Dramatic Arts at St. Jude's Academy: May 2011

St. Jude's Academy Dramatic Achievements and Experiences

Parents, please be sure to read the side bar as it will contain important information about costumes, props, and theatre etiquiette.

There are also age appropriate poems that you could ask your child to learn to say aloud. This helps with reading fluency, memory enhancement, elocution, and comprehension.

TO DATE:

October 6th, - Twelfth Night performance in Stratford, Ontario (long, but worth it - the entire production was musical, upbeat, brilliantly performed, and had twists from all eras and epochs)

November 10th, - Remembrance Day skit: In Flander's Fields performed and directed by the Grade 6, 7, and 8 class.

UPCOMING PERFORMANCES:

December 15th, - The Christmas Concert: Songs that moved the world

End of January, 2012 - Twelfth Night

February 2012 - SJA Gala Dinner and "show"

March/April 2012 - Speeches and Poetry Recitation

June 2012 - Arts Night

Monday, May 9, 2011

Wednesday, May 4th, 2011

ATTENTION PARENTS:
It's that time of year again, when we are approaching Grandparents' Day and the Spring Concert.

This year we will have two productions.
The first will be on May 27th and June 1st. It is the Pied Piper.
This is a student-driven production that has the entire school involved.
The younger children are acting in predominantly pantomime roles.
The older children are responsible for helping to stage the production and are involved on many fronts.

The second production is Julius Caesar.
It will take place only on June 1st.

Please check this blog and the school bulletin board regularly as I will be communicating this way to ensure that your child does his or her best on stage.

Currently we are looking for someone with sewing skills to help us create one very special costume. Please speak to me or your childs' teacher that you would be willing to make this very appreciated contribution.

Many thanks,
Mrs. Deras
Drama Teacher

JKs
We spent our time in class going over blocking - what happens in the play on stage and in what order.
We also reviewed rules of behaviour, what is a play, when it will be, and who's coming to watch.
We then went on stage and listened intently to how we are supposed to act and when. We rehearsed very well and we are trying hard to do our best.

PARENTS: Please be aware that costume requirements will be going home soon. Please check the bulletin board and this website.

SKs
We practised blocking and pantomime. There is much improvement. Some of us are very convincing.
We are listening intently for our cues.

PARENTS: Please be aware that costume requirements will be going home soon. Please check the bulletin board and this website.

Grades 1 and 2
We were on stage today! We practised blocking and pantomime and our one very important line.
Rehearsals are in full swing and the excitement is in the air.

PARENTS: Please be aware that costume requirements will be going home soon. Please check the bulletin board and this website.

Grade 3
We were on stage today! We rehearsed our lines and blocking and facial mimicking of what we want to show. We must learn our lines by heart, but deliver them SLOWLY AND WITH EXPRESSION AND EMOTION!

PARENTS: Please be aware that costume requirements will be going home soon. Please check the bulletin board and this website.

Grade 4, 5, 6, & 7
- There was a pep talk given as some still cannont get over the fact that some have more lines than others.
- We started blocking JC.
- We returned to class and took down the remaining historical facts surround the period of history in and around the time of Julius Caesar.
- We understand that what we put into this performance will determine its outcome.
- We have stopped complaining (for now).

PARENTS: Please be aware that costume requirements will be going home soon. Please check the bulletin board and this website.

Pied Piper Production
1. If you are part of the production team you must stay after school on Wednesdays from 3:45 to 4:15. Adil and Sara are to remain until 4:30.
2. Check this blog and school bulletin board regularly.
3. We will be having extra rehearsals every Tuesday and Thursday from 1:00 to 2:00.
4. All students must learn their lines by heart except the narrators.

Julius Caesar Production
1. Check the blog regularly
2. Check the bulletin board regularly
3. If your core teachers do not need you and you have taken care of all responsibilities, your lunch recess on Wednesdays is now devoted to Julius Caesar rehearsals.
4. You must memorize your lines. Do this with friends who can help you deliver them accordingly. We will work on this in class as well.
5. Start asking your parents for large white bedsheets! One per person.

Best Regards,
Mrs. Deras

Thursday, May 5, 2011

Wednesday, April 27th, 2011

JK's
- We are continuing with following along quietly in preparation for the Pied Piper
- We had access to the stage! YAY!
- We are practising being cute children with facial mimicking only.

SK's
Preparing for our role of rats in the Pied Piper.
- we studied movement
- we studied pantomime
- we studied rules while on stage in this production: BE QUIET, TOUCH NO ONE, SCAMPER DON'T RUN, LISTEN FOR YOUR CUES

Grades 1 & 2
- We practised our blocking with the Grade 3's.
- We practised facial expressions and gestures.

Grade 3
- We read through our parts and furthered elocution.
- We practised initial blocking with the Grade 1s and 2s.

Grades 4, 5, 6, & 7
- We received the script for Julius Caesar.
- We discussed character building and power plays.
- We took down history notes on the times surrounding Caesar.
- We complained much about getting "good" parts.
- We discussed that a "good part" could have only one line.

Pied Piper Production

- We must have meetings after school on Wednesdays with the entire production team.
- Permission forms will be going home shortly. Parents are to sign and return the bottom portion.
- You can communicate with me via the PIED PIPER PRODUCTION BOOK which should always be in Josiah's care.

Julius Caesar Production
- Scripts were handed out
- Roles are being determined

All Communicaton will be POSTED on the BULLETIN BOARD - therefore READ IT!!!

Wednesday, May 4, 2011

Wednesday, April 20th, 2011

SCIENCE FAIR!!! Way to go future chemists and physicists!

SK's and Grades 5,6, and 7
Due to science fair, most of drama was cancelled.

The SK's rehearsed more stage positioning, grouping, and scampering in preparation for the Pied Piper.

The older grades had a mini-history lesson in preparation for the upcoming performance of Julius Caesar.

Grades 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7 must come to class prepared with scripts, pencils, erasers, and highlighters!

Best Regards,
Mrs. Deras

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Classroom & Theatre Rules determined by the Grade 3's

In the Classroom

1. Have Fun!
2. Always be helpful to your classmates, fellow actors, your teacher.
3. Always listen to the director.
4. Always follow the director's instructions, not your friends'.
5. Speak only when it's your turn, by first raising your hand to show you have something to say.
6. Pay attention - you never know when something might change or it'll be your turn.
7. Be respectful to everyone by listening, waiting, supporting, not laughing or teasing (unless they're trying to be funny).

Backstage Rules (when Acting!)

1. Don't crowd the entrance.
2. Respect everyone's place.
3. Only one person on the stairs at any time.
4. Follow along so you don't forget to come on stage when it's your turn.
5. BE QUIET!

Theatre Etiquiette (Parents PLEASE Read - your kids expect this of you.)

1. Turn off cell phones and all electronic devices.
2. No talking.
3. Please leave the auditorium if your baby or child makes any noise - even little peeps you think are cute - we don't; they're distracting.
4. Sit properly; don't adjust chairs as they make noise.
5. No gum chewing or eating or drinking.
6. No waving! We are concentrating, not looking for you. Besides, you make us nervous.
7. Do not kick the seat in front of you.
8. NO FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY! - it really hurts our eyes and can make us forget our lines.

Any complaints - please see the SJA Grade 3 class!

CHRISTMAS CONCERT COSTUMES

JK's A (Ms. H)
- all children must be dressed as WHITE lambs/sheep

JK's B (Ms. P)
- all children must be dressed in pajamas (robes or housecoats are okay, but children must be able to tie belts) slippers are okay too

JK B/SK (Ms. G's)
- every child was sent home with a note regarding their costume in their agenda
- please contact Ms. Genco or me As Soon As Possible if there are any problems

SK (Ms. M's)
- most children will be dressed as WHITE lambs/sheep - ears, tails, and fluff from cotton balls
- those children playing the roles of Abigail, Joshua, and the shepherds have had notes sent home

Gr.1 and 2
- your children must wear angel costumes - ALL white robes or dresses, white shoes or socks, halos, wings, they may have silver and/or gold colours.

Gr. 3
GIRLS
- green or yellow summer clothes: e.g. shorts, leggins, tank tops, t-shirts, NO SWEAT PANTS or SWEAT SHIRTS.
- there will be a grass skirt going over whatever you are wearing - girls NO POOFY dresses - you have to dance in this!
- Shoes MUST be comfortable for dancing. Hair may be done in a funky style with lots of colour, but nothing crazy - it needs to look nice.
BOYS
- soccer outfits (you have classmate to thank for this idea!!) they may be blue or red shorts and T-shirts
- long soccer socks
- soccer type shoes
- green and yellow are still okay

Gr. 4 and 5
- overalls with plaid or plain shirts or plain T-s (no logos, no signage, no pictures); hard hats any colour

Gr. 6,7,8 - for drama you must do costume research - it is part of your summative assessment

- costumes will be different for all children; information has been given to your children - please help them to be prepared.

Joseph needs a beard and robes; sandal would be great;
Mary must be completely covered and plain; sandals would be great;
Angels must have large wings, halos, and white gowns;
Inn keepers must look like innkeepers from the period - boys should have beards and covered heads, as should our one lady innkeeper;
Magi must look like Magi and gold, frankincense, and myrrh need to be included.

Please check the next side-bar below to see our need for props!

PROPS FOR CHRISTMAS CONCERT

Dear Parents:

If you happen to have it, consider labelling it and lending it to our school - it will be much appreciated:

- FLAGS FLAGS FLAGs any nation any size!!!!
(Thank you Mrs. R for your 2 flags - you are the first!!!!)
- one parasol (not an umbrella)
- a stuffed pink pig
- imitation pastry - streudel - at this point real will work too
- a pony or stick horse (white, cream, off-white); large enough that a child could ride it (they will NOT sit on it, but I do not want a small toy)
- wings (angel and bird - especially bird wings and beak)
- a thin shimmering piece of white or light blue or silver cloth
- large material any colour

- several staffs (large wooden canes that shepherds use)
- a life size baby doll (that actually looks like a baby)
- jugs (ceramic or look-alike) for water, oil, wine (will be used empty)
- blankets
- fishing poles

I thank all of you in advance and promise to store and return it all intact.
Thank you.

Mrs. Deras

The Road Not Taken

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveller, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth;

Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim,
Because it was grassy and wanted wear;
Though as for that the passing there
Had worn them really about the same,

And both that morning equally lay
In leaves not step had trodden black.
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads onto way,
I doubted if I should ever come back.

I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I -
I took the one less travelled by;
And that has made all the difference.

Robert Frost

Divali

Winter stalks us
like a leopard in the mountains
scenting prey.

It grows dark,
bare trees stick black bars
across the moon's silver eye.

I will light my lamp for you
Lakshmi,
drive away the darkness.

Welcome you into my home
Lakshmi,
beckon you from every window

With light that blazes
out like flames
across the somber sky.

Certain houses
crouch in shadow, do not hear
your gentle voice.

Will not feel
your gentle heartbeat
bring prosperity and fortune.

Darkness hunts them
like a leopard in the mountains
stalking prey.

David Harmer

Dear Mum

Dear Mum,
While you were out
A cup went and broke itself on purpose.
A crack appeared in that tatty blue vase
Your great Grandad got from Mr Ming in China.
Somehow without me even turning on the tap
The sink mysteriously overflowed
And a strange jam-stain,
About the size of a boy's hand,
Suddenly appeared on the kitchen wall.
Mum, I don't think we will ever discover
Exactly how the cat
Managed to turn on the washing machine-
Specially from the inside,
Or how sis's pet rabbit
Went and mistook
The waste-diposal unit for a burrow.
Also Mum,
I know the canary looks grubby,
But it took me ages getting it out of the vaccum cleaner.
I was being good, honest,
But I think the house is haunted so,
Knowing you're going to have a fit,
I've gone over to Gran's to lie low for a bit.

Brian Patten

Sonnet 116

Let me not to the marriage of true minds
Admit impediments. Love is not love
Which alters when it alteration finds,
Or bends with the remover to remove:
O no! it is an ever-fixed mark
That looks on tempests and is never shaken;
It is the star to every wandering bark,
Whose worth's unknown, although his height be taken.
Love's not Time's fool, though rosy lips and cheeks
Within his bending sickle's compass come:
Love alters not with his brief hours and weeks,
But bears it out even to the edge of doom.
If this be error and upon me
proved,
I never writ, nor no man ever
loved.

William Shakespeare

Dramatic Arts at St. Jude's Academy

St. Jude's Academy Dramatic Achievements and Experiences

Monday, May 9, 2011

Wednesday, May 4th, 2011

Thursday, May 5, 2011

Wednesday, April 27th, 2011

Wednesday, May 4, 2011

Wednesday, April 20th, 2011

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