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Worthing Academy of Performing Arts

                       Milestone Assessment of Blog

COURSE: BTEC Level 3 Diploma in          

             Performing Arts (Musical Theatre)

UNIT/S:  Unit 1: Performance Workshop

Unit 5: Rehearsing for Performance

Unit 13: Contemporary Theatre Performance

Unit 14: Musical Theatre Performance

ASSESSOR: Rachel Maddix

Student Name:	Maisie Sheppard
Assignment Title:	Showtime 2013
Key Dates:	Blog Milestone Assessment date: 30/5/13 Assignment Completion Date: 9/6/13

Criteria highlighted in green has been achieved. A criteria that needs more attention to achieve a pass or above. Details highlighted in yellow are particularly important to you!
Task 2   The Rehearsal Process & Performance Blog Milestone Grades - Read each description to understand the differences between each one.	You have achieved
You have achieved P1 of the Performance Workshop Unit ·       You have shown evidence that you have used research to identify possibilities for development. ·       You could have been more adventurous in your use of material. For M1 of the Performance Workshop Unit ·       You considered a number of possibilities for the development of your character based on the scripted dialogue and your own research and used an original creative approach. To achieve D1 of the Performance Workshop Unit ·       You explored in a detailed and insightful manner the development of your character based on the scripted dialogue and your own research source materials. ·       You have shown evidence in your blog of a number of possibilities/ideas and have included those you have not been afraid of rejecting some along the way. ·       You were also able to explain the thought processes behind your choices in a thorough manner.	Merit
For P1 of the Musical Theatre Unit ·       You have been able to discuss your roles but provided little explanation of how or why you arrived at these decisions. ·       You gave some explanation but it is not detailed enough or consistently maintained. For M1 of the Musical Theatre Unit ·       You have explained the reasons for the decisions you have made about your roles, based on the text, research and on the rehearsal process. ·       You have been able to explain how you have arrived at their decisions. ·       You have occasionally used research and some evidence of analysis. For D1 of the Musical Theatre Unit, ·       You have carried out relevant research into your roles both ‘on the text’ and ‘off the text’. ·       You have used secondary sources which have been analysed to support your interpretation. ·       You have demonstrated a consistently informed approach to your understanding. ·       Your artistic and intellectual decisions about the roles are fully supported by  reasoned arguments based on evidence from the text, the performer’s intuition and other sources. ·       You use appropriate language and terminology confidently and accurately.	Merit
For P3 of the Rehearsing Unit, ·       You have provided evidence that you have researched beyond the play script into relevant social, historical, cultural contexts and performance methods/techniques. ·       You have provided evidence of how you have developed your role using the research, in your blog and in rehearsal discussions. To achieve M3 of the Rehearsing Unit, ·       You have made effective use of your research findings into relevant social, historical, cultural contexts and performance methods/techniques. ·       You have provided evidence of how you were able to reach clear and valid conclusions about interpretation and the choices you made when developing your role and application of techniques, etc. in your blog and in rehearsal discussions. For D3 of the Rehearsing Unit, ·       In your blog you have shown strong awareness of how to use/apply research findings which are highly relevant to the role/production. ·       You have written clearly about your progression in both roles and the performance skills you used. ·       You have made clear references to research findings, both in physical rehearsal activities, and class discussions. You have supported your ideas with notes and analysis in your rehearsal blog. ·       You have shown imagination in your use and application of research, you have included less obvious forms of research or research findings, and/or provided additional insight or fresh and unusual interpretations for the performance.	Pass
To achieve P4 of the Performance Workshop Unit ·       You have identified what went well and less well and made some suggestions as to how the work might be further developed throughout your blog. ·       The suggestions however, could be more specific, detailed and include examples. For M4 of the Performance Workshop Unit ·       Your blog includes discussion on the potential of the work making reference to specific examples from the work produced. To achieve D4 of the Performance Workshop Unit ·       You really weigh up the potential of the work and make judgements about the feasibility of further development. ·       You use well-chosen examples from the work	Merit
Learners achieving P1 of the Contemporary Theatre Performance Unit, ·       You have have conducted some research into the two play texts, noting the main themes and style of the plays. ·       There is little evidence of any concerns over the relevance for interpretation for the audience. To achieve M1 of the Contemporary Theatre Performance Unit ·       You have included some evidence of practical research and understood the relevance of the themes of each of the plays to the audience. ·       You have included cultural, social and political content. ·       You have understood the style of the plays and the implications for acting style and design. To achieve D1of the Contemporary Theatre Performance Unit ·       You have shown full understanding of the social and/or political purpose embedded in the themes of the plays. ·       Your ideas for interpretation cover all aspects of the aesthetics of the work in great detail.	Pass

16.05.13 - Final Singing 3 Songs Peformance

Today we had to sing our 3 songs too Kim infront of the class. I did two songs from Tangled which were 'I Want Something That I Want' and 'When Will My Life Begin.'. Then I did a duet with Emily and we sung 'What Is This Feeling' from Wicked.

During the day we went over it a few times to make sure we had the harmonies right and characterion was good. I felt really confident about doing my duet with Emily, but I was a bit worried about my two solos, as im not a very confident singer. To overcome this I sung my solos infront of a few people a couple of times to build up my confidence.

When it came to the performance I first sung my duet with Emily, we stood on the opposite ends of the stage   facing away from each other, as the song is about the characters having an argument. I felt a little a bit more nervous when I was up their on the stage, as I don't usually sing in front of people. The harmonies went really well I think and we both remembered all the words. I think of could of maybe breathed properly in some places and I could of worked on my characterisation a bit more.

I then had to sing one of my solos, so I chose, 'When Will My Life Begin'. I chose to sing this song first as I wanted to save the best one till last. I sung it and it went quite well and felt a little nervous, but again I've never properly sang in front of an audience where I have stood up on a stage all on my own. I think I could of improved on my performance a lot more, by working on my characterisation and not mucking up my lines and forgetting them. I then had to sing my other solo which was 'I Want Something That I Want'. I felt this song really suited my voice a little bit more than the other one and I thought I would do better on this one, so that's why I chose this one to sing last. Again I felt a little nervous, as I had quite a high note in this song. I decided to just go for it instead of leaving it out as it wouldn't of sounded very good without it. I felt the performance didn't go too bad, as I really enjoyed singing this one and I think I got all the notes right. The things I could of improved on again was characterisation and maybe I should of worked on hitting that high note a bit more, as it I don't think it sounded that good.

Overall I felt really proud of my 3 performances and think I did quite a good job considering I'm not the most confident person to sing in front of people. I think my confidence has grew by so much throughout the year and I've definitely come a long way since the year before too.

22.05.13 - Rehearsals

This was one of the last days we good do a full run through, before the show. Fortunately we are able to come in the half term to do a whole day of rehearsing.

The main focus of today was to clear up any scenes that weren't that good. Also as there was a quick cast change recently I helped Josh on some of the scenes as we were playing the same parts. We started straight away by going over Scene 10, as I have never done it with the Dylan's cast before. We had to change some of the blocking as well, because we haven't practised this scene before with the staging. It worked really well  as before we used a chair in the scene with Dylan(Galieo) to sit down but instead we just sat him on the staging with everyone crowding round him which made it look more like everyone looked up to him. At the end of the scene I escape from the laser cage and get shot and die. Origanally I just ran off stage and you heard a gunshot noise to indicate I got shot. I think it would be better if I get shot on stage as it looks more dramatic and people can actually see me get shot. So we tried this instead and it worked well. I have to practise falling over on the stage and then there will be a crash mat next to he stage so I can just roll off. Also I think as its the end of Act 1, I think its a good dramatic end to the scene.

For the next few hours the other cast were rehearsing Act 1 and Act 2, so in the meantime I went over my lines and scenes with Megan as I've never done them with her before properly. Our characters relationship isn't suppose to be very lovey dovey, we are quite a chilled out couple. I have to work on being quite butch as I'm playing a lesbian, as I'm the more manly one. So things like the way I walk, my voice etc.

We both pretty much know our lines but we needed a couple of prompts. We kept going over each scene to make sure we knew each others cues and the blocking and this worked and helped us alot to remember our lines.

21.05.13 - Extra Rehearsals and Final Dance

Today we had to come in for extra rehearsals and Rachel started on my cast and Act 1. She picked out a few scenes that needed looking at. She wanted to see the scene where mine and Megan's characters get introduced and then meet Galieo and Scaramocuhe. This is probably the first time I've properly run this scene with Megan and with all the staging up. We both stuck with the old blocking and just worked around it with the staging. We also have a song in this scene, where we sing I Want It All. We have sung the song together a few times so it went okay. I think it was probably the best I've ever sung it and the best me and Megan have worked well together. I felt like my projection was good and my confident levels have risen so much, since the first time I ever sung it in front of the class. Rachel afterwards gave me and Megan some feedback and said that she was really pleased with the performance an she thought it was really good. She said it was the best I've both seen you do it. She said once you done it once you will be fine when you did it again next. Also a few people in the class gave me and Megan a lot of praise for it, so it really built my confidence a lot more and I know ill be fine doing it again.

We carried on doing Scene 8, where we later meet Galieo and Scaramouche for the first time. Again I've never practised this scene with Dylan and Mel(who play Galieo and Scaramouche) as I have recently changed casts. But again with the blocking we all sort of did our own thing and see what worked. It worked quite well I think as we interacted well within the scene. Rachel suggested a few extra things towards the blocking which again worked really well.

Scene 10 is only a song, which is 'Headlong' and unfortunately Rachel cannot find the backing track for the full song. So we only have the reprise version. As their are 4 of us in this song we blocked out a car shape, like we are in a car. Megan was at the front with the stirring wheel and I was in the passenger seat and Dylan and Mel were in the back. Rachel told Megan to do some random movements to make it look like we were in a car and told all of us to follow her. I thought this was a really good idea and worked really well, because it was simple movements and it was really easy to do that and copy Megan. I suggested to Megan that to make it a bit better instead of just bobbing left to right, also move all the way round clockwise at the same time. And just bob up and down on the spot and wave our arms around to make it look more realistic. Again  we tried this a few times and it worked it really well.

Today we also had to show our final dance to Sam. Mine is a street dance duet with Emily. We practised it over and over again just before we did it to make sure it was fresh in our memories and made sure we definitely remembered it all. When we did it in front of Sam we asked if we could practise it first without Sam recording us. Also Emily doesn't really like people watching her, so she asked if everyone could go out the studio. After we did it Sam gave us a little feedback. She said that I was really good and that I was born to street dance and she said that its definitely a distinction, which I was really happy about. She said to Emily what the difference was between me and her and it was that she doesn't seem very enthusiastic when doing the dance and not making the movements sharp. So we went away into the other room and I said ill go over it with Emily again to make sure she feels confident and seems more enthusiastic about it, before we got recorded.

After Sam recorded us, we felt much more better after we did in, than the two practice ones we did before hand. I felt it went really well, because I remembered all of the movements and felt really confident about doing it. I slightly worried about the chair duet bit, but that also went well and I did all of the right little moves. I felt that my movements were sharp when they needed to be and smooth when they needed to be. I think I could of improved on the slide I had to do when I got out of the chair duet, as I put my hands on the floor first and slided, as my knee hurt. But I could of maybe practised it without putting my hands on the floor first. Overall I feel very confident and happy with my performance.

20.05.13 - Dance and Rehearsals

Today would usually be our dance lesson, but we are taking these lessons as rehearsals too. Sam practised with the Year 12s, on the dances as they are extra's in the play(bohemians and yappies). Unfortunately as this was happening we didn't have a lot of space to rehearse scenes, so we tried to rehearse scenes outside the studio. I mainly worked on learning my lines, as this Wednesday Rachel would like all of us to be off script. I asked Emily to help me with my scenes. So she filled in for whoever is suppose to be in the scene with me, as the people who are in the scene with me were busy with production roles or practising songs. Going over the lines quite a lot of times is really good practise, because it helps me remember them better. I also helped Emily with hers as well as she has recently changed character.

Sam also choreographed 'Crazy Little Thing Called' for us. She set me and Meat up on the top blocks as we are the main singers in the group and Galieo and Scarmouche down on the bottom blocks. This is a very dancy, bouncy number, so I choreograph was quite simple and bouncy, as we don't have a lot room on the blocks as it is. There was a lot of clicking a shimmering going on too. We went all the way through it and it went really well and I was fairly happy with the choreography. All of the year 12s were in it as well as extras on the lower blocks, which looked really good too. As everyone was joining in as its a big dancy number, it worked really well.

Me and Megan suggested when there is a bit of instrumental, it would be a good chance to show off a bit and dance together down at centre stage as its about love. So we decided to do a few spin ins and spin outs and do a little bum wiggle. Then when it was Galieo and Scaramouche's bit, we ran back over to the lower blocks and everyone would look at them and be crouched down as its there moment to shine. This looked really good and again worked well. When it was the last verses we though, me, Meat, Galieo and Scaramouche should be facing all of the extras and they faced us and taking it in turns to say a line each. This worked well as we are taking it in turns and everyone gets involved. Then at the end we sing a lot of 'Crazy Little Thing Called Love's'so Sam suggested we just dance in our pairs, looking all happy and cheerful.

Overall I think today's lesson was very productive. I need improve on my singing for 'Crazy Little Thing Called Love', as I did a couple of bum notes. But I said to Megan that we can work on that together to make it really good.

15.05.13 - Rehearsals and Final Singing Back Phrases

Today we started by running Act 2, I was in this as Brit any more, as I died at the end of Act 2. But fortunately I can be an extra in some of the other scenes, like a bohemian. So I was in the bar scene where all of the Bohemians are now all zombified and drunk. This was quite a fun scene to do and I enjoyed it. Also Elle wanted us to be in the 'FLASH AH AH' scene, where all of the bohemians are being zapped. There a 3 flash ah ah's and she came up with the idea that we come up on the BOOM bit of the music to make it more dramatic. We had to come up and looked we were in pain. On the last one we had to go down like a thud, to look like we passed out. She then decided that the first flash ah ahs only the people who had lines come up and get zapped, as it goes well with dialogue. Then we only came up on the last one. I really enjoyed being an extra in this as well. Also I was in the last scene too and that was vaguely blocked too.

Also today we had to do singing back phrases to Kim(as Lena hasn't been in, as she's had an operation). We did some practice ones with her during the day and it was going okay. When it got to doing the feel thing and being recorded, I was really struggling. I wasn't the only one. Even the strongest singers in our class were finding it really hard. So I wondered why I was doing really well whilst practising, but I think it was because it wasn't just me there was 4/5 of us practising all at once, and it's a lot easier if you do it with more than one person. I was a bit disappointed, but we haven't practised singing back phrases at all through both terms with Kim or Lena at all. So I felt that maybe if we had, I may have found it a lot easier. Kim did a few recordings of me and some of them went okay. But she said that she'd have to see what Lena thinks of them and give me a grade back.

In the afternoon Rachel thought it would be a good idea to discuss production roles. She went round the group and asked us how our roles are going. Me and Emily mentioned to Rachel how the schools still haven't emailed us back, so Rachel suggested possibly ringing them up and talking to the head of performing arts. For some reason I found out I was out down for setting as a production role and Rachel said you have been part of that since we gave out the roles. I definitely remember I wasn't and I did marketing. It didn't matter anyways, as it's just another production role and I didn't mind doing it. So im going to be doing setting with Charlotte and Joey(from Year 12). Rachel asked to look at what we could do with canvas at the back of the stage and come up with ideas amongst ourselves.

14.05.13 - Extra Rehearsals

Today we found out about all the cuts that Rachel has made, unfortunately. She has cut 'Hammer To Fall' and 'We Are The Champions'. A lot of people weren't happy with these two songs, especially 'We Are The Champions' as it's a big song and very popular one. Rachel didn't think these songs were very relevant in the scenes the scenes they were and didn't make sense. She also cut 'No One But You' and Megan wasn't very happy with this at all, as she practised this song more than any other songs. She felt she could really prove herself with this song and sing it really well. I supported her and said it will be okay as you can still really prove yourself in 'I Want It All', as its a very powerful song. Rachel considered cutting 'I Want It All', but she ended up cutting 'No On But You' instead. Again she thought it wasn't relevant in the scene it was. Rachel also told us about some other cuts she made in Act 2 Scene 10, but she only cut some dialogue we she didn't think was needed.

I rehearsed a lot of songs with Megan after hearing about all the cuts and tried to cheer her up a bit. We were getting a lot better at our songs we practised and a lot more confident.