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Melissa Purdy

Westminster High School

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Westminster High School

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1 to 13 of 13 total
Posted By Melissa Purdy 05-21-2023 08:28
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I do 3 shows each year - the play & our student directed one-act festival are presented by the theatre program, but the spring musical is presented by the performing arts department. For me it has nothing to do with money or who puts in the most work, but simply an acknowledgment of the fact that everyone ...
Posted By Melissa Purdy 11-12-2021 06:31
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I’ve always had a 10 year rule. By that point most, if not all, of the families of the cast of the original production will have graduated out of the system so the show becomes “new” again. Sent from my iPhone
Posted By Melissa Purdy 05-22-2018 09:16
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I'm considering doing The Crucible in the fall & I'm curious if anyone knows of any good adaptations or edited versions that are available for performance.
Posted By Melissa Purdy 12-14-2017 08:23
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I did "Complete Works" with a cast of 9 a couple of years ago & it worked really well, although I wouldn't recommend going any bigger then that as it would take away the chaotic nature of the piece.
Posted By Melissa Purdy 11-04-2017 08:11
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We did a theatre in the round production of 12 Angry Men, no intermissions - 85 minutes straight through last fall. It was a great challenge for my students & everyone who saw it loved it. ------------------------------ Melissa Purdy Westminster High School Westminster MD -------------------- ...
Posted By Melissa Purdy 07-21-2017 08:04
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I did the show a few years ago with a cast of 10 (+1) - 3 things we did that may help: 1st - I made the character of Compere a show girl which gave me some really nice options for the scene when Mr Memory dies & creates another larger role for one of your girls, as a girl. 2nd - the ...
Posted By Melissa Purdy 07-11-2017 08:36
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My students want to do a farce this fall after doing "12 Angry Men" last year, but everything I've read that I like either - has a small cast (4-6 characters of any size) - isn't really school appropriate (especially given that we have a new principal who I haven't met yet) or - is very ...
Posted By Melissa Purdy 03-04-2017 12:05
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I did the show this fall - I ordered copies of 12 Angry Men for all my actors & 1 copy of 12 Angry Women to use to adjust lines. In all honesty, aside from changing pronouns & and a few wife/husband references, we changed very little from the "Men" script in our production.
Posted By Melissa Purdy 11-16-2016 07:06
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In terms of designing, I use a set model and several small flash lights with scraps of gel taped to them to simulate the actual stage - it's easy, inexpensive & gives them at least the basics in the effects of color & angles. Hope that helps.
Posted By Melissa Purdy 07-15-2016 07:53
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I did the show 4 years ago with a cast of 10 (6 men, 4 women) but I know others have done larger casts. Theres a thread on this site from not too long ago with a number of responses to casting 39 Steps. ------------------------------ Melissa Purdy Westminster High School Westminster MD
Posted By Melissa Purdy 06-28-2016 09:40
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I did the show a few years ago with a cast of 11 - 6 men, 4 women & a pianist who played all the music live on an upright directly in front of the stage, did some of the sound effects like the train whistle and had a several interactive bits with the cast, embracing a "show with in a show" concept. I ...
Posted By Melissa Purdy 10-25-2015 09:28
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We did Get Smart last year - I found a string of lights with large red bulbs at Target. We wrapped the bulbs in silver metallic fabric and plugged them into an extension cord with a dimmer switch. The bulbs were slowly turned up & the stage lights first to red & then down when the inthermo was activated ...
Posted By Melissa Purdy 10-21-2014 07:21
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I did the show two years ago & I added a piano player who played not only between scenes, but also during some scenes & interacted with the cast at times. It worked really well & added a lot to the show. ------------------------------------------- Melissa Purdy Westminster MD ------------- ...