Adventures In Acting - Camp Updates!

WOW!!

Each of your performances shone with excitement, energy and vitality, thank you!! Friday night was a phenomenal start - a dymanic opening to our performances! Saturday matinee was delightful, and the final performance's magic was palpable! Shakespeare (or whoever... shouldn't that be whomever? Whatever!) would be so proud of you!!

Thank you each for all your concentration, adaptability, creativity and fortitude to plow through two tough weeks of intense (and majorly FUN!) theater work to make our shows so awesome. You ROCK!!

If you ordered a DVD of the show (we taped Friday night's performance), they are done and will be in the mail to you the first of July. Please send me your payment if you haven't yet paid - thanks!

Thank you also for the amazingly stunning flower bouquets, and the "iambic pentameter" cards & gifts. We appreciate each of you and your thoughtfulness.

So . . . it's time for some relaxing summer fun! What will you do? I challenge you to check out one of Shakespeare's other plays - maybe our own "Romeo and Juliet"? or maybe try "A Midsummer Night's Dream" and then go see it performed in OSU's Quad this summer? There's always my favorite ... the "Scottish Play" whose title we all know, but can't speak out loud in the theater ... remember? (Macbeth!) The staff is already anticipating next year, trying out different scripts to find just the right one for you all. We'll let you know when we decide ... ah, the suspense! :-)

Enjoy your summer - and Thank YOU for a fabulous two weeks! I loved it!!

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Thursday's "Dress" was Thrilling!

What an incredible show this will be! You look simply smashing, daahling, simply smashing!! Costumes are really making a difference - and it shows in your voices and attitudes. The "epuloids" add dynamic color to our basic Zoinkian black; it just POPS!

Stay healthy & happy and we're ON for tomorrow night, Friday, June 27th -- how did opening night get here already? ? ? But we're ready and eager for that curtain to open!

See you for camp on Friday (yup, our official "dress rehearsal" with the pre-K's all bright-eyed to watch us perform). By the way, did you each get our final newsletter??

Then it's SHOW TIME!!
Your CALL TIME = 6:30pm. Please be right on time.

WHEE!!
Let the Magic Begin!

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Techno & Wild Wednesday is DONE!

Fabulous job, everyone! Your patience and focus were admirable as we wound our way through each scene, each movement, each lighting or sound cue, checking angles and light levels, colorings and ... well, it was amazingly complex and it's DONE!! Great job all! And many enormous thanks to our incredible technical crew who make all you actors look and sound fabulous!

Thursday is our first "dress rehearsal" with virtually all costumes, and everyone wearing their black beneath. It's also our COOKIE DECORATING EXTRAVAGANZA after camp. Then Friday we are OFFICIALLY ON, and it's time for our performances! FUN!!

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Totally Terrific Tuesday!

"Dude!" We had a terrific day, reviewing a few scenes and smoothing some rough spots, took an awesome all-camp-photo, then it was on to a back-wards run-through (second Act first for fun!). The duel keeps getting better and better - it's going to be very entertaining. And we've about figured out the flow of the final scenes. You're Grrrreat!

Wednesday is TECH DAY, when we focus our energies on the more technical aspects -- from props and maybe some costume pieces to the lighting, sound cues, curtain moves, etc. It's a day for patience as we try and try again to be sure all angles are covered so that YOU the actors look faaaahhbulous!

Thursday and Friday are our Dress Rehearsals. Pretty much we review a few things in the morning, then into costumes & all ready ... and start the show about 10:30-11:00. Intermission is our lunch, and we finish in the afternoon, ending with "notes" for things to improve next time.

Check below (Monday's update) for this weekend's time schedule.

There are STILL a few people needing to bring in their BLACK UNDER-OUTFITS to the theater. Could it be you?

Don't forget that we need any & all GOURMET GALAXY COOKIES brought to the theater on Thursday, ready for our first-ever Design-That-Planet Cookie Decorating Extravaganza! (2:30 until ?? with parental supervision)

Have you sent on that excellent publicity email to all your friends and relations? It's so much more fun to perform when there's an appreciative audience clapping and laughing. Pass the word - because this show really IS going to be super!

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Magnificently Marvelous Monday!

What fun! Being a friendly sort of camp, our day started with an entertaining "find your buddy" game, creation of semi-secret hand-shakes and "getting to know you" conversations. Then we reviewed a couple scenes, distinguished our diction with enunciation effort and projection practice, and moved quickly on to running the show! (we almost made it too!) There was a short newsletter sent home.

But these kids are just toooo nice ~ we need the Capulets to be ANGRY at the Montagues for "A Curse Upon This Lad" and they just kept laughing! Even with Andrew making all sorts of dastardly threats, they still had trouble even pretending to be mean. My huge regret is that I totally forgot my camera today - of all days - so there are no pictures (unless Corey sends me some??) What a delightful bunch!

REMINDERS:

1. Wear your black camp shirt tomorrow, Tuesday, for photos.

2. We'll be selling Gourmet Galaxy Cookies at the shows (they're so delectable; they're Out Of This World!) ha ha! Volunteers are needed to make the cookies according to the very simple recipe (click on the link). Just let Alison know you'll be making some. We need ALL cookies delivered to the theater by noon on Thursday.

3. Cookie decorating party (wow, this is going to be such a hoot!!) = Thursday after camp, 2:30 until? We definitely need some parental help with this one -- please contact Alison if you can assist.

This Weekend's Schedule:

Friday = regular camp plus ... arrive @ 6:30pm for 7:30 show
Saturday = arrive @ 1:30pm for 2:30 show and return 6:30 for 7:30 show
Cast Party after last performance, and A F T E R dressing rooms are clean & inspected, approximately 10:00 - 11:00pm. Please stay to celebrate!
STRIKE = Sunday = 10:00am until done ... we will provide pizza lunch for workers. Actors and parents (and "older" siblings) are invited ~ bring power drills -- we dismantle and CLEAN!

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Stupendous Saturday!

Super job! You all pulled it together for an incredible start to our Run-Throughs. We made it through the first act before lunch, had a chance to try on our "epilauds" (our new word, rather Zoinkian, don't you think?) and even try moving with them -- those shoulder rolls are now INCREDIBLE! Then we got part way through the second act (or half, or whatever it is). Monday we'll work a few scenes (pretty sure you'll practice "Curse Upon This Lad," the Wedding Scene and those final bits) before we start another "from the beginning!"

Please rest up, sleep lots, eat healthy, drink lots of water, and ... what was that other thing to remember ... something about the play ... something about what I do ... hmmmm ... oh yeah - PRACTICE!!! Get out the script and read it through - carefully! - and check ALL lines to be sure you're memorizing them accurately. Others are depending on your exact words for their cues, so please check them! Say them with feeling, remembering your movements as well.

FUN, FUN, FUN!!!

See you on Monday (with completed bio sheets).
Tuesday is "wear your black-camp-shirt-day" for our group and individual photos.

And of course -- keep spreading the word, inviting everyone to buy tickets and come to the best show in Corvallis!

Thank you each for a great first week of camp - you're TREMENDOUS!!! Can't wait to get back together and really make our theater magic!

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Thrilling Thursday for all Thespians!

We're tired! We worked really hard today, first with the new, improved "insult scene" set to music -- "What Say You?" I'd sure say "WE CAN!" Then we moved on to various activities ... wedding scenes, wedding singing, harmonies, developing dances for "Curse Upon This Lad" complete with an awesome finale ("huh!"), Tragical Comedy (currently we think it's more tragical, but after another day it should be among the comical descriptors!), and even coordinating an amazingly wonderful DDR Duel! You'll LOVE that scene!! :-)

This group is indescribably fabulous to work with - cheerful, cooperative, quick studies, talented and FUN! Thank you for sharing them with us!

Don't forget to TAKE CARE OF YOURSELVES!!! (yeah, it's that old Sleep, Eat Well, Drink Lots and Stay Healthy Chorus once again)

Alison distributed biography questions for each actor to complete (please note she needs TWO lines of Iambic Pentameter, not just the one that's listed). These should be turned in ASAP, at the latest by next Monday. We use this for our Lobby Display during the shows.

Yes, there is regular camp on Saturday, June 21st. Really.

And ... Promote the show! Sell those tickets!

Whee!! This is such FUN!

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Wonderful Wednesday!

Here's a link to Wednesday's Newsletter ~ enjoy!

Fun, Fun, Fun! Today we figured out how to get into that Globe Theater for our Dynamite Disco celebration, worked out the welcome for Gucci and Versace, got Officer Escalus onto the notorious Max & Shylock (pirating unfit merchandise, how gauche!), and sang and sang and danced and danced!

Then after official camp dismissal there were still oodles of young thespians around - learning Wedding harmonies and dances, whacking boomers (huh??), painting black and grey and themselves and NOT the floor!!, and basically learning and just having a marvelous time!

Thursday we'll run through the first act - really! (and more, of course)
Thursday "afterwards" is a smaller segment of The Duel to get the basics down.
Friday we'll polish a variety of scenes and keep learning the second act.
Saturday we figure out whatever's still icky, fix them! and start our Run Through! That is SOOOOO exciting! (and reminder - YES, there is regular camp on Saturday, 9:00-2:00.)

What should you be doing?? (besides camp...)

PRACTICE!
          SLEEP LOTS!
                  EAT HEALTHILY!
                           DRINK WATER!
                                    DO YOUR CHORES!
                                             THANK YOUR PARENTS!
SMILE!
etc, etc, etc.

Soon you will receive a nifty Publicity Email with a cool mini-poster, which you can (please do!) send on to everyone you know / think might be interested to come see you! A personal invitation is our best chance to "FILL THE HOUSE" for our shows. It's really great to have lots of people there to appreciate all your hard work!

Tickets are available at Rice's Pharmacy -- and don't forget to use your two free coupons!

See you tomorrow!
now go to bed!!!

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Tuesday, Day #2, was Terrific!

You all are working so amazingly well, both individually and together, it's a pleasure to spend the day with you! We reviewed and cemented two big song and dance routines - Iambic and The Globe, and figured out detailed blocking for THE Family Feud (who's the MC of the year??) and the opening sequence with Prologues and "Pizzas."

Thank you for coming to our first annual BYOPP! We all had fun and hope you did too! And what nice weather peeked out for us.

Wednesday morning we'll get exact places for The Globe's disco scene and start working on The Wedding Bells (love those harmonies!!) and lots and lots and lots of those little, pesky, page or two conversations.

Don't forget our afternoon activities - - if you're one of the "Wedding Singers" or "Dancers" please plan to remain until 3:30 to work on those songs/dances. Everyone is invited (with parental supervision) to join our traditional PAINTING PARTY after camp on Wednesday. This will last as long as there is set to paint (usually about 1-1/2 to 2 hours). If you can join us please remember your painting clothes!!!

Thursday's afternoon session will be for some actors of the Montague vs Capulet DUEL SCENE. Check the posted list in the Lobby to see if that means you!

There will be a newsletter coming home on Wednesday, and we'll post it here as well. Remember to spread the news about buying tickets (did you use your free coupon yet??). We're going to try to "fill the house" for our Saturday evening performance!

Things to remember:
    - SLEEP, EAT WELL, and DRINK WATER!!
    - Practice your (and others' too) lines & songs
    - Be sure you have black shoes, socks & pants
    - SLEEP, EAT WELL, and DRINK WATER!!!!
    - Spread the news to encourage people to buy tickets
    - Keep checking the website for info . . .
    - SLEEP, EAT WELL, and DRINK WATER!!!!!!!!

ttfn!
Smiles and enjoy your night!

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WOW!