Cora, I feel you with the concern about students returning to audition. I have a very small cast show planned for the fall that will hopefully bring them running back. I think it's important to take a break from rehearsals. It can become too much. I do 95% of my tech work through my drama classes--I have students who are the heads of all departments-tech director, costumes, sound, etc. So, while I do much of the design, they do all the implementation and all the training of their replacements. It takes a few years to get it working smoothly, but once it does, you'd be amazed how much that takes off your plate. I also have a lot of former students who are willing to come in a do work for me and act as mentors and guest teachers for my kids, giving me time to get other things done, or work on different things at the same time.
I would highly recommend lessening rehearsal time. I do 4 weeks for one acts, 6 weeks for straight plays, and 8 weeks for musicals. Usually an hour Mon-Thurs, every other Friday, and one Saturday. Although I'm not there yet at my new school, my last big program, I did six productions a year. Dinner theatre, 4 weeks, opened in September, rehearsals started in August. Fall show, 6 weeks, opens between Thanksgiving and Christmas. Competition one-act, opens January. Student one-acts, 4-5 one acts done in rep, all student run, 4 weeks rehearsal, opens in March. Spring Show, 7-8 weeks, either musical or Shakespeare, opens in May. Showcase, June, 2-3 days (this is based on classroom assignments). I have found that when i give the kids too much rehearsal, they get lazy, and things get sloppy. My productions got better and tighter when I shortened rehearsal periods and added more to the schedule. The kids understood that if they didn't get it done, the show was cancelled, and I made it very clear that the blame would be clearly placed on those who did not do their part. In 20 years, I've only cancelled 4 shows, and 2 of them were during the pandemic.
I have a severely abridged and adapted version of Twelfth Night that I wrote this year for my kids. I only had 5 students this spring, and we did it outdoors for a quick performance with a small audience. No lighting, no sound, two benches and some plants for a set. Foam sword swordfight. Modern costumes. It went very well, and the kids had a lot of fun with it. Let me know if you're interested and I'll be glad to share.
------------------------------
Marie Miguel
Chespeake, VA
------------------------------
Original Message:
Sent: 06-03-2021 10:38
From: Cora Turlish
Subject: Next Year, Season Thoughts
I did not direct any productions this year, just a few video pieces for a revue that was otherwise put together by the music department. Many of my experienced actors chose to be fully virtual this year, and there just didn't seem to be much interest in doing virtual theater after the enormous effort we made to turn our spring 2020 production into a video. I am so looking forward to working on in-person productions next year, but there are so many unknowns at this point, including how many students will show up to audition. Usually I have a pretty good sense of what I'll have at auditions, and make choices to suit; casting everyone is frequently, though not always, one of my goals.
I do want to see if I can rehearse a little less than before. Reading posts on the forum, I realize that my productions log more rehearsal hours than many others. (I do plays, not musicals, and we do 6 to 8 weeks of every day for a couple of hours after school rehearsing, with weekend and evenings added for tech / performance week.) I'd like to try to give myself more time to work on production elements, though I love being in the rehearsal room so much that this will probably be a struggle unless I set aside at least one day a week for no rehearsal. I also would like to make creating opportunities for more student leadership a priority -- this is something that I've always been interested in, but haven't put into place the structures needed to support it. Maybe it's time for me to encourage student directing, for example.
Next year, I think that ensemble-building will be so important, an emphasis for my acting and drama classes as well as with the production casts. As for material, I'm thinking about trying to create an original production inspired by "Twelfth Night." For me, that play is about people finding joy after being separated from who or what they love, opening up after closing themselves off. I'm thinking of incorporating some characters, situations, and themes, but decreasing the focus on romantic love. Given that I don't know what the numbers might be like in the fall, I thought I would try to outline a scene list and draft some material but leave some sequences open for improv work with the cast. (I have written a few plays for my students to perform in the past, so this wouldn't be a totally new endeavor.) I'd welcome hearing from anyone who would like to brainstorm about this idea or process, or read drafted material.
Reading posts on this forum have really helped me to get through this year. Thanks, everyone, and thanks Michael for starting this thread.
------------------------------
Cora Turlish
Original Message:
Sent: 05-26-2021 08:03
From: Michael Johnson
Subject: Next Year, Season Thoughts
As we close out and reflect on this school year and our thoughts shift to the season ahead-- our successes and challenges this year-- the promise of in person performances (perhaps with some limitations) in the fall and winter --- I wonder what we are thinking as to a potential season in the fall and spring of next year?
I think, for example, that next year provides an opportunity for a renaissance in some ways for our programs. What are your season plans? Do you have a new idea, a new challenge? I would love to hear some approaches to next year's season. Perhaps you are thinking of making some changes to what you have done over the years or looking to start a new performance opportunity or tradition.
------------------------------
Michael Johnson
Trinity High School
------------------------------