Tablework for Dragonsong

I recently auditioned for the play DRAGONSONG based off the book by Anne McCaffrey. I was given the role of a dragon puppeteer. Basically I am responsibility ( with 3 other kids) for making a massive (40 foot) dragon head come alive on stage. More on that in a later post.

Dragonsong is basically a story set in the land of Pern about a young girl who loves to sing and play music and a boy who wants to be a dragonrider. Unfortunately their town's customs forbid these things and they must find a way to fulfill their wishes and dreams even it involves taking drastic measures. Just a wonderful, cute, little coming of age story.
Anyways, last night we had rehearsal and for three hours we did tablework. When the director said we were doing this, my response was, "say what?". I had no clue what it was. He went on to explain that it is getting to know the setting/environment/heritage, etc of our play. So, we talked about the land of Pern and why it was created and for what reasons. We discussed the significance of each scene and what the characters were feeling and how what they did was important and the certain elements we needed to make sure the audience got when watching this performance. For example, here is the first line in the play. We read it and then came up with the following things.

CAPTAIN: Ladies and Gentlemen, this is your captain speaking. We are about to land on the planet of Pern. Please make sure your seat belts are securely fastened and your anti-gravity force field is turned to the positive position. You will notice the two escape hatches on either side of the cabin, marked with the old-fashioned word "exit". If there is an emergency landing of any kind, please proceed calmly to the exit hatch nearest you and descend to the ground outside the spaceship. We are now ready for maneuvers. Please stand by...

1. these people are leaving earth
2. why? because of a war (we found this out through some books the assistant director brought)
3. what is Pern? a planet of refuge, a dwelling place that eventually turns into a permanent home for harpers (singers), dragon riders, dragons, fire lizards, fisherman, people of all ages, etc.

So there you have it. Tablework. It was very interesting to go through this process because it was just a time to sit down and think about the play and imagine how it would be on stage and to really get into character. In all of the other plays I've been in the director(s) have just jumped right into blocking and rehearsals and leave the characters and research to the actors and actresses at home. So, it was great and I'm looking forward to what my director has in store for us next....

Here are some great links:
The Worlds of Anne McCaffrey
Book Review of Dragonsong by Emily

Football, New House, Acting Update, Fav. Song

The crowd sits restless in their metal sits trying to hear above the roaring of the stadium. The announcer's voice soars above the excitement. And now please welcome, THE BOISE STATE BRONCOS!! The emotion I feel when I see those players running out through the smoke, is almost indescribable. Their passion is unbelievable, all their hard work about to get tested with on the spot decisions. I'm not a sport player at all, but watching this team play football is very special to me.

Tonight my team plays their season opener against Idaho State, GO BRONCOS!!
About three weeks ago, my family moved into our new house. After living for a year in our apartment it's nice to be able to move around a little bit more. We have so many boxes though, it's insane. I've lived without a lot of this stuff for two years (storage) so I've decided to get rid of tons, but definitely not any of my books. It's been a very exciting adventure! :)

Acting Update!! So, I auditioned for my school's play, The Secret Garden and got the part of Nurse Grey. I'm really happy that I got in because the audition and cut process was pretty scary at times. Nurse Grey will be fun to play because she has some attitude and a mind of her own!
Also, I just got informed that I get to perform a couple of songs from Schoolhouse Rock with some of my cast members for a program that our city is having. The part I'm pretty pumped about is that we get to do it at this amazing Amphitheater....

And, finally my favorite songs of the week.

I Believe by Fantasia.

Fly on the Wall by Miley Cyrus

School House Rock! Live! Jr.

Three weeks ago, I participated in a Youth Theater Summer Program. It lasted for two weeks and was held every day for eight hours. Very intense. ;) Anyways, during those days the cast of 11 worked with a professional vocal teacher, tech dude, actor, and dance choreographer. I was able to learn a lot about musical theater and work on certain techniques for my own acting and singing. At the end of the program we put on School House Rock! Live! Jr. It's based of the PBS show that helps kids learn their numbers and other important school related stuff. At first I was a little skeptical, because singing school songs didn't sound really that much fun. But, actually the songs and the script were just so cute and fun and the songs are very very addictive. ;) Also, we got a lot of kids come to our performances and they just loved it and for me that's what makes performing amazing for me. The thrill of telling the audience a story and having them react in certain ways to your different actions and words.

I would post one of the songs here, but so far I can only find the really old versions of them. There are newer more improved songs that we used, so when I find some I will post them here.

sneak peak....

I'm not sure when I will have time to post something about my performances of Twelfth Night last weekend, and so I'm giving you some pictures to hold you all for a while. These are not ordinary pictures, though. One of me as a girl (sticking out my tongue..) and the other two as guys...

"I am not what I am" -Viola/ Cesario

CATS - The Musical

Well, about a week ago yours truly was able to go see an off-broadway production of CATS! I will be turning 16 next week, so my wonderful grandparents treated my mom and I to a special weekend. We went shopping, out to lunch, saw CATs, went out to dinner, and then ended the perfect day at a lovely B and B.

CATS was absolutley amazing. The music, set, props, make up, costumes, songs, dances, actors, actresses, EVERYTHING was eye ball popping. I wasn't sure if I was going to like this musical because it has really no dialogue at all, just dancing and singing, but that was enough!

The feelings I get when I watch or listen to strong plays, emotion withdrawing songs, and tear jerking performers are very overwhelming. I really live and breath all things theater(ok that sounded kind of werid, but I'm stilling saying it).

Here is one of my favorite songs:

NEWS and lots of it!

1. The Newbery Awards were announced today along with a bunch of other awards!

NEWBERY WINNER:
Good Masters! Sweet Ladies! by Laura Amy Schlitz.
Um, never heard of this one. BUT, it is going on my to-read list of 2008!

NEWBERY HONOR BOOKS:
Elijah of Buxton by Christopher Paul Curtis
Ok, so I've heard of this one..that should count for something. ;)

The Wednesday Wars by Gary D. Schmidt
YES YES YES!!! I've read this one!!! Very good!

Feathers by Jacqueline Woodson
Sadly, never heard of it.

Caldecott Award
The Invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznick
*faints* I absolutely love this book! It rocks!

Michael L. Printz Award
Repossessed by A.M. Jenkins
This my friends is also one of the nominee's for Cybils Science Fiction/Fantasy Award for 2007. Very exciting!

2. The Golden Globe Awards were announced yesterday. Last year I had watched a lot of the nominee's but this year, I think I saw one. (heh) Anyways, there were two awards I was really excited about. One of my really good friends saw this movie and absolutely LOVED it. The funny thing is, it is NOT my type of movie. So, when I saw the winners of these awards I thought of her. Go Sweeney Todd!

Best Motion Picture: Musical or Comedy
Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street
Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture: Musical or Comedy
Johnny Depp in Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street

AND...the one movie I saw.
Best Animated Film
Ratatouille

3. I would LOVE to tell you all something and I'm just going to come out and just say it. I GOT THE LEAD ROLE IN A PLAY!!!!!!!!!!!! *ahem* This morning at exactly 7: 47ish I found out that I recieved Viola in Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night. :) *smiles*

The Silenced

The Silenced by James DeVita

James DeVita (taken from the back of his book): is a professional actor and the resident playwright for the First Stage Children's Theater, Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He has been awarded the Distinguished Play Award from the American Alliance of Theater and Education for his work in theater for youth, and he is a recent recipient of the Literature Fellowship for Fiction from the National Endowment for the Arts. He lives in Wisconsin with his wife and two children.

Marena is haunted by memories of her mother and her old life. Every time she remembers something she tries to write it down, she can’t forget. The only thing left of hers, truly hers is her memory. Now, she is living with her father (who is under house arrest) and her younger brother Daniel in a camp run by the ‘Zero Tolerance Party’. This party is literally taking over their world, forcing them to drop all individualism, and become one, all believing and fighting for the same thing: this horrible government. Marena starts to resist with her friends Dex and Eric. They form a resistance called ‘the White Rose’ based off her mother’s beliefs. Slowly but surely their efforts start to show but will it come crashing to the ground?

The resistance, ‘the White Rose’ is loosely based off a similar resistance around 1942 when the Nazi’s were at large. The story of Marena and her memories is very inspiring. Her courage, strength, and weaknesses are examples of hundreds of people who fought and are fighting now in resistance groups.

I'm FREEEEEE

Hi all my friends! I have missed my online community SO much! Today I finished my last finals and I am now completely stress free, I can sleep for a normal amount of time, I can spend time with the people I have neglected, I can read Cybils all day long, I can blog and I can get ready for the Snow Ball my school is having tomorrow! Well, LOTS has happened.

1. I had my opening night and closing night for 'Emma'. It was an amazing experience and I had so much fun. In the past I have had smaller stage roles and more backstage jobs. This time it was all stage! I experienced the feeling of 'being a completely different person'. I think I'm slightly like Harriet Smith, but for some things, I had to get out of my bubble and just do what Harriet would do, not Traci. Another fun part was how much I made the audience laugh. (I didn't think I was that funny) After the performances many people came up to me and said how they loved my facial expressions. (facial expressions?) I really need to see the video of this play, because I'm thinking that I did some things I wasn't aware of. At first I wasn't sure how to take these "facial expressions" comments, but a cherished friend told me that it was a very good thing and I thank her for that!

Emma (cast 1) and our wonderful piano player

Emma (cast 1) and Jane Austen

Me after my last performance

Jane Fairfax (cast 2) and Mrs. Weston

Mr. Elton and Mrs. Elton

Cast 1 from left to right, Harriet(me), Jane Fairfax, Mr. Churchill, Emma, Mr. Elton, Mr. Knightly, Mr. Woodhouse, and Jane Austen.

Cast 1 from left back row, to left front row, Ball Guest, Butler, Ball Guest, Maid, Harriet, Jane Fairfax, Mr. Churchill, Emma, Mr. Elton, Mr. Knightley, Jane Austen, Mrs. Weston, Mrs. Bates, Mrs. Elton, Miss Bates, Maid

Mr. Churchill, Mr. Woodhouse, Harriet, and Maid

Mr. Martin and Harriet

Ben our curtain and scrim guy and his brother Mr. Weston

Miss Bates and Mrs. Bates

Mr. Knightly, Butler, Mr. Churchill

Dancing for the fun of it between performances

Jane Austen

Me before my closing night peformance

All of us after our last performance...look at my face..;)

Jane Fairfax (cast 2), Harriet, Miss Bates, and Emma (cast 1)


Emily (good friend from school)/ Maid and my sister


Moi and Katie (Jane Fairfax, cast 2)

2. I was featured on the Cybils website HERE! *happy happy*

3. The Broncos play this Sunday!!

LOVE YOU ALL!!!!

Big Update

Hello Everyone,

I'm sorry I haven't been on my blog for awhile. The past couple of months have been very interesting. I needed some time to sit down with myself and think over what has happened. We moved across the country. I started private school. How different it has been compared to homeschooling. Friends. Houses. Money. Family. Acting. Blogging. Writing. God.

When I was homeschooled, I had all the time in the world. Now, frankly, I don't. But, I am working on time management. With God's help in the next couple of weeks I would love to be able to continue blogging, reading for Cybils, not feel stressed at school, give my all at drama, have time for family and time for myself. Everything will work out...

Thank you for being patient and I will try my hardest to continue posting at a regular basis.
Here are some recommendations:
Must Read: Book of a Thousand Days by Shannon Hale (oh my gosh, talk about dream role)
Must Watch: Radio, Rudy, and We are Marshall (do you see the theme?)

Also, I would like to inform you all that tomorrow at 3:00, Boise State will play their archrivals the Idaho Vandals. The Broncos are going to win so there, but if they don't, don't plan on seeing me for the next.....10 years.

Update on Drama: Emma has been going really well. We just finished learning the dances for the ball scene and that was a blast! I love dancing and I can't wait to dance in my beautiful long blue dress. I haven't been able to take pictures because I'm on stage so much (doesn't that sound cool?), but I think I'm going to ask my mom or sisters to come to some practices and take pics.

Oh, you HAVE to watch this video I found. It's absolutely breathtaking. The Circle of Life from The Lion King performed at the Tony Awards. *sighs deeply* Just wonderful!

Emma

First off, I'm sorry it has been so long since I posted. We are still having trouble recieving internet....

Second, I auditioned for my highschool play "Emma" last week and got the role of 'Harriet'!
Below are some quotes from the book that describe her character.

Miss Harriet Smith:

"Miss Smith was a girl of seventeen, whom Emma knew very well by sight, and had long felt an interest in, on account of her beauty."

"was the natural daughter of somebody."

"She was short, plump, and fair, with a fine bloom, blue eyes, light hair, regular features, and a look of great sweetness." FYI: this does not describe me...;)

"She (Emma) was not struck by any thing remarkably clever in Miss Smith's conversation, but she found her altogether very engaging."

"Harriet certainly was not clever, but she had a sweet, docile, grateful disposition, was totally free from conceit, and only desiring to be guided by any one she looked up to."

Shakespeare Time

Since being involved in a Shakespeare Challenge (see post here), I've been reading lots and lots of Tragedy’s. Here are some comments on what I've recently read.

Hamlet: One of the first Shakespeares I read. I literally couldn't put it down. This would be so amazing on stage..*wishful thinking*

Romeo and Juliet: I had high hopes for this story and wasn't let down! A true lovers tale. In a play I would be Juliet.

Sweet, so would I. Yet I should kill thee with much cherishing. Good Night, good night! Parting is such sweet sorrow that I shall say goodnight till it be morrow.
-Juliet

Julius Caesar: This tale had many famous lines that were really fun to read! I learned what my Latin teacher was really talking about when she said, "Et tu Brute". I felt oddly happy at the end...werid. I would love to play Brutus, but because of the gender issue, my second choice is Calphurnia.

Friends, Romans, Countrymen, lend me your ears.
-Antony

P.S. I am going to horse camp this week..so I will be back in the blogging world Sunday or Monday. :D

Shakespeare Challenge

Miss Erin has a challenge. To set up some kind of Shakespeare goal for yourself. Here is mine:
...to read all of Shakespeare's plays. Tragedies, Comedies, and Histories. No Deadline. But, there is a catch. This time around. I will be reading translations of his work. Still the play, just in simpiler english. I would like to understand it if at all possible. I will then choose 1 or 2 of my favorites out of each catogory and read the orginal play.


The list is below:
Crossed out=I've read it
Bold= plays I have either been in or seen a film/live production of.

On the right of the plays, I have written the role I would love to be in that play.



Comedies

All's Well that Ends Well
As You Like It
Comedy of Errors
Love's Labour's Lost
Measure for Measure
Merchant of Venice (Portia)
Merry Wives of Windsor
Midsummer Night's Dream (Hermia)
Much Ado About Nothing (Hero)
Taming of the Shrew
Tempest
Twelfth Night(currently reading)
Two Gentlemen of Verona
Winter's Tale

TRAGEDIES
Antony and Cleopatra
Coriolanus
Hamlet
Julius Caesar (my dream role would be Brutus, but since I'm a gal, I choose..Calphurnia)
King Lear
Macbeth
Othello (currently listening to)
Romeo and Juliet(Juliet)
Timon of Athens
Titus
Andronicus
Troilus and Cressida

Histories
Cymbeline
Pericles
Richard II
Richard III
Henry IV, Part I
Henry IV, Part II
Henry V(currently watching)
Henry VI, Part I
Henry VI, Part II
Henry VI, Part III
Henry VIII
King John

Penelope Bailey Takes the Stage

Penelope Bailey Takes the Stage
by Susanna Reich
Reviewed by Acting Gal

Penelope Bailey is an 11 year old girl who is absolutely obsessed with acting.
She lives, thinks, and talks acting. If you haven’t guessed already her dream is to be a famous actress on stage.

Penelope and her best friend, Cassie are planning on practicing scenes from Romeo and Juliet over the summer to perform at their school in the fall. But, Penelope’s mom decides to go and help her dad on a scientific experiment and sends Penelope to live with her aunt and three cousins.

Penelope is horrified. She can stand her bratty cousins, but not her aunt. Her aunt thinks that anything and anyone to do with the theater is vulgar and shouldn’t be on the earth. Penelope doesn’t think she will survive. Then she befriends a girl at her new school, a professional actor next door, and a flamboyant dancer/actress who has a totally different life style then Penelope has ever seen or heard of before. With their help and encouragement Penelope learns to follow her dreams and to never ever give them up.

Named by Scripps Howard News Service as One of the Best Kid’s Books of 2006, this book is definitely one of my favorites. I am an aspiring actress and this book was perfect for me. It gave me encouragement, self confidence, and even some useful tips on acting. I believe any performer, actress, dancer, or singer will eat this book up just as much as I did. I applaud Susanna Reich.

Also posted on Flamingnet Books.