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!
Thursday, October 29, 2009
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
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