Final Performance - strengths and weaknesses

The final performance went really well, after all the stress and panic a couple of weeks before it was a great show.

Everything from costume to props looked great. I think on the night everyone got into their character a little bit more than in rehearsals this might of been down to having a real audience and not other members of the class watching.

Chorus - I thought as a chorus we worked well together - helping out with each others cue backstage to fixing a costume (i.e tulip heads!!) I thought the volume of our singing was much better than in rehearsals and our acting was a lot better, for example the nurses and patients scene was really good and I got good feedback from this from people from the audience.

Strengths -

• worked well as a production - all the elements for a good production were brought together such as lighting music costume props acting singing dancing.
• I personally stayed focus throughout the show - knowing when i was on and when i needed to be off stage.
• I stayed in character when acting as a nurse in the hospital and showed my characteristics

Weaknesses -

• The audience wasn't as big as expected on the first night this could have made everyones confidance low and the performance may not of been as good as it should of been.
• On the first night the performance ran slow due to that day was our first run through on the stage and in the space.
• We had to change some of the choreography on the night of the performance which got confusing as we only ran through it once before we had to start the show

Rehearsal Strengths and Weaknesses

Strengths -

• I picked up on the songs quickly which helped with my overall confidence to the final performances.
• I took direction well from my tutors and kept concentration while this was happening
• worked well with new members of the group for example the performing arts

Weaknesses -

• There were sometimes when the chours didn't have a tutor telling us what to do and sometime we would not take action into our own hands and rehears the songs while we had nothing else to do
• i couldnt attend any extra rehearsals due to work

Other Roles

During the performance I am also in many different scenes and dances, such as;

Mind heist - dancing

I am the very model of a pychopharamacoligist - singing and dancing
(Character explained in role one)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tKzedcPXppM


Alice is the worm, wonderland her bird - singing and dancing
Character- Ruled by the red queen, she controls our movement
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EZJkJWxPbig

Crazy and you know it - signing and dancing
Character- Crazy energetic movement, at the mad hatter tea party
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jdv1BQESI8g

Tip toe through the tulips - dancing
(Character explained in role two)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R5rXqAsZnGU

Somewhere we belong - singing and dancing
Character- struggling to find what makes wonderland wonderful


The element song / sweet dreams - singing and gestures
Character- under Dr. Carroll's control. slow sharp movement, spooky aura
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OH21m3TI2jk

The bitter end - dancing
Character- Army defending their side, strong movement fierce face
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OHHxNDVoMaM 


Living it up - singing and dancing
Character- celebrating the defeat of the red queen and the return of wonderland
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6SJpvURmYRU

MALICE - Role two

Tulip -

My charateristics

• Doppy flower
• Very smiley
• simple actions

Actions

• The set choerography
• using the prop - a stick
• making a gaurd with the stick to lock alice out

Songs danced to and sang

Tiptoe through the tulips - tiny tim
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zcSlcNfThUA&feature=related

Costume

Wearing a tulip flower head on out head possibly with a green outfit

MALICE - Role one

Being in the chorus  I get to do many different roles in the performance such as

A nurse at Dr. Carrol's hospital

My characteristics -

• Concerned about the patients 
• Looks up to Dr. Carrol
• easily pushed over by The Dr.
• Snooty looking

My common actions

• reasuring the patients - making sure they are okay
• following the patients back to their correct chair
• Holding alice down while as Dr. carrol has orded me too

Songs Sang in this charatcer -

• I am the very model of a psychopharmacologist.
• Sweet Dreams.

Costume -

Nurses from 1870 - when lewis carrol wrote alice's adventures in wonderland

Nurse from 1951 when alice in wonderland walt disney was created

MALICE

Role  - 
The chorus ( the 22 )

Purpose of the role -

 "The purpose of a chorus is to help the actors role become more emphasized throughout the play. The chorus has a few actions here and there and sometimes they have a dance at some stages."http://wiki.answers.com/Q/What_is_the_purpose_of_the_chorus_in_the_drama#ixzz1vavWyuEo

A chorus came from greek theatre, The chorus was a central feature of Greek drama. The chorus was composed of similarly costumed men on the dancing floor ("orchestra"), located beneath the stage. The chorus was in the orchestra for the duration of the performance to observe and comment on the action of the actors.

 - A chorus of a theatre production

Strengths and Weaknesses

Strengths -

• We fount the song easy to do as we already knew most of the words
• It was a good song to do as we both got a chance to sing on our own and together
• We were able to put some choreography with the song
• The chorus was easy to pick up

Weaknesses -

• It was hard to remember all the words and to know when you were meant to come in as they were short lines with only a few words.
• Fount it hard to take seriously some times as its such a cheesy song
• we had to look at the lyrics alot when rehearsing

Getting to grips with the song

In the song I was troy and Amy was Gabriella - we learnt the song together as it was easier to see where to come in on each section as they were short lines.


Relationship for the movement


We decided not to put to much movement in out audition as we could lose focus and forget the words easily so we look at the relationship troy and Gabriella have in the film just to get some key movements we could use.
 - Here they are very close together and Gabriella looks timied
 - Always near each other on stage , here facing each other

Finally picked a song

We looked over all the songs and fount a perfect song for us to do, Breaking Free from high school musical

Troy:
We’re soarin’, flyin’
There’s not a star in heaven
That we can’t reachGabriella:
If we’re trying
So we’re breaking free Troy:
You know the world can see us
In a way that’s different than who we are
Gabriella:
Creating space between us
‘Til we’re separate hearts

Both:
But your faith it gives me strength
Strength to believe

Chorus #1Troy:
We’re breakin’ freeGabriella:
We’re soarin’Troy:
Flyin’
Both:
There’s not a star in heaven
That we can’t reach Troy:
If we’re trying Both:
Yeah, we’re breaking freeTroy:
Oh, we’re breakin’ freeGabriella:
OhhhhTroy:
Can you feel it building
Like a wave the ocean just can’t controlGabriella:
Connected by a feeling
Ohhh, in our very souls
Both:
Rising ‘til it lifts us up
So every one can see

Chorus #2Troy: We’re breakin’ freeGabriella: We’re soarin’Troy: Flyin’ Both:
There’s not a star in heaven
That we can’t reach Troy:
If we’re trying Yeah we’re breaking freeGabriella:
Ohhhh runnin’Troy:
Climbin’To get to that place Both:
To be all that we can beTroy:
Now’s the timeBoth:
So we’re breaking freeTroy:
We’re breaking freeGabriella:
Ohhh , yeahTroy:
More than hope
More than faithGabriella:
This is true
This is fate
And together

Both:
We see it comin’Troy:
More than you
More than meGabriella:
Not a want, but a need
Both:
Both of us breakin’ free

Chorus #3
Gabriella: Soarin’ Troy: Flyin’ Both:
There’s not a star in heaven
That we can’t reach
If we’re trying Troy: Yeah we’re breaking freeGabriella:
Breaking free
Were runnin’ Troy: Ohhhh, climbin’Both:
To get to the place
To be all that we can be
Now’s the timeTroy: Now’s the timeGabriella: So we’re breaking freeTroy: Ohhh, we’re breaking freeGabriella: Ohhhh

Both: You know the world can see us
In a way that’s different than who we are

Rehearsing for my audition

When we were told we was going to be doing a song, either as a solo or duet i knew i wanted to do it was a duet as I didn't think i would ever have the confidence to do a solo.

Me and amy decided to do a song which had two different parts to sing such as a girl and boy or two different charaters from a film/ musical

Research ...

we tried thinking of different musicals there were and fount this,




 

Maybe - Ballad

It's the Hard-Knock Life - Upbeat

Tomorrow - Upbeat

We'd Like To Thank You

Little Girls - Upbeat

I Think I'm Gonna Like It Here - Upbeat

N.Y.C. - Upbeat

Easy Street - Upbeat

You Won't Be an Orphan For Long

You're Never Fully Dressed Without a Smile - Upbeat

Tomorrow - Upbeat

Something Was Missing

I Don't Need Anything But You - Upbeat

•  Summer Nights [Travolta-ONJ-Cast]
•  Hopelessly Devoted To You [ONJ]
• You're The One That I Want [Travolta-ONJ]
•  Sandy [Travolta]
•  Beauty School Dropout [Avalon]
• Look At Me, I'm Sandra Dee [Channing]
• Greased Lightnin' [Travolta-Conaway]
• There Are Worse Things I Could Do [Channing]
•  Look At Me, I'm Sandra Dee (Reprise) [ONJ]
• We Go Together [Travolta-ONJ-Cast

Bet On It - High School Musical

Breaking Free - High School Musical

Can I Have This Dance - High School Musical

Gotta Go My Own Way - High School Musical

Humuhumunukunukuapua'a - High School Musical

I Want It All - High School Musical

Now Or Never - High School Musical

Start Of Something New - High School Musical

Stick To The Status Quo - High School Musical

We're All In This Together - High School Musical

What I've Been Looking For - High School Musical

What Time Is It? - High School Musical

When There Was Me And You - High School Musical

Week Six

All that jazz - Chicago

In todays lesson we were given chicago all that jazz (sheet music) this helped up see where there were breaks in the song and where the lyrics come in- we all learnt the words together then broke them down into three groups once we did this we created movement which went with our lyrics

Come on babe why don't we paint the town
and all that jazz
I'm gonna rouge my knees
and roll my stockings down
and all that jazz
Start the car I know a whoopee spot
Where the gin is cold
but the piano's hot!
It's justy a noisy hall
Where there's a nightly brawl
And all that jazz
And all that jazz
And all that jazz

Slick your hair
And wear your buckle shoes
And all that Jazz
I hear that Father Dip
Is gonna blow the blues
And all that Jazz
Hold on, hon
We're gonna bunny hug
I bought some aspirin
Down at United Drug
I case you shake apart
And want a brand new start
To do that

[Roxie Hart] (imagine)
Jazz
[Velma Kelly]
Find a flask
We're playing fast and loose
And all that jazz
Right up here
Is where I store the juice
And all that jazz
Come on, babe
We're gonna brush the sky
I bet you luck Lindy
Never flew so high
'Cause in the stratosphere
How could he lend an ear
to all that jazz?
Oh, you're gonna see your sheba shimmy shake
[Company]
And all that jazz

[Velma Kelly]
Oh, she's gonna shimmy 'till her garters break

[Company]
And all that jazz

[Velma Kelly]
Show her where to park her girdle
Oh, her mother's blood'd curdle
[Company]
If she'd hear her baby's queer

[Velma Kelly]
For all that jazz
All that jazz
Come on, babe
Why Don't we paint
The town?
And all that jazz
And all that jazz
I'm gonna rouge my knees
And roll my stockings down
And all that jazz
And all that jazz
Start the car
I know a whoopee spot
Where the gin is cold
But the piano's hot
It's just a noisy hall
Where there's a nightly brawl
And all that jazz


No, I'm no one's wife
But, Oh, I love my life
And all
that
Jazz!
That Jazz!

Key :

Group one

Group two

Group three

All

Our groups movements

Come on babe why don't we paint the town

-step out with right foot, bring right arm out and around to the left-

and all that jazz

-bend knees to left and click hand behind-

I'm gonna rouge my knees

- tap thigh with all fingers-

and roll my stockings down

- brush right hand down right leg-

and all that jazz

-step out on left step out on right-

Start the car I know a whoopee spot

-both arms out in front in a driving car gesture swaying left to right-

Where the gin is cold

-bend knees left and do a pouring drink gesture with head back-

but the piano's hot!

-jump to the front 'play piano, while circling hips-

It's justy a noisy hall

- wrap arms around person next to you-

Where there's a nightly brawl

- high kick left high kick right-

And all that jazz

- still sudden movement in different directions-

Week Five

Time warp - Rocky Horror Show

In todays lesson we go given the words to the rocky horror show - time warp, we then got to listen to the musical version of the song -
we all learnt the words together at first...


RiffRaff:
It's astounding;
Time is fleeting;
Madness takes its toll.
But listen closely...

Magenta:
Not for very much longer.

RiffRaff:
I've got to keep control.

I remember doing the time-warp
Drinking those moments when
The Blackness would hit me

Magenta:
And the void would be calling...

Transylvanians:
Let's do the time-warp again.
Let's do the time-warp again.

Narrator:
It's just a jump to the left.

All:
And then a step to the right.

Narrator:
Put your hands on your hips.

All:
You bring your knees in tight.
But it's the pelvic thrust
That really drives you insane.
Let's do the time-warp again.
Let's do the time-warp again.

Magenta:
It's so dreamy, oh fantasy free me.
So you can't see me, no, not at all.
In another dimension, with
voyeuristic intention,
Well secluded, I see all.

RiffRaff:
With a bit of a mind flip

Magenta:
You're into the time slip.

RiffRaff:
And nothing can ever be the same.

Magenta:
You're spaced out on sensation.

RiffRaff:
Like you're under sedation.

All:
Let's do the time-warp again.
Let's do the time-warp again.

Columbia:
Well I was walking down the street
just a-having a think
When a snake of a guy gave me an
evil wink.
He shook-a me up, he took me by surprise.
He had a pickup truck, and the
devil's eyes.
He stared at me and I felt a change.
Time meant nothing, never would again.

All:
Let's do the time-warp again.
Let's do the time-warp again.

Narrator:
It's just a jump to the left.

All:
And then a step to the right.

Narrator:
Put your hands on your hips.

All:
You bring your knees in tight.
But it's the pelvic thrust
That really drives you insane.
Let's do the time-warp again.
Let's do the time-warp again.

After learning the lyrics, we then got up on our feet and put some of the well known moves to song

we watched the original scene from the filmhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V0SqS2QJdj8

Then looked at the new adapted version people do, which by YouTube looks very popular at weddings and parties

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wT7riT9k8v0&feature=related

strenghts -

• the whole class really got into the dancing and we made the lesson fun but productive, we even recorded it as evidence for the unit
• everyone got involved in creating some of the movements up which we didn't already know
• everyone sang the song while trying to learn it as it was a popular song to everyone

weaknesses -

• it was hard to dance and sing in some section for example 'Columbia's ' verse was hard as not everyone knew them words to start with, trying to read the lyrics and dance proved difficult
• the song doesn't really help your singing as its mainly talking/singing but it does help to dance and sing at the same time

Week Four

Warm up exercise

Be banana...

Be banana be be banana, Peal banana peal peal banana.

Be an orange be be an orange, squeeze the orange squeeze squeeze the orange.

Be a house be be a house, rock the house rock rock the house.

Be a car be be a car, drive the car drive drive the car.

Be potato be be potato, mash potato mash mash potato.

Be a fish be be a fish, swim the fishy swim swim the fishy.

Actions -
banana - arms in air at a point

peal - peal arms down

orange - arms like your holding a large ball

squeeze - like your squeezing the ball

House - arms in a point above your head

rock- whack arms side to side above head

Car - arms out in front (like driving a car)

Drive - sway from side to side

Potato - finger to top lip

Mash- push arms side to side l(low)

Fish - palms together in front of you

Swim- swim your hands forwards

Main activity

We all learnt the words to Moulin Rouge - lady marmalade from a YouTube video.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aMShrurchRI

Once we all got the hang of these we grabbed the chairs and started to put some choreography to the song.

The difficult part to this was then trying to remember the words and the dance, also getting the volume of our voices to over power the music.

Strengths -

• I picked up the song words quick as i sort of knew them to begin with - this helped with my confidence with the song as i knew the melody of it
• I picked the movement and character up quickly when we were taught the choreography
• I tried my hardest to sing as loud as i could while dancing and didn't give up

Weaknesses -

• It was hard to sing your best while dancing on the chairs, and if you didn't know all the words was very difficult to look at the board sing and dance at the same time
• the room we were in was rather small for us all to do the movement fully, it also got very stuffy and was difficult to concentrate at times

Week Three

Breathing exercises

1. Breathing in for 4 and releasing for 6
2. Breathing in for 6 and releasing on 4
3. Breathing in for 2 and releasing on 4
4. Breathing in for 6 and releasing on 2
5. Months of the year- breathing in for 6 and saying the months of the year until you run out of breath

Warming the vocal chords up

1. Breathing in for 4 and releasing with an "ooo"
2. Breathing in for 4 and releasing with an "ahhh"
3. Breathing in for 6 and releasing with and "ooo"
4. Breathing in for 6 and releasing with and "ahhh"
5. Breathing in for 4 and releasing with an "ooo" then opening out to a "ahhh"
6. Breathing in for 4 and releasing doing a serine noise which comes from the back of the throat
7. Breathing in for 4 and releasing to do a scale with an "ahhh" sound

Strengths -

• showed us how good or bad our knowledge was on breath control, and how it was useful to warm up the vocal chords
• we got to figure out how to make certain sounds and where they come from
• doing the months of the year really helped figure out how good our own breath control was

Weakness -

• not everyone in the class joined into the noises as they might of been embarrassed
• not everyone got the concept of not breathing in when doing the months of the year