List of Contributions

Nick Hoffa

Drama Director,
South Pasadena High School

Contact Details

Drama Director,
South Pasadena High School
Bronze Member

My Content

1 to 20 of 39 total
Posted By Nick Hoffa 01-09-2024 15:41
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Hi everyone! this year we are adding a cabaret-style evening starring our 9th and 10th graders to get them a little more stage time. They are coming up with material on their own, but one of our wonderful English teachers who is helping with this said it is starting to feel a little like a talent show. ...
Posted By Nick Hoffa 10-22-2023 08:10
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Hi Bryan - not sure if you are looking for collections by one author that you can do all together, or just a place to find as many as you can for in-class work. If in class work, I have found a ton from the many, many collections from the Humana Festival. they are not written for HS, so you'll read a ...
Posted By Nick Hoffa 08-11-2023 19:12
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Hey everyone, we are in the process of trying to rethink how we compensate our musical director/ choreographer. Would be helpful to have a sense from the community so we can go to admin as informed as possible. Have a few seconds to answer a few questions? a) Are your musical director / choreographer ...
Posted By Nick Hoffa 07-27-2023 17:38
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Hi! For those of you who have done Chicago (Teen Edition), what was the experience for your ensemble? I feel like the shows I have had success with have leads, substantial supporting roles, and a fun ensemble. Chicago feels like it has two of those three: great lead parts and a fun ensemble, but not ...
Posted By Nick Hoffa 09-01-2022 08:59
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Hey Chad - The phrase "so frustrating to still be dealing with the issue" feels like such an understatement. My only suggestion would be to consider outside if you have possibilities for lighting and mics. We did that last fall and it is hard to describe how wonderful it was. we embraced this different ...
Posted By Nick Hoffa 08-03-2022 10:55
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Thanks David! Really appreciate those thoughts. ------------------------------ Nick Hoffa Drama Director South Pasadena High School CA ------------------------------
Posted By Nick Hoffa 07-30-2022 10:52
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Anyone done the show want to share some thoughts on the experience? It's a lovely piece but so unique, I'd just love to know how it landed with your students and your community. Thanks! Nick ------------------------------ Nick Hoffa Drama Director South Pasadena High School CA -------------- ...
Posted By Nick Hoffa 07-06-2022 10:23
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Hi Sarah - I'm sure more responses will begin to trickle in and you will get some great ideas, but a quick thought or two. First I really admire your desire to keep growing your program, especially one that tries to get as many kids as possible engaged and involved. And if you had 30-40 students interested ...
Posted By Nick Hoffa 02-15-2022 12:49
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Hi hive mind! I just received our rented scripts from MTI. I have some vague memory of reading somewhere on the site that MTI has a new policy that students can write in light pencil but do NOT have to now erase them when they get returned. But I can't confirm that or find that anywhere! I've emailed ...
Posted By Nick Hoffa 12-05-2021 11:11
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We did not mic and yes, we would not have mic-d actors and done the water. For sure, projection was a huge point of focus and that is one reason we only had two instrumentalists but we did this in our smaller theater so that helped. I gave very specific volume notes to the musicians and could also tell ...
Posted By Nick Hoffa 12-05-2021 09:46
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Katie - This was a truly special production for us (yes we built a small pool). The students were so engaged creatively because every scene wasn't about "blocking" as much as: how do we use this water to tell this particular story. Some details below and some attached pics.  Yes, we built a ...
Posted By Nick Hoffa 09-21-2021 08:30
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Thank you all! this is perfect. ------------------------------ Nick Hoffa Drama Director South Pasadena High School CA ------------------------------
Posted By Nick Hoffa 09-19-2021 11:26
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Hey all! Does anyone have any Commedia lesson plans they'd be willing to share? I'm finding myself with a few week gap. We won't have time to do a complete unit, but I think it would still be really fun and valuable to introduce the big idea of Commedia and play around for a weeks with archetypes ...
Posted By Nick Hoffa 06-11-2021 22:49
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Thank you CJ and everyone. So many useful suggestions. -- "Miss Heller, what is your method of acting?" "Well, I have a bash at it, and if it doesn't go, I have another bash at it."
Posted By Nick Hoffa 06-09-2021 09:30
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Thanks Erin. It's a great suggestion, though it turns out many of these juniors and seniors did it for their 5th grade show. But thank you. -- "Miss Heller, what is your method of acting?" "Well, I have a bash at it, and if it doesn't go, I have another bash at it."
Posted By Nick Hoffa 06-09-2021 09:29
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Thanks, Laura. Great suggestions. I just ordered Museum which is a play I don't really know. -- "Miss Heller, what is your method of acting?" "Well, I have a bash at it, and if it doesn't go, I have another bash at it."
Posted By Nick Hoffa 06-08-2021 20:01
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Hi all! Hope you are all taking - or getting ready to take - some much needed time off.  As we start hurtling into next year, I'm thinking about our fall play and it feels our kids and community are excited for something a little less heavy. I'm looking for large cast comedies (minimum cast of 14). ...
Posted By Nick Hoffa 11-01-2020 08:49
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How many computers/editors and what platform (mac/pc etc)? Are students editing? Wevideo is not very robust but gets the job done for students to do basic things.  But if PC, Travis is right that DaVinci can do lot. Premiere is amazing, but it's a real program and does cost money (unless your school ...
Posted By Nick Hoffa 08-05-2020 20:03
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Hi all - While I've worked on a ton of Greek monologues and scenes for festivals, we haven't done a Greek production. And with the lack of funding, a rights-free show that could be done "amphitheater" style might be good (if we are ever allowed). But there are so many! Would love to hear about some good ...
Posted By Nick Hoffa 06-19-2020 09:09
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Hi James - I don't consider myself an expert on this, though what you've written generally syncs with my understanding. The thing that has to be brought up in a discussion of method acting for me is that the term has morphed to mean something completely different. We generally call Daniel Day Lewis a ...