Rachel thought it would be a good idea to go over all of the songs for WWRY, as it's been a while since we went over them. We went through the first one which was Radio Ga Ga, which pretty much everyone is in. We thought it would be a good idea to break it up and do harmonies for it. A lower and higher harmonie. Rachel told us to go to one side of the room if you wanted to be in the lower one or go to the other side if you'd feel more comfortable doing the higher. I went to the higher one as I thought that one would be a alot easier for me, which it was. We went through the lyrics and decided where the harmonies would go. We sung it back a couple of times and it worked really well. Also when we go to do the dance as well, it will sound better as we will all be in different places so the harmonies with be mixed up which will sound really nice.
We only had enough time to go over and one of my songs, 'Which I Want It All'. To make it go quicker we didn't go through each cast, we just brought the same characters together to go over the songs. So I play Britney and so does Emily so we sung together.
Wednesday, 22 May 2013
9.05.13 - Singing
Today Kim told us we have a week until we show her our 3 songs, and that we will be singing back phrases next week too at some point. So we immediately knew this and went to practise our three songs. I practised my duet with Emily and it went really well and I was getting a lot more confident every time I sung it. I practised my two solos with Emily and she gave me feedback on them. She said I needed to practise breathing, and breathing in the right places. As I had a high note in one of them, I really worried about singing, but she said just go for it, I'm sure you could do. I practised a few times in Lena's room and it was going okay. My other solo was going okay too, and my characterisation was really good. I just needed to work on my characterisation a bit more on my other solo.
8.05.13
Today's lessons was basically blocking the whole of Act and Act 2 with the staging, as we hadn't blocked it before with the staging up. This was quite easy, as we already had a rough idea of what we were doing in the scenes we were in. I found it very helpful doing this as we could change it up a bit as well. Everyone contributed their own ideas to where we should be and it worked really well.
In the afternoon we worked on our production roles. Mine and Emily's job was to email the schools, so we thought it would be a good idea to do it today. As I already planned out roughly what I wanted to say, I told Emily and we came up with something together. Unfortunately some of the email addresses weren't on the schools websites so I rung the schools up and politely asked for the email addresses for the head of drama.
This was the email we sent to the three schools, which was Davisons, Worthing High, and Durrington. We were hoping Durrington were very interested as we paid them a visit when we did our TIE and because they are very drama based at Durrington High School:
To the Teaching Staff of Drama,
Hello, our names are Emily and Maisie and we are from the Performing Arts Department at Worthing College.
We are writing to inform you about our two matinee performances of the musical We Will Rock You - 1 on the 5th June and other other on the 7th June. We would love for you and your GSCE drama students to come along and watch either of the two performances. We hope to starts the matinees no later than 2pm, but we are asking if that is an ok time for you and your students as we understand there exams and other class going on.
If you have any questions please do not hesitate to email us back.
We look forward to hearing back from you.
And hopefully will see you soon!
Kind Regards,
Emily and Maisie
Worthing College
In the afternoon we worked on our production roles. Mine and Emily's job was to email the schools, so we thought it would be a good idea to do it today. As I already planned out roughly what I wanted to say, I told Emily and we came up with something together. Unfortunately some of the email addresses weren't on the schools websites so I rung the schools up and politely asked for the email addresses for the head of drama.
This was the email we sent to the three schools, which was Davisons, Worthing High, and Durrington. We were hoping Durrington were very interested as we paid them a visit when we did our TIE and because they are very drama based at Durrington High School:
To the Teaching Staff of Drama,
Hello, our names are Emily and Maisie and we are from the Performing Arts Department at Worthing College.
We are writing to inform you about our two matinee performances of the musical We Will Rock You - 1 on the 5th June and other other on the 7th June. We would love for you and your GSCE drama students to come along and watch either of the two performances. We hope to starts the matinees no later than 2pm, but we are asking if that is an ok time for you and your students as we understand there exams and other class going on.
If you have any questions please do not hesitate to email us back.
We look forward to hearing back from you.
And hopefully will see you soon!
Kind Regards,
Emily and Maisie
Worthing College
6.05.13 - Dance
In today's lesson Sam wanted us to carry on looking at the first opening song of WWRY, which was Radio Ga Ga. Mostly everyone was in this dance, so everyone had something to do. Unfortunately I wasn't here for the times we practised it, but I picked up really quickly. Plus Sam went over it with everyone again anyway, as it was a while since they all last did it. As it was the first time for everyone else to do the dance with the blocking, it made it easier for me, as I hadn't either. I was placed right at the front with all the Year 13s and all of the Year 12s were placed at the back. Then after the first half, all of the Year 13s moved over to the other set of blocks, which worked really well and fitted well the music as we had enough time to walk over there. I really enjoyed this dance as its very futuristic. I picked up the beginning and the end very well, I just needed a little help on the middle part, but fortunately I went over it with a few other people who knew it very well. All I need to do now, is learn all of the lyrics for the song.
Tuesday, 14 May 2013
01.05.13 DFTA FINAL PERFORMANCE
Today was show day! We were all really excited about doing it but also sad that it was the last time we were going to do be doing it. We came into college about 9:30am, practising all the way through the morning, perfecting everything, before we went off to Horsham. We did a full run through, with no stops and then rehearsed the bits we needed to go over. After that we took down the staging and stacked it all into Kim and Sam's car, as we were all getting the train up to Horsham. When we arrived we were showed to our dressing room and got told how the day is going to go. First of all the other group had a tech full run through and then we had one shortly after we arrived and then set up our stage. We then got told about all of the health and regulations. No running back stage, no chewing gum, no talking when your in the wings, etc. The tech run went really well. We had to stop a few times as it was a tech run. We had to stop on the jumps and that, because she wanted to see how safe they were. We found we were first on, which would make sense as we had staging blocks that had to be attached together. After that we then got into our costumes and started to get ready. We had an hour and a half before we were on and had a warm up. We did a basic vocal warm up and movement warm up. After that I made sure all of my props were in place backstage on our side of the table(as there was the other college performing the play too). Act 1 went really smoothly and there were no mistakes, which was really good. Everyone remembered there lines too. Act 2 didn't go to bad! Thankgod we didn't drop Ben or Danielle with any of the lifts! All of the lifts and that went well, apart from Danielle kneed me in the head by accident, but that could of been my fault as I may not have tucked my head in far enough for the leap frog. Unfortunately Grace remembered forgot a few of her lines, but Emily went to fill in and as she filled him Grace started to say it too. So they ended up saying it at the same time. But it worked really well and was quite funny! Act 3 went amazing too. Everyone remembered the routine and there were no hiccups. Ben didn't trip over and I didn't bump Emily so there was so accidents!
The other group was really good as well, and we were lucky enough to sit in the audience watch their's. It was really funny and I really enjoyed it. Plus they were able to watch ours too. They gave us really good feedback, and so did we to them.
Overall I was so happy with the performance as I remembered all of my lines and cues and the whole of Act 3. I felt like my timing went well and my dancing. The one thing I could of improved on was maybe tucking in my head more for the leap frog bit, so I wouldn't of got kneed in the head and at one point I dropped my sunglasses in Act 1 and didn't pick them up. I should of done really.(but in the end I did) I also really enjoyed and it was our last performance of the show! We got of stage and cheered and praised each other as we all did so well and thought it was the best one yet.
The other group was really good as well, and we were lucky enough to sit in the audience watch their's. It was really funny and I really enjoyed it. Plus they were able to watch ours too. They gave us really good feedback, and so did we to them.
Overall I was so happy with the performance as I remembered all of my lines and cues and the whole of Act 3. I felt like my timing went well and my dancing. The one thing I could of improved on was maybe tucking in my head more for the leap frog bit, so I wouldn't of got kneed in the head and at one point I dropped my sunglasses in Act 1 and didn't pick them up. I should of done really.(but in the end I did) I also really enjoyed and it was our last performance of the show! We got of stage and cheered and praised each other as we all did so well and thought it was the best one yet.
29.04.13
Today is our last day of rehearsals before we perform DFTA on wedneday. Today was to just tidy up things and make do a full run through and go over any bits we are unsure about it. We considered all of the feedback we got from the women and it went really well. Unfortunately with things like using velcro for quick changes, it would be too late to do that. But we found that before the last scene when the gang go off, we had enough time to change and come back on with our hoodies done up so the audience can't see the purple top. We also went over the animal taming routine at the ended up perfecting all the bits that we had feedback on or thing we thought needed going over. Me and Em made some other masks and made bigger holes in the eyes, so it was easier for us to see and not bump into each other. Also we rehearsed the little dance routine that's in a line and made sure we definitely all knew the timing perfectly. We all ended up feeling very clear about it all and got it perfect. The clowns perfected their routine and it looked good too.
We thought that the end of Act 3 needed to be changed as it was a bit of a boring ending. We origanally all came into the middle and finished with jazz hands, which is a bit of a cheesy ending. The music changes right at the end of Act 3, where we all come into the middle, so as we are all animals we should come into the middle acting like animals and all slowly go down to the ground. Then I suggested we should then all come up again slowly for about 8 counts and hit the ground on the eighth count and Amy and Ben should pop up through the middle, as they are the main stars of the show as they own the circus. We practised this in time with the music and it worked really well and everyone was really happy with it.
We thought that the end of Act 3 needed to be changed as it was a bit of a boring ending. We origanally all came into the middle and finished with jazz hands, which is a bit of a cheesy ending. The music changes right at the end of Act 3, where we all come into the middle, so as we are all animals we should come into the middle acting like animals and all slowly go down to the ground. Then I suggested we should then all come up again slowly for about 8 counts and hit the ground on the eighth count and Amy and Ben should pop up through the middle, as they are the main stars of the show as they own the circus. We practised this in time with the music and it worked really well and everyone was really happy with it.
Wednesday, 24 April 2013
24.04.13
Today we had to look back at DFTA, and we looked at the feedback from the women from the theatre. Rachel put us into groups so we can solve the problems that the women thought we had, then we would all come together and exchange notes.
These are the feedback notes:
(the writing in bold is the suggestions our group came up with and also other groups feedback)
- A bottle of alcohol (ideally plastic) rather than a bottle of water - a prop bottle has a big label saying 'wine or 'vodka' on it, so its more clown/circus like. - We suggested to take any labels off a empty bottle and write vodka in fancy writing and big and bold, so the audience can clearly see that its a bottle of alcohol.
- Once Zack and Missy were in their normal clothes they got a little lost amongest the crowd. Perhaps their costumes should stand out more from the school group. - They should wear colourful clothes and really bright, as you would expect to see lots of colours in a circus. We said they shouldn't wear black and white, and all of the school students should stick to black and white and obviously the purple ties. Another group suggested that Missy and Zach, played by Amy and Ben, should maybe get some hoodies with the words Sparks Circus(the name of the circus) written on the back in sparkly sequins.
- Make it a little clearer that they are outside in the first scene and that it is a private area so the young people should not be there. - We suggested having projected sets and blocks at the back of the stage, for levels. Also it would be a good idea to have signs that say, 'DO NOT ENTER' and 'DO NOT ENTER, PRIVATE AREA' and 'KEEP OFF THE GRASS'. Also we thought that changing the lighting would be a good idea for Act 1, so there is more a natural light look. Spray cans was also suggested by another group, for the gang to spray on the signs.
- Costumes could be sped up by either undressing or adding velcro or poppers to the costumes. - With the clown song we thought that we could have the first two buttons done up on the shirt, and the black hoodie over the top zipped up to the top buttons of the t-shirt or the other idea was take the shirt off when we go off just before the last scene and zip black hoodie all the way up to the top, so the audience can't see the purple top underneath in the last scene, until the Clown song. With the ties we suggested having clip ties or just to as above to make the transitions quicker.
- Place the piano/keyboard on stage so the actors can be seen. - We decided to have the piano opposite the drums on stage, so its a even balance between the two instruments. Also we thought it would be a good idea to have them raised on a small blocks.
- It is important all lines are heard. The chorus reactions and interjections were brilliant but make sure it is controlled and plotted so none of the narrative is lost.- We realised we do need to project, because when we are at the theatre we will have to get used to the space, plus it will be a lot bigger. So we need to make sure we are heard from the back. We need to also make sure we hear the audiences reactions before we move onto the next line or don't interrupt people from their lines. The kids follow the 'gang' so we need to show that in how we mock the laughter.
The company should be in agreement where the circus tent is. - To show where the tent is, we suggested having signs either side and maybe using the stage blocks as an arch on the left to show the big top and then we will turn it to the shows changing rooms.
As soon as Zack and Missy at the beginning go to leave, the youths should be entering the space. - We suggested as they start to leave the gang should poke their head out from the side and once they have gone, then walk out out into the space. The transitions for the two just need to be quicker.
- Practise rapping in to the mic. - I think as using the mic was introduced very last minute, we hadn't got very used to it, but the more rehearse with it the more we will focus to fit it in the routine. I think alsowe need to go to the mic do our rap and then leave the mic and some people are not being heard by the mic as they start to walk away whilst still rapping. I think I was doing okay with the mic, I'll just make sure I'm heard and it looks okay.
We looked back on Act 3 at our performance, so we can change anything that didn't go so well.
Act 3: In the Clown song we realised that undressing onstage was really stressful and I still wasn't undressed in time by the time the lights came and Kim couldn't wait any longer to put the lights up. The song went really well and the harmonies sounds quite good, but it could sound better if we worked on it a bit more, as it was very last minute, with the ukelele. The clown scene went really well and the when it cut to the dancing with the queen bit it looked really good. The clown bit just needed cleaning up a bit, as it looked a bit messy. When it came to the bit where Ben comes on for the animal taming routine he nearly slipped over, so we all suggested to him that he should maybe shows and not just socks. The animal taming routine went really well and almost everyone got the routine right, and the timing was really good. Everyone was really good with their different props and little routine when coming on. It looked really good because there were different things happening all at once and looked more like a circus. When the music changes we have to look confused because this is when the clowns come on and start causing havoc and tie us up. But people started talking when the music changed and we have to remember we are animals not humans. Also when we are trapped we suggested we need to make animal noises as we are struggling to get out and need to sound like it. Also when we escape we need to act more like animals and think of a way to get the rope of stage as some of us tripped on it.We suggested the clowns should pick it up, just before the run off in the pretend car. Me and Emily bumped into each other a few times as we wore masks as the eye holes are quite small. It looked really funny, but we need to solve that. I think we should cut the holes in the eyes a bit bigger. The little routine in the line looked quite good, but again timing could of been better, but we a lot more practise than can be solved. The only other thing is, we think that the ending isn't very good at all. Ae use jazz hands at the end and its too cheesy and boring. So we suggested we need to make it more dramatic and I think it would be good if we could get Amy and Ben in their somewhere(who are the people who own the circus in the play). Overall Act 3 was quite good, it just needs a few more twicks and we need to solve the points the women gave us and it will go really well in the final performance.
These are the feedback notes:
(the writing in bold is the suggestions our group came up with and also other groups feedback)
- A bottle of alcohol (ideally plastic) rather than a bottle of water - a prop bottle has a big label saying 'wine or 'vodka' on it, so its more clown/circus like. - We suggested to take any labels off a empty bottle and write vodka in fancy writing and big and bold, so the audience can clearly see that its a bottle of alcohol.
- Once Zack and Missy were in their normal clothes they got a little lost amongest the crowd. Perhaps their costumes should stand out more from the school group. - They should wear colourful clothes and really bright, as you would expect to see lots of colours in a circus. We said they shouldn't wear black and white, and all of the school students should stick to black and white and obviously the purple ties. Another group suggested that Missy and Zach, played by Amy and Ben, should maybe get some hoodies with the words Sparks Circus(the name of the circus) written on the back in sparkly sequins.
- Make it a little clearer that they are outside in the first scene and that it is a private area so the young people should not be there. - We suggested having projected sets and blocks at the back of the stage, for levels. Also it would be a good idea to have signs that say, 'DO NOT ENTER' and 'DO NOT ENTER, PRIVATE AREA' and 'KEEP OFF THE GRASS'. Also we thought that changing the lighting would be a good idea for Act 1, so there is more a natural light look. Spray cans was also suggested by another group, for the gang to spray on the signs.
- Costumes could be sped up by either undressing or adding velcro or poppers to the costumes. - With the clown song we thought that we could have the first two buttons done up on the shirt, and the black hoodie over the top zipped up to the top buttons of the t-shirt or the other idea was take the shirt off when we go off just before the last scene and zip black hoodie all the way up to the top, so the audience can't see the purple top underneath in the last scene, until the Clown song. With the ties we suggested having clip ties or just to as above to make the transitions quicker.
- Place the piano/keyboard on stage so the actors can be seen. - We decided to have the piano opposite the drums on stage, so its a even balance between the two instruments. Also we thought it would be a good idea to have them raised on a small blocks.
- It is important all lines are heard. The chorus reactions and interjections were brilliant but make sure it is controlled and plotted so none of the narrative is lost.- We realised we do need to project, because when we are at the theatre we will have to get used to the space, plus it will be a lot bigger. So we need to make sure we are heard from the back. We need to also make sure we hear the audiences reactions before we move onto the next line or don't interrupt people from their lines. The kids follow the 'gang' so we need to show that in how we mock the laughter.
The company should be in agreement where the circus tent is. - To show where the tent is, we suggested having signs either side and maybe using the stage blocks as an arch on the left to show the big top and then we will turn it to the shows changing rooms.
As soon as Zack and Missy at the beginning go to leave, the youths should be entering the space. - We suggested as they start to leave the gang should poke their head out from the side and once they have gone, then walk out out into the space. The transitions for the two just need to be quicker.
- Practise rapping in to the mic. - I think as using the mic was introduced very last minute, we hadn't got very used to it, but the more rehearse with it the more we will focus to fit it in the routine. I think alsowe need to go to the mic do our rap and then leave the mic and some people are not being heard by the mic as they start to walk away whilst still rapping. I think I was doing okay with the mic, I'll just make sure I'm heard and it looks okay.
We looked back on Act 3 at our performance, so we can change anything that didn't go so well.
Act 3: In the Clown song we realised that undressing onstage was really stressful and I still wasn't undressed in time by the time the lights came and Kim couldn't wait any longer to put the lights up. The song went really well and the harmonies sounds quite good, but it could sound better if we worked on it a bit more, as it was very last minute, with the ukelele. The clown scene went really well and the when it cut to the dancing with the queen bit it looked really good. The clown bit just needed cleaning up a bit, as it looked a bit messy. When it came to the bit where Ben comes on for the animal taming routine he nearly slipped over, so we all suggested to him that he should maybe shows and not just socks. The animal taming routine went really well and almost everyone got the routine right, and the timing was really good. Everyone was really good with their different props and little routine when coming on. It looked really good because there were different things happening all at once and looked more like a circus. When the music changes we have to look confused because this is when the clowns come on and start causing havoc and tie us up. But people started talking when the music changed and we have to remember we are animals not humans. Also when we are trapped we suggested we need to make animal noises as we are struggling to get out and need to sound like it. Also when we escape we need to act more like animals and think of a way to get the rope of stage as some of us tripped on it.We suggested the clowns should pick it up, just before the run off in the pretend car. Me and Emily bumped into each other a few times as we wore masks as the eye holes are quite small. It looked really funny, but we need to solve that. I think we should cut the holes in the eyes a bit bigger. The little routine in the line looked quite good, but again timing could of been better, but we a lot more practise than can be solved. The only other thing is, we think that the ending isn't very good at all. Ae use jazz hands at the end and its too cheesy and boring. So we suggested we need to make it more dramatic and I think it would be good if we could get Amy and Ben in their somewhere(who are the people who own the circus in the play). Overall Act 3 was quite good, it just needs a few more twicks and we need to solve the points the women gave us and it will go really well in the final performance.
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