween Costume Party? If you do make sure you let me know on your Monday Letter response. I am a push-over for Halloween - we decorate at our house this weekend! The photo this week features Farrah, one of the bosses from She Kills Monsters, played by the fierce and delightful Celina Osorio. And yes, that is Steve, the mage, aka Duncan, knocked out on the floor from Farrah's potent wand. Fabulous scene, and a magical and memorable show! Want to do the ONE thing that will make all of your classes so much more fun and engaging? Turn you cameras on! In my classes where students are popping on their cameras the atmosphere is transformed. On Friday, 6th period Tech Theatre, and 8th period Production Workshop, filled my screen with smiling, interested faces that made the moments come to life! It was energizing and inspiring. Give your classmates and teachers a gift and turn those camera on! In 6th we have been studying In The Heights, which opened on Broadway at the Richard Roger's Theatre, February, 2007. Next week we will be looking more closely at the Richard Rodgers Theatre, that has for the past 95 years housed some of Broadways most famous plays and musicals. Don't forget to take the quiz currently posted on Teams! In 7th I am having a great time viewing the Flipgrids of Monologues from Pop Songs. It is SO MUCH FUN to see you up and moving! Congrats on getting your first performance video to me. I will be sharing a few of the monologues in class, and will be getting feedback to you over the next week or so. Next week we will be looking at what it takes to perform on Broadway! In 8th, Production Workshop, all 12 Under Five cast and director groups are in rehearsal, preparing for performances to begin this coming Friday! I have thoroughly enjoyed the excitement surrounding this project. It is wonderful to have training sessions with my student directors, and to hear and read feedback from the actors. REMINDER: Communication is THE KEY to building and running the Juanita Drama program. Each and everyone of you communicating is critical to making it work with such a large and dynamic program. When you get an email from me, please respond, and make sure you are responsible for any of the tasks you have been assigned. This includes completing the collaborative responses posted on One Note. I need 100% of you to complete the current Sept 25 Response right away. Enjoy what others have written! EVERYONE please review the OPP Assignment Page in Teams, and make sure your OPP Proposal is filled in and correct: Classroom Notebook, Collaborative Section, Quarter Project. I will be posting grades this week for your OPP PROPOSAL and for VIEWING THE ASSIGNMENT. Teams shows me when you view an assignment:). Here is the Production Workshop Calendar for the week:
For Monday, September, 21, 2020 Hello Drama! We are in the swing of things in all of the Drama Classes! ALL classes now have the OPP Assignment and Rubric posted in TEAMS. Take the time to carefully review the assignment, and read the Rubric. FINAL DUE DATE for your OPP Proposals. submitted to Mac via email, is this Monday, September 21. Once you have submitted your proposal go to the PROJECT PROPOSAL page in the Collaborative section of your Class Notebook, and fill in the information. Check your grades! Everything is updated. Missing something? Complete it and let me know in your Monday Letter response (which is due by Sunday, at 9pm). If you MISSED last week's letter on how to respond to the Monday Letter go to the top of this website, click on MORE. and open the Past Monday Letter page. You will find instructions on how to respond to the Monday Letter there. In Tech Theatre we are studying In The Heights, as we continue our deep dive into the collaborative process of producing a show. In Drama 1 & 2 we are working on Popular Songs as Monologues. Your Flipgrids are DUE on Wed, Sept 23, by 4pm. The assignment page, and link to Flipgrid, is in your Class Notebook, Content Library, under the Monologue Section. In Production Workshop we are in week two of Under Fives, with 12 groups, and 42 students writing under five minute plays, with abandoned places as common settings. Plays are due to be submitted to Mac in the Group Leader meeting on Monday during 0 period. We will then begin the week long rehearsal process to prepare for live performances on Teams. ALL Production Workshop students will meet on Tuesday, in 8th period, before breaking out to rehearsal groups. Group Leaders make sure you UPDATE the Meeting Details page in the Collaborative section of your Class Notebook with the next meeting posted. Today's featured photo is Alumni Cindy Cao, and Senior Elizabeth Shirakian, in Arabian Nights! Ask Elizabeth about her experiences in that show! To see more pics from past show go to Juanita Drama's Facebook page (while you are there put a like on the page!). We also have an instagram account at jhs_drama. Take some time to check that out! I am so grateful for ALL of JHS Drama. Keep working hard and having fun in Drama! ********************** For Monday, September 14, 2020 Hello Drama! This is the first Monday Letter that is a REQUIRED RESPONSE as part of your participation grade each week. See below for how to respond, and make sure you email a response by 9pm each Sunday. If this is your first time on the site, welcome! Explore the Archive Tab for past show pics, and read below this letter for past letters from this past summer! The photo featured on the Monday Letter this week brings back amazing memories of SKM and three of our awesome D&D characters played by Gabe, Jade and Eve ! Did you see the show? I am enjoying our work in Tech Theatre and Performance classes! You are all so amazing the way you are leaning into the remote world of Theatre Education, and supporting what we are doing in class. I am grateful for the smiling faces from the other side of my computer screen guiding me along. Thanks to all my helpers! We are going to continue exploring the role of the Stage Manager in 6th, and dive deeper into vocal work in 7th. If you are in Production Workshop you will find out on Tuesday the Under 5's groupings and settings for our first virtual rehearsals and performances! Those of you who volunteered to be student leaders please look for an email by Sunday night. OPP's: The OPP assignment will be posted by Sunday night . Make sure you thoroughly understand the OPP Quarter Project by reading through the OPP Handout in the Content Library, under the Quarter Project tab. Show this to your parents, and encourage them to watch a show with you. Siblings, too! When you respond to the Monday Letter today you can propose what Play or Musical you want to do your OPP on! All Drama students should now be signed up for TEENTIX. Go to HOW TO USE YOUR TEENTIX PASS for complete information on using your pass for VIRTUAL and REAL TIME events! If you haven't shown me your pass remember to do that as you say "HI MAC, It's Awesome Drama Kid (your name)" to me in classes next Monday and Tuesday! You can get the pass on your phone or print it out to show me by going to the TeenTix website. Now that you have read the Monday Letter you need to respond by emailing Mac at emcmurray-hauk@lwsd.org by 9pm each Sunday. Use your school email unless you are having problems with it. Here are the three required pieces to the Monday Letter Responses, with short examples (you can write as much as you want to me!): 1. (After saying hi to me!) Respond to the work we have been doing. Example: It was fun to do the vocal warm up exercises in class! I get it now that the diaphragm is where the power comes from! 2. What is due, and/or what are you working on or getting ready for the next week in Drama? Example: I have to bring a straw and a glass of water to class on Monday so we can practice Straw Vocalizing. I did it with my little sister and then my mom wanted to try! Also, I want to watch She Loves Me on the NPR site for my OPP. Is that ok? 3. Something fun and interesting about you, what you are up to, other classes - really anything you want to share with me! Example: I made lasagna for the first time for my family. It was delicious, and not that hard to make. I put a LOT of cheese in it, and my family really liked it. I think I want to try to actually make homemade noodles next time! I love reading the Monday Letter responses and getting to know each of you even better. Make sure you post by 9pm on SUNDAY NIGHT to give me time to read and adjust anything I need to be thinking about before classes start on Monday. Questions? Just ask!! Hugs, Mac @ emcmurray-hauk@lwsd.org ************************************************ 7/26/2020 Hello Drama (current AND Alumni!!) We know now that Juanita will be full remote for the start of the 20-21 school year. Many Alumni have heard that their long-awaited move to college campuses will have to be postponed. I know this is disappointing and challenging, and that you will have lots of questions about what this means going forward. There are things we don't know and can't control, but there are many things we can do as individuals to make this time a positive experience. Live in the daily. Find joy in what is right in front of you: family, getting outside, new ideas for creativity. Stay active and engaged in life. Your future is bright - just different than what you had imagined. Take advantage of this rare personal time to expand your interests, to take some deep dives into your creative self. You are going to be spending a lot of screen time when school returns. Start NOW to create a balance, daily rituals that have nothing to do with the screen. Make art daily. Dance. Be a kitchen scientist. Grow and nurture a plant (really, this is quite the fascinating thing to do!). Write actual letters and mail them to your friends. Learn to hula-hoop or do some fancy rope skipping. Choose a favorite musical and REALLY learn the lyrics, dance moves, monologues. Push yourself to grow and change. YOU are your best teacher and it is amazing what you will learn when you also become your best motivator! Create an idea journal filled with things that catch your eye, inspire you or lift your spirits. You can use a bound journal or just pieces of blank paper in a notebook. Start one today, and each day add a page: style steal a favorite artist or reproduce a work you love and comment on it (see above). Write a poem or short story, or some observations. Keep track of funny things you heard or saw. Record song lyrics, quotes and comment. Record kitchen adventures. Recall favorite memories. Draw your cat or make a cartoon of your family life. Sketch, cut and paste (with real scissors!). Number and date your entries. Over time you will have created a record of who you were during this time we are all being challenged to stay engaged with life. Some days you will pour yourself into a day long project; other days your page will have a quote and a comment. Your pages will reflect the ebb and flow of these days. The thing about creative rituals is that you start looking forward to them and they become a focal point in your day. Take the time NOW when school isn't demanding your time to develop creative rituals that you can sustain throughout the fall. Want to chat? Just send me a text or email. Take care, Mac emcmurray-hauk@lwsd.org |
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