Tuesday Oct. 27

Hello parents & guardians of Cornish Thespians,

Today Amanda and I joined Lois Buchan, Bill VonG, Bill McFee and the 3rd-4th graders for the Interdisciplinary Arts period at school.  It was so exciting to hear their jazzy version of Santa Claus Is Coming to Town and At the Hop!   Amanda has been taking measurements for all of the children this week, and costumes will soon be spooling out of her magical sewing machine.  

A couple of important notes:

*  Reminder:  NO choreography rehearsal tomorrow.

*  Please note - TUESDAY, NOV. 11 - VETERANS DAY:  We have scheduled a rehearsal for the afternoon in 2 groups:

1pm-3pm Santa, Mama, Reindeer, Dog, Children of the World, Nancy & Parents

3pm-5pm All Workshop Elves & Human Toys

This is a school holiday, so attendance is optional.   Please see the times & groups listed on the website:  cornishdramaclub.blogspot.com

*  Yesterday (Monday) music CDs, cast lists, and a printed copy of the rehearsal schedule through Nov. 12 went home to all Upper Wing actors and the 4th grade "Block-makers."   Please look for them!  CDs are of the original classic tunes.  Keys, verses and lyrics will be modified (slightly) as appropriate to the singers, but it will give the children a chance to get to know these iconic tunes of the late 1950s and '60s.

*  Rehearsal information & cast groups is also posted on the Drama Club bulletin board across from the Teachers' Room (formerly 1st grade room).

*  Lower Wing will continue to rehearse in school during music and Interdisciplinary Arts for the next 2 weeks, with a few individual exceptions - please note on the calendar posted at:

cornishdramaclub.blogspot.com

* Any Lower Wing families who would like a music CD, please let me know & I'll be happy to burn one for you.

*  ALL WORKSHOP ELVES, SANTA, MAMA CLAUS, EICOP & REINDEER - Please make sure to be at CHOREOGRAPHY next Wednesday, Nov. 5 from 2:45-5:30PM.  

That's all for now!  HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

Wednesday 10/29 choreography rehearsal CANCELLED

Please note:  

We need to cancel this Wednesday's choreography rehearsal (Oct 29).  Please make other arrangements for your child after school this Wednesday.

We will distribute the full rehearsal schedule for Nov. 3-21 later today.

Thank you!

Reminder: Rehearsal today for UPPER WING and Block-Makers

Today's rehearsal:  UPPER WING and Block-Makers (Rec, Obie, Cubey, and Link)
2:45pm-4:30pm

Please remind your child to bring his/her script to every rehearsal.

We will send home a rehearsal schedule for Nov. 3-21 today with a CD of the songs.  Please look for them!  (Schedule will also be posted on the website:  cornishdramaclub.blogspot.com)

Question?  email:  cornishdramaclub@gmail.com
or call 675-2327 (Samantha) or 542-1254 (Amanda)

Thank you!

The round-up after first reading & details going forward!

Dear Parents & Guardians,

Please congratulate your child(ren) for making it through a challenging one-time only all-cast introduction to the script and play!   We wanted to bring the cast together JUST ONCE, so that they can see themselves as a group, receive scripts out and roles, and get familiar with the story and music.  It was not easy for the kids to maintain their focus, but we all got through it!  As planned, we will now move into small-group rehearsals.

There will be a lot of important details, so please take a moment to read each email.  We will also post emails on the blog website (cornishdramaclub.blogspot.com) as a place to check back.

*  We are offering a Make-Up Rehearsal for any cast who missed today:  Friday, Oct. 24  2:45-4:00pm.  (Cast who attended today need not come this Friday)

*   On all days your child stays after school for rehearsal, PLEASE SEND A NOTE GIVING PERMISSION to their classroom teacher.  Our apologies to families and teachers for not clarifying this requirement today.  Because this is an after-school activity, the school needs to know that you are expecting the change in your child's regular schedule.  

LOWER WING:

Until the week before Thanksgiving, most Lower Wing rehearsals will now be during school hours.  The next big focus for Lower Wing will be learning the musical parts with Ms. Buchan, getting fitted for costumes with Amanda, and art and movement projects with Ms. Gadoaus and Mr. McFee.  We will EMAIL again and post on the website when the next Lower Wing after-school rehearsal is called.  

*  If your Lower Wing student is home-schooled, please contact us (Samantha & Amanda) and/or Lois Buchan (lbuchan@claremont.nh.k12.us) for a schedule of music.

*  All Lower Wing students are part of the "Elf Chorus," and will be singing the opening and closing songs, as well as the "chorus" parts of many songs through the script.

*  Exception: the "Block-Maker" group (4th graders Clem, Barrett and Duncan) will sometimes meet with the Upper Wing "toymaker" elf groups.  Details TBD.

UPPER WING (& "Block-makers"):   

We will begin small group rehearsals this week.  Please bookmark & check back to:        http://cornishdramaclub.blogspot.com/  for the CALENDAR.  

 *  Wed. Oct. 22  2:45-4:00pm  Santa, Mama Claus, Joni & Prudence

*  Thurs.  Oct. 23  2:45-4:30p   Prudence, Joni & the Band, Nancy, Emily & Jessica

*  Mon. Oct. 27  2:45p-4:30p    All UPPER WING & Block-makers

 *  Wed. Oct. 29  2:45-4:30pm   CHOREOGRAPHY for Upper Wing & Block-makers with Valerie Newton.  This is very important, as we don't have many sessions with her.  Please try to make sure your child can attend.

Scripts

*  We gave all children to have a copy of the script & ask that they please try not to lose them :-).  We tried to help them find their scenes & give them a sense of their "actions" and "songs," but it was hard with the whole group.  Some quiet one-on-one review at home may help your child get familiar with what a script is and how the pieces fit together.  It will also help you see some of the great classic '50s and '60s tunes our music leaders will be teaching the kids.

Process

*  For a school play at this level, we value the process of a child taking a creative risk, gaining confidence to stand on a stage, and the social process of working with a group over the final product (though we know the kids will do a great job in the actual show too!).  Your encouragement in this direction can be a great help.  "Perfect" is not the goal, and fear of messing up lines, being embarrassed, etc. is universal.  Some children today had big emotions that come out of the uncertainty of "what it will be like."  It's very normal, and together, we hope all of the children will feel in the end that they tried something new and conquered their fears, and we will do everything we can to help them achieve those goals.

Thank you for your support and good night.

Samantha & Amanda

Casting & Table Read this Monday, Oct. 20

Attention Upper AND Lower Wing cast members!

Please come to Drama Club this Monday, Oct. 20 from 2:45-4:30pm for casting announcements, production jobs, and our first "table read" of the script.  We will share information about rehearsal schedules as well.

Parents & Guardians!  Please let us know if you can donate a snack to the cast for rehearsals.  We will make up a schedule after rehearsal schedules are announced on Monday.

Lower Wingers!  As we explained at the assembly last week, all Lower Wing students will have a chance to sing in the chorus and participate in movement and art projects for the play during the school day.   However, some Lower Wing students have indicated their interest in a bigger on-stage role, which requires some after-school rehearsals and commitment to the evening shows.  If you know anyone (siblings, friends, home schoolers) who wants to get more involved but hasn't contacted us, please encourage them to email us ASAP at cornishdramaclub@gmail.com

Thanks to all for wonderful audition readings and singing.  See you Monday!

Auditions for Holiday Musical Start Today!

Auditions will start today for our original '60s-inspired rock holiday musical, The Gift of the Rebel Elf.

All Upper Wing students who would like to participate are invited 2:45-4:30p.  All students who wish to be in the play will have a part.

Acting auditions will start with a group reading of Act 1; then in small groups, actors will read various roles.

Singing auditions will be held separately with Mr. VonG.  Singers will warm up as a group, then have a chance to sing individually.

Auditions will be videotaped for the leaders to review again later (not for public display).

MARK YOUR CALENDARS!  Performances will take place:

Tuesday, December 9 - 1pm  school matinee
Thursday, December 11  - 7pm evening performance
Friday, December 13 - 7pm evening performance