17. An Abundance of Opportunities

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

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

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.

13. Junior Thespian Meeting

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!