Open Forum

I'm just under a month from the opening of my last play at my high school, and I'm curious: what sort of traditions do you all have at your schools over the course of the run?

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Duncan Kinzie
Region II Rep

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We have a few traditions:
1. We have a clap that the seniors teach the cast and crew during the show nights to get them pumped up.
2. We have the senior girls do a penny poem. They collect pennies during the weeks prior to the show and then on opening night, they give everyone in the cast and crew a penny and then read a poem that they wrote and give everyone a copy.
3. Closing night there is always a cast and crew overnight at someone's house.
4. Sunday morning after the show closes, we have a breakfast for the cast and crew and adult staff. Kids eat and then we do paper plate awards. The seniors make one for every member of the cast and crew. They are meant to be funny. I make each senior one. The juniors that day give out the Spoon Awards. They make fun spoons for every senior and then every staff member. After this is all over, we all, cast and crew, break down the set.
5. The night of the show we do Secret Thespian. Prior to the show, maybe the week before, students can sign up to participate. They have to get 3 gifts that equal $10, no more. Everyone who wants to participate puts their name in the hat. Then everyone chooses someone. The nights of the show we have a room in the building where everyone drops off their gifts. Then we all go down to the room an hour before the show. Everyone opens their gifts. We do this the first 2 nights. On the 3rd night, the kids are supposed to sign their actual names, so their secret thespian is revealed.

Hope this helps!

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Carolyn Little
High School English Teacher
Toms River Board of Education


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Original Message:
Sent: 10-17-2013 00:10
From: Duncan Kinzie
Subject: Traditiooooon, Tradition!

I'm just under a month from the opening of my last play at my high school, and I'm curious: what sort of traditions do you all have at your schools over the course of the run?

-------------------------------------------
Duncan Kinzie
Region II Rep

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We also do MLT's (or Most Likely To...) paper plate awards. My student production team keeps track of some of the most entertaining moments in rehearsal and we create fun awards based on them. We have a pizza party the afternoon before opening. While everyone is eating we read the award and try to guess who it is talking about. It's a nice relaxing time before we open.

We live in AZ so after strike on closing night all of the kids head to someone's house for a pool party. It's a chance for the kids to enjoy some time together (w/o me) and just hang out. It also helps get strike done quickly. I never let them leave until we finish.
 :)

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Shira Schwartz
Chandler Unified School District


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Original Message:
Sent: 10-17-2013 08:24
From: Carolyn Little
Subject: Traditiooooon, Tradition!

We have a few traditions:
1. We have a clap that the seniors teach the cast and crew during the show nights to get them pumped up.
2. We have the senior girls do a penny poem. They collect pennies during the weeks prior to the show and then on opening night, they give everyone in the cast and crew a penny and then read a poem that they wrote and give everyone a copy.
3. Closing night there is always a cast and crew overnight at someone's house.
4. Sunday morning after the show closes, we have a breakfast for the cast and crew and adult staff. Kids eat and then we do paper plate awards. The seniors make one for every member of the cast and crew. They are meant to be funny. I make each senior one. The juniors that day give out the Spoon Awards. They make fun spoons for every senior and then every staff member. After this is all over, we all, cast and crew, break down the set.
5. The night of the show we do Secret Thespian. Prior to the show, maybe the week before, students can sign up to participate. They have to get 3 gifts that equal $10, no more. Everyone who wants to participate puts their name in the hat. Then everyone chooses someone. The nights of the show we have a room in the building where everyone drops off their gifts. Then we all go down to the room an hour before the show. Everyone opens their gifts. We do this the first 2 nights. On the 3rd night, the kids are supposed to sign their actual names, so their secret thespian is revealed.

Hope this helps!

-------------------------------------------
Carolyn Little
High School English Teacher
Toms River Board of Education


-------------------------------------------






Original Message:
Sent: 10-17-2013 00:10
From: Duncan Kinzie
Subject: Traditiooooon, Tradition!

I'm just under a month from the opening of my last play at my high school, and I'm curious: what sort of traditions do you all have at your schools over the course of the run?

-------------------------------------------
Duncan Kinzie
Region II Rep

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Chili night!  My husband makes great chili ( vegetarian, too) and he started this by making it for the tech crew, but everybody wanted in on the chili, so now it is a tradition for every show.  We usually designate a work day/working rehearsal for chili day, and we all EAT!  Great bonding...............

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Debbie Corbin
Branson High School


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Original Message:
Sent: 10-17-2013 00:10
From: Duncan Kinzie
Subject: Traditiooooon, Tradition!

I'm just under a month from the opening of my last play at my high school, and I'm curious: what sort of traditions do you all have at your schools over the course of the run?

-------------------------------------------
Duncan Kinzie
Region II Rep

-------------------------------------------

A few years ago we started cooking a "team dinner" for our cast and crew. After a rehearsal, we stay for an hour and have a home cooked dinner together.  My husband and I provide the food and drinks.

Before each opening night we have a pre-show circle.  Anyone in the cast and crew who wants to can say a few words and we end the circle with "St. Genesius, pray for us!"  It started in 2003 when we did Play On! but even though those kids are no longer at THS, the tradition has continued.  The cast two years ago surprised me with a St. Genesius medal! I've never said a word about this tradition--it has passed down solely from cast to cast.  

At sign in for the last performance I give each cast and crew member a ballot to vote one member Best Of Company--sort of an MVP award.  I tally the votes and present the award at strike.  

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Irene Imboden
Teacher/ Drama Director
Troy City Schools


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Original Message:
Sent: 10-18-2013 09:21
From: Debbie Corbin
Subject: Traditiooooon, Tradition!

Chili night!  My husband makes great chili ( vegetarian, too) and he started this by making it for the tech crew, but everybody wanted in on the chili, so now it is a tradition for every show.  We usually designate a work day/working rehearsal for chili day, and we all EAT!  Great bonding...............

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Debbie Corbin
Branson High School


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Original Message:
Sent: 10-17-2013 00:10
From: Duncan Kinzie
Subject: Traditiooooon, Tradition!

I'm just under a month from the opening of my last play at my high school, and I'm curious: what sort of traditions do you all have at your schools over the course of the run?

-------------------------------------------
Duncan Kinzie
Region II Rep

-------------------------------------------

At my school after each performance we chant "line it up! line it up! line it up!" and make a tunnel in the hallway for the cast and crew to run through and get high fives and once you go through you become part of the tunnel so the others can go through as well and everyone gets very pumped up. 

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Alexis Anelli

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Original Message:
Sent: 10-17-2013 00:10
From: Duncan Kinzie
Subject: Traditiooooon, Tradition!

I'm just under a month from the opening of my last play at my high school, and I'm curious: what sort of traditions do you all have at your schools over the course of the run?

-------------------------------------------
Duncan Kinzie
Region II Rep

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When I was in high school, one of my favorite traditions was a gift our drama teacher would give us on opening night of each show. Nothing too fancy, just a small object that had some connection to the show. Here are some examples:

-A small, clear plastic shoe for Cinderella
-Hand mirror for All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten (to Reflect the Light)
-A tiny picnic basket for Oklahoma!
-Tinted glasses for The Miracle Worker

I have no idea how much time or money he spent on them, but each one was personalized and accompanied by a kind note. They were so loved and appreciated that when a new teacher took over my senior year (after his retirement), they immediately saw the importance of continuing the tradition.

I have kept these little treasures, moving them place to place wherever I go (as have many of my classmates). They still make me feel just as special as they did then!

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Ginny Butsch
Community Manager
Educational Theatre Association


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Original Message:
Sent: 10-20-2013 22:23
From: Alexis Anelli
Subject: Traditiooooon, Tradition!

At my school after each performance we chant "line it up! line it up! line it up!" and make a tunnel in the hallway for the cast and crew to run through and get high fives and once you go through you become part of the tunnel so the others can go through as well and everyone gets very pumped up. 

-------------------------------------------
Alexis Anelli

-------------------------------------------






Original Message:
Sent: 10-17-2013 00:10
From: Duncan Kinzie
Subject: Traditiooooon, Tradition!

I'm just under a month from the opening of my last play at my high school, and I'm curious: what sort of traditions do you all have at your schools over the course of the run?

-------------------------------------------
Duncan Kinzie
Region II Rep

-------------------------------------------

We have several traditions in our program. 

Before each show we start by "Ponying" - I think we all have different names for this activity...I stole it from the 1998 Georgia Thespian Festival...back in the day!
After that, we circle up and pass energy, say the Lord's Prayer, and then...not sure when this started, our boys  quack like the Mighty Ducks...the girls don't participate...???

When it comes to our Main stage shows, I try to give each cast and crew member a memento to remember the show by.  Last year, after Disney's LIttle Mermaid, Jr., I gave everyone a "Dinglehopper" (a fork) with a card that had an image of their character on it. 

We also "Dove" each other before strike of each show.  Each student is given a Dove chocolate.  They all sit in a circle and place the candy in front of them.  Each student has an opportunity to give their candy to another person and give a positive about why they are "doving" that individual.  We go around the circle until everyone has been doved.  It is a lovely chance for everyone to show their appreciation. 

Finally...goodie bags!
I am the goodie bag dork!  When we travel to competitions I make up small goodie bags that have candy, toys, and little mementos that apply to that particular production.  My favorite goodie bag is the one I make for everyone when we go to the International Thespian Festival!  I supply each person with candy, snacks, notebooks, pen/pencils, small first aid kits, and other items to enjoy throughout the week!  I have a blast planning each of the goodie bags! 

Love learning about other traditions!!  Thanks for getting us started!


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Carolyn Greer

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Original Message:
Sent: 10-17-2013 00:10
From: Duncan Kinzie
Subject: Traditiooooon, Tradition!

I'm just under a month from the opening of my last play at my high school, and I'm curious: what sort of traditions do you all have at your schools over the course of the run?

-------------------------------------------
Duncan Kinzie
Region II Rep

-------------------------------------------

We have a couple of traditions. Before every show, we the cast and crew circle up and sing the theme song from "The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air". We also go out for dinner after the last show, which is always fun and we play salt and pepper to pass the time. My troupe also does "bonding days", which is when we all spend a Saturday together and go play mini golf.

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Jessica Zhong

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Original Message:
Sent: 10-17-2013 00:10
From: Duncan Kinzie
Subject: Traditiooooon, Tradition!

I'm just under a month from the opening of my last play at my high school, and I'm curious: what sort of traditions do you all have at your schools over the course of the run?

-------------------------------------------
Duncan Kinzie
Region II Rep

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