Catch up Post!

This is my Semester Wrap-Up post, which is much needed.

First of all, the traditional end-of-semester photographs:


Back Row: Iceman, Wifey, Big Show, Two-Shots-Up, Thrill, Killer
Front Row: Newbie, D-Train, O.D., Angela, All-The-Way


Back Row: Iceman, Wifey, Big Show, Two-Shots-Up, Thrill, Killer
Front Row: Newbie, D-Train, O.D., Angela, All-The-Way


MUSICAL THEATRE WORKSHOP
When we started our workshop Sunday, David started by talking about what his goals were for us. He talked about watching Maria Callas on YouTube, and then watching Joan Sutherland. Or Ella Fitzgerald versus Billie Holliday. He wanted us to be able to act the song, like Frank Sinatra (whom David considers to be the greatest pop singer of the 20th century, because he's so human in his music).

A sampling of the notes I took during the workshop:
- Mike Nichols says he directs a scene by summing it up in one sentence beforehand.
- We don't really want to see a character, as much as we want to see a person being real and being themselves.
- You have to find the character before anything happens. During the musical introduction, don't just sit there waiting to sing. Be alive.
- Try to never need the director.
- Use every part of the song. Don't waste any moments. Just like the Inuits use the whale.
- Don't be afraid of going too far. Most people are so afraid that they don't go far enough.
- If you go to NYC to be an actor, look into Actor's Connection, One-On-One, and The Network. They do actually get people work.
- Just look for the conflicts, and your work is done for you.
- Before an audition, do your pieces before a few people, and tell them you don't want any feedback except for, "You're great!"

It was an incredible experience, just like last year was. Thanks, David!


Back Row: 1st-Year BB, D-Train, Iceman, 1st-Year JaS, Wifey, 1st-Year JoS, 1st-Year MD, 1st-Year GK, 1st-Year JMM, Newbie, Angela
Middle Row: Killer, Thrill, 1st-Year LB, Two-Shots-Up
Front Row: All-The-Way, David, O.D., Music Director


Back Row: Angela, Big Show, Wifey, 1st-Year TS, 1st-Year KC, 1st-Year BB, 1st-Year JoS
Middle Row: 1st-Year JMM, David, 1st-Year AS, Music Director, 1st-Year GP, 1st-Year SDW, 1st-Year GK
Front Row: O.D., Iceman, D-Train, Two-Shots-Up, Killer, 1st-Year MD, Newbie, All-The-Way


I'm not even going to try to explain who is who in this one. :)


ASSESSMENTS
My assessments went very well. At one point, Head of Program said, "Angela, you are the perfect student." ;)

Things I need to work on in my *gasp* last semester of classes will include:
- develop a greater sense of feminine refinement
- work with subtler choices and nuance
- work on "characters who aren't so sure of themselves, who don't have all the answers, or who are out of balance"
- increase overall strength and awareness of what my body is doing, specifically with my limbs
- continue to focus on not locking my knees


ACTING
I have an assignment due next Tuesday that I've barely started on... Whoops. It's called "The Monologue Workbook". It has several steps, including...

Gettings Started: Put the monologue in context (i.e. read the entire play from which your monologue comes)

1. Clarify Meanings (look up definitions of all words in monologue)

2. Paraphrasing (maintaining the structure/syntax/punctuation of the original monologue -- including same parts of speech --
paraphrase entire monologue... we must account for every word)

3. Scansion & Breathing (on 1st copy of the monologue and scan the entire thing, as well as intended breathing points)

4. First Acting Concerns (on the 2nd copy)
a. Explain the inciting incident (in the form of dialogue, if possible)
b. Note your need in one simple statement
c. Divide the monologue into actor beats
d. Identify specific, non-intellectual doings for each beat
e. Explain the consequences of failing to get your need met
f. Describe your dream ending

5. Finding Antithesis (on 3rd copy, circle each thesis and antithesis and connect with a line, using a different color for each pair)

6. Finding Alliteration (on 4th copy)

7. Finding Assonance (on 5th copy)

8. Other Verbal Devices (on 6th copy, point out historic rhymes, end rhymes, puns, bawdy, oxymoron, paradox, repetition, personification, apostrophe, and asides)

9. Analyzing Imagery (on 7th copy, note imagery and show how it relates to the theme of the speech)

10. Point of View (on 8th copy, describe point of view on the world, and points of view on the persons to whom you are speaking, as well as point of view on yourself)

11. Literary Research (look at notes for several editions of the text. Write down top three discoveries)

12. Performance History (Check into the history of performances of your role. Write down top three discoveries)


As you can see, I have a lot of work ahead of me. But I think it's going to be fascinating. :)


LATE NIGHT: TUNES FOR TWO
The first Late Night (aka student produced theatre piece) of 2010 was "Tunes for Two", which was an evening of duets. It was so much fun! I sat front row center (as I like to do at Late Nights). I loved it. I hope I can be in the next one!