Wednesday, December 17, 2014

Looking back, thanks & updates

Congratulations again to all actors, crew and family on The Gift of the Rebel Elf.  We survived, and the children thrived!  In our observations, the show got tighter and the performances stronger each time, until the last show -- not a hitch!   We didn't plan for 3 shows in 30 hours (with cast members as young as 4), but the weather made plans of its own, and miraculously, every single child made it for all 3 shows and gave it his/her all!!   Even our littlest performers, the Pre-K/Kindergartners (purely voluntary), gave an amazing turnout, with the majority performing in all 3 shows.

December 5th marked the one-year anniversary of our first Drama Club after-school meeting.  Within this year, the students and community of Cornish have created not one, but two musicals, open to all children who wanted to be on or work back stage.   Including last year's graduates, nearly 90 Cornish children have participated in some capacity.  In this short time, we've watched kids who wouldn't come out from behind the curtain last year step into singing and dancing roles this year; kids who wanted only extra parts take leads; kids who didn't speak at the beginning start talking with confidence in front of the group (and loving the spot light!); kids who watched from the bleachers last year get on stage this year, and others step into complicated technical roles.  

It was a feat for all to be proud of -- but especially for the families, who performed Olympic medal-worthy acts of schedule-juggling to make it happen.  Thank you.

And an extra special thanks to Amanda Posner for coming back and giving even more this year than last, despite Clara's having graduated.  Amanda devotes such loving attention to the details of each child's costume, wanting so much for them to be comfortable and enjoy their transformations on stage.  Her creative talents know no end, and she may be the first person I've ever met who can go two months without sleep.  And to Clara, who brought her enthusiasm for drama back as a volunteer helper/mentor throughout the fall and during the shows.  Her help and example were so important.

A few quick updates...

*  If you would like to purchase an elf hat, booties, and/or shorts/poodle skirt, they are still available as a fundraiser for future activities.  (There will be extras, so even if your child had a different role, there will likely be elf elements available).  

*  For those of you who ordered t-shirts, they should arrive by the end of this week.  I will contact you for delivery.  They are $16 each (check made out to CCPTO, memo: Drama/t-shirt).

*  If your child asks (or inquiring minds want to know), this was the show for the 2014-15 school year.  (Sigh of relief? :-)  Amanda and I will enjoy a slow exploration of possibilities for the 2015-16 school year.  We welcome volunteers to join us in this mad (and very rewarding) endeavor!  Let us know if you'd like to help out next year.

*  Though we are tied up with other projects the remainder of this year, we would like to continue to offer an after-school Drama Club periodically for the remainder of this year.  We plan to hold the first meeting Jan. 13, Monday from 2:45-4:00p.  It will be open to Upper Wing + 4th graders, and it will be casual -- kids are welcome to come when they can.  We will start by gathering their feedback on Rebel Elf and collect their ideas about activities they'd like to do with the Club this winter/spring (possibilities include: field trips to plays, inviting visitors from local theaters, film, scene study, stand-up comedy, etc.)  We will keep you posted on the schedule for Drama Club meetings as it evolves. 

*  A cast's family member asked for the text of Samantha's remarks to the cast and crew at the end of the last show. Here they are again (As you may have noted, they are derived from our soundtrack):

Boy can you Rock it, you can roll it, do the stomp and even stroll it.  You make all my cares drift right into space...And you can play a guitar, and drums, and tamborine, and keyboard,  just like a ringing a bell.  You sure Got your motor running, looking for adventure, You truly are like a true Nature’s child, born to be wild.  We know you ain’t gonna do us wrong, and you deserve a heap of R-E-S-P-E-C-T for what you did tonight.  Yesterday, you weren’t half the men and women you are today.  And you definitely hold the key to love and fear in your hand, and Got Together and Loved one another.  We lent you our ears, and you sang us some songs, and you did not sing out of key.  When we were down and troubled, you called our names and you were there.  And you made us believe in the magic of young girls’ and boy’s souls.  You helped out, you were kind, you tried hard, and you showed us that All We Need Is… Love, Love Love....

Very happy holidays to all.

Thursday, December 11, 2014

T-Shirts, Elf Hats & Booties, Bake Sale & the Haven

T-shirts
Last call!  I haven't put in the order yet, so if you'd like a shirt with one of the winning poster designs, please let me know by this weekend (how many, size, and which design).  You can view the shirts at:  cornishdramaclub.blogspot.com
(scroll down to Nov. 23)
I am shopping around for best deal and expect to have the shirts by end of next week (in time for the holidays).  I will let you know the exact cost as soon as I have it (it will be at cost -- this is not a fundraiser).  So far we have orders from the following families:
Barber, Orlen, Blue, Favreau, Newbold, Formichelli, Green,
Elf Hats and Booties:Amanda would like to offer the hats and booties for sale to support future Drama Club activities.
After the show, your child may keep his/her hat for $10 or hat & booties for $15.
(Each one was hand-stitched for the children!)
Bake Sale:Admission is FREE to the show, but there will be an opportunity to donate at the bake sale table.  Proceeds will benefit the 8th grade as well as Drama and other activities at the school.
The Haven:There are food collection boxes at school if anyone would like to bring non-perishable food items (no glass containers), household paper products, etc.
Hope your children are excited.  We know they are ready!
See you at the show.
S&A

Wednesday, December 10, 2014

THE SHOW WILL GO ON! New Schedule

Dear all,

The school matinée will now take place FRIDAY 12/12 at 10am.  The Plainfield School will attend!

The evening shows will go on as scheduled:
  *  Thursday (tomorrow) 12/11 at 7pm
  *  Friday 12/12 at 7pm

CALL TIMES FOR CAST at EVENING SHOWS are as follows:

*  5PM - Upper Wing + "Blockmaker" Elves

*  6PM - Lower Wing Cast

PLEASE...
1)  REPLY to this email so we have verification you got this message.

2)  Let us know if you can HELP at any of the shows -- we can use volunteers to assist with costume changes, hair & make-up.

3)  Encourage your children to get to SLEEP EARLY tonight & tomorrow to stay healthy for a packed 3-show run in 2 days!

4)  FEED your child before they come to the Evening Shows.   If anyone can donate snacks in case a child misses dinner, that would be great.

5)  Upper Wing Girl Elves:   Come to show with your hair in a ponytail at the nape of your neck.  Also, bring your own hair brushes and elastics.  We may not share.

6)  Send any COSTUME ELEMENTS we've requested with your child to school tomorrow, labelled if possible.

7)  Call us or email with any questions:

Samantha home 675-2327, cell 310-866-0503
Amanda home 542-1254

We have been moved to tears (literally, ask the kids!) by the dedication of your children -- they are amazing young people who have all taken risks, shown courage, and changed in the couple of months we've been working together.  Thank you for giving us the chance to create this show with them.  Please give an encouraging word to them tonight & we look forward to seeing you at the show.

Many thanks,

Samantha & Amanda

Tuesday, December 9, 2014

School Matinée Postponed - awaiting news on re-scheduled date/time

Dear Cornish drama families,

As you know, the school matinée today has been postponed due to the snow storm.  We are working on possibilities to re-schedule and will keep you posted ASAP.

If we have asked you to send in a costume element, would you please make sure it goes in their backpacks in a labeled plastic bag as soon as school resumes?

Re-cap of Dress Rehearsal:

Our actors did very well wearing their costumes for the first time and they are doing an outstanding job with their performances, singing and acting.  Our stage managers and stage hands are hard at work running the back stage (all student-run - a major feat!), and are shortening set-up times for transitions, bravo.   Regrets that the rehearsal ran long and apologies for any inconvenience to your families.  We were under the gun, expecting to perform today for the Plainfield School and needed to complete the show once through with costumes.  

This show has had a very short timeline, requiring us to go full-tilt since October, so Amanda and I will look on the bright side of the snow day to give us more time for final final tweaks and polishes, completing costumes, sets and props, and getting mechanics of set/costume changes worked out as best we can.

Please ask your children if they have any questions or concerns about their costumes, props, entrances, exits, etc. that we can field via email today & tomorrow.  (We tried to answer a lot before the Dress Rehearsal, but we know they must have many more after and likely won't have time in school to answer them all!)  And please let them know we will have an even better show for the extra time to rest and prepare!

Thank you the volunteers on hand yesterday at the Dress Rehearsal and at Friday's Tech.  You make this possible.

More soon.  



All You Need Is Love

Dear Families,

On our snow day, it would be great if your child can listen to the music & sing along with the following lyrics:
(hardest parts underlined)

Audio link:  (hoping this works!)
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B_-DQ30_LY9rWV9XeHdFa3NlT1U/view?usp=sharing


Love, love, love
Love, love, love
Love, love, love
There's nothing you can do that can't be done
Nothing you can sing that can't be sung
Nothing you can say but you can learn how to play the game
It's easy
There's nothing you can make that can't be made
No one you can save that can't be saved
Nothing you can do but you can learn to be you in time
It's easy
All you need is love
All you need is love
All you need is love, love
Love is all you need
Love, love, love
Love, love, love
Love, love, love
There's nothing you can know that isn't known
Nothing you can see that isn't shown
There's nowhere you can be that isn't where you're meant to be
It's easy
All you need is love
All you need is love
All you need is love, love
Love is all you need
Love is all you need
Love is all you need
Love... is all you.. need..
LOVE IS ALL YOU NEED.



Thursday, December 4, 2014

Seeking Adult Volunteers to Help at Tech & Dress Rehearsals

Dear families-

We could really use some additional adults at our Tech rehearsal tomorrow (until 5:00p) and Dress Rehearsal (Monday until 5:30p) to help keep the kids focused, particularly for the younger Lower Wingers (whose attention spans are a bit shorter!).

We would be eternally grateful for 4-5 volunteers at each rehearsal.  We have more than 50 in the cast, which is so exciting, and comes with some logistical challenges. :-)

Please let us know also if you can be available before the performances to help kids into costume & make-up.

Thank you!


Tuesday, December 2, 2014

CHANGE OF SCHEDULE THIS WEEK

Please note!!  THURSDAY IS NO LONGER AN ALL-CAST REHEARSAL.  PLEASE SEE BELOW!


WEDNESDAY, DEC. 3  - LAST Choreography Brush-up with Valerie! (no changes)

2:45-3:45   Group 1: Do You Believe in Magic
Santa
Reindeer
People & Dog of Any Town
Joni & the Band

3:45-5:15pm  Group 2:  At the Hop, Respect, Santa Claus is Coming
Santa
Mama Claus
Workshop Elves

THURSDAY, DEC. 4  2:45-5:00pm - TECH REHEARSAL #1:  Tech Team ONLY


FRIDAY, DEC. 5 2:45-5:00pm - TECH #2 & SEMI-DRESS REHEARSAL

ALL CAST


** MONDAY, DEC. 8  2:45-5:30 -  ALL-CAST DRESS REHEARSAL ***


TUESDAY, DEC. 9 -  1PM  MATINEE
(COSTUME & MAKE-UP CALL TIME TBD)

THURSDAY, DEC. 11 - 7PM SHOW
CALL TIMES:
Upper Wing & Blockmakers:  5:00pm
Lower Wing:  6:00

FRIDAY, DEC. 12 - 7PM SHOW
CALL TIMES:
Upper Wing & Blockmakers:  5:00pm
Lower Wing:  6:00