Dramatic Arts at St. Jude's Academy: The Christmas Concert and Rehearsals

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

Thursday, December 8, 2011

The Christmas Concert and Rehearsals

Dear Parents and Students,

The Christmas concert is ONE WEEK away. We are all becoming very excited.

TOMORROW IS OUR FIRST DRESS REHEARSAL. As the children are young, we need to have several "dress rehearsals".

Please make sure that all costume pieces arrive at the school tomorrow and are LABELLED.

Thank you so much to those who brought in FLAGS, but WE NEED MORE!!!!
Thank you to Cadance and parents for loaning us many props.
Thank you to Julian's Dad who fixed our horse on a stick.

JK A's - Pay attention to when it's time to get off the stage. When Jordan goes to the stairs, you must follow.

JK B's - You are not to fight over your spot. It doesn't matter what order you stand in, just stay put. I will be removing the stickers with your name. There will be an empty sticker. Just go to the next empty stickers and freeze.

JK B/SK - Please sing on stage!!!!! You know the words. You're doing great. SMILE and SING!!!!

SK - all those with speaking parts, your lines will be going home this weekend. Please memorize it better.

GR 1 and 2 - not bad, not bad. Practise the song because you sang the 4th verse incorrectly. Study your words.

GR 3 - not bad, not bad. Please be more energetic and SMILE.

GR 4 and 5 - it's terrible!!!! You must stay in character and NOT rush. Show your props to the innkeepers. Show them how to use it, and LET THEM USE IT. Listen to the song and for the love of Pete - pay attention.

GR 6,7,8 - stay in character!!! Don't look so sad on stage. You're innkeepers, and peacekeepers on stage. Don't force the kids to move, just guide them.

PARENTS - please read the entry below AND please read the costume and prop notes in the sidebars to the right UNDER Christopher Plummer.

Many thanks,
Mrs. Deras
mderas@stjudesacademy.com

No comments:

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

Thursday, December 8, 2011

The Christmas Concert and Rehearsals

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