MCS Junior Thespians Troupe # 88799

94. Another interesting costume link.

2009-05-14T13:04:00.002+10:00

Amy K costumes for theatre.

93. Another New LInk

2009-02-22T13:59:00.002+10:00

Here's another Elizabethan costume link. If you go there, you can dress Cecily, and make mistakes about what actually goes on in what order! Excellent resource.

92. New link

2008-10-31T09:32:00.001+10:00

Added this new link: click-a-dress, which is a fun tool for a quick dress design-Elizabethan/Tudor.

91. CNMI Competitions

2008-10-09T09:27:00.002+10:00

You can check out news and notices at CNMI Competitions about Thespians, NFL, NJFL, Math Court, PGFC, CCHLS and more, if you're interested.

90. Look for the MCS Junior Thespians at the Activity Fair

2008-08-12T12:10:00.002+10:00

Wednesday, August 13, MCS students will be attending an activity fair, checking out various organizations that offer activities and opportunities.

I believe that the MCS Junior Thespians will have a table there, with an informational brochure.

Look for it. Check it out!

89. ITS Festival Makes NYTimes

2008-07-30T11:49:00.002+10:00

It's true. A photo from the ITS Festival 2008 made the front page of the Arts & Leisure section of the New York Times (7/13/2008). The article, here, is interesting reading.

The writer, caught up in the glamour of the big shows, though, missed out on Team CNMI.

88. Publicity!

2008-07-22T13:42:00.003+10:00

Thespian Team CNMI 2008 made today's Tribune. You can read it here.

Edit. Also in the Marianas Variety on Wednesday here.

87. Video moments.

2008-07-20T14:56:00.003+10:00

86. Festival Redux-A few more photos

2008-07-20T14:02:00.005+10:00

Imagine! Some thespians hide from the camera!

Rehearsing.

Playing:

Conceptual art on display at UN (Bi-tunes):

The trip is exhausting, and the journey home long...

85. ITS Festival-Photo Redux

2008-07-07T17:48:00.014+10:00

These photos were taken by Anna Rose DLG. And these photos are heavily populated by Anna Rose, because she was taking them. If any one else has photos to contribute, please send them to me and I'll post them, too.

Have ukulele. Make friends. Moon and others.

Johnna and Anna, making sure everyone knows they're island girls.

Tommy break-dancing?

BTW, if you notice the dates on the photos...well, they're wrong. Sorry.

Moon and thespians from around the states, hanging out.

Myrene, and Tommy's mouth.

Anna, meeting another Thespian.

Anna & Tommy, practicing faces.

Anna and Reece.

Kay, with new friend.

Matt, in his tux.

The dressing room, before the show, An Evening of Culture.

Anna & Dayanara in costume for An Evening...

Jimmy & Victor, in costume, waiting for An Evening... to start.

Stolen moment, Victor & Reece, backstage before the show.

Anna, before Cinderella...

The Cinderella cast, pre-show.

Dayanara and Royze, at the airport.

Anna & Jimmy, at the airport.

Miki Nadia, Myrene & Anna.

On the way home.

84. 2008-2009 TWPI Season

2008-06-30T12:49:00.008+10:00

The TWPI Board of Directors met to discuss what plays to include in the 2008-2009 season. This year, we present a musical, and possibly will again present a junior thespian one act and a senior thespian one act in the Spring.

Although students and teachers are hopefully getting some R & R this summer, the schedule will be tight and busy when school starts. Because of the cost-cutting delay adopted by the PSS this year, school starts after Labor Day instead of in early August as usual. So we're looking at approximately a 6 to 8 week schedule for auditions and rehearsals and then staging!

The play will be THE SECRET GARDEN, a Broadway musical based on the novel by Frances Hodgson Burnett. The musical won 3 Tony awards and incorporates many elements we've been working on here in the CNMI-a Greek-style chorus, this time of ghosts; a simple set that may use backdrops or flats; and a full orchestral production.

If you want to get an idea of the show, you can watch this student production (from the French Woods Festival). Note the sound/dubbing is off in some of these, but still they give the full flavor! (And you can pick the parts you're auditioning for!):

Part 2

Part 3

Part 4

Part 5

Part 6

Part 7

Part 8

Part 9

Part 10

Part 11

Part 12

We're targeting the weekend of November 14th -16th, 2008.

Everything, of course, is subject to change (even the play selection). But for now, this is what we're thinking will be first up on our 2008-2009 production schedule!

83. IEs Are In!

2008-06-28T21:32:00.009+10:00

I don't have all the news, but I do have some.

Kay Park got 2nd PLACE in Costume Design! Oh wow! That is so great!

Miki Nadia Dela Cruz made the top 10 in Solo Musical. That field had about 56 competitors and is always a tough competition. Well done!

Both Kay and Miki Nadia were given special recognition with their names in the program at the IE recognition ceremony and awarded special certificates.

We are so proud of you!!!

The rest of the CNMI team did well, too.

MCS students first (since this the MCS troupe blog!):
Anna Rose Deleon Guerrero: 2 excellent and one good overall ratings. She received a total of 8 excellents and 4 goods. And this, despite forgetting the chair! Nice job!

Jimmy Baik and Victor Sablan: overall good ratings from the judges, who Mr. Easton reports were very tough. And they earned some excellent ratings in individual categories!

Our MCS Junior Thespians went to the ITS Festival, competed against the best HIGH school thespians in the states, and came out with very respectable ratings and evaluations! GREAT JOB!!!

Now for the rest (and I apologize I don't have all the details):
Four other students (besides Kay and Miki Nadia) got overall superior ratings from at least one judge.

2 more received overall excellents.

And 4 more received overall excellents from at least one judge.

(My numbers don't add up. Sorry) Mr. Easton says all but 3 students received at least one overall excellent or better rating. And the students who did not receive any overall excellent ratings received excellent ratings in at least one category on the evaluation sheets.

TEAM CNMI rocked!

Tommy Baik got 8 college auditions.

And ITS Festival coordinators selected Tommy Baik to operate one of the cameras at the Main Stage shows!

Oh, and according to Mr. Easton, the plays went "very, very, very well." The theatres were about 2/3 full (one seats 200, one seats 300), so more than 300 theatre students from around the nation (and the world-Australia and UAE troupes were at Festival) watched our CNMI students perform!

TEAM CNMI--great job all around.

82. A Little More News

2008-06-27T17:30:00.007+10:00

Team CNMI staged both AN EVENING OF CULTURE (FAITH COUNTY II) and CINDERELLA WORE COMBAT BOOTS. Anna says the latter got more laughs.

While some of the team were on stage, others went to see SWEENEY TODD! (Sheesh!)

The group has seen more shows, besides HAIRSPRAY, including ANATOMY OF GREY and PROOF.

College auditions happened, successfully (meaning callbacks! Yay!).

And all of the students are still waiting on their I.E. evaluations.

And while I'm posting about bits of info relayed to me (secondhand), there are some blogs and websites reporting directly from the festival, like this one and this one and this one.

81. Festival News & Notes # 15-the early reports

2008-06-25T12:41:00.004+10:00

The news is trickling in.

Team CNMI students have settled into their dorm rooms at University of Nebraska. They're paired up into rooms, but because there is an odd number (15) of CNMI students, one is paired with a student from another place: Matt Wheat is rooming with a boy from Michigan.

Monday, they attended the workshop on preparing for Individual Events (IEs). Anna recognized a workshop presenter from Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park (from attending a summer camp there a few years ago).

Matt Wheat is wearing his ITS/CNMI sash (a graduation sash) as a means of promoting his candidacy for ITO officer for region 1. It's attracting attention, which is good promotion for him.

Team CNMI attended the student production of CHICAGO. Some production photos are posted on the EdTA site.

IEs happened today. Anna is disappointed because she forgot to set the stage with a chair before starting, but in true show-biz fashion, she carried on and performed her piece (Forget About the Boy from THOROUGHLY MODERN MILLIE). She watched Miki Nadia perform her solo musical number (from AIDA) and reports that Miki did well. I'm still waiting to hear about the others. Evaluations from the judges aren't usually distributed until later in the week.

Tonight (well-Tuesday night Nebraska time, which is our Wednesday), CNMI students will be attending HAIRSPRAY, the production by the national cast. Should be starting just about now (noon, local time). Sounds like fun!

80. Festival News & Notes #14-Students Depart for Festival!

2008-06-22T12:25:00.011+10:00

Saturday, June 21, 2008, 13 CNMI students left Saipan for the International Thespian Festival in Lincoln, Nebraska. Yay! (Two more are already in the states, attending the NFL competitions first.)

Dora Borja Miura, SSHS math teacher, arrived early to check in and be ready to help with all the traveling students' check-ins. And she was happy and perky!

Students line up at 7 AM to check-in. (Miki Nadia Dela Cruz and Johnna Lubuguin, Royze Banados and Dayanara Flores, Anna Rose Deleon Guerero, Jimmy Baik, and Victor Sablan.)

MCS team members Anna Rose, Jimmy, and Victor.

The arty girls, Kyoung Min Park (costumes) and Myrene Evangelista (set design), juggle extra cargo at check-in.

Shauna Brown, another troupe director chaperone, stands in line with Moon Hyo Lee and Reece Brown.

The last ticket is handed off to Matt Wheat, who arrived on time, but was last because everyone else arrived early!!!

Front row: Johnna Lubuguin, Dayanara Flores, Royze Banados, Anna Rose Deleon Guerrero, and Myrene Evangelista.
Back Row: Sung Woo (Jimmy) Baik, Victor Sablan, Sung Yul (Tommy) Baik, Miki Nadia Dela Cruz.
Absent from photo: Moon Hyo Lee, Kyong Min Park, Matthew Wheat, Reece Brown. They were still waiting their turns at the check-in counter.

EDIT add-on. The press release I sent in made both the Variety and the Tribune.

#79. Festival News & Notes # 13-Break a Leg!

2008-06-20T11:54:00.005+10:00

Everyone has been given their costume and props for the Chapter Select and Free-Style shows. Everyone has been given a packet of programs and handbills. By sharing responsibility for transporting these to Lincoln, we save money: we don't have to pay for extra luggage or cargo to take these. Please don't forget to bring these!

Your suitcase may weigh not more than 50 pounds. And only one suitcase per person. One carry-on, too.

DEPARTURE: June 21. Please be at the airport no later than 7 AM, with your passport in hand. This will help avoid making our fearless chaperones worry. And you don't want worried chaperones!

WEATHER: In Lincoln, NE, the current weather ranges from low 60's to high 80's, and they're having and predicting more thunder storms. Bring an umbrella, if possible.

Please gather in front of the counter at the airport for a photo shoot before you leave. I hope to put a short news release in the papers.

Break a leg!

78. Festival News & Notes #12-Festival Schedule

2008-06-17T11:05:00.006+10:00

Hurrah! The entire Festival Schedule is now available here. And there's a workshop checklist to help you decide what workshops you want to attend here.

The workshops are arranged by category:

Acting
Auditions
Colleges and Careers
Dance
Directing
General Theatre
Movement
Musical Theatre
Playwriting
Teachers Only
Technical Theatre

I'll be perusing this and will get back with details of what I think is most interesting, but I encourage all of you to check it out, too. After all, I'm just enjoying the Festival vicariously. You all will be going there!

77. Festival News & Notes # 11

2008-06-09T16:45:00.009+10:00

EdTA has posted the NIES (National Individual Event Showcase) schedule.

OOH! This is so exciting!

Here's a summary of Team CNMI.

All NIES performances are scheduled for Tuesday June 24, 2008.

Schedule by Time
9:00 AM in Ferguson 113, Myrene Evangelista
9:15 AM in Temple 104, Kay Park
11:52 AM in Temple 104, Matt Wheat
12:37 PM in Temple 304, Moon & Tommy
1:18 PM in Ferguson 113, Richille & Ryan
2:08 PM in Temple 304, Victor & Jimmy
2:15 PM in Ferguson 113 Johnna
2:29 PM in Howell Theatre, Anna Rose
3:26 PM in Temple 304, Dayanara & Royze
4:24 PM in Carson Theatre, Miki Nadia
5:02 PM in Howell Theatre, Reece

And for another way of seeing the schedule:

Schedule by location
Howell Theatre*:
2:29 PM Anna Rose
5:02 PM Reece

Carson Theatre:
4:24 PM Miki Nadia

Temple Room 104:
9: 15 AM Kay
11:52 AM Matt

Temple Room 304:
12:37 PM Moon & Tommy
2:08 PM Victor & Jimmy
3:26 PM Dayanara & Royze

Ferguson Room 113:
9 AM Myrene
1:18 PM Richille & Ryan
2:15 PM Johnna

Also
EdTA is encouraging all NIES participants to attend a special workshop called PREPARING FOR INDIVIDUAL EVENTS AT FESTIVAL, scheduled for Monday, June 23 from 2:30 to 4 PM at the Studio Theatre.

*Shauna Brown is the door guard in the afternoon solo-musical session.

.

76. News! New Troupe Director for 2008-2009.

2008-06-06T15:30:00.007+10:00

I am so very pleased to announce that you will have a new Troupe Director for school year 2008-2009. MCS teacher Rommel Calcena has agreed to take on the responsibilities of managing the troupe.

I think this will provide students with better access to information and more encouragement, because Mr. Calcena will be in the school on a daily basis, unlike me, who as a parent volunteer only visits occasionally for meetings and such.

I hope that all of the middle school students will take advantage of the great opportunities the Junior Thespian troupe offers--a chance to compete against students from other schools, a chance to try new dramatic endeavors, and a chance to win a free trip to the International Thespian Festival held each June in Lincoln, Nebraska (at the University of Nebraska).

I'll be posting photos our three winning MCS junior thespians bring back from the ITS Festival this year, and possibly post a few more news & notes, but that will be about it from me!

Hope you all have a wonderful summer.

75. Troupe News-Induction Photos & Caesar "Review"

2008-05-31T12:00:00.006+10:00

TROUPE NEWS: Nine MCS middle school students were inducted as junior thespians into Troupe 88799 of the International Thespian Society. The new junior thespians are Sung Woo (Jimmy) Baik, Lourence Camacho, Mariel Ferrer, Hope Gomez, Angeliya Lizama, Andrea Manese, Victor Sablan, Josie Santos, and Ginny Wu.

Troupe president Anna DLG., and troupe secretary Victoria Camacho helped with the ceremony.

Troupe member also came to support the new troupe members.

The ceremony was held before the premiere of CAESAR, the MCS theatre club's feature movie. We had to wait at the AMP visitors' center because of a minor screw-up in their scheduling of events. SIS had its 8th grade graduation ceremony scheduled for essentially the same time as CAESAR was supposed to be screened.

CAESAR: The SIS and MCS administration, teachers, students, parents, and friends worked out an amicable co-use agreement on the spot--with SIS going first, and agreeing to be as quick as possible (and still give due pomp and circumstance to the 8th grade graduates). The film-goers agreed, for the most part, to hang out in the lobby and chat, not too noisily, waiting for their turn.

I was impressed with Galvin Guerrero's easy acceptance and acommodation of the situation. Hal Easton, who came as the Chapter Director of the Thespians of the Western Pacific Islands, said that theatre people know how to roll with the punches, that the motto "the show must go on" is deeply ingrained, so that even students don't lose their cool when the power goes out in the middle of the show (as happened recently at the Multi-Purpose Center when the TWPI were performing their two one-act plays!).

And as for my impression of the MCS movie CAESAR:

Wow! It wasn't Hollywood, but it was good for a student production. The production choices worked well within the context of the movie--choosing a gritty "film noir" tone, using light and dark contrast for drama, using modified, ordinary English for much of the story but putting the words of Shakespeare in the mouths of the actors and actresses who could best pull off that level of powerful drama.

I loved the music used, although the sound was a little sketchy at times (going to loud, or too soft, and occasionally causing the actors' utterances to be inaudible or indiscernable). Some of the transitions (fades to black) seemed slow, but other transitions (cross-fades) were marvelous. I loved the use of different venues in Saipan to dramatic effect.

The story is well-known, of course, being Shakespeare. I liked that Brutus and Mark Antony were recast as women, and there was a slight love-interest aspect between Brutus and Cassius (gee, I hope I got that right. Between Letition Cabrera and John Babauta.)

This version of CAESAR will not win awards, drags a bit in the middle, and is clearly a student production, but it is well worth seeing.

Second show TONIGHT (SATURDAY 5/31) at AMERICAN MEMORIAL PARK, 7 PM.

Come and enjoy the show, and then take in dinner at the last Taste of the Marianas.

74. Yay! Induction News!

2008-05-29T08:48:00.003+10:00

Finally! We've set the induction of our Junior Thespians for Friday evening, May 30, 2008, at the American Memorial Park. The short ceremony will take place before the premiere of the MCS film, CAESAR.

Tickets to the movie are wending their way to our new inductees as I write this. (Actually troupe President Anna Rose is handing them out at school.)

MCS Principal Galvin Guerrero is searching for our framed list of Junior Thespians (misplaced in the move to his new drama room) so we can add the names of the 9 students getting honored this year.

Unlike last year (when we held the induction inside Mount Carmel Cathedral), there will be no roses or candles, but I should have something appropriate to the occasion and venue for each celebrant.

So bring your parents and friends to the movie, and let's all congratulate those who've worked hard this year with dedication to drama and theatre arts.

FRIDAY, MAY 30, 2008 AT 6:30 P.M.
AMERICAN MEMORIAL PARK

73. ITS 2008 Festival News & Notes # 10

2008-05-27T10:37:00.003+10:00

Can't get enough? Want to hang out with kids from a different place?

Here's another opportunity from the Drury Drama Team:

We will be performing "Booby Trap", a short drama at the festival in Lincoln. We have openings for two small parts. One male and one female part is available. If you are interested, I would need a recommendation from your teacher. We will perform the play at the Carson Theatre in Lincoln on Wednesday at 2:45. You would be responsible to learn your part before the festival. We would have just one day to rehearse with you.I will be off line until June 2. Please contact me at drurydramateam@aol.com

Dr. Len Radin
District Drama Coordinator
North Adams, MA
www.drurydrama.com

72. ITS Festival 2008 News & Notes # 9

2008-05-21T08:48:00.003+10:00

Here's the promo for the ITS Festival. Obviously this was shot previously--as in ITS Festival 2007. Thespians of the Western Pacific Islands (that's us!) make important appearances: Look for a brief scene where the TWPI Thespians are on screen in their dressing room before their Chapter Select Showcase performance. And be sure to watch all the way to the end for those credits--more TWPI talent recognized!

ITS Festival 2008 is going to be fun, fun, fun!

71. ITS Festival News & Notes # 8-Chapter Select Showcase

2008-05-19T17:30:00.007+10:00

There will be some fun shows on stage at the Chapter Select Showcase. These are less formal, less polished productions than those on the Main Stage, but you'll still get a chance to see some talented students giving it their all in presenting a wide variety of theatre.

WEDNESDAY June 25, 2008
2PM The Compleat Works of Wllm. Shkspre. (abridged) by Adam Long, Daniel Singer, Jess Winfield. Performed by Troupe 3161, Owensboro HIgh school, Kentucky.

3PM Faith County II, The Saga Continues--An evening of Culture--Romeo & Juliet Presented by the Mieola Society for Cultural Recognition, by Mark Landon Smith. Performed by TWPI, Saipan!! (They've got this listed as an MHS troupe production on the schedule. But WE know the truth--it will be staged by our junior thespians! Hahaha! Those attending are going to think we've got the smallest high school students in the world!)

4PM A Doll's House is a Metaphor, by Patrick Greene. Performed by Troupe 1540, Parkersburg South High School, West Virginia.

5PM Honour, by C. Denby Swanson. Performed by Troupe 6055, Woodcreek High, California.

THURSDAY, 6/26/2008
2PM Final Draft--original script written and performed by Ponderosa High School, Colorado.

3PM Making Nice by Alan Haehnel. Performed by Pearl High School, Mississippi.

4PM Cut, by Ed Monk. Performed by Troupe 6325, Blue Valley West High school, Kansas.

5PM Crazy Eights, That Other Person, Baby Food, by David Lyndsay Abaire. Performed by Troupe 6641, Cypress Ridge High School, Texas.

FRIDAY, 6/27/2008
2PM Big Mary, by Mark Medoff. Performed by Troupe 6492, Community HIgh School, Michigan.

3PM 'Dentity Crisis, by Christopher Durang. Performed by Troupe 6730, Liberty High school, Nevada.

4PM This is a Test, by Stephen Gregg. Performed by 6338, Alma High school, Arkansas.

5PM The Zoo Story, by Edward Albee. Performed by Troupe 6977, Marion Franklin High School, Ohio.

SATURDAY, 6/28/2008
2PM Controlling interests (Terms of the Agreement), by Wayne Rawley. Performed by Troupe 5350, Westview HIgh School, Oregon.

3PM Instincts, by Jason Milligan. Performed by Troupe 106, Maconaquah High School, Indiana.

4PM The Compleat Works of Wllm Shkspr. (abridged), by Adam Long, Daniel Singer, Jess Winfield. Performed by Troupe 3676, Lewisville HIgh School, Texas.

5PM Wiley and the Hairy Man, by Alice Molter. Performed by Troupe 452, Clinton High School, Iowa.

70. ITS Festival 2008 News & Notes #7-Team CNMI

2008-05-16T15:46:00.005+10:00

I should have posted this much earlier, but in case you've lost track, here's a listing of the CNMI Team for ITS 2008.

Name, School, Category, Type, Level

Baik, Sung Yul (Tommy), MHS, Mime (duet),Performance, High School
Dela Cruz, Miki Nadia, KHS, Solo Musical, Performance, High School
Denora, Richille. SSHS.Duet Acting.Performance,High School
Evangelista, Myrene, MHS, Set Design, Technical, High School
Gutierres, Ryan, SSHS,Duet Acting, Performance, High School
Lee, Moon Hyo, MHS, Mime (duet), Performance, High School
Lubuguin, Johnna, SSHS, Monologue, Performance, High School
Park, Kyoun Min, MHS, Costume, Technical, High School
Wheat, Matthew, MHS. Film, Technical,High School

Baik, Sung Woo (Jimmy), MCS, Mime (duet), Performance. Junior Thespian
Banados, Royce, HJHS, Duet Acting, Performance, Junior Thespian
Brown, Reece, SAEF, Monologue. Performance, Junior Thespian
Deleon Guerrero, Anna, MCS, Solo Musical, Performance, Junior Thespian
Flores, Dayanara, HJHS, Duet Acting, Performance, Junior Thespian
Sablan, Victor, MCS, Mime (duet), Performance, Junior Thespian

Chapter Director: Harold Easton
Advisor: Wesley Foster
Chaperones: Dora Miura & Shauna Brown

Departure Date: 6/21/2008
Return Date: 7/01/2008

69. ITS Festival News & Notes # 6-What's Showing on Main Stage?

2008-05-16T11:11:00.005+10:00

EdTA lists these as the main stage shows. I've added links to help you figure out what the plays are all about (in case you don't already know).

Master Harold...and the Boys, by Athol Fugard, performed by The Westminster School, Troupe 3327, Atlanta, Georgia

Sweeney Todd, The Demon Barber of Fleet Street, performed by the Las Vegas (Nevada) Academy of Performing Arts, Troupe 5273

James Still’s And Then They Came for Me: Remembering the World of Anne Frank, performed by Roosevelt High School, Troupe 5832, Seattle, Washington

Little Shop of Horrors, performed by Pennsbury High School, Troupe 830, Fairless Hills, Pennsylvania

Rent School Edition, performed by Bradford High School, Troupe 4982, Kenosha, Wisconsin

Proof, by David Auburn, performed by Ryan High School, Troupe 1417, Denton, Texas

Noises Off, by Michael Frayn performed by Salina (Kansas) High School Central, Troupe 639

James Leonard Jr.’s Anatomy of Gray, performed by Blue Valley High School, Troupe 4847, Stilwell, Kansas

The Effect of Gamma Rays on Man-in-the-Moon Marigolds, performed by Randolph School, Troupe 4590, Huntsville, Alabama

The Diviners, by James Leonard, Jr., performed by Floyd Central High School, Troupe 1794, of Floyds Knobs, Indiana, and Silver Creek High School, Troupe 5151, of Sellersburg, Indiana.

Crimes of the Heart, by Beth Henley, performed by Tupelo (Mississippi) High School, Troupe 1949.

Chicago, performed by Pleasant Valley (Iowa) High School, Troupe 856.

I hope the CNMI team enjoys all of these productions!

68. Some How To Mime videos

2008-05-15T13:18:00.004+10:00

There's a new series of "How to Mime" videos on You Tube. They've been around about 3 months. They cover some of the same basics that Mr. Easton reviewed (like opening doors, lifting, driving a car, pulling a rope, a wall) with our troupe back in September, and add some other basic techniques (leaning, blowing balloons, sewing, brushing teeth, etc.)

So here are a few, but reallly, I encourage you to check them all out on You Tube.

How to Drive

How to climb a ladder

How to pick flowers

Enjoy!

67. ITS Festival 2008 News & Notes # 5

2008-05-14T11:36:00.013+10:00

Junior Thespians can look forward to college auditions when they are in 11th grade. It's never too early to be thinking about college. So here's a list of colleges auditioning at the 2008 ITS Festival, with their links. Check out some of these, just for fun!

*The American Musical and Dramatic Academy, AMDA, New York, New York
*The University of the Arts, UARTS, Philadelphia
*Chicago College of Performing Arts, CCPA, Chicago
*University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music, UC-CCM
*Cornell College, Cornell, Mount Vernon, Iowa
*DePaul University, DePaul, Chicago
*University of Evansville, UE, Evansville, Indiana
*Gustavus Adolphus College, Gustavus, St. Peter, Minnesota
*The University of Houston, UH, Houston, TX
*Kirkwood Community College, Kirkwood, Cedar Rapids, Iowa
*Lindenwood University, Lindenwood, St. Charles, Missouri
*Loyola University New Orleans, Loyola, New Orleans, LA
*Marquette University, Marquette, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
*University of Minnesota/Guthrie Theater,
UM-Guthrie Theatre, Minneapolis, MN
*University of Nebraska-Lincoln, UNL.
*The New York Conservatory for Dramatic Arts, NYCDA, New York, New York
*New York University/Steinhardt, NYU-Steinhardt, New York City
*University of Northern Colorado, UNC, Greeley
*Ohio Northern University, ONU, Ada
*University of Oklahoma, OU, Norman
*Otterbein College, Otterbein, Westerville, Ohio
*Penn State University School of Theatre, Penn State Theatre, University Park, Pennsylvania
*Rockford College, Rockford, Rockford, Illinois
*Saint Louis University, SLU, St. Louis
*Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota, St. Mary's, Winona
*University of South Dakota, USD, Vermillion
*University of Southern California, USC, Los Angeles
*Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, SIUE.
*Southern Methodist University Meadows School of the Arts, SMU, Dallas
*Viterbo University, Viterbo, La Crosse, Wisconsin
*Wake Forest University, Wake Forest, Winston-Salem, North Carolina
*Webster University, Webster, St. Louis
*Western Michigan University, WMU, Kalamazoo, Michigan
*William Woods University, William Woods, Fulton, Missouri
*University of Wyoming, UWyoming, Laramie

66. Meeting Notice-PARENTS

2008-05-13T14:56:00.002+10:00

There is a meeting for parents of students going to the states for ITS Festival, NFL, and NJFL.

Scheduled for Thursday, May 15, 2008 at 5 PM, at MHS Room 101 D.

Parents will get information about the trip, do a last check-through of paperwork (their initials may be needed on some forms), and get the necessary information about travel insurance.

Students--you need to have a parent attend this meeting. :-)

(Something like turnabout--as when parents must try to get students to go somewhere or do something...)

65. Congratulations to the MCS Mock Trial Team!

2008-05-12T11:59:00.001+10:00

Great job at the national competitions!

The MCS team came in 35th place, out of 42. This may seem low, but each of the competing states/territories/countries is sending its best team, after selective competitions. So 35th place is good.

The CNMI has been sending teams since 2000. We've come in last place two times (2004)(2005), second to last place once (2000), and 3rd to last place once(2003). So go KNIGHTS! You rocked. You didn't beat the best CNMI record (24th place in 2002), but you did us proud.

And a special congratulations to Letitia Cabrera for an individual outstanding performance, too. You can read more here.

64. Festival 2008 News & Notes-#4

2008-05-10T08:00:00.007+10:00

The big feature at the ITS Festival in Lincoln this year will be the national cast production of HAIRSPRAY.

Want a closer look behind the scenes?

The Cast:
Tracy Turnblad- Sdyney Magers (IN)
Link Larkin - Jeff Zicker (NV)
Corny Collins - Brad Frenette (MI)
Edna Turnblad - Cory Thompson (GA)
Penny Pingleton - Allysa Schmitt (CA)
Velma Von Tussle - Natalie Wisener (AZ)
Amber Von Tussle - Molly Brynteson (CO)
Seaweed J. Stubbs - Julian Crider (NV)
Little Inez - Tarshiba Clark (FL)
Motormouth - Tetrianna Silas (GA)
Wilbur Turnblad - Jacob Porter (PA)
Prudy Pingleton - Becca Stewart (NV)
Mr. Pinky - Abraham Bobo (FL) [unconfirmed]
Gym Teacher - Amy Lamkin (WA)
Spritzer - Josh Houghton (OR)
Matron - Marie Robello (WA)
Nicest Kids- David Rossenberg (GA), Sam Lips (CO), Daniel Berryman (WA), Travis Peterson (GA), Charles Osbourne (NC) [unconfirmed], Jordan Cambell (KY), Olivia Lee Cope (TX), Marlea Jenkins (IN), Taylor Aldrich (FL), Kelly Peters (TX), Alexis Turbin (FL)

Dynomos- John Shockness (CO) Joe Maddox (IA) Jamard Richardson (OH)

Dynamites- Katherine Thomas (WI), Aisha Jackson (GA), and Tia Pinson (MI)

Assistant Stage Manager: Nikki Graves (NV)

Other cast/crew members: Nicholas Burroughs (AL), Kendal Tolle (TX), Brenna Larson (CO), Matt Palmitier (MI), Alexandria Payne (GA), Taylor Recktenwald (IN), Jenna Reyes (CO), David Rosenberg (GA), Jameson Sanford (AL), Danielle Statuto (SC), Lamont Whitaker (FL), Megan Bowdon (TX), Molly Browne (TX), Dennis Culpepper (CO), Daniell Grothus (IA), Kelsey Korona (OH), Jeff Ryder (IA), Rebecca Sheehan (TX),

Here's a profile of the student chosen for the role of Corny, the tv host.

63. CNMI TEAM rehearsals schedule

2008-05-09T12:27:00.008+10:00

CNMI students going to the ITS Festival at Lincoln, Nebraska are REQUIRED to rehearse in preparation for the event. See schedule listed below.

Students will participate, representing not only your school (Yay MCS!), but also representing the entire CNMI. And because this excursion is paid for by PSS with hard-won grant money, students are expected to work hard to do a good job representing the CNMI (as well as have fun!).

Rehearsal schedule--starting May 19, 2008:
Monday: 4:30 to 6 PM (work on Individual Events Showcase piece)
Wednesday: 4:30 to 6 PM (work on Chapter Select/Freestyle productions)
Saturday: 9:00 to 11 AM (work on Chapter Select/Freestyle productions)

All rehearsals will be at Room 101 D, MHS.

Junior Thespians will be staging AN EVENING OF CULTURE, Faith County II, by Mark Landon Smith for the Chapter Select. If you were good, you were either in this, or watched it, at the recent TWPI production.

If not, you can read more about the play here.

See you Monday, May 19!

62. Festival 2008-IMPORTANT Notice

2008-05-06T11:35:00.002+10:00

Come to the One Act Comedies (see last post), and then...

Let's Get READY!!!

Festival is set for June 23-June 28, 2008 in Lincoln, Nebraska, but NOW is the time to get everything in order, from travel plans to production prep.

MEETING--attendance is required of all CNMI COACHES (oops sorry for prior mistake) attending ITS Festival (and also for those going to the NFL or NJFL competitions).
DATE: May 8, 2008 TIME: 4:30 p.m.
PLACE: mhs room 101 D

This meeting is for COACHES (oops, not students!). There will be a meeting for parents along with students at a later date.

61. Comedies-Theatre in the Round

2008-05-03T10:32:00.004+10:00

TWPI students are learning about theatre-in-the-round and will be staging two comedies using this structure. Come be a part of the learning process. $3 for students, $5 for everyone else. And ENJOY THE SHOW!

60. 2008 Festival News and Notes #3

2008-05-01T09:41:00.005+10:00

Getting eager about the trip to the ITS Festival in Lincoln, Nebraska?

Here's an interactive map of the college campus. U.N. Lincoln map. Study it, play with it, have fun imagining how you'll get from one place to another!

It's all happening the last week of June.

What do you want to be in theatre? in life?

59. Thespian Scholarships

2008-04-29T09:05:00.004+10:00

A note to the high school Thespian readers: Seniors can now apply (until May 7) for an EdTA / Thespian scholarship. These are available to seniors in high school who have at least a good academic GPA, have been admitted to college, and will be pursuing some theatre-related studies, either as a major or minor.

You can get more information here .

Theatre-relted studies includes anything in theatre, music, communications, drama education, and similar course-work.

The Thespians of the Western Pacific Islands typically contribute to the fund, as does EdTA. Students who win one of these scholarships typically receive up to $1,000 in UNRESTRICTED funds, which can be used for books, supplies, or other needs while at college. (Money is paid to the college or university where you're attending, and then accessed while there.) Of course, you can apply it toward room and board, if you want.

TWPI chooses the recipients, and tries to include at least two or three students each year as award winners, and tries to select students from various schools in the CNMI.

If you've done any drama work this year at all and you attend a school with a Thespian chapter (Mount Carmel Seniors--this means you!), then you may want to apply for this scholarship. When you're going to college, every bit helps.

58. Paperwork

2008-04-22T09:53:00.005+10:00

Oh my gosh!

It's time for paperwork to be completed for those going to the ITS Festival in Lincoln, Nebraska. There are forms for PSS, forms for the Western Pacific Region, and forms for ITS. There are a LOT of forms.

At least one must be notarized. And you need photocopies of passports, visas, personal headshots, your health/insurance card. You need a resume.

Deadline for turning these in is now April 25, 2008.

Contact me if you have questions. And don't miss the deadline if you want to attend the ITS Festival. :-)

57. An Evening of Culture

2008-04-18T11:06:00.005+10:00

The comedy that will be staged by the TWPI junior thespians is called "An Evening of Culture. The Mineola Society for Cultural Recognition presents Romeo and Juliet," by Mark Landon Smith. This play is sometimes referred to as "Faith County II."

If the title doesn't give you a sufficient hint, this is a spoof on small towns, community theatre, and the great art of William Shakespeare.

Can't wait!

56. Comedy Rehearsals

2008-04-16T09:11:00.005+10:00

Rehearsals for the TWPI middle school comedy are M-F, 4 to 5 PM at Room 101 D, MHS.

If you want to help out, come to the rehearsals. If you're in the play, be on time. :-)

Play is hopefully going up on EDIT: (not May 1 and 2, 2008) May 4, 5, 6, and/or 7!

55. Comedy rehearsal starts

2008-04-10T11:52:00.003+10:00

Rehearsal of the (undisclosed) comedy play starts Monday April 14, at 4 PM at MHS room 101 D.

There's still room if you're interested. Especially needed: boys on stage! Girls of course welcomed, too. If you have any curiosity about this, come to the rehearsal.

Directors will be high school students, with minimal adult bossing! So it should be fun.

54. Auditions-junior thespian play

2008-04-03T16:03:00.004+10:00

This notice from Chapter Director, Mr. Harold Easton:
Junior Thespian Play Auditions will be held on Friday April 4th from 3:00pm to 6:00pm at the MHS Studio Theatre. Be prepared to improvise!!!

Now from me: I encourage all middle school students to come to this audition and try out. This is a "real" audition--meaning not everyone will get a part, because there are limited roles. We don't yet know what the play will be, but most likely it will be a comedy (and not a musical).

53. Awards Banquet Photos

2008-04-02T16:10:00.015+10:00

Duet Acting:

Solo Musical:

Mime:

Troupe 88799 students present:

Absent: Victoria Camacho, Victor Sablan

I realized today that MCS Junior Thespians took home more "overall" awards than any other middle school! I'm proud of all of you.

A Summary of the Overall Awards won by Troupe 88799:

Duet Acting--2nd place (Anna and Mariel);

Mime--1st place (Jimmy & Victor);

Solo Musical--1st, 3rd, and 4th places--(Anna, Mariel, Victoria, respectively).

The awards banquet was fun--good food, lots of high energy teens, celebration of good work done.

52. Nice Job, MCS Middle School Mock Trial Team!

2008-03-30T12:44:00.017+10:00

The MCS Middle School Mock Trial team did a great job on Saturday. Billy Ocampo was the smart, organized, and persistent lead counsel, assisted by the commanding and prepared students--Carmen Borja and Rina Park. The witnesses, with great acting skill, were Frank Villagomez, Anna Rose Deleon Guerrero, and Victoria Camacho. The Mock Trial coordinators awarded certificates of recognition to Rina Park, Carmen Borja, and Frank Villagomez. Congrats!

Although there were no official "team winners," I'm glad to offer my professional opinion that the MCS middle school students beat the SIS competitors (Sev Tured, Andy Nutting, Chris Barry, Amy Hudkins and two other students.)

Here are some photos from the event.

MCS students, supported by the high school Mock Trial Team, break after a prayer before the competition begins.

The MCS High School team (coaches), eagerly await the start of the competition.

Galvin Guerrero and Joe Taijeron show relaxed confidence.

Grace Christian students sit in the courtroom, waiting for their turn. (The student in the middle is Stacia Schweiger.)

SIS competitiors (Sev Tured, Chris Barry, and ?) represent the defendant.

Carmen Borja and Billy Ocampo do a last minute review.

MCS team Rina Park, Carmen Borja, and Billy Ocampo wait, with witnesses Victoria Camacho, Anna DLG, and Frank Villagomez seated behind them.

The MCS witnesses get into character.

The opposing witnesses (Chris Barry, Amber ?, and Amy Hudkins) are all smiles, apparently unaware that "Frank Camacho" a/k/a Chris Barry is headed to jail!

MCS parent Nora Borja came to support her child.

Humanities Council director Paz Younis makes opening remarks.

Court official Glenn Mendoza lays down the rules for use of the facilities.

Mock Trial coordinator Teresa Kim explains the competition rules, while the CNMI Bar Association's Suzanne Steffey stands by.

Frank, Anna and Billy are proud and happy when the competition is over.

51. Awards Ceremony!

2008-03-26T14:20:00.005+10:00

Yay!!

The Thespians of the Western Pacific Islands (TWPI) chapter is hosting its annual awards banquet on APRIL 1, 2008 at 6:30 PM at CANTON RESTAURANT. (note, I've edited this post because of a change of venue.)

Ribbons and medals for the Regional Competition (held March 8) will be distributed. Ribbons and medals for the overall winners of the year-long TWPI Competition will also be awarded.

And of course, with those awards, we'll get a good picture of our TEAM 2008 for the ITS Festival!

The awards banquet is free to junior thespians (and high school thespians) WHO COMPETED AT LEAST ONCE in the 2007-2008 competitions, so I encourage all of you to attend. Most of you will receive some award! All of you deserve to celebrate your efforts, triumphs, and excellence!

Talk to me for more details, if you're interested.

50. Caesar Trailer

2008-03-26T13:45:00.004+10:00

It's called a "trailer" because, in the old days, a short movie clip of a coming attraction was shown after the feature film. Now, these clips are usually shown as "previews" before the feature film. But in the movie industry, the term "trailer" is still used.

So here is the trailer of the MCS film, CAESAR, now being filmed by the high school and middle school students.

I'm impressed with the techniques for using the printed word. Nice job!

49. The Popularity of Broadway

2008-03-21T12:07:00.004+10:00

Broadway is popular, not just with Thespians, but across entertainment genres. And nothing is a bigger crowd pleaser than the Broadway musical.

This year, at the ITS Festival, the big production will be the national cast version of HAIRSPRAY. Other main stage musical productions include CHICAGO, LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS, and RENT.

I hope that dance choreographers for Broadway productions borrow from the high energy hip-hop and modern takes on Broadway classics recently shown on America's Next Dance Crew!

Wow!

48. Festival 2008 News & Notes #2

2008-03-18T18:13:00.003+10:00

ITS Festival 2008 tee shirt! More information is available HERE.

47. Middle School Movie Underway

2008-03-13T10:12:00.003+10:00

Okay. Production of the script I wrote for a middle school/ junior thespians movie is getting underway! The script is titled "JIMMY LEARNS TO CHA CHA!" It is presently being reviewed by Mr. G. So look for announcements about this upcoming short film production.

We especially need extras who can skateboard, cha-cha, or do both! We need tech help. Artists, musicians, those with organizational skills, or computer whizzes--all welcome.

Want to be involved in making a movie or being in one? Contact me (see profile on this blog), or tell Mr. G.

46. SCRIPT FRENZY

2008-03-11T14:02:00.003+10:00

Don't like my movie script, boys? Write your own.

APRIL is Script Frenzy! An entire month dedicated to writing your play, movie, or graphic (anime) novel. "Young" writers (meaning anyone who is high school age or younger): Read about it here.

45. Festival 2008 News & Notes #1

2008-03-11T10:53:00.006+10:00

The ITS Festival is scheduled for June 23 to June 28, 2008, at the University of Nebraska in Lincoln. We're still waiting on final results to know who is on the CNMI's Team 2008, and whether we'll have funding to go.

But in the meantime, I'm canvassing for details of what's in store for you, if you do get to the Festival this year. So periodically, I'll post some "notes" on this topic.

This is the first one--on the frivolous side.

WHO DO YOU WANT TO BE? In Theatre, in Life?

To encourage socializing and to give you a chance to relax after spending hard days in workshops, showcases, productions and auditions, ITS hosts several dances. Each dance has a "theme" because, of course, ITS knows how much Thespians like to dress up. This year's dance themes are as follows:

Tuesday: 60's Hairspray-- to celebrate the national cast production of "Hairspray." Get out your teasing combs, girls, and plan on having "big hair" for this one!

Wednesday: Red for Broadway Cares/Equity Fights Aids (BC/EFA) (Of course, wear red.)

Thursday: Fashion Faux Pas (Mix and match clothes, or wear out of style clothing. Should be easy for some of you!)

Saturday: All Grown Up. (Wear formal wear. Look pretty!)

Be sure to take pictures at the dances. I want to be able to blackmail you, I mean, tell everyone how much fun you had and how well you participated in Festival events.

44. Congrats to the MCS Mock Trial team!

2008-03-10T16:15:00.002+10:00

Congratulations to the MCS Mock Trial team on your win! Good luck at the competition in the mainland.

Go Knights!

43. Unofficial Results--NOW OFFICIAL!

2008-03-08T20:23:00.004+10:00

Congrats to the MCS Junior Thespians who competed in the Regional Competition of Thespians of the Western Pacific Islands, today. Good job.

Unofficial results (based on my sneak review of the scoring!) --Yay! These are now official results:

Regional Competition:
Duet Acting--Anna & Mariel--2nd place.
Mime--Jimmy & Victor--1st place.
Solo Musical--Anna--1st place; Mariel--2nd place.

Nice job.

OVERALL STANDINGS:
Duet Acting--Anna & Mariel--2nd place.
Mime--Jimmy & Victor--1st place.
Solo Musical--Anna--1st place; Mariel 3rd place.

Congrats, congrats, congrats!

STAY TUNED for official announcement, and news about the ceremony for award of medals--to be held at China House.

42. Regional Competition!

2008-03-02T18:04:00.003+10:00

The TWPI Regional Competition is this Saturday, March 8, 2008 at 1:30 PM at MHS Room D 101. See you there!

TROUPE MEETING--Tuesday, March 4, 2008 at lunchtime. Probably Mr. G's classroom. Listen for the announcement at school.

41. Caesar Auditions

2008-02-06T13:16:00.000+10:00

Audition for the MCS Theatre Club’s upcoming film production of William Shakespeare’s Caesar. Auditions are set for Monday, February 11, from 3:00 p. m. to 5:00 p. m. in Rm. A-205. Students will not be allowed to audition without a completed audition form. Audition forms are available in the office. For more information, see Mr. G.

(Earn a .5 point of troupe points by auditioning.)

40. 4th Competition Results and news about Regionals

2008-02-06T09:50:00.002+10:00

Congrats to all four Junior Thespians who competed in the 4th TWPI competition at Kagman Elementary on Saturday, 2/2/2008. Your unofficial results are posted below. (I'm waiting for the official word, and your ribbons and evaluations. These unofficial results are from a quick review of the scoring.) Update--OFFICIAL results the same as these. Yay!

Mime: Jimmy & Victor--1st place
Duet acting: Anna & Mariel--2nd place
Solo musical: Anna--1st place; Mariel--2nd place

Your overal standings heading into the final competition at regionals is as follows:
Mime--Jimmy & Victor-1st place (24 points); Lourence and Kevin--2nd place (5 points)
Duet acting: Anna & Mariel--2nd place (20 points)
Solo musical: Anna--1st place (24 points); Mariel--3rd place (12 points); Victoria--4th place (8 points).

I want to encourage all of you to compete at REGIONALS. Jimmy & Victor, and Anna have a good chance at winning a place in the International Festival at Lincoln, Nebraska. Each and all of you have a chance to win medals at regionals.

The REGIONAL competition is set for MARCH 8, 2008 at MHS, room D 101, at 1 PM.

I'll be setting a troupe meeting for next week, so watch for notice.

39. COMPETITION REMINDER

2008-01-27T19:34:00.000+10:00

The holidays are over!

The next thespian competition is set for SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2008, at 1 PM.

LOCATION CHANGE--this competition will be held at Kagman Elementary School.

Please verify that you will be competing--either call or e-mail me, leave a comment here, or tell Anna at school to relay the message to me. There is a cost of $1 per student for these competitions, and I've been paying them for you. I don't mind, but I don't want to have to pay when you don't show up. :-)

38. COMPETITION RESULTS and more

2007-12-17T16:08:00.000+10:00

We had mixed results from the competition on Saturday, December 15, 2007. I'm proud of each of you for competing and for the progress you've made. Sometimes, though, other student competitors are also making progress, so your standings don't improve and even sink.

Here's how we did:

Mime: Jimmy & Victor--1st place
Solo Musical: Anna--1st place; Mariel--3rd place
Duet acting: Anna & Mariel--3rd place.

I have your ribbons, but haven't yet received the written evaluations. We can review those when I get them, and use them to do better next time.

Victor and Mariel have each crossed over the threshold line for being a Thespian (10 troupe points). Yay! Jimmy is making progress (and gets another point for watching SCROOGE!). With participation in the final two competitions, I think the goal will be reached and all of you will be inducted into the Junior Thespian troupe (a prerequisite for attending the ITS Festival in Lincoln, if you win at the competitions).

NEXT COMPETITION: February 2, 2008 at 1:30 PM at MHS.

37. Next Thespian Competition & other news

2007-12-08T22:10:00.000+10:00

The next Thespian Competition is set for 12/15/2007 at 1:30 PM at MHS, room D 101. Each of you should be rehearsing your competition piece(s). I'll try to schedule a meeting this week for a practice session.

In the meantime, try to come see SCROOGE, the musical. You will get one troupe point just for watching. If you want to do this cheaply, I can get you Thespian tickets for just $7.00. These are "standing room" only, and seats if the production is not sold out. You will get the dessert selection, which is what the ticket pays for!

SCROOGE is on stage each evening Tues.-Thursday 12/11--12/13 at 7 PM at P.I.C., and on Sunday 12/16 at 3 PM.

If you want the cheapest way to see the show, and help out as well, you can come to a charity production of SCROOGE on Friday 12/14 at KAGMAN Community Center, 7 PM. Cost is a canned food donation which will be given to Karidat.

36. THE NIGHTMARE BEFORE CHRISTMAS

2007-12-02T13:40:00.001+10:00

Congratulations to all of the middle school student thespians who joined the MCS Theatre Club's production of THE NIGHTMARE BEFORE CHRISTMAS

I managed to get a few photos when you were on stage. My apologies that these aren't great. My apologies especially to Victoria and Lourence, because my photos of you didn't come out at all, and all I have are a few of the group shots.

You can see more photos of the entire production on my personal blog Saipanwriter.

35. Break a Leg--all that and more!

2007-11-28T11:51:00.000+10:00

Break a leg to all the MCS Theatre Club students participating in this weekend's production of THE NIGHTMARE BEFORE CHRISTMAS.

Because of your grueling rehearsal schedule, and the excitement of the event, I haven't mentioned anything about the next Thespian Competition.

But for those who want to get a head start, it's scheduled for December 15, 2007 at 1:30 PM at MHS, room D 101 (or the cafeteria) again.

We'll try to meet on December 4, lunch time (depending on my schedule). And we may be able to have a prep session, workshop on December 7--which is a holiday.

So, again, BREAK A LEG. I'l see you at the NIGHTMARE. I'll be taking photos both nights and will post some here (if they turn out).

34. SURPRISES ON THE COMPETITION FRONT

2007-11-20T12:01:00.000+10:00

CONGRATULATIONS! MCS Junior Thespians once again rocked at the competition. And there are some surprises, especially considering the feedback I got after the event!

FIRST PLACE WINNERS:
Jimmy Baik & Victor Sablan-Mime
Anna DLG & Mariel Ferrer-Duet Acting
Anna DLG-Solo Musical

WOWIE! That's a lot of first place winners. Congratulations.

OTHER RIBBON WINNERS:
Victoria Camacho: 3rd place-Solo Musical
Mariel Ferrer: 4th place-Solo Musical.

We still need students to compete in monologue. The high school Thespian competition is saturated in monologue, with so many students that talented kids are getting just participation points and not winning. But in the junior division, there's only been one competitor for each of the two competitions, and he naturally has won first place, just by competing! [You can view the entire competition results and the current standings by clicking on the TWPI matrix link at left.]

I'm encouraging any middle school student who wants to try competing to contact me. It's not that hard and it is FUN! Just ask the high school students who are competing in monologue.

Congratulations again to all of the MCS junior thespians who participated in this (second) competition. You did great!

33. Thespian Competition--November 17, 2007

2007-11-17T21:12:00.000+10:00

Congratulations to the MCS middle school students who participated in the Thespian Competition today, November 17, 2007. Our troupe 88799 ROCKS!

(L to R: Mariel Ferrer, Anna DLG, Victor Sablan, Jimmy Baik, and Victoria Camacho.)

I don't yet know your scores or places in the competition, but I'm proud of each of you for working on your pieces, and performing them. I loved that you sat together in the competition and supported each other. I loved that Mariel ventured into new terrain with solo musical. Each of you have shown a commitment and determination that makes you winners, whether you get blue ribbons or not.

And if you're at MCS middle school and missed this competition, don't worry. There's another one on December 15. It's never too late to take the plunge. Or come back and try again.

STAY TUNED for announcement of your results.

32. The Girls Prepped for the Thespian Competition

2007-11-12T17:59:00.000+10:00

And afterwards, relaxed and clowned around.

REMINDER: Troupe meeting Tuesday at lunch, room A-205. According to today's Knight's Herald, that's room B-205. Check with Mr. G. for confirmation on location. We'll present our competition pieces, for practice.

31. News and Notices--Competition Practice Sessions

2007-11-06T13:17:00.000+10:00

We had a good meeting today where we reviewed evaluations from the last Thespian competition and discussed how to use them to improve performance.

We also welcomed two students to the meeting: Tony and Sky.

Each of you should be rehearsing your piece for the next competition, set for NOVEMBER 17. You can either do the same piece you did at the first competition, or try something new. The same rules apply:

Solo musical--must be a song from a play or movie. One student; you must have an instrumental-only cd as your accompaniement. 5 minutes or less.

Monologue--must be two contrasting monologues from plays or movies; one student; total time must be 5 minutes or less.

Duet acting--must be a scene from a play or movie. 2 students with about equal roles; 5 minutes or less.

Mime--must be original story, mime only. one or two students. 5 minutes or less.

PRACTICE SESSIONS (Be prepared to present your piece):

1. Monday is a holiday. You are invited to my house to practice. Call or e-mail to set the time, or talk with Anna Rose.

2. Tuesday--troupe meeting at lunch period (11:30 AM). Room A-205.

No matter how badly you think you'll do, whether you've had enough rehearsal or not, come to at least one of these practice sessions. It will help! Better to make your mistakes in practice than at the competition.

AND WE NEED STUDENTS to compete in MONOLOGUE! :-)

30 Troupe Meeting Notice

2007-11-01T14:17:00.000+10:00

Next meeting will be Tuesday November 6, 2007 during lunch period.

Listen to the announcement at school for the room/location of the meeting.

29. TWPI Radio Show

2007-10-29T12:10:00.000+10:00

This is your chance to be on the radio! Here's a notice from Mr. Easton, our Thespians of the Western Pacific Islands' chapter director:

******************************

THESPIANS / NFL:

Starting this Sunday at 3:00pm @ The MHS Studio Theatre (101D), a new “Saipan Radio Theatre” Project – Great Scenes from Western Theatre.
Scenes and Playwright Biographies will be recorded for Radio Station KRNM.
This can count toward NFL points, and the scenes could be used in Competition.
If you are interested – just “show up!!!!!

******************************

Your participation will also earn you troupe points. (I have to see how long each session is, but you'll get at least 1/2 a point and possibly 1 full troupe point for each session.)

28. CANCELLED-- NOTICE--Next Meeting

2007-10-26T08:39:00.000+10:00

CANCELLED--due to retreat at Maturana.

The next meeting for the Junior Thespians, troupe 88799, is Tuesday, October 30 at 12 noon in the teacher's lounge!

The agenda includes distribution of ribbons and evaluations from the Thespian competition of October 20, 2007.

And we'll discuss the next competition, your choices for performance, and how to use the evaluations to improve.

If you're in middle school, but haven't yet participated in any of the junior thespian troupe activities, come to the meeting. (And read this blog for more information about us.)

SEE YOU THERE.

THIS MEETING IS CANCELLED.

This meeting will be re-set. Sorry for the inconvenience. I'll send your riboons and evaluations to school so you don't have to wait any longer for them. Check with your troupe president, Anna, if you don't yet have your envelope with ribbon/eval.

27. COMPETITION RESULTS

2007-10-23T08:36:00.000+10:00

Yay! MCS rocked the competition.

Solo Musical:
1st place: Anna DLG
3rd place: Victoria Camacho

Duet scene:
2nd place: Anna DLG & Mariel Ferrer

Mime:
1st place: Jimmy Baik and Victor Sablan
2nd place: Lourence Camacho and Kevin Kim

GREAT JOB!
You can see all of the competition results here.

P.S. Victoria--remember how I said you should really go for Monologue? There was only ONE competitor in monologue! You would have gotten at least a 2nd place if you had just competed! Oh well!

26. Congratulations!

2007-10-21T14:10:00.000+10:00

Congratulations to our seven middle schoolers who competed in the first Thespian Competition!

Jimmy Baik
Lourence Camacho
Victoria Camacho
Anna Deleon Guerrero
Mariel Ferrer
Kevin Kim
Victor Sablan

You guys ROCKED! I'm impressed that you summoned up the courage to compete in a room filled with other middle and high school students from around Saipan, with various parents and a panel of three adult judges! It was almost like American Idol!

I don't yet know the competition results, but no matter where you placed in the competition, you should feel great about your efforts, talent and achievement in participating.

The next competition is November 17, 2007, at 1 PM at MHS, Room D-101.

We'll meet when I get your ribbons (because I just know that you did well), and talk about what you can do next.

25. THIS WEEKEND

2007-10-15T18:33:00.000+10:00

QUICK UPDATE: Theatre Sports Friday morning, October 19, with Mr. G! This is a special activity period (because Mass is cancelled due to a funeral). Troupe members--please participate and HAVE FUN!

1. Thespian Competition Saturday at MHS Room D-101. Sign up starts at 1PM; competition starts at 1:30 PM. If you need a ride, let me know. I can ride you from MCS after NIGHTMARE practice, if you want. (And make sure you get some lunch.) You'll be working on Competition Points by participating.

If you just want to watch (Angeliya and Ginny!), please feel free to come and support your troupe members, and get comfortable with the competitions so that next year, you can compete, too.

2. Another play on stage this weekend: “SISTERS ROSENSWEIG”, a Wendy Wasserstein comedy about contemporary family issues. It will be performed at the Pacific Island Club on October 19th and 20th at 7 PM and on the 21st at 3 PM. The show costs $12 for adult FOA members, $15 for non-members, $10 for all children 4 through 11 years of age, and no charge for under 4 years. The price will include a selection of beverages and a dessert plate. (For the adults--There will also be an open bar at reduced prices.)

MCS Troupe members--If you want a TWPI discount, tell me and I'll get your tickets for just $6.00 each. If you attend, you'll get 1 troupe point (towards your induction goal of 10).

3. Other news: Auditions for Friends of the Arts production of SCROOGE are set for Monday, October 22 at MHS room D 101 from 6PM to 9 PM.

24. Meeting Notice & Photos

2007-10-03T09:48:00.000+10:00

Next meeting is October 4, 2007 at 12 noon. I'm hoping this will be in Mr. G's classroom (B-102), but I'm waiting for confirmation. We'll be working on three things:

1. finalizing our script/song choices (monologue, duo, solo musical) for the first Thespian competition set for October 20;
2. brainstorming ideas for mime "stories" for the first Thespian competition; and
3. practicing introductions for the competition.

On Tuesday after school, the troupe had fun with the mime workshop, learning some basics about liquids; the 'framed' world of doors, windows, tables, shelves; small objects; complex objects; handles; and choreography/coordination.

Here are some photos:

Mr. Harold Easton, Chapter director, instructs MCS students in the art of taking a sip of tea.

Victor Sablan walks through an imaginary door.

The students get a driving lesson.

Jimmy Baik and Anna DLG. drive while the other students ride along.

It's not so easy to get out of an invisible car.

Students coordinate their actions to catch a person jumping from a burning building.

Mr. Easton and Victor move a box.

Mr. Easton adds to the list of basic topics.

MHS Thespians Tommy Baik and Moon Hyu Lee demonstrate a story through mime.

23. Mime Workshop

2007-09-24T12:16:00.000+10:00

Our troupe will have a mime workshop on October 2, 2007 from 3PM to 4 PM in room B-102. Any MCS student in 6th grade through 12th grade can come. I especially want the troupe members to be there.

The Chapter Director, Harold Easton, will present basics of mime. We hope to have a demonstration from MHS students Tommy Baik and Moon Lee.

This will be a fun time. Be prepared to laugh!

And of course you'll have the chance to ask questions, and possibly try out some moves yourselves.

Edit: Be sure to have your "After School Permission Form" signed by your parent or guardian. If you need one of these, see Mr. G.

A nod and a prayer for Marcel Marceau, the 20th Century's most famous mime, who died September 22, 2007.

22. Points and Pointers

2007-09-20T13:02:00.001+10:00

First competition is October 20, 2007 at 1:00 PM at MHS, room D-101.

You need 10 troupe points and a lot of competition points to win a trip to the International Thespian Festival in Lincoln, Nebraska, set for June 2008.

Troupe points: You need 10 troupe points to be inducted into the Thespian troupe. You get these points for activities and service. Come to a meeting, you get 1/2 point. Audition for a play, you earn 1/2 point. Attend a performance, you earn 1 point. Participate in any performance-type activity, you can earn points. If you are doing these things, just let me know. I keep track of the points.

Once you're inducted into the troupe, you're a member for "life," which in the case of middle school means until you graduate from 8th grade.

The Thespian troupe is an honor society, so the recognition is the first benefit of being an inducted member.

And you must be an inducted member to participate in the International Festival at Lincoln, Nebraska.

Competition points: In order to win a free ticket to the International Festival, you need to have the most competition points in your category, or win one of the extra positions as a high-scorer. Competition points are DIFFERENT THAN troupe points. You get competition points by winning at the competitions here in Saipan. For each competition,

first place gets 6 points
second place--5 points
third place--4 points
fourth place--3 points
fifth place--2 points
all other participants--1 point

The total number of competition points earned during the competitions in Saipan determines your competition standing.

The system builds in an incentive for those who participate in every competition. If you compete in every competition, you have a better chance of accumulating more competition points.

Pointers: Read through the blog. Check out the links on the left and others you find on your own. Ask for help from Mr. G.--he's the MCS drama teacher and he knows a lot of tricks that can help you. And most importantly, PRACTICE your competition piece.

(For those doing mime, try it out over and over again in front of your friends and family and see what works. Change it as much and as often as you want to. For everyone else, you need to know the script and stick to the script.)

Meeting dates: I'm looking at Tuesdays for meetings in October, possibly October 2 and October 16. Please watch the blog for news and if you have questions or opinions, feel free to leave a comment.

21. Important Message about Competitions

2007-09-12T14:26:00.000+10:00

The Thespian competition schedule is posted at TWPI Competition Schedule. It might be changed, but until it is, we should plan on being ready to compete on the dates shown.

We have a Troupe 88799 meeting set for September 20, 2007 at 12 noon at MCS Room B-102. Please be sure to come to the meeting and bring your suggested competition piece(s) with you. If you're doing mime, write out a short skit ahead of time. Edit, added 9/18/2007. If you want to see a mime skit from the national competitions, you can watch a you-tube video here: Mime of the Carribean. I also hope to have a lesson in mime for you in early October, taught by Hal Easton (Chapter director), with demonstration by Tommy Baik and Moon Lee (Saipan students who earned the highest rating possible, a "superior" in mime at the 2007 Festival).

If you don't have anything prepared for your competition choice--monologue, duet acting, mime, solo musical-- come to the meeting anyway. I'll have some extra materials (on monologue, duet acting and solo musical theatre) that you can select from for your first competition piece. Mime competitors will brainstorm ideas for original composition and performance.

I want to make sure each of you has a good chance at winning a free trip to the summer 2008 International Thespian Festival in Lincoln, Nebraska.

ANY MCS middle school student can compete. Now is the time to join. Just come to the meeting. It is important to compete in every scheduled competition, because cumulative points determine who wins the trip.

See you there.

20. Meetings

2007-09-06T09:26:00.001+10:00

Meeting today, September 6 at noon in the FACULTY LOUNGE. Wow!

Next meeting: September 20, 2007 (time and location to be announced). Save the date.

19. A Post for High School Students

2007-08-28T11:36:00.000+10:00

This blog is really all about Junior Thespians, but sometimes it's important to spread the word about what is going on in the high school Thespian troupes and our chapter, Thespians of the Western Pacific Islands. So this notice, although it doesn't effect any of the junior thespians of Troupe #88799 right now, is included here to let you know what you can look forward to in high school, and to pass the word about this event.

Thespian Meeting about college--notice from Chapter Director Harold Easton.
Each year the Chapter sponsors a brief workshop for Juniors and Seniors on the subject of College admission.

This is particularly important to our Thespian Seniors.

The presentation will feature our 5 Thespians who participated in the Junior Auditions at the ITS Festival this past summer. Our focus, therefore, is on those schools that have been recruiting our Thespians and accepting them into their Theatre programs.

However, much of the information is also relevant to admission to schools outside of the Theatre Curriculum. We expect that the workshop will at least help you in the following ways:

1. Provide a list of Colleges already being attended by some of our CNMI Thespians.
2. Provide a list of schools currently recruiting CNMI Thespians.
3. Procedures that we feel will insure a maximum potential for success in College admissions.
4. Raise your awareness of the value of the ITS Festival's Junior Auditions, summer 2008.

The workshop will be held in the MHS Cafeteria, on Thursday, September 6 @ 4:00pm.

Freshman and Sophomores are also invited to attend, but the focus will be on the Junior and Senior Troupe members.

18. Reminder-auditions

2007-08-27T16:47:00.000+10:00

Auditions for MCS's production of NIGHTMARE BEFORE CHRISTMAS are set for Tuesday, August 28, 2007 from 3 to 5.

If you attend the audition, please sign in with Anna Rose Deleon Guerrero or Victoria Camacho (your troupe officers). You will get 1/2 of a point for attending the audition.

17. An Abundance of Opportunities

2007-08-23T08:45:00.000+10:00

Audition opportunities
1) The Thespians of the Western Pacific Islands (TWPI) had auditions yesterday for the Chapter Play, UP THE DOWN STAIRCASE, which will be staged in late September. Hurrahs to the two Junior Thespians from troupe #88799 who auditioned. A total of 29 students from participating schools across Saipan came to the auditions. Wow! If you're intersted, it's not too late. You can still be an extra on stage, help with the back stage workings, or lend a hand with publicity. Let me know (phone or e-mail) or identify yourself in the comments trail, here.

2) If that weren't enough, MCS Principal and Dramaturg Extraordinaire, Galvin Guerrero, has announced auditions for the annual school musical. MCS is staging THE NIGHTMARE BEFORE CHRISTMAS, and hopes to have a December production. They're starting early, though, so now is the time to express your interest. Auditions are Tuesday, August 28, 2007, 3 to 5 PM at MCS and are open to all MCS students.

A note about "points."
If you are in middle school at MCS and participating in these or other performance events, let me know and I'll credit you "points" that can be accumulated toward full (inducted) membership in our troupe. You get points for attending troupe meetings, going to auditions, participating in performances, and other drama-related, troupe-related activities.

If you win a spot to go to the International Thespian Festival in Lincoln, Nebraska this summer, you must be a full member. And it takes 10 points to get full memberhip. Also, it's good to have a lot of points for the honor, and because you can transfer 10 of them toward membership in Thespians when you get to high school.

16. Tech Notes for the Chapter Play

2007-08-21T08:33:00.001+10:00

This year's chapter play, UP THE DOWN STAIRCASE, has a stage set that uses a "platform," where characters pop-up, walk across, or suddenly appear out of it to say their lines. This will be a challenge technically-speaking.

Anyone who grew up in the 60's (that's 1960's) will remember a silly, popular TV show called Rowan & Martin's Laugh-in, which used a similar stage set design. So, for research purposes to help the techies, prepare to take a walk on the wild side (prepare to groan, because it's pretty bad humor-wise), and watch the following clips. (You'll find tech ideas and tech problems, too.)(Caution also: some adult humor that you can skip, please.)

Say goodnight, Dick.

15. REMINDER--Auditions for Chapter Play

2007-08-20T10:32:00.000+10:00

AUDITIONS--UP THE DOWN STAIRCASE
This is a reminder that auditions for the Thespians of the Western Pacific Islands' Chapter Play is set for this week.

Director/Assistant Director
Monday: 8/20/07, 4 to 6 PM

Cast
Wednesday: 8/22/07, 4 to 6 PM

All auditions will be at MHS, Room D 101 (Mr. Easton's studio). See earlier post for more details.

Party
There will be a Thespian party on Wednesday, 8/22/07 at 6 PM (after the auditions) at MHS. All Thespians, Junior Thespians, and students who are working toward full membership in their school's troupe are invited. There will be the silly awards for students (and adults?) for their talents and faux pas last year. :-) And there will be some food. Entrance cost: $3.00.

14. Opportunity for Junior Thespians

2007-08-17T16:30:00.000+10:00

Saturday, August 18, 2007, there will be a public service announcement filmed at Susupe Beach. Sponsored by the Department of Public Health and called "Off the TV," the purpose of the television spot is to promote a healthy life-style, away from cell phones, i-pods, laptops, other computers, television and sedentary technology.

This is a chance for junior thespians to be on television. THERE IS NO PAY for the activity. And you need to have your own adult supervision.

If you are interested, come with swim wear, beach activity items, and a smile.

Saturday 8/18/2007
2PM to 5 PM
Susupe Beach

13. Junior Thespian Meeting

2007-08-16T09:57:00.000+10:00

Thursday, August 16, 2007; 12 noon, room B 102 (or as announced by Mr. Guerrero).

Topics for discussion:
1. election of officers
2. ideas for troupe activities
3. the Chapter play

So here are some notes on the Chapter Play:

Thespians of the Western Pacific Islands will stage UP THE DOWN STAIRCASE, tentatively set for the last week of September 2007. This is a 2-act comedy/drama, played lightly.

Students from all Thespian schools are invited to audition. I encourage every MCS Thespian and Junior Thespian to audition!

Auditions:

For cast (approximately 30 cast members needed):

Wednesday, August 22, 2007 at 4 PM at MHS, Room D 101.

For director/ assistant director (open to high school students only)

Monday, August 20, 2007 at 4 PM at MHS, Room D 101.

Students from MCS, grades 6 through 12, are encouraged to audition. The Chapter has a high priority for getting students from all of the troupes into the cast, so at least some MCS students will be selected if you audition.

How to audition:
For cast:
You need 2 short contrasting monologues (one drama, one comedy). Short means each should be about 2 to 3 minutes, at most. You should memorize them and act!

For director/assistant director:
You need to read the play beforehand. Both Mr. Guerrero and I have a copy of the script. You need to be prepared to answer questions: what is the play about? what roles are the hardest? easiest? what ideas do you have for handling the technical aspects--the lighting, sound, and especially the "platform."

Also note, director/assistant directors conduct the cast auditions on Wednesday. The Chapter Director is Harold Easton (MHS teacher). He anticipates high school students playing the teacher/adult roles in the play, and junior thespians playing the student roles.

Rehearsals:
Expect 3/week for the first week or two; 4/week for the next two or three weeks; and 5/week during the final week. (Subject to change as needed.)

HAVE FUN!

12. CHAPTER MEETING

2007-08-14T09:55:00.000+10:00

All MCS Thespian members (Junior Thespians of Troupe #88799 and the high school Thespians) are invited to a meeting of the Chapter, Thespians of the Western Pacific Islands.

Date: Wednesday, August 15, 2007
Time: 4 PM
Place: Marianas High School, Room D 101.

The purpose is to talk about the Chapter play, which will be staged in late September. This year's Chapter play will be UP THE DOWN STAIRCASE, a comedy.

This is a chance for MCS students to work with students from other other schools in a stage production. And it won't conflict with our own MCS production, which will be held later in the year. So I'm encouraging MCS Junior Thespians (and Thespians) to come to the meeting.

I'll be there as our Troupe Director. Feel free to contact me if you want information or help.

11. Another Possibility

2007-08-13T09:25:00.001+10:00

Wow! Another possibility for MCS (both high school Thespians and Junior Thespians) is to enter the USA Showstopper program. The 2007 winner (first ever) was Chaffey High School, a school with a Thespian troupe in California. And many of the runners-up were also high schools with Thespian troupes.

Here's the deal: USAWeekendReports

We could be next! Meeting teen stars, going to Disneyland, and otherwise promoting our great drama program.

Junior Thespians and all MCS students--THINK BIG!

10. New School Year-Welcome Back

2007-08-10T08:39:00.000+10:00

Junior Thespians and all Middle Schoolers at MCS--Welcome or welcome back to Mount Carmel School.

The school year began for students on August 9, 2007. And Junior Thespians will be having its first meeting soon. Watch this blog for details.

Every MCS student in 6th, 7th and 8th grade is invited to come to the Troupe #88799 meetings and participate in Thespian activities. Our troupe is not just for actors and actresses. Artists, musicians, mathematicians and muscle are encouraged to join because they are also important in making productions happen.

We'll choose what we're going to do as a troupe this year.

Some possible activities include:
1. participation in the regional Thespian competitions. Winners in each category can win a trip to the International Thespian Festival in Lincoln, Nebraska in June, 2008 (provided PSS has funds for the tickets).

2. actor studio workshops. We can invite some of the talented actors, singers, and mime artists to give presentations and help us develop our (already awesome!) skills.

3. impromptu performances. We can have monthly performances at local venues, like the mini amphitheater on Beach Road by the pathway. This is a perfect place to practice mime, with a hat for passers-by to toss in coins!

4. behind-the-scenes / in-house competitions. Costume design and set design are exciting visual and tactile aspects of dramatic production. The senior Thespians have a regional competition in these areas, but there is no regional junior competition and no preparation (yet!) at the junior level. But we can have workshops and competitions to get our juices flowing and learn some basics early.

5. tech, fundraising, and other support for the MCS productions. We can, as a unified troupe, give special help to Mr. G. in the MCS plays this year.

As you come to meetings, participate in Thespian competitions, join in the MCS drama productions, and perform in your own venues, you can earn points toward full membership in the Junior Thespians troupe. And at the end of the year, we'll have another ceremony inducting new honorees--our new Junior Thespians.

For our seven already-inducted Junior Thespians (yay!), you can add to your point totals if you did any drama activities over the summer. Once you've reached 60 points, you get an honor bar to add to your card. Just let me know what you did, and have an adult (like your mother or father) sign off as additional corroboration.

If you have questions or comments, feel free to post them in the comments section.

Junior Thespians is an opportunity to perform, to learn stage and back-stage skills, to meet and participate with students from all over Saipan, and most importantly to have fun.

I'm looking forward to a fun year.

9. More Photos from the ITS Festival

2007-07-17T15:37:00.001+10:00

Backstage--before the TWPI's performance.

8. Photos of CNMI Thespians in the States

2007-07-02T06:39:00.000+10:00

MCS junior thespian, Anna Rose Deleon Guerrero, took some photos of the trip to the ITS Festival. She says that no photos were permitted during performances or during the individual events, and when they were in workshops, she was too busy to take photos. So all of these are before and after the actual Festival events.

She flew into Wichita, Kansas, to meet with the students from the Forensics competition and travel with those who were also going to Lincoln to the ITS Festival. While there, they saw CLUE, the musical comedy.

Anna Rose Deleon Guerrero, Harold Easton, Mark Anthony Liban, Adelayah Mojica, Rachel Reyes, Richelle Denora, Mrs. Liban, at a theatre in Wichita, Kansas.

Of course, the students took breaks, shopped and ate.

Ryan Gutierrez (Harold Easton and Andrew Golden in background)

Anna Rose Deleon Guerrero, Joan Liwanag

Aisha Joyner, taking a break from shopping at Target.

Tommy Baik

Rachel Reyes, Moon Lee, Adelayah Mojica, all at Target, Lincoln, Nebraska

Anna Rose Deleon Guerrero, Richelle Denora, Jaythan Camacho

Johnna Lubuguin, outside their hotel in Lincoln

Richelle Denora, Johnna Lubuguin, at the hotel in Lincoln

Anna Rose Deleon Guerrero, Johnna Lubuguin

Tori Brown, at a cafeteria at University of Nebraska, Lincoln

Moon Lee, Akieko Dela Cruz, at University of Nebraska

7. The International Thespian Festival-some news

2007-07-01T10:54:00.001+10:00

MCS student Anna Deleon Guerrero participated in the ITS Festival, held in Lincoln, Nebraska from June 25th through the 30th, 2007. She, along with other students from the CNMI and elsewhere, enjoyed a feast of productions.

Here's a short list of plays that Anna saw at the Festival.

THE TAFFETAS, enacted by Norwin Theatre Club, Troupe 35493 (Pennsylvania).
MOON OVER BUFFALO, enacted by Klein Collings High School, (Texas)
ZOMBIE PROM, enacted by Floyd Central High School, Troupe # 1794 (Indiana)
BLACK ELK SPEAKS, enacted by Lincoln Southwest High School (Nebraska).
THOROUGHLY MODERN MILLIE, enacted by the ITS national cast.

Besides seeing some great school Thespian productions, the students from Thespians of the Western Pacific Islands staged THE GOOD DOCTOR, by Neil Simon, in the Howell Theatre. Anna was the "Selector" in the audition scene.

CNMI student Thespians who participated:
Tommy Baik
Royce Banados
Victoria Brown
Jaythan Camacho
Akieko Dela Cruz
Anna Rose Deleon Guerrero
Richille Denora
Dayanara Flores
Ryan Gutierrez
Aishi Joyner
Moon Hyo Lee
Joan Liwanag
Johnna Lubuguin
Jomanda Manglona
Adeleyah Mojica
Rachel Reyes
Nevin Salem
Ahjung Sin

Congrats to all.
Look for more reporting and photos tomorrow.

6. Amusing Glossary of Stage Terms (a/k/a Theatre for Dummies)

2007-06-26T10:07:00.000+10:00

Thanks to Doom Houser over at Script Frenzy for posting this. Enjoy.

Stage Terminology for Dummies.
These Are just amusing stage terms for those of us who actually understand them.

For those of you that don't, this should give you a basic idea of how a play will run, and who does what... Sort of.

Eternity - The time that passes between a dropped cue and the next line.

Prop - A hand-carried object small enough to be lost by an actor 30 seconds before it is needed on stage.

Director - The individual who suffers from the delusion that he or she is responsible for every moment of brilliance cited by the critic in the local review.

Blocking - The art of moving actors on the stage in such a manner as not to collide with the walls, the furniture, the orchestra pit or each other. Similar to playing chess, except that the pawns want to argue with you.

Blocking Rehearsal - A rehearsal taking place early in the production schedule where actors frantically write down movements which will be nowhere in evidence by opening night.

Quality Theater - Any show with which you were directly involved.

Turkey - Every show with which you were not directly involved.

Dress Rehearsal - Rehearsal that becomes a whole new ball game as actors attempt to maneuver among the 49 objects that the set designer added at 7:30 that evening.

Tech Week - The last week of rehearsal when everything that was supposed to be done weeks before finally comes together at the last minute; reaches its grand climax on dress rehearsal night when costumes rip, a dimmer pack catches fire and the director has a nervous breakdown. Also known as "hell" week.

Set - An obstacle course which, throughout the rehearsal period, defies the laws of physics by growing smaller week by week while continuing to occupy the same amount of space.

Monologue - That bright, shining moment when all eyes are focused on a single actor who is desperately aware that if he forgets a line, no one can save him.

Dark Night - The night before opening when no rehearsal is scheduled so the actors and crew can go home and get some well deserved rest, and instead spend the night staring sleeplessly at the ceiling because they're sure they needed one more rehearsal.

Bit Part - An opportunity for the actor with the smallest role to count everybody else's lines and mention repeatedly that he or she has the smallest part in the show.

Green Room - Room shared by nervous actors waiting to go on stage and the precocious children whose actor parents couldn't get a baby-sitter that night, a situation which can result in justifiable homicide.

Dark Spot - An area of the stage which the lighting designer has inexplicably forgotten to light, and which has a magnetic attraction for the first-time actor. A dark spot is never evident before opening night.

Hands - Appendages at the end of the arms used for manipulating one's environment, except on a stage, where they grow six times their normal size and either dangle uselessly, fidget nervously, or try to hide in your pockets.

Stage Manager - Individual responsible for overseeing the crew, supervising the set changes, baby-sitting the actors and putting the director in a hammerlock to keep him from killing the actor who just decided to turn his walk-on part into a major role by doing magic tricks while he serves the tea.

Lighting Director - Individual who, from the only vantage point offering a full view of the stage, gives the stage manager a heart attack by announcing a play-by-play of everything that's going wrong.

Makeup Kit - (1) Among experienced community theater actors, a battered tackle box loaded with at least 10 shades of greasepaint in various stages of desiccation, tubes of lipstick and blush, assorted pencils, bobby pins, braids of crepe hair, liquid latex, old programs, jewelry, break-a-leg greeting cards from past shows, brushes and a handful of half-melted cough drops.
(2) For first-time male actors, a helpless look and anything they can borrow.

The Forebrain - The part of an actors brain which contains lines, blocking and characterization; activated by hot lights.

The Hindbrain - The part of an actors brain that keeps up a running subtext in the background, while the forebrain is trying to act. The hindbrain supplies a constant stream of unwanted information. Such as who is sitting in the second row tonight, a notation to seriously maim the crew member who thought it would be funny to put real Tabasco sauce in the fake Bloody Marys, or the fact that you need to do laundry on Sunday.

Stage Crew - Group of individuals who spend their evenings coping with 50-minute stretches of total boredom interspersed with 30-second bursts of mindless panic.

Message Play - Any play which its director describes as "worthwhile," "a challenge to actors and audience alike," or "designed to make the audiencethink." Critics will be impressed both by the daring material and the roomy accommodations, since they're likely to have the house all to themselves.

Bedroom Farce - Any play which requires various states of undress on stage and whose set sports a lot of doors. The lukewarm reviews, all of which feature the phrase "typical community theater fare" in the opening paragraph, are followed paradoxically by a frantic attempt to schedule more performances to accommodate the overflow crowds.

Assistant Director - Individual willing to undertake special projects that nobody else would take on a bet, such as working one-on one with the brain-dead actor whom the rest of the cast has threatened to take out a contract on.

Set Piece - Any large piece of furniture which actors will resolutely use as a safety shield between themselves and the audience, in an apparent attempt to both anchor themselves to the floor, thereby avoiding floating off into space, and to keep the audience from seeing that they actually have legs.

Strike - The time immediately following the last performance while all cast and crew members are required to stay and dismantle (or watch the two people who own Makita screw drivers) dismantle the set.

Actors (As defined by a set designer) - People who stand between the audience and the set designer's art, blocking the view. That's also the origin of the word "blocking," by the way.

Stage Right, Stage Left - Two simple directions actors pretend not to understand in order to drive directors crazy. ("No, no, your OTHER stage right!")

5. ITS Festival--June 25-29

2007-06-08T21:16:00.000+10:00

The International Thespian Festival is set for June 25th through the 30th in Lincoln, Nebraska. You can read about it here .

PSS awards the top winners in the local competitions with travel vouchers to the ITS Festival. This year's CNMI winners (high school Thespians and middle school Junior Thespians) include:

Ryan Gutierrez
Johnna Lubuguin
Richelle Denora
Moon Lee
Tommy Baik
Joan Liwanag
Dayanara Flores
Tori Brown
Akiko Dela Cruz
Nevin Salem
J. Camacho

The last two are 6th graders from San Antonio School who won in the Junior Thespian mime competition! You can see the full results here .

None of the SY 2006-2007 winners are from MCS, because our students didn't compete for the full schedule. However, Junior Thespian Anna Rose Deleon Guerrero competed in all but the first competition and won a blue ribbon in the regionals. Her total score was not enough to get a free ticket from PSS, but she will participate in the ITS Festival at her own expense.

One of the goals for Troupe 88799 next year is to compete in the TWPI competitions all year long. We'd like to see MCS represented at the annual ITS Festival, where our students would participate in workshops and presentations in all aspects of theatre, enjoy the fun and meet other Thespian students from around the U.S. and world. The high school students can also audition for colleges.

This is a great opportunity for the new MCS Junior Thespians.

The categories for competition are monologue, duet scene, mime, and solo musical. Junior Thespians--be thinking about what you'd like to do next year. Feel free to use the comments section here for your questions and ideas.

And watch this blog for possible posts from Anna Rose about the ITS Festival.

4. FIRST MCS JUNIOR THESPIANS

2007-06-01T10:18:00.001+10:00

Congratulations to the first MCS students ever to be inducted as Junior Thespians into the International Thespian Society:

Victoria Camacho,
Anna Rose Deleon Guerrero,
Chelsei Encio,
Xandra Peter,
Kassandra Snodgrass,
Frank Villagomez, and
Lee Ann Yarobwemal

Yay! The seven Junior Thespians are in the front row of the photo below.

The induction ceremony also included twelve high school students, who were inducted into MCS's Troupe 5690--Letitia Cabrera, Francine Camacho, Erlyn Dalan, Matthew Deleon Guerrero, Hazel Doctor, Jake Igitol, Patricia Matagolai, Ryan Ortizo, Angela Salas, Cyd Tribiana, Ruby Ann Venus, and Nicolette Villagomez. Pictured above, in the second row (except for Cyd who is in the front), along with MCS Principal, and Troupe 5690 director Galvin Deleon Guerrero.

Also to be inducted, but accidentally omitted in the last-minute rush of preparations, are Mayble Ayuyu and John Babauta, Beauty and the Beast. Sorry for the mistake.

Congratulations on the ITS honor.

Yay for the high school Thespians! You inspire the MCS junior thespians.

3. Waiting for Confirmation about the Induction Ceremony

2007-05-25T13:58:00.000+10:00

The induction of our first members is tenatively set for June 1, 2007 on the MCS campus. I'm waiting on confirmation from Mr. G., who is inordinately busy at this time of the year. Stay tuned for the news.

2. SCRIPT FRENZY

2007-05-07T14:07:00.000+10:00

Junior Thespians and all students are invited to join the first-ever Script Frenzy. (Young People's program is especially for you.)

See the Troupe Director if you have questions, or leave your comment here.

1. Mount Carmel's Middle School Joins ITS

2007-04-24T11:38:00.000+10:00

Mount Carmel School has created a middle school Thespian troupe that is now chartered by the International Thespian Society (ITS). Troupe 88799 is for 6th, 7th, and 8th graders interested in or active in dramatic arts. The MCS troupe will join the other CNMI schools in our chapter: Thespians of the Western Pacific Islands (TWPI).

MCS Principal Galvin Guerrero organizes and directs the MCS theatre activities. This troupe will start with a groupe of students he has chosen for special recognition for outstanding participation in dramatic arts. The troupe director is a parent-volunteer (me): Jane Mack.

By being a member of the troupe, MCS middle-school students will get recognition for their theatre activities at MCS and in the community. They can also participate in CNMI-wide thespian competitions and activities. Each year, TWPI/PSS sends the students who win the competitions with the highest total competition-point count to the national ITS festival & competition in Lincoln, Nebraska. Troupe members who do not win can attend the ITS festival at their own expense. Troupe activities next year will focus on participating in the local competitions, and developing and recognizing our middle school drama students.

This blog is designed to be a forum for troupe members, parents, MCS students and any other interested people to find out about troupe activities and how to support our students.

Hafa adai and congratulations to the newest Junior Thespians at MCS. Look for the announcement of their names here.