but I already miss you guys! Yes, Charlie Brown, your director has definitely gone insane because after only a day an a half without you kiddos I already miss the weekly practices and late nights! I hope you are all enjoying your extra time in the afternoons and evenings, but I just wanted you to know that you have left an indelible mark on my heart and consciousness and that I think of you often every day. You were and are the most incredible group of kiddos I have ever worked with.
I love you guys with all my heart,
Mary Bess
Monday, November 16, 2009
Thursday, November 12, 2009
Move over JV, Varsity is in the House!!!
JV, if you are still reading...I love you guys so much and you were amazing! But if you haven't seen your Varsity big brothers and big sisters, then you are missing a major treat! I am so blessed to get to work with the coolest kiddos in the world! This kind of experience is exactly why I love living in this area, why I moved back home after 7 years of bigger and supposedly more entertaining cities. Wow...just, wow! (By the way, I just heard that my brother was there tonight, and he was seriously impressed with you guys! Thank you soooo much for showing off while he was there!)
Okay, so varsity, I know I've tried to tell you how much you have improved this week, how proud I am of you, and how well you are doing in each scene. But that was backstage, in the greenroom, a high five as you walk off...tonight, I wanna brag on you for all the world to see, because I want everyone to know exactly how fantastic you all are. First off, all of you--tonight you proved yourselves seasoned actors...when something didn't go as planned, you fixed it on the fly! The music stopped or changed, you kept right on singing; you changed your lyrics, you found them again; a line go dropped, you went right on ahead as if the play were written without it. And you ad libbed and acted like pros...don't think I didn't see you sorting through your valentines trying to find just the right one for the person next to you, or the excitement when you told your friend that "HE" just gave you a valentine! And I saw that nod when you agreed with your friend "yes I understand exactly what you're saying!" right before you say out loud just how lost you are. And I saw a real baseball game right on stage tonight! I saw catchers taunting the batters, a pitcher nodding that he'd gotten the signal, an imagined ball falling from a glove, and even a homerun hitter rounding all the bases! That is one of the most complicated songs (in terms of staging/blocking) and ya'll not only pulled it off, you hit it out of the park, if you will pardon the pun! And I also was told by a balcony audience member that all you're Happiness solos were heard! BRAVO!!! Most of you didn't even have microphones!
Lucy, I almost believed I saw tears during crabbiness...Schroeder, your maneuvering away from Lucy at all times was precious...Snoopy--when did you turn into an experienced dancer?...and speaking of dancing--how 'bout my Sally? Huh?? Are you kidding me? There is no way you learned that dance number for Philosophy in only 1 day--and you to Schroeder! Pigpen and Rerun--your quick changes into the Sheriff and Robin Hood always astound me! I forget you have that scene coming up, but there you are, in costume and ready to act out your parts! LRHG...your expression when Charlie Brown dedicates his next hit to you is priceless--could you hear the audience "awwww"-ing tonight? And who is the cutest Woodstock and Peter Rabbit ever! The way you jump when Snoopy threatens to pounce on you is a crowd pleaser and no one could have pulled off his frightened little bird friend better...and how bout your sister and you singing that duet line? Y'all are so adorable and you've really held your own with this Varsity cast...I'm so proud of how mature you have been backstage and how you have acted your hearts out right next to all the other older kiddos. And my comic genius...Linus--Schroeder tries to remind me everytime to watch the shadow when you get knocked out, but I almost always miss it--thank goodness we have a video--and everyone LOVES you're dance and you have so much fun with it that I always watch you with a big smile on my face. You amaze me. Frieda, you always want to know if you did it right--and I'm so glad that you want to keep improving, but I want you to know right now that you are a wonderful actress and that you are delivering your lines with as much creativity and naturalness as anyone on the stage. You go girl! And Violet...I wanted to squeal at the wishy washy line tonight--I could almost see how much it must have hurt Charlie Brown's feelings and it was the perfect set-up for the lunchtime scene and the perfect foil for the opening song. And you never stumble over one of the strangest last names ever conceived. Patti and Marcie, girls you are the perfect combo, like a one-two punch. I worried and stressed over the prodigy and dress lines so much, but you two make my words sound natural; Thank you so much for that. I think you are just a hilarious combination of comedy and friendly support. AG, you have come so far from the shy little girl I thought I saw at auditions...each time you perform you become more confident and more expressive--and I'm so proud of you for opening up and letting audience see you and hear your beautiful voice...way to go tonight. Kelsey you have been so much fun to watch and you have so many ideas about ways to do things...I love that you have really thought about this play and ways to make it better (in fact that goes for all of you who have told me you read the comics, watched the movies, or searched the internet to figure out how to play your characters). And Kelsey, your Amen line gets me every time...it's precious and innocent and so funny at the same time! Lucy, you have turned into an actress with wonderful timing and fabulous expression...keep up the good work. I know I'll be seeing you someday soon just stealing the show during one of the adult productions again. And you are one of my rocks backstage--you don't realize that I'm sure--but your steadiness gives me such a calm. Thank you.
And Charlie Brown, I promise I didn't forget you. I have been so impressed with your ability to act when the theatre is totally silent. You know I love you and think you are the perfect Charlie Brown, but truly, truly this production would have been sorely lacking without your wonderful voice, your innate ability to communicate with the audience without even speaking, your absolute lovability. I'm so glad you were in this production, and I'm so proud of you for putting up with all the notes, all the lines, all the songs. And Aunt Jan, thank you so much for learning the songs as well as you have in this short time. So many times we just completely lean on you and don't realize how hard it is for you to give us our notes as well as play the notes written in front of you. And Gene, this couldn't go on without you...I can't imagine having to handle all this AND what you do with tickets and sound and lights and everything else that I still don't know about. And Scarlett, girl thank you so much for being over there--for knowing that side's patterns and habits so well and staying with me through the entire run...it's such a relief to have the same team each night. And "Bug", "Kiddo," you know who you are. I literally could NOT have done this without you--thank you for being there every step of the way...I'll miss you tomorrow night. The dances, the examples, the extra body, the gophering, the microphone management! Girl, you found my mind when I lost it and you put it to good use (so proud of your score by the way! It's great having a genius sister!).
Anyway, a post that I meant to be a short congratulations has grown by leaps and bounds, so I will close with the final important message. Thank you cast for the flowers and bag. I love them both and it means so much to me that you like me enough to give them to me. I have had so much fun with you all and the Peanuts themed gift will always remind me of my precious moments with you. I would say that I wish I could keep you all past this show, but I'm afraid too many of your parents would take me up on the offer at the same time! No, seriously, I am going to miss you like crazy, and you may never know the niches you have each carved out in my heart for yourselves. I love each of you very much, and I could not be prouder of you were you my very own family. And that's pretty much what I feel we've become. When you're on stage singing or dancing your heart out, I just wish you could see your cast mates in the wings supporting you, having fun with you and going "Yes! They did it! Look how awesome they are! I gotta go out and do just as good!" I love watching you support each other almost as much as I love seeing you shine on stage, actually, it really is a toss-up--especially when you encourage each other just before the curtain opens...those moments I'll hold onto forever.
Anyway, it is late, and since I probably ought to sleep and be ready for my day job, I need to end this already too long post. I hope you are all asleep already and ready for a big day at school and a great weekend. I'll see you tomorrow!
All my love,
Mary Bess
Okay, so varsity, I know I've tried to tell you how much you have improved this week, how proud I am of you, and how well you are doing in each scene. But that was backstage, in the greenroom, a high five as you walk off...tonight, I wanna brag on you for all the world to see, because I want everyone to know exactly how fantastic you all are. First off, all of you--tonight you proved yourselves seasoned actors...when something didn't go as planned, you fixed it on the fly! The music stopped or changed, you kept right on singing; you changed your lyrics, you found them again; a line go dropped, you went right on ahead as if the play were written without it. And you ad libbed and acted like pros...don't think I didn't see you sorting through your valentines trying to find just the right one for the person next to you, or the excitement when you told your friend that "HE" just gave you a valentine! And I saw that nod when you agreed with your friend "yes I understand exactly what you're saying!" right before you say out loud just how lost you are. And I saw a real baseball game right on stage tonight! I saw catchers taunting the batters, a pitcher nodding that he'd gotten the signal, an imagined ball falling from a glove, and even a homerun hitter rounding all the bases! That is one of the most complicated songs (in terms of staging/blocking) and ya'll not only pulled it off, you hit it out of the park, if you will pardon the pun! And I also was told by a balcony audience member that all you're Happiness solos were heard! BRAVO!!! Most of you didn't even have microphones!
Lucy, I almost believed I saw tears during crabbiness...Schroeder, your maneuvering away from Lucy at all times was precious...Snoopy--when did you turn into an experienced dancer?...and speaking of dancing--how 'bout my Sally? Huh?? Are you kidding me? There is no way you learned that dance number for Philosophy in only 1 day--and you to Schroeder! Pigpen and Rerun--your quick changes into the Sheriff and Robin Hood always astound me! I forget you have that scene coming up, but there you are, in costume and ready to act out your parts! LRHG...your expression when Charlie Brown dedicates his next hit to you is priceless--could you hear the audience "awwww"-ing tonight? And who is the cutest Woodstock and Peter Rabbit ever! The way you jump when Snoopy threatens to pounce on you is a crowd pleaser and no one could have pulled off his frightened little bird friend better...and how bout your sister and you singing that duet line? Y'all are so adorable and you've really held your own with this Varsity cast...I'm so proud of how mature you have been backstage and how you have acted your hearts out right next to all the other older kiddos. And my comic genius...Linus--Schroeder tries to remind me everytime to watch the shadow when you get knocked out, but I almost always miss it--thank goodness we have a video--and everyone LOVES you're dance and you have so much fun with it that I always watch you with a big smile on my face. You amaze me. Frieda, you always want to know if you did it right--and I'm so glad that you want to keep improving, but I want you to know right now that you are a wonderful actress and that you are delivering your lines with as much creativity and naturalness as anyone on the stage. You go girl! And Violet...I wanted to squeal at the wishy washy line tonight--I could almost see how much it must have hurt Charlie Brown's feelings and it was the perfect set-up for the lunchtime scene and the perfect foil for the opening song. And you never stumble over one of the strangest last names ever conceived. Patti and Marcie, girls you are the perfect combo, like a one-two punch. I worried and stressed over the prodigy and dress lines so much, but you two make my words sound natural; Thank you so much for that. I think you are just a hilarious combination of comedy and friendly support. AG, you have come so far from the shy little girl I thought I saw at auditions...each time you perform you become more confident and more expressive--and I'm so proud of you for opening up and letting audience see you and hear your beautiful voice...way to go tonight. Kelsey you have been so much fun to watch and you have so many ideas about ways to do things...I love that you have really thought about this play and ways to make it better (in fact that goes for all of you who have told me you read the comics, watched the movies, or searched the internet to figure out how to play your characters). And Kelsey, your Amen line gets me every time...it's precious and innocent and so funny at the same time! Lucy, you have turned into an actress with wonderful timing and fabulous expression...keep up the good work. I know I'll be seeing you someday soon just stealing the show during one of the adult productions again. And you are one of my rocks backstage--you don't realize that I'm sure--but your steadiness gives me such a calm. Thank you.
And Charlie Brown, I promise I didn't forget you. I have been so impressed with your ability to act when the theatre is totally silent. You know I love you and think you are the perfect Charlie Brown, but truly, truly this production would have been sorely lacking without your wonderful voice, your innate ability to communicate with the audience without even speaking, your absolute lovability. I'm so glad you were in this production, and I'm so proud of you for putting up with all the notes, all the lines, all the songs. And Aunt Jan, thank you so much for learning the songs as well as you have in this short time. So many times we just completely lean on you and don't realize how hard it is for you to give us our notes as well as play the notes written in front of you. And Gene, this couldn't go on without you...I can't imagine having to handle all this AND what you do with tickets and sound and lights and everything else that I still don't know about. And Scarlett, girl thank you so much for being over there--for knowing that side's patterns and habits so well and staying with me through the entire run...it's such a relief to have the same team each night. And "Bug", "Kiddo," you know who you are. I literally could NOT have done this without you--thank you for being there every step of the way...I'll miss you tomorrow night. The dances, the examples, the extra body, the gophering, the microphone management! Girl, you found my mind when I lost it and you put it to good use (so proud of your score by the way! It's great having a genius sister!).
Anyway, a post that I meant to be a short congratulations has grown by leaps and bounds, so I will close with the final important message. Thank you cast for the flowers and bag. I love them both and it means so much to me that you like me enough to give them to me. I have had so much fun with you all and the Peanuts themed gift will always remind me of my precious moments with you. I would say that I wish I could keep you all past this show, but I'm afraid too many of your parents would take me up on the offer at the same time! No, seriously, I am going to miss you like crazy, and you may never know the niches you have each carved out in my heart for yourselves. I love each of you very much, and I could not be prouder of you were you my very own family. And that's pretty much what I feel we've become. When you're on stage singing or dancing your heart out, I just wish you could see your cast mates in the wings supporting you, having fun with you and going "Yes! They did it! Look how awesome they are! I gotta go out and do just as good!" I love watching you support each other almost as much as I love seeing you shine on stage, actually, it really is a toss-up--especially when you encourage each other just before the curtain opens...those moments I'll hold onto forever.
Anyway, it is late, and since I probably ought to sleep and be ready for my day job, I need to end this already too long post. I hope you are all asleep already and ready for a big day at school and a great weekend. I'll see you tomorrow!
All my love,
Mary Bess
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
Payton is absolutely right!
It was time for the Varsity to take the stage and boy did they ever! Varsity--you guys are amazing! Today you acted like seasoned veterans! AND THAT coming off of a three day sprint of rehearsals! Who knows what you'll do after an afternoon and evening OFF!
Actually, I think you are going to pull some things out tomorrow that are going to be even funnier, even sweeter, even more fun to watch than ever before. In fact I know you are going to because each time you have been onstage so far, you've learned valuable lessons and you've applied what you learned the next time through. That's the beauty to theatre right?! See we don't have to settle for the last take like film or other actors, because we get to perform it all again! That means that nuances in your body language or your vocal inflection may change each time, bringing out a richer, more meaningful performance.
In fact, you may not know this, but that's exactly how the professionals do it and become so good (AND that's part of why we love theatre so much--because each performance can be a little different!). See, when a new show is created for Broadway, it is "workshopped" at a different venue for a while. They perform the best version they have for lots of audiences off-Broadway and use the feedback from those audiences to make the show even better for when they finally perform on that ultimate stage. This week during the school performances, that's exactly what we are doing. We're doing our best, and then modifying, tweaking, and enhancing each future scene through our discussions off-stage.
When I originally began planning our rehearsals, I actually had this very tool in mind. See, my hope had been that people who observed our rehearsals would give us ideas about what worked and what didn't--like the Crabbiness walk-ins, or the Baseball "strike 3!" In fact, I invited five special people to come specially to observe and help, but only one of them came. See I had hoped that at some point during our rehearsals you would get to meet the five other people who had made up my original 6 person Charlie Brown family. Each of them has gone on to do some pretty amazing things in theatre and acting, music, dancing, or public speaking. My hope is that they would inspire you to continue being involved and growing as young thespians and that their unique insight into playing these characters coupled with their years of experience would offer us some really awesome additions to our production's blocking, expressions, or just our general energy on stage.
So I'm very pleased to introduce you to my "Patti" (whose lines resembled Sally's most of the time in our version), Ms. Emily Smith. She went on to play the role of Ursula in Bye Bye Birdie at the Princess as well as many other roles in productions at home and in college too numerous for me to mention properly. She also won awards for her dramatic interpretation monologues at public speaking conferences across the country. Emily was a member of our audience during our afternoon performance yesterday. She was very impressed by ya'll, but I think she has some very neat ideas for us that we might like to consider giving a try tomorrow.
To that end, she will be backstage with us tomorrow morning and possibly even tomorrow afternoon. I hope that you will treat her with respect and openness as she kindly shares her ideas with us. Like I said earlier, the beauty of theatre is that we can make each performance better than before, and the challenge of keeping our performances fresh is part of the fun, right? And don't worry, I'm not talking about big, huge changes...so don't panic...we're talking about simple things, just like Mr. Gene talked to us about this afternoon, just small nuances that will make our performances more real, more comic, more poignant, which I know we all especially want to happen before Thursday night when all our parents and family and friends come.
I can't wait to see you in the morning! You are all so amazing that I couldn't stop talking about you all afternoon and evening, and now I can hardly contain myself til I see you again--what WILL I do when this is all over Saturday? I know I'll miss you all like crazy...I guess I'll have to do this again next year, huh?
Sleep Sweet,
Mary Bess
Actually, I think you are going to pull some things out tomorrow that are going to be even funnier, even sweeter, even more fun to watch than ever before. In fact I know you are going to because each time you have been onstage so far, you've learned valuable lessons and you've applied what you learned the next time through. That's the beauty to theatre right?! See we don't have to settle for the last take like film or other actors, because we get to perform it all again! That means that nuances in your body language or your vocal inflection may change each time, bringing out a richer, more meaningful performance.
In fact, you may not know this, but that's exactly how the professionals do it and become so good (AND that's part of why we love theatre so much--because each performance can be a little different!). See, when a new show is created for Broadway, it is "workshopped" at a different venue for a while. They perform the best version they have for lots of audiences off-Broadway and use the feedback from those audiences to make the show even better for when they finally perform on that ultimate stage. This week during the school performances, that's exactly what we are doing. We're doing our best, and then modifying, tweaking, and enhancing each future scene through our discussions off-stage.
When I originally began planning our rehearsals, I actually had this very tool in mind. See, my hope had been that people who observed our rehearsals would give us ideas about what worked and what didn't--like the Crabbiness walk-ins, or the Baseball "strike 3!" In fact, I invited five special people to come specially to observe and help, but only one of them came. See I had hoped that at some point during our rehearsals you would get to meet the five other people who had made up my original 6 person Charlie Brown family. Each of them has gone on to do some pretty amazing things in theatre and acting, music, dancing, or public speaking. My hope is that they would inspire you to continue being involved and growing as young thespians and that their unique insight into playing these characters coupled with their years of experience would offer us some really awesome additions to our production's blocking, expressions, or just our general energy on stage.
So I'm very pleased to introduce you to my "Patti" (whose lines resembled Sally's most of the time in our version), Ms. Emily Smith. She went on to play the role of Ursula in Bye Bye Birdie at the Princess as well as many other roles in productions at home and in college too numerous for me to mention properly. She also won awards for her dramatic interpretation monologues at public speaking conferences across the country. Emily was a member of our audience during our afternoon performance yesterday. She was very impressed by ya'll, but I think she has some very neat ideas for us that we might like to consider giving a try tomorrow.
To that end, she will be backstage with us tomorrow morning and possibly even tomorrow afternoon. I hope that you will treat her with respect and openness as she kindly shares her ideas with us. Like I said earlier, the beauty of theatre is that we can make each performance better than before, and the challenge of keeping our performances fresh is part of the fun, right? And don't worry, I'm not talking about big, huge changes...so don't panic...we're talking about simple things, just like Mr. Gene talked to us about this afternoon, just small nuances that will make our performances more real, more comic, more poignant, which I know we all especially want to happen before Thursday night when all our parents and family and friends come.
I can't wait to see you in the morning! You are all so amazing that I couldn't stop talking about you all afternoon and evening, and now I can hardly contain myself til I see you again--what WILL I do when this is all over Saturday? I know I'll miss you all like crazy...I guess I'll have to do this again next year, huh?
Sleep Sweet,
Mary Bess
Thursday, November 5, 2009
Who are the cutest most talented kids in Winnsboro?
My JV Cast, THAT'S WHO!
You guys blew me away tonight! Varsity, if you're reading, these guys are giving you a run for your money. Y'all put on a REAL SHOW tonight! Personally, I expect tomorrow night to be a sell out once word gets out about how you guys rocked that stage like Broadway veterans!
I'm too excited for words tonight. You just, well, you just have left me speechless. I do have a few more that must be said, though.
Thank you. Thank you for learning your lines, your notes, your cues. Thank you for facing the audience, for being expressive, for speaking loudly and clearly. Thank you for smiling and dancing and having fun.
And thank you for the flowers, the T-shirt (which I will be proudly wearing to work tomorrow as well as the performance!), and the precious pictures. But mostly, thank you for sharing yourselves with me. You are each so dear to me, and I am so proud of what you have accomplished this fall. Thank you, moms and dads, for letting me borrow your sweet kiddos for a season. They have blessed me so, and I will never forget how precious the moments we have shared together have been. Thank you for letting me get to know them and love them and be a part of their lives. I am honored to have been able to be a part of this phenomenal production.
What an experience, WHAT A RUSH!!! Let's sleep sweet and do it again tomorrow!
With sincerest affection and a heart about to burst from pride for you kiddos,
Mary Bess
You guys blew me away tonight! Varsity, if you're reading, these guys are giving you a run for your money. Y'all put on a REAL SHOW tonight! Personally, I expect tomorrow night to be a sell out once word gets out about how you guys rocked that stage like Broadway veterans!
I'm too excited for words tonight. You just, well, you just have left me speechless. I do have a few more that must be said, though.
Thank you. Thank you for learning your lines, your notes, your cues. Thank you for facing the audience, for being expressive, for speaking loudly and clearly. Thank you for smiling and dancing and having fun.
And thank you for the flowers, the T-shirt (which I will be proudly wearing to work tomorrow as well as the performance!), and the precious pictures. But mostly, thank you for sharing yourselves with me. You are each so dear to me, and I am so proud of what you have accomplished this fall. Thank you, moms and dads, for letting me borrow your sweet kiddos for a season. They have blessed me so, and I will never forget how precious the moments we have shared together have been. Thank you for letting me get to know them and love them and be a part of their lives. I am honored to have been able to be a part of this phenomenal production.
What an experience, WHAT A RUSH!!! Let's sleep sweet and do it again tomorrow!
With sincerest affection and a heart about to burst from pride for you kiddos,
Mary Bess
Monday, November 2, 2009
SHOES!!!!!!!!!!!
This is mostly a reminder to JV moms, but Varsity moms and kiddos should perk their ears up too. PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE wear shoes that do not make much noise. If you are unsure about whether your shoes are loud, wear them on a tile or wooden floor. There are some shoes that I heard tonight that I don't want to see again this week, but I forgot to mention it before everyone left. I will probably mention this again tomorrow night.
There are so many moments when we have to exit the stage quietly or sneak across backstage to the other side quickly, and we can't have clanky, flappy shoes. Peppermint Pattie is allowed flip-flops, it's part of her character and costume description, but I don't think there is anyone else that should be wearing sandals (especially since they are more likely to make noise.)
P.S. If someone else is supposed to have sandals and I forgot you I'm sorry--you are an exception too.
There are so many moments when we have to exit the stage quietly or sneak across backstage to the other side quickly, and we can't have clanky, flappy shoes. Peppermint Pattie is allowed flip-flops, it's part of her character and costume description, but I don't think there is anyone else that should be wearing sandals (especially since they are more likely to make noise.)
P.S. If someone else is supposed to have sandals and I forgot you I'm sorry--you are an exception too.
Thursday, October 29, 2009
Thank you Thank You THANK YOU Volunteers!
Y'all are amazing! Just a week after I asked, everything I needed was seen to! I've got plenty of valentines, all my major set pieces and decor, and all the individual props that I can't think of off the top of my head right now. Each cast member will still need a notebook, a pencil (the bigger the better) and either a lunch box/bag or a backpack, a baseball glove and maybe a baseball cap (any color at this point).
Thank you so much for all your help! Without your time and support and scavenger hunting this would not have been possible!
Thank you so much for all your help! Without your time and support and scavenger hunting this would not have been possible!
JV...just 1 week to go!
First I want to thank my volunteer moms! Y'all have been great and I think we've found almost all our props and set pieces.
Practice for JV will be next Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday, beginning at 5:00 and lasting until approximately 7:00, though we may need to go a little late some nights. Please be understanding as we play this by ear. I will be needing as many of my backstage volunteers to help during these nights so that we'll all be very practiced on Thursday and hopefully running like a well-oiled machine. The backdrops will be up, Mr. Gene will be doing the lights, and we should have wireless microphones during the six's solos. Backstage moms, I will be e-mailing you some very detailed instructions so you will have what you need to direct the kiddos with confidence.
Wednesday will be our dress rehearsal, and if you still have questions about costume ideas, please email me at marybessbug@gmail.com. I can send you Jenna's phone number so that you can coordinate with her. Costumes should be simply patterned or solid colored shirts or sundresses and shorts. These should be nice playclothes. If you have a baseball cap, everyone can wear one during the Baseball game song (every member of the cast has an important part in this fun song).
Performance nights, we should all be at the theatre by 5:30. I know an hour before performance seems like alot, but we will all be grateful for the extra time when it comes. If you think that it will be boring backstage, you may want to pack a survival kit for you kiddo--coloring book, gameboy, etc. This may also be a good idea for rehearsals next week. We will be going straight through the play from start to finish, and so there will probably be several seemingly long periods of time between lines and group numbers.
I think that's all I can think of for now. If anyone reminds me of something else, I'll try to post it or mention it at the next rehearsal. I'll leave you with this bit from our sweetest, but hardest to remember song...
...and happiness is walking hand in hand.
Happiness is two kinds of ice cream,
Knowing a secret, climbing a tree.
Happiness is five different crayons,
Catching a firefly, setting him free.
(CBrown) Happiness is being alone every now and then
(All) And happiness is coming home again.
Happiness is singing together when day is through
and happiness is those who sing with you.
Happiness is morning and evening, daytime and nighttime too....
Practice for JV will be next Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday, beginning at 5:00 and lasting until approximately 7:00, though we may need to go a little late some nights. Please be understanding as we play this by ear. I will be needing as many of my backstage volunteers to help during these nights so that we'll all be very practiced on Thursday and hopefully running like a well-oiled machine. The backdrops will be up, Mr. Gene will be doing the lights, and we should have wireless microphones during the six's solos. Backstage moms, I will be e-mailing you some very detailed instructions so you will have what you need to direct the kiddos with confidence.
Wednesday will be our dress rehearsal, and if you still have questions about costume ideas, please email me at marybessbug@gmail.com. I can send you Jenna's phone number so that you can coordinate with her. Costumes should be simply patterned or solid colored shirts or sundresses and shorts. These should be nice playclothes. If you have a baseball cap, everyone can wear one during the Baseball game song (every member of the cast has an important part in this fun song).
Performance nights, we should all be at the theatre by 5:30. I know an hour before performance seems like alot, but we will all be grateful for the extra time when it comes. If you think that it will be boring backstage, you may want to pack a survival kit for you kiddo--coloring book, gameboy, etc. This may also be a good idea for rehearsals next week. We will be going straight through the play from start to finish, and so there will probably be several seemingly long periods of time between lines and group numbers.
I think that's all I can think of for now. If anyone reminds me of something else, I'll try to post it or mention it at the next rehearsal. I'll leave you with this bit from our sweetest, but hardest to remember song...
...and happiness is walking hand in hand.
Happiness is two kinds of ice cream,
Knowing a secret, climbing a tree.
Happiness is five different crayons,
Catching a firefly, setting him free.
(CBrown) Happiness is being alone every now and then
(All) And happiness is coming home again.
Happiness is singing together when day is through
and happiness is those who sing with you.
Happiness is morning and evening, daytime and nighttime too....
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
Calling all Moms!
I need some help in this final two and a half to three weeks before the performances. First I need to have four moms or aunts or adult to volunteer to help backstage during each JV performance. Corralling and coordinating their entrances will probably require that much help. I've been making lists to help you know what's going on and when you need to send them out, so it's okay if you don't know the play right now--by Thursday the 5th, you will. If four will sign up for Thursday, and four others for Friday, then everyone should still be able to see the performance.
Likewise, I need some volunteers for the Varsity performances. We need some of you who would be willing to be backstage during the school performances, even if it's just one morning or afternoon, and some of you who would be willing to be backstage for the evenings. In this instance, I don't believe 4 for each is necessary; 2-3 should be sufficient.
Backstage isn't everybody's gift, and I understand, but I also need some help tracking down and collecting certain props. I need at least 20-30 paper "Valentines" (die cut pink and red hearts and squares/rectangles will be enough, just so that there is a clear picture that EVERYONE is exchanging them except with Charlie Brown). I also need a red beanbag, a plastic baseball bat and ball, and a couple of "homework papers" marked with big red, visible through the back of the page D's. Also, most of the kiddos will need a baseball glove, and all the Varsity performers should have a notebook (Composition or spiral) and pencil (the bigger the better). That about does it for the biggest Props I don't have a handle on at the moment.
Finally, I need someone to volunteer to type up and format a program for the JV and a program for the Varsity. I'll also need each of you to fill out a Program Information form about your performer (these are available at the Princess). It should just have some simple biographical info about the performers--anything that you might would want to see in the program.
Finally, if any of you want to help while practice is going on this week (except for Thursday) the backdrops will be in the Princess Room waiting for paint (it's basically a color in the lines, paint-by-number sort of thing). Mrs. Marion Ochs drew them for us and is choosing which colors go where and touching things up after all the base colors are done, and Mrs. Kay Stephens or I will be able to help direct you if you're unsure of what to do.
I think that's everything for this morning. Have a wonderful week and just keep going over those songs and lines. Thanks for all your help.
Mary Bess
Likewise, I need some volunteers for the Varsity performances. We need some of you who would be willing to be backstage during the school performances, even if it's just one morning or afternoon, and some of you who would be willing to be backstage for the evenings. In this instance, I don't believe 4 for each is necessary; 2-3 should be sufficient.
Backstage isn't everybody's gift, and I understand, but I also need some help tracking down and collecting certain props. I need at least 20-30 paper "Valentines" (die cut pink and red hearts and squares/rectangles will be enough, just so that there is a clear picture that EVERYONE is exchanging them except with Charlie Brown). I also need a red beanbag, a plastic baseball bat and ball, and a couple of "homework papers" marked with big red, visible through the back of the page D's. Also, most of the kiddos will need a baseball glove, and all the Varsity performers should have a notebook (Composition or spiral) and pencil (the bigger the better). That about does it for the biggest Props I don't have a handle on at the moment.
Finally, I need someone to volunteer to type up and format a program for the JV and a program for the Varsity. I'll also need each of you to fill out a Program Information form about your performer (these are available at the Princess). It should just have some simple biographical info about the performers--anything that you might would want to see in the program.
Finally, if any of you want to help while practice is going on this week (except for Thursday) the backdrops will be in the Princess Room waiting for paint (it's basically a color in the lines, paint-by-number sort of thing). Mrs. Marion Ochs drew them for us and is choosing which colors go where and touching things up after all the base colors are done, and Mrs. Kay Stephens or I will be able to help direct you if you're unsure of what to do.
I think that's everything for this morning. Have a wonderful week and just keep going over those songs and lines. Thanks for all your help.
Mary Bess
Friday, October 16, 2009
An Update FINALLY!
Hello everyone. I apologize for not updating this site very often lately. My ability to freely access the net after practice has been a bit stunted between both groups' practices and preparing for the next day's.
First off...Gene and I have finalized the performance dates and times. JV will perform November 5th and 6th (that's Thursday and Friday) at 6:30 pm each night. Varsity will perform for the schools (the exact times cannot yet be determined) on November 10th & 12th (Tuesday and Wednesday) as well as at 6:30 on the 12th, 13th, and 14th (that's Thursday, Friday, and Saturday). This means that the Varsity will perform the play between 7 and 9 times by the end of the week.
Also VARSITY...last night ya'll amazed me. Ya'll had alot of work to get done while we had someone to play your songs and you did some amazing things. I know some of you probably would have preferred to run your lines, but we will do more of that when no one is available to help us work through the music. We discussed several dates and I'm putting them here so that we all have them down. I realize that not each and every one of you can be at each and every minute of these practices, but I need you to be there as much as you can. We will run through the play with whomever we have but most of you know by now how awkward it can be when someone is missing, so make every effort to come for however much time you can.
And those dates are: Sunday, Oct. 25 at 1:30-4:30 (approx.)
Saturday, Oct. 31 at 10:00
Saturday, Nov. 7 at 10:00
Monday, November 9 at 5:00
If on Saturday things still aren't looking quite ready, we may need to meet on Sunday the 8th as well for a couple hours. Also I may call a few individual characters to come in for a short time on Mondays.
JV! It's your turn. Several of you are coming in tonight at 5:00 to run through scenes. I will also be seeing you every Thursday from here on out--that's the 22nd and the 29th at 5:30. I also expect to need to see you on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday, the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th, from 5:30 til 7:00. These will be our final run-through's to prepare for the performances.
As much as you can, I need everyone to be off book by the 26th. I know that each of you are capable of learning your lines, and I realize just how big a job that is for several of you. However, if you need extra help, I will be at the Princess this Saturday all day, as well as every Wednesday and several other Fridays and Saturdays. Another help might be hanging out with one of your fellow cast members and running through your lines with them on an afternoon you have free. Some mom's have even offered to host such a casual practice.
Finally, the roles of costume managers have been accepted by Mrs. Jane Ellerbe for the Varsity and Mrs. Jenna Wright for the JV. I'm not listing their phone numbers here for their privacy's sake, but if you leave a comment I will email their contact information to you. The basic idea of all the costumes is to be bright colors, clean, simple playclothes, and for the named characters, to be recognizable.
I think that's all the information I have at this moment, but I will try to be more consistent in posting in the coming days and weeks. Thank you for all your help in giving your kids this experience. I hope that in the end it will have been a good one overall for them.
Mary Bess
First off...Gene and I have finalized the performance dates and times. JV will perform November 5th and 6th (that's Thursday and Friday) at 6:30 pm each night. Varsity will perform for the schools (the exact times cannot yet be determined) on November 10th & 12th (Tuesday and Wednesday) as well as at 6:30 on the 12th, 13th, and 14th (that's Thursday, Friday, and Saturday). This means that the Varsity will perform the play between 7 and 9 times by the end of the week.
Also VARSITY...last night ya'll amazed me. Ya'll had alot of work to get done while we had someone to play your songs and you did some amazing things. I know some of you probably would have preferred to run your lines, but we will do more of that when no one is available to help us work through the music. We discussed several dates and I'm putting them here so that we all have them down. I realize that not each and every one of you can be at each and every minute of these practices, but I need you to be there as much as you can. We will run through the play with whomever we have but most of you know by now how awkward it can be when someone is missing, so make every effort to come for however much time you can.
And those dates are: Sunday, Oct. 25 at 1:30-4:30 (approx.)
Saturday, Oct. 31 at 10:00
Saturday, Nov. 7 at 10:00
Monday, November 9 at 5:00
If on Saturday things still aren't looking quite ready, we may need to meet on Sunday the 8th as well for a couple hours. Also I may call a few individual characters to come in for a short time on Mondays.
JV! It's your turn. Several of you are coming in tonight at 5:00 to run through scenes. I will also be seeing you every Thursday from here on out--that's the 22nd and the 29th at 5:30. I also expect to need to see you on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday, the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th, from 5:30 til 7:00. These will be our final run-through's to prepare for the performances.
As much as you can, I need everyone to be off book by the 26th. I know that each of you are capable of learning your lines, and I realize just how big a job that is for several of you. However, if you need extra help, I will be at the Princess this Saturday all day, as well as every Wednesday and several other Fridays and Saturdays. Another help might be hanging out with one of your fellow cast members and running through your lines with them on an afternoon you have free. Some mom's have even offered to host such a casual practice.
Finally, the roles of costume managers have been accepted by Mrs. Jane Ellerbe for the Varsity and Mrs. Jenna Wright for the JV. I'm not listing their phone numbers here for their privacy's sake, but if you leave a comment I will email their contact information to you. The basic idea of all the costumes is to be bright colors, clean, simple playclothes, and for the named characters, to be recognizable.
I think that's all the information I have at this moment, but I will try to be more consistent in posting in the coming days and weeks. Thank you for all your help in giving your kids this experience. I hope that in the end it will have been a good one overall for them.
Mary Bess
Monday, September 14, 2009
Clarification
I've had a few people ask about practice today, and so I thought I'd clarify. Where I've written JV6 or V6, I'm referring to Charlie Brown, Linus, Schroeder, Lucy, Sally, and Snoopy. Those are the six original characters and the ones who have solos to be rehearsed. I don't want to have anyone bored or feeling like there is nothing for them to do, so we'll be practicing the scenes with only a few cast members in them in these smaller groups.
So, just to clarify, this afternoon, from 5:30 to 6:30, the "Varsity 6" and "Junior Varsity 6" will be practicing. The "Varsity 6" will then continue to practice after the JV6 leave until 7:30.
If you don't have practice this week--enjoy your break! You will not have quite as much free time other weeks. Consider this an opportunity to memorize your lines or listen to the songs. I'll try to post the lyrics to one group song each day this week. Also, the CD's should come in soon so that you can take them and listen to the songs in the car or at home without the internet.
Have a great week!
So, just to clarify, this afternoon, from 5:30 to 6:30, the "Varsity 6" and "Junior Varsity 6" will be practicing. The "Varsity 6" will then continue to practice after the JV6 leave until 7:30.
If you don't have practice this week--enjoy your break! You will not have quite as much free time other weeks. Consider this an opportunity to memorize your lines or listen to the songs. I'll try to post the lyrics to one group song each day this week. Also, the CD's should come in soon so that you can take them and listen to the songs in the car or at home without the internet.
Have a great week!
Wednesday, September 9, 2009
Next Practice, as promised...
All right--found the schedule--just placed in the wrong pile of papers at home...it is now available at the Princess.
I'd like to see everyone at 5:45 Thursday afternoon, Varisity & JV. At 6:45, JV will be free to go home with their scripts and music pages, and Varsity will stay to practice until 7:45.
The following weeks will be available on the schedule at the Princess.
Thank you to everyone for your cooperation last night. You made what could have been a disastrous experience fairly smooth. And kiddos, by the end of practice you were all really putting on a scene! I was so proud of you for being so patient and doing so well when it was your turn. Ya'll are so AWESOME!
I'd like to see everyone at 5:45 Thursday afternoon, Varisity & JV. At 6:45, JV will be free to go home with their scripts and music pages, and Varsity will stay to practice until 7:45.
The following weeks will be available on the schedule at the Princess.
Thank you to everyone for your cooperation last night. You made what could have been a disastrous experience fairly smooth. And kiddos, by the end of practice you were all really putting on a scene! I was so proud of you for being so patient and doing so well when it was your turn. Ya'll are so AWESOME!
Friday, September 4, 2009
All right Varsity, It's Your Turn!
Ok Varsity, you guys have been so patient with me and I really appreciate it. You read through Act 1 very well yesterday and really helped me to see how you worked as a group. Our next practice will be right after the JV on Tuesday--7:00pm. We will probably rehearse until 8:30. You will each receive script pages with your lines highlighted on Tuesday, and we'll probably be running through a few scenes and maybe even do some blocking.
Calendars for the rest of September will be available in the Lobby on Tuesday.
See you next week, and have a great weekend everyone!
Calendars for the rest of September will be available in the Lobby on Tuesday.
See you next week, and have a great weekend everyone!
JV Rehearsal Tuesday @ 5:30!
All right kiddos! This time we're gonna meet up on the stage and do some real acting! No more silly adult meetings and boring talk. You and I are gonna actually do some scenes from our play and you'll even get to take home some pages of lines!
Moms and Dads, I'll need them from 5:30 til 7:00 pm, or as much of that time as you can manage.
Thanks so much, and can't wait to see everyone!
Moms and Dads, I'll need them from 5:30 til 7:00 pm, or as much of that time as you can manage.
Thanks so much, and can't wait to see everyone!
Volunteer info form Handout 2 Aug. 3rd
Volunteer Information Sheet
Name:___________________________________________________
Phone #:________________________________________________
Email Address:__________________________________________
Best way/time to contact you:___________________________
Weeknights available/Times
Monday:__________________________________________________
Tuesday:_________________________________________________
Wednesday:_______________________________________________
Thursday:________________________________________________
Friday:__________________________________________________
I would be willing/able to help by….(circle any)
* Calling cast with schedule changes
* Helping backstage during performances
* Making costumes
* Working with small groups at rehearsals
* Building/Painting sets
* Organizing/Providing snacks/sandwiches during dress rehearsal and school performances
If you would like to help, leave a comment or leave a message at the Princess Theatre with this information on it!
Name:___________________________________________________
Phone #:________________________________________________
Email Address:__________________________________________
Best way/time to contact you:___________________________
Weeknights available/Times
Monday:__________________________________________________
Tuesday:_________________________________________________
Wednesday:_______________________________________________
Thursday:________________________________________________
Friday:__________________________________________________
I would be willing/able to help by….(circle any)
* Calling cast with schedule changes
* Helping backstage during performances
* Making costumes
* Working with small groups at rehearsals
* Building/Painting sets
* Organizing/Providing snacks/sandwiches during dress rehearsal and school performances
If you would like to help, leave a comment or leave a message at the Princess Theatre with this information on it!
Cast Welcome Letter...Handout 1 Aug. 3rd
Dear cast and parents,
I cannot express to you how thrilled I am to have the privilege of working with you all this fall. The musical we will be performing is one that is very dear to me, and I hope that you will have as much fun preparing for it and watching it as I did 15 years ago.
This season, due to the overwhelming interest, we will be separating into two companies—I’ll be calling them Varsity and JV. Sometimes we will be meeting together, and at others, we will have individual company rehearsals. For our principal characters, there may also be some times when they are asked to come on their own. I will be using the information you gave me tonight to draw up a schedule for this month that will be available online and here at the Princess on Tuesday.
One of the most important things that will be necessary for my sanity this fall will for me to be able to communicate with all of you as quickly and efficiently as possible, and vice versa. To that end, I’ve created a website, charliebrownroyalty.blogspot.com, where I’ll be posting every update, almost daily. You can use the comment function on there to send me a message, and hopefully, if you visit often enough, you’ll never feel out of the loop.
If you are interested in volunteering to help in any way, please fill out and return to me the Volunteer Form as soon as you can. Thank you in advance for all the work you put into making this an enjoyable experience for our kiddos; I know that even just getting them to and from practice can be trying at times. And to help with that, there is also a list you can sign up on to be shared with other cast parents to assist in carpooling arrangements.
I can’t wait to see the amazing show that this group is going to put on! (Can you?)
Sincerely,
Mary Bess
This letter also included other contact info for me, but for obvious reasons, I'm not posting all of that...use the comment function and I'll get back to you if you have a question and don't have any other way to contact me...OR call the Princess Theatre (435-6299) and leave a message and someone will get back to you!
I cannot express to you how thrilled I am to have the privilege of working with you all this fall. The musical we will be performing is one that is very dear to me, and I hope that you will have as much fun preparing for it and watching it as I did 15 years ago.
This season, due to the overwhelming interest, we will be separating into two companies—I’ll be calling them Varsity and JV. Sometimes we will be meeting together, and at others, we will have individual company rehearsals. For our principal characters, there may also be some times when they are asked to come on their own. I will be using the information you gave me tonight to draw up a schedule for this month that will be available online and here at the Princess on Tuesday.
One of the most important things that will be necessary for my sanity this fall will for me to be able to communicate with all of you as quickly and efficiently as possible, and vice versa. To that end, I’ve created a website, charliebrownroyalty.blogspot.com, where I’ll be posting every update, almost daily. You can use the comment function on there to send me a message, and hopefully, if you visit often enough, you’ll never feel out of the loop.
If you are interested in volunteering to help in any way, please fill out and return to me the Volunteer Form as soon as you can. Thank you in advance for all the work you put into making this an enjoyable experience for our kiddos; I know that even just getting them to and from practice can be trying at times. And to help with that, there is also a list you can sign up on to be shared with other cast parents to assist in carpooling arrangements.
I can’t wait to see the amazing show that this group is going to put on! (Can you?)
Sincerely,
Mary Bess
This letter also included other contact info for me, but for obvious reasons, I'm not posting all of that...use the comment function and I'll get back to you if you have a question and don't have any other way to contact me...OR call the Princess Theatre (435-6299) and leave a message and someone will get back to you!
Wednesday, September 2, 2009
Link to music!
Here's the address of the youtube playlist for the original Broadway cast album for our musical...if you want to get a head start in learning your songs, this will be an invaluable tool!
http://www.youtube.com/view_play_list?p=55ABC1FACA483B35
I hope you have as much fun listening as I do!
Mary Bess
http://www.youtube.com/view_play_list?p=55ABC1FACA483B35
I hope you have as much fun listening as I do!
Mary Bess
First Group Practice!
Hey everyone, just in case you don't remember all the details, our first meeting/rehearsal will be
Thursday, August 3rd
5:30 at the
Princess (look in the windows to see which side we'll be on)
At this meeting we'll be sharing a LOT of information with each other so I very much hope that everyone can make it. Some scripts will be handed out and I also hope to read through at least one act so that everyone can start to get a feel for what the play will be about.
If you cannot be there but are still interested in participating, please leave a comment so that I will know to save a couple of lines for you.
See you soon!
Mary Bess
Thursday, August 3rd
5:30 at the
Princess (look in the windows to see which side we'll be on)
At this meeting we'll be sharing a LOT of information with each other so I very much hope that everyone can make it. Some scripts will be handed out and I also hope to read through at least one act so that everyone can start to get a feel for what the play will be about.
If you cannot be there but are still interested in participating, please leave a comment so that I will know to save a couple of lines for you.
See you soon!
Mary Bess
Monday, August 31, 2009
Welcome to all my Junior Princess Players and Parents...
I am so excited to be getting to work with all of you this fall. We will be performing a musical that is very dear to me, You're a Good Man Charlie Brown, and already many hours of work and planning have gone into it.
I have also noticed that contacting each of you individually when a change comes up or information needs to be sent out is already starting to affect my phone bill. So I will be posting any information that I send home with the kiddos on this blog as well, just in case things get lost in the shuffle. You should also be able to use the comments function to send me information should I be difficult to get in touch with (I will do my best on this point, but sometimes, the internet and email is most reliable).
In the meantime, please know that I am doing my very best to get practices rolling. If you have not received a call from me yet, it does not mean that you are not in the play. I will be trying to call everyone over the next few days. Please be patient with me, and I will be a prompt in calling as I can. I will also be doing my best not to waste your or your child's time. So if you here that there was a practice and you weren't there, please understand that you were not left out, but that the parts of the play being practiced may have had only 1 or 2 people in it.
Can't wait to see everyone at the first group practice,
Mary Bess
I have also noticed that contacting each of you individually when a change comes up or information needs to be sent out is already starting to affect my phone bill. So I will be posting any information that I send home with the kiddos on this blog as well, just in case things get lost in the shuffle. You should also be able to use the comments function to send me information should I be difficult to get in touch with (I will do my best on this point, but sometimes, the internet and email is most reliable).
In the meantime, please know that I am doing my very best to get practices rolling. If you have not received a call from me yet, it does not mean that you are not in the play. I will be trying to call everyone over the next few days. Please be patient with me, and I will be a prompt in calling as I can. I will also be doing my best not to waste your or your child's time. So if you here that there was a practice and you weren't there, please understand that you were not left out, but that the parts of the play being practiced may have had only 1 or 2 people in it.
Can't wait to see everyone at the first group practice,
Mary Bess
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