Notes/Reminders for Feb. 21-22

1.  Great rehearsal today.  Thanks for your focus and for working together throughout the day.
2.  High School Students-Friday's rehearsal is 3-6.  The following performers will be adding mics for that rehearsal:  Tyler, Maddie, Ben, Alec, Nathan, David G, Sam, Mariah M,Annie, Brandon

For Saturday

High School Cast-Report  9-5.  Bring costumes and lunch.


Young Performers/Boys Band-Report 1-5.  Bring costumes.

 1.  During Dress Rehearsal Week, we plan to be done with the young cast at 8:00 each evening.  Parents can wait in the large commons to pick up children each evening.  We will have high school cast members escort them out each night as close to 8 as possible.  Please bear with us if we run over.  We are having a new sound system installed in the auditorium on Monday and Tuesday, so unforeseen problems may arise.  Please do not come into the auditorium, as this is a distraction for orchestra, techs and cast.
2.  Young performers can bring homework to work on, even handheld, electronic games (if they have them) which can be played on mute.   They can also bring coloring books, drawing materials, books to read...anything that they can do quietly during a show.   They will be able to watch the performance from the auditorium during dress rehearsals and on a live feed during the performances.

Since they appear at the end of the show, Boys Band will need to remain for the full rehearsal each evening  We will instruct them to call for rides about 30 minutes before we believe we will be done, and they can meet parents in the commons as well (unless they are riding with a high school cast member).

For Dress Rehearsal Week/Performance Week

1.  Dinner 4:15/4:30 Monday-Thursday.  High school students should do hair prior to dinner each day and all make-up (except lips) on Wednesday.

2.  Mic check will be done at 5:30 during dress rehearsal week.  That means mic is already on and performer ready prior to 5:30.  On performance nights, mic check will be at 6:30.

3.  No performers may be in the commons or auditorium in costume after dinner (except for mic check).  You will not use the commons bathrooms. The audience should never see a performer prior to a performance.  It takes away from the magic of live theatre and is never done by professional performers.

4.  Performers should clean up dressing spaces each evening prior to leaving.  That means all costumes hanging up and all accessories put in tubs.  Counters should be cleaned off, and no costumes should ever be laying on counters in dressing rooms where make-up/water/spirit gum can be spilled on them.

5.  Performers will be assigned dressing spaces by the directors.  Bathrooms should be used minimally and never during quick changes.

6.  Remember, no family or friends in the choir rooms, dressing rooms or music wing.  Performers will meet their fans in the commons following the show.  Extra bodies are a distraction and we do not have the space backstage for non-musical cast and crew.  Cast members should be in the choir room, not band room prior to show.  Orchestra members need their space and have a different focus before a performance.

7.   No food or drink (besides water) in the music wing beginning on Saturday.  A spill on a costume could ruin your costume or someone else's.   Do not eat or drink (anything except water) while wearing your costume.   Any such food or drink will be discarded by the directors.  If you want to have gummy bears, those are fine. 

8.  Dress rehearsals will go on until we are done.  We never like to keep our cast late, and our run time as been excellent thus far; however, with the addition of a new sound system and the typical surprises, we expect performers to stay until rehearsal is over.  We try to let them know about 30 minutes out if they need to call for rides, but please be supportive of our expectations.  A great show requires so many details to all fall into place, and this doesn't happen magically.  It is our attention to the details. In the past few years, most nights we were done by 9, especially on Tuesday and Wednesday, but it could be later.  Get as much homework done on Sunday afternoon and evening as possible.

NEED HELP

Thanks to Sarah Beth Taylor for agreeing to decorate the commons for our shows.  If you are willing to help her, please let us know.  The commons can be decorated on Wednesday evening during our dress rehearsal.

We still need one adult to supervise the young performers on Thursday evening.  All other performances are covered.

The Music Man is almost here!  It's going to be an amazing show.

See you soon-February 15

Roads are in good shape.  We are already here at school.  Please leave yourself time to travel.  You may have to park in upper lot because of AAU tournament.  Be here ready to rehearse at 10.  

Rehearsal February 14-15 Information

1.  We WILL NOT rehearse today, February 14.  Review music, choreography and lines at home.  Be safe, clean off cars, clear drives, etc.  Don't wait until tomorrow morning to clean off cars and pull costumes together.  Plan on a Tuesday Rehearsal this coming week, and we will rehearse from 3-6 in the coming week.

2.  We WILL have rehearsal on Saturday, Feb 15.  We will start at 10 to give folks some extra time to travel.  In the event of snow showers overnight, check the blog in the morning to determine if we have to make any changes.  EVERYONE should bring costumes to rehearsal.  Please be on time.
 Check previous blog posts for reminders and information.

Saturday Schedule

YOUNG CAST Members will be in rehearsal from 10-1:00.

Iowa Stubborn
Wells Fargo
76 Trombones
Trouble

1-1:30                  Lunch
1:30-5:30             Remainder of Choreography Cleaning

Gary Indiana

Pick-a-Little
Quartet

Lida Rose/It's You

Shipoopi

Sadder, But Wiser

Library Ballet

Harold/Marian

Help Needed/Appreciated

1.  All Parents-We need someone to decorate lobby for the run of the show.  We typically have it  coordinate with the themes/time period of the musical.  Dustin does not have time to coordinate this as well.  It can be decorated during the evenings of dress rehearsal week.  Please see Mrs. Tate or Mr. Dunlap if you are willing to serve or help with this.
2.  ALL Parents-Please be aware of the importance of all rehearsals at this point in the production.  Certainly we do not want students to attend who are ill; however, when a cast member is not in a choreography cleaning or blocking session, it throws off all other performers' timing and placements.  Students are expected to stay in rehearsals until they are over.  We do not typically keep students late (more than a few minutes), and performers who miss without written notification can jeopardize their roles.  It is disrespectful  to the directors and fellow performers(except in an emergency) not to at least email or see directors personally. This is even more critical when inclement weather may disrupt scheduled rehearsals.  Thanks for supporting this expectation.  We make every effort to communicate clearly and in advance.
3.  TECH REHEARSAL SATURDAY (Feb 22) and DRESS REHEARSAL WEEK-All cast members and crew are required to be in attendance.  No other commitments are an excuse that week (unless an emergency).
4.  Young cast members' parents-Thanks to those who have signed up for green room supervision.  We still need one parent for Sunday afternoon.  Young cast members will be in tech rehearsal Saturday, Feb 22 from 1-5, rather than in the morning.  We will run the show on stage that afternoon.  More details later. On Saturday,  I will post the list of who signed up for supervision.
5.  Costumes-As you bring in your costume pieces, it is helpful to put them in a garment bag or trash bag over hangers, with your name clearly on them.  If you have small pieces (gloves, hats, shoes, etc), you can put them in a covered plastic tub, also labeled with your name.  This allows dressing room cleaning each day, and keeps things from getting lost or misplaced. 
We are so lucky to have someone have a costume vision, rather than simply allowing odds and ends to go on stage.  Every year, some of our greatest compliments come regarding the beauty of our costumes and sets.  Having had children who were in musicals elsewhere, there is no comparison to the detail and accuracy that our costuming and sets have.   You are given direction/suggestions at the beginning of the production.   Appreciate this, because it is such a gift of time and talent.  Our cast looks great because somewhere really cared about what they look like.

Things are going so well.  Continue to work hard, be kind, say thank you.  The Wells Fargo Wagon is packed and headed to River City. 

Reminders for Week of February 10

1.  Trouble cast members should bring costumes to Wednesday, after school rehearsal.  Dress right after school.  No costume...you can't be in photos.  Costumes include shoes.
2.  Saturday's rehearsal is 9-5 for high school cast, and 9-12 for young cast members.  We will post an approximate timeline at the end of the week.  Everyone is to bring costumes for Saturday.
3.  If you have any donations, please bring them in by Saturday.
4.  In the event of inclement weather, check the blog for updates.  This is critical.

Posters Available/Reminders/Notes

1.  If you haven't picked up a musical poster to hang at church or in an area business, Mrs. Tate will be at school on Saturday from 9-4 (maybe later) working with the tech folks on setting lights.  Please feel free to stop by and pick those up from her to hang this weekend.
2.  You should finalize your costumes to bring in on Saturday, February 15. 
3.  Library ballet-a reminder that we will have final choreography for that number on Tuesday, Feb 11 (3-5:30).
4.  Trouble cast members-Please plan to bring in your costumes for Wednesday rehearsal.  This includes shoes.  We will have a photographer there from the North Fork/DNR, and I would like to have him shoot some pictures of this number.  If you don't have your costume, you can't be in the pictures.
5.  Rest, go over your music and choreography.  See Mr. Dunlap, Mr. Oates or Mrs. Tate if you have questions.

Rehearsal, February 5

We will have rehearsal today from 12:30-5:30 for full high school cast.  Quartet will stay and rehearse from 530-6.  Please attend if you can safely travel and have transportation.  Make sure parents are informed of your rehearsal and transportation plans.

See you at BHS at 12:30

February 2-Reminders/Notes/Added Rehearsals

1.  Thanks for a great Saturday rehearsal.  Continue to work on choreography and music review at home.  We will not rehearse on February 8, but WE WILL rehearse on Saturday, February 15.
2.  Purchase tickets by calling Dustin @ 540-810-6236 or stop by to see him at his shop, SNOW AND ICE, 4080 Evelyn Byrd Ave.  Tickets go on sale to the general public on Wednesday, and many   seats in the center section have been sold already for Friday, Saturday and Sunday.  We want family and friends to have the best seats, but you have to reserve them to be sure that you get the seats you desire.
3.  Final t-shirt orders will be accepted until Tuesday.
4.  All rehearsals from now on are full cast (high school students).  Please be in rehearsal on time.  In the event of inclement weather, check the blog and make arrangements to attend rehearsals if safety allows and you have transportation.
5.  The show is beginning to shape up.  Please remember to say thank you to parents, directors, and any other person who is helping you have a great show.  All those volunteers pulling together costumes, working on sets, helping with props,  selling tickets and assisting you personally are vital to our success.  Thank yous are the least we can do.

Young Performer Parents

We have supervision for all shows covered except the following:

Feb 27 (Thurs morn)  We need one more adult
Feb 27 (Thurs eve)     We need one more adult
Mar 2 (Sun)                We need one more adult
Mar 4 (Tues eve)        We need one more adult

Thanks to Ms. Shore, Ms Saunders, Ms Kauffman, Ms Moorman, Ms. Keim, Ms. Mast, Ms Weaver, Ms Slater, Ms Hotchkiss, Ms Surratt, and Ms. Breneman for taking a shift or more.

Added Rehearsals With Suzanne
Tuesday, Feb 4    Harold/Marcellus  (3-5)
Thursday, Feb 6  Harold/Marian  (3-5)
Tuesday, Feb 11  Library Ballet (3-5:30)