List of Contributions

RE: First Musical, Need ideas for Acquiring Medieval Costumes on a Low Budget (The Frog Princess - Playscripts)

Posted By Ellen Di Filippo 01-13-2023 11:53
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Hi Brian, I can feel your pain. I started my first job with a little more than you have, but no costumes except some ratty old stuff. I can sew, so making costumes is always an option for me, but I know that fabric has gotten expensive since I started, so that makes it difficult. I have used sheets, ...

RE: Costume Source for Dark Road (concentration camp, guards)?

Posted By Ellen Di Filippo 08-17-2022 11:01
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When I did Sound of Music I used black long-sleeved dress shirts and black slacks with red armbands for SS. You could also use khaki the same way for SA. I found Duluth traders had olive shirts that worked well for field uniforms. ------------------------------ Ellen Di Filippo -------------------- ...

RE: Shrek - Simple Set Design

Posted By Ellen Di Filippo 05-10-2022 10:14
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I just finished Shrek. I used a combination of two-sided flats and projections. My stage is also very wide, but not equally deep, and back stage area is limited. I had five 8'x8' rolling flats that were painted on both sides (i.e. Duloc on one side and dragon's keep on the other, Farquaad's dungeon and ...

RE: Course Performance/Production Requirement

Posted By Ellen Di Filippo 05-02-2022 15:56
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I also have contended with this issue this year. I had parents tell me I could not require after-school involvement, and that I could not restrict other activities. I had several students go out for sports without talking to me after they had already signed the contract. Our pre-tech week had longer ...

RE: When they're supposed to be off book but are NOT

Posted By Ellen Di Filippo 02-25-2022 10:22
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After we have done some line work and gone through the other processes mentioned, actors are told "One burpee per flubbed line". The stage manager keeps count and at the end of rehearsal each person is told how many burpees they owe. The first day there are many, the second day fewer and the third day ...

RE: Double-Standards with Athletics

Posted By Ellen Di Filippo 03-04-2021 10:05
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I have had this problem often through my years. This year, however, I looked the principal in eye and told him we needed the permission to practice together just as the athletes were doing. He hemmed and hawed a bit, but finally came back after a couple of days and said no more than 10, masked, and outside. ...

RE: Best Advice to Students When They Wish They Had More Lines

Posted By Ellen Di Filippo 03-09-2020 11:12
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I have one personal story that I tell them. I was a dwarf in "The Hobbit". I had 6 lines, but I was on stage all but 3 scenes. I had people come up to me afterwards and tell me that they couldn't take their eyes off me. My second thing to tell the kids is "Don't count your lines; make your lines count." ...

RE: Western one act melodrama script

Posted By Ellen Di Filippo 12-09-2019 10:44
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I have a melodrama that I wrote many years ago that is set Western. It can be done as a one-act, though I originally wrote it as two. I have a music folio to go with it. It's called "The Counterfeit Capitalist, or Who Broke the Bank". E-mail me separately if you are interested in seeing it. ---- ...

RE: Costumes

Posted By Ellen Di Filippo 11-12-2019 10:42
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All of these answers are good. I also say something to the effect of..."Thanks for volunteering to be our costume manager for the next show." ------------------------------ Ellen Di Filippo Tracy CA ------------------------------

RE: Looking for scenes from musicals for scene study

Posted By Ellen Di Filippo 11-12-2019 10:37
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"Tradition" beginning in "Fiddler"; Library scene from "Music Man"; ------------------------------ Ellen Di Filippo Tracy CA ------------------------------

RE: CLUE

Posted By Ellen Di Filippo 05-24-2019 11:11
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I also wanted to do "Clue" this fall. I put in for permission and was first denied because there is to be a national tour starting. Then, they changed their minds and said we could do it, but royalties would be $180 per show. We can't afford that for a straight play that has a relatively small cast, ...

RE: The Sound of Music

Posted By Ellen Di Filippo 10-30-2018 11:02
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We did it four years ago. It is a great show, but very technically challenging. For example: There are seven kids and they need at least 5 costumes each. That's 35 costumes right there. Maria also has multiple costumes. Then there is the one change where the kids go from play clothes to uniforms in ...

RE: Glowing Eyes Effect for TRAP

Posted By Ellen Di Filippo 10-12-2018 11:00
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This is a Halloween hack but it makes effective eyes. Use a toilet paper cardboard, cut eyes in it, and put a small light inside. Cover the ends with dark paper. For Halloween I used glow sticks but they wouldn't work for this. A small remote-controlled light or corded light would work. -------- ...

RE: Tech Question

Posted By Ellen Di Filippo 10-04-2018 10:44
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I bought some a couple years ago from Bulbman (bulbman.com) in Sacramento. They ship. ------------------------------ Ellen Di Filippo Tracy CA ------------------------------

RE: Putting the pit onstage

Posted By Ellen Di Filippo 08-23-2018 11:12
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Because we have no pit and an extra-wide stage, we put the pit on the sides of the stage. Last year when we did "Pirates of Penzance" we dressed them up like pirates and encouraged them to react to the show. Most of them were uncomfortable with the change, but with a little encouragement and prompting ...

RE: Miracle Worker auditions

Posted By Ellen Di Filippo 08-13-2018 10:41
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I did this years ago, still love the show and am considering it for next year as I have a tiny girl who could feasibly play Helen. I auditioned Helen with blindfold and earplugs. Similar to an earlier post, I had her interact with others and make her way around. Once we were rehearsing I did trust ...

RE: Middle School large cast Murder Mystery or Comedy/ Farce

Posted By Ellen Di Filippo 08-09-2018 18:44
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Take a look at wwwlargecastplays.com They have some fractured fairy tales that would work. ------------------------------ Ellen Di Filippo Tracy CA ------------------------------

RE: Affordable Leprechaun 1500 Light Board

Posted By Ellen Di Filippo 07-25-2018 19:03
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What time frame are you looking at? The paperwork machinery for capital purchases works at negative light speed. ------------------------------ Ellen Di Filippo Tracy CA ------------------------------

RE: Students alter script intentionally

Posted By Ellen Di Filippo 05-22-2018 10:23
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I haven't had pranks for many years, but have dealt with them in the past by not casting a student again. I stress that each audience deserves the respect of the same performance, that the playwright deserves the respect for his/her words and the publishers expects compliance with the contract. Worst ...

RE: Adaptations of public domain

Posted By Ellen Di Filippo 05-16-2018 10:21
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Word of caution - Charley's Aunt is controlled by Samuel French. It is expensive. ------------------------------ Ellen Di Filippo Tracy CA ------------------------------

Ellen Di Filippo

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