Pickup and Photo Call

Okey Doke, Folks -

We are due to take care of a couple of key elements of the production process tomorrow: A Photo Call, and a Pickup Rehearsal.

A Photo Call allows us to document several aspects of the show for archival purposes...for history, as it were.  Tomorrow we'll get folk into costume for the start of show at 400pm, bring all show costumes up to the auditorium, and starting photos at 415pm.  At that point, we'll work through several key moments in the show that'll be good for keeping a record, ending by 515p.

We'll take a short break to get out of costume, and then we'll proceed to a Pickup Rehearsal...a chance to touch base on this li'l show of ours before we put it back in front of an audience.  After the photo call and getting out of costume we'll run the fights.  After that, we'll gather around the two stand mics, and the chorus mic, and we'll sing through the show with the band, from beginning to end, and then we'll call it a night.  We should get done around 730pm.  We'll have snacks, but no meals, so be prepared.

Rest up, 'cause it's back to the grind starting mañana...let's do this again!

- jm

Notes: 5/12 (as per Stg. Mgmt.)

From Elodie and Maddie:

- Arlo you're getting too close to Savy in prologue in the front line, Shay doesn't have enough space to get between you two

- Be careful of the blue lights on the floors backstage

- Aspen walk with the light in expelled

- Aspen more urgency in walk DS after Mrs Dodds does all the Kronos lines (expelled)

- Crew and cast alike be careful of cyc

-Aspen you need to move the sword even more like a lightsaber, and make the noises more lightsaber-y

-Be very careful of swords backstage, they are either on the table or on your side pointed to the ground (can't believe we have to say don't swing them backstage)

-the flags were facing the wrong way (Katie and Koji)

- keep adlibs going in campfire, there are a bunch of awkward silences 

- Everyone should be adlibbing for Percy to take his turn, only savy is doing it right now

- Aspen cover your mouth after you speak latin, that's a deep shock to you

-PROJECT

- Brooks stop fidgeting on pantheon

- Oliver the line is "Underworld", that's it 

- River wait for the music to die down a bit before bus driver line, caldwell can cue you

- Again, be very aware of your swords, if you have a big sword put it pointing down when you're backstage

- Aspen take the backpack off the second you get on the motorcycle

- Final chorus of drive the line is "Stay ahead and don't get dead"

- Ellen sort out weirdest dream rep.

- Arlo in tree on the hill the line is "By the time we found the hill" not "By the time we found the tree"

- Anja when saying read the sign point out to the audience, right now you're pointing at a blank wall that we can't put a sign on

-Arlo we need more dramatics in the Ares fight 

-Brenden I love the theatrics but if it's too much it's distracting from the focal points, this happened a lot in campfire and bring on the monsters

Notes - 5/8

Notes -  5/8

It seems like a lot, but this is the nit-picky, tweaky stuff…we’re past basics.  You’re doing incredibly!

Notes for me:

Lighting - Focus the house lights for the side seats

Scenic - Dress the tertiary ladder for masking.

Sound - Isolate the Hum on the Capture The Flag transition

Scenic - Dress the power strip cable on 1LX that is visible

Costume - Chitons to redo: Savy, Felix

Me - Dim the Campfire Slide so it looks like night

Me - Quiet the waves under the lake scene.

Me - Explore a different way to don the Chitons up top

Me - Email the PTAs about the show

Me - Deal with the end of the Ares fight, cue-wise

Me - Stage the Curtain Call and the finish to Bring on the Monsters, and work the opening dance

Aidyn - Fight Call?  Weapon Checkout?  Late?  Can we fix these things?

Actors - Chitons are to be worn with the belt at your natural waist (3 fingers below your belly button), not at the hip

Actors - Chitons should be closed on both sides (to the extent possible).  Check with someone before you go out to make sure it’s set.  Also, Pantheon should always have masks on Olympus.

Pantheon - You can engage with each other during the preshow…just keep it very heightened and stylized

Arlo - Performance energy from the opening…no uncertainly looking around the stage

Prologue - We need to run the opening several times

Pantheon - Let’s talk about what I mean by ‘intentional, formal movement’....we were very casual a lot

Pantheon - Take some time to practice getting in and out of the Chitons

SMs - We need to spike the 1st chair entrance so that Maddie’s in the light for ‘Kronos’

Noise backstage #1 (I’m trying to decide what the penalty is for every time I hear backstage noise.  Shouldn’t ever hear any)

Maddie - You can’t look backwards on the way to get your wings

Elodie - We need to build the Pantheon into the ‘Day I Got Expelled’ cues 

Orie - Motivate ‘yeah, I know about that’...don’t rush the cue.  Wait for her reaction to your first line.

Asp/El - Good job on Strong, even with the booming surf 🙂

Perses - Way too slow on the sword coming out for the Minotaur

Ella - That is a DEATH…everyone, do THAT!

Sabina - Perfect entrance for Weirdest Dream

SMs - Who’s assigned to bring on Percy’s seashell during Weirdest Dream?

Kale - Great job vocally…now really dive into his utter resentment of being stuck here!

Aspen - React to the bullhorn being super ‘loud’ indoors

Kale - Use the bullhorn for ‘NEXT’...and it’s pee-knuckle (pinochle)

Kale - I’d like you to really be specific who you’re singing to on each line!  You’re killing it vocally!

Addison - Don’t take your attention from Percy once you enter…focus on the awkwardness, not Mr. D

Oliver - Really talk to him…explain all of this from a place of understanding…help him understand

Maddie - You can’t cross your legs at the knee in a chiton

All - Rushed the Capture The Flag Transition

**On the Capture the Flag transition cue…test the hum in the system

Sabina - Slow down…your interpretation of the lines is spot on.  

Costume - Need basketball or soccer shorts for Savy

Fight - Annabeth/Clarisse was rough.  Run again.

Shay - What was so funny in the ‘Battle’ fight?

All - You are still hot mic just after the ‘Battle’ fight…no talking

Savy - Much better attitude once you got to the bathroom…absolute mean-girl-jock!

Asp/Bax - Work the water toss…

Savy - Make sure to take Aspen’s sword off 

Noise backstage #2

SMs - How do we get Luke a bowl?

Props - We need spoons for everyone…

Campfire Actors - Remember, your bowls are supposed to be full when you’re moving…Elsie, you dumped your stew over your shoulder at least once 🙂

Actors - Make strong entrances vocally…lots of tentativeness

SMs - Let’s dress the front row in black fabric

Oliver - Find your  end-of-campfire energy when you first meet Percy in the infirmary…it was great!

Laboe - Great Trident sequence

Kale - Don’t start talking until the rain fades out after the Trident

Addison - Slow down…your interpretation of Chiron is working

Kale - You too…slow down 20%

Aspen - Interpret the Latin as if you were saying ‘F*ck off’

Add/Kale - The ‘Reasonable’ joke killed again!

Anja - Practice the Cape

Addison - Don’t start the post-Oracle lines until everyone’s onstage

Aspen - ‘Because HE needs ME?’  Emphasize those words the second time

Aspen - Body energy to match your voice through ‘Good Kid’...and have faith in yourself at the end!

Elodie - Let’s pull the guitars back level-wise by a few points…you have the authority to make those changes live.

Aspen - Make sure to stay in the light for you…make sure the tip of your nose is lit

Remington - Is there a setting on the mics that if you’re quiet they switch modes or switch off

Elodie - We need Pantheon at the end of Good Kid for reinforcement

Chorus - How fully are you singing back there?

All - We are now under show conditions: No talking backstage (including intermission and preshow)

All - We’re doing well, especially when you consider where we were yesterday!!! Keep focused on growing and improving each time out!

Noise Backstage #3 - End of intermission

Costume - We need clothes for the other Furies

All - We need to run the bus explosion

Noise Backstage #4 - After the bus explosion

Costume - Felix’s Chiton is way too short

Athena - Face the other way as the squirrel

Aidyn - Why were you coming out mid-song in Lost, and not with the rest of the Synolo?

Laboe - Leave the lights down until Aunty Em has made it down the ladder

Crew - The Medusa head is visible from the audience…it has to be placed more hidden

Maddie - Justify the circling of Percy

Laboe - Great light timing on the end of the Medusa fight

Pantheon - More formal on Olympus…stylize your bodies; how would a God sit?

Sabina - You almost pulled your knife after the kneeling during ‘Grand Plan’...you have the go ahead to reference it, as you are tough as hell.

Aspen - Great job with Medusa’s head

Ana - Stay focused out as the Conductor…and come out sooner

Synolo - Box Handles!!!

Felix - Wait for ‘1939’ until the music pauses

Orie - Hell of an entrance!  Nice work!

Aspen - Don’t stand up quite so fast after ‘Pass Out’ on the bus

Aspen - Sustain your fear at this dream…Grover’s lines are comic, but you’re still shaken

Arlo - Ground your feelings about Thalia…

Actors - Only go to the Light Box from Stage Left

Actors - You can’t crossover behind the scaffolding…go behind the cyc

Actors - You’ve overcome so much, and you’re in a strong place right now…Seriously!  Now, look for those moments to invest: Physically in the formal Greek style; emotionally to the reality of their experience in-world

Anja - Yes!!! Big Bathtub hit beautifully!

Elodie - We need the Pantheon in this song too

Anja - Vaticun, not VatiCAN

Arlo/Aspen - More shoe action…sell us!

Arlo - The bag transition to the bolt was perfect!

Sabina - You already solved the problem…if you can’t join the bolt, grip it at the joint and make sure it’s straight

Abby - Hell yeah!!!  Nailed it!!!

Ella - Stand up straight on the platform…your knees were weirdly bent

Aspen - Well worked on the bag/seashell business…I bought it!

Asp/Sab - Find a joke in it when Grover says ‘great goatee’...play it off like he’s trying to grow one and failing

Orie - Remember the tweaks to the fight: Slower final swing

Baxter - Can you get down the stairs a bit more efficiently

Synolo - The head needs to come out a bit earlier to go to Poseidon

Bax/Asp - We need to tighten the cues during the dad/son conversation

Pantheon - This is a long haul in that position…don’t lose focus and get slack

Ella - Great mom-ness…until you broke 🙂

Aspen - How would you know what’s in the letter until you have it?

Sabina - Great job with ‘Seaweed Brain’...great intent

Oliver - Great ‘bad Luke’ transition at the lake…loved it!

Oliver/Aspen - Do you know what went sideways with the starts in Last Days of Summer

Arlo - Please tighten your return from chasing Luke

Music Notes from Chrisse:

EVERYONE: Great job tonight.  You've made giant strides, as Mr. Noel Coward might say.

Please sharpen up the diction.  You and I know the story, the plot points, the jokes because we've heard them a million times.  The audience doesn't know them, hasn't heard them and has only ONE CHANCE to get them.  Help them as much as you can.

Percy (and everyone)  - your path through all this singing is going to be conscious attention to your breath and preparation for phrases.  If each and every phrase is not fully supported from the beginning and the tone placed up in the head you'll never be able to keep the sound off your vocal cords.  Singing on the cords is what will strain and tire your voice and you'll have to push and strain even more to make it to the end.  Breath support is ALL.

#1 - Prologue - Percy - m. 47 "what" - you did it correctly but now let's don't let the audience see you counting.

#2 - Sally - don't swallow the word "stepfather".  Important character ID

#4 - Dr. D - please pay more attention to the following phrases: "Zeus's favorite wood nymph"; "relationship advice"; "Demeter kids"; 

         Chiron - "Mr. D" 

#5 - Percy m. 78 - flat on last note.  That's prep, breath and placement.

Diction: 

Annabeth: "not a lightsaber"   Also, A when describing Percy's ADHD/Dyslexia, etc., please slow down.  Hard to get all them big words!

can't remember who says this but:  "Zeus's most powerful SONS"  needs to be clearer, please

#7 - Camp Song - please make the "offering" gestures more clear and distinct. 

#9 Percy - get your breath under you!  It's ok to do the last 4 notes in falsetto.  It carries just fine with amplification.

#12 - Triad, that middle section of 3 part harmony.  Might be worth reviewing at intermission just to get it in your heads again.

#14 - A @ m. 97: It's "They" better wise up this time, not "You"

DICTION:

Poseidon: "It's his SMELL"

Dr. D: "cleaning Harpies" 

see you all opening night!!

Well done!

 The sing through last night was a huge step forward!  And it was great to be able to do it with the band.

Tell your story, clearly, with intent to make sure your audience get it, and you'll be fine!

Listen to the band to make sure your musical entrances are correct and in the right key.  Ask  Caldwell for help if you are having trouble with any of it.  

Diction, diction and more diction!!!!!  Get the ends of your sentences up!

Listen to each other in the choral sections.  If you can't hear, you are singing to loudly.  Allow the run crew to adjust the volume.  You don't have to shout - and you shouldn't.  

It also helps the audience when they can see your mouths.  Be sure to cheat out so 3/4 of your face shows most of the time in 2 & 3 person scenes.   

I adore you all and you're doing fabulous work.  This hasn't been an easy process, what with all the surprises that came our way, but you've all risen to the challenge.

Finally,  REST, EAT, HYDRATE.   

Oh...and have fun!!!!   See you tonight.

Your pal,

Chrisse the Wonderful

Prologue Dance - Video

 (from your fight captain/choreo maven)

Check out this tutorial video on the Prologue dance from your movement team.

DANCE LINK

Spirit Week Themes

 (from the SMs)

spirit
monday: hawaiian shirt day
tuesday: ares v athena day
wednesday: sm day
thursday: miller (!) day
friday: plate day

Show Week!!!

...and here we go!

Show week is upon us friends!  It's time to part the curtains and light the lights!

Here is the lowdown:

#1) Fill out your bio form before end of day, 5/6.  It's at THIS LINK

#2) We were short some crew members on Friday.  Run Crew: If you're not here on 5/6, I will assume you no longer want to do the show.

#3) Have a schedule!...

5/6 - Tech: Call includes Actors, Management, Run Crew, Costume (out at 630p), Instrumentalists (No Hair/Makeup, House Crew)

We are going to begin with mic checking the actors and loading in the band.  After that, we'll start at the beginning of the show and work from cue to cue until dinner break.  Dinner break will be at 630p, and will last for 1/2 hour (yep, you guessed it: pizza).  Then, we'll dive back into the q2q until we are done, or we hit 1000pm.  If we get done before 1000p, we'll run some things; if not, we'll address that on Tuesday

5/7 - Dress 1: Call includes Actors, Management, Run Crew, Costume (out at 630p), Instrumentalists, Hair/Makeup (No House Crew)

There're two possibilities here...a) that we didn't finish q2q and we are called at 400pm to do so; or b) that we did finish q2q, and we are called at 530pm to meet onstage and go into our preshow routine.  Dress will be clothing/weapons only (no hair/makeup), but we should practice getting in and out of our chitons/masks.  Go is 730p; Notes follow; Release is 1000pm.  Don't ask if that means you, because it does!  Also, remember: we'll have snacks, but no full meals from here out.

5/8 - Dress 2: Call includes Actors, Management, Run Crew, Instrumentalists, Hair/Makeup, House Crew (No Costume, unless you've decided you want to help run the show)

Basic run of show.  I'll be training House Crew during the run-up, so SMs will be leading the prep.

5/9 - Preview: Call includes Actors, Management, Run Crew, Instrumentalists, Hair/Makeup, House Crew

Invited Audience!  I'm planning on inviting a group from Rieke up to watch the show.  If you've anyone who wouldn't otherwise be able to see the show, please feel free to invite them as well.

5/10 - OPENING!!!

Wheee!!!

- jm