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Derek Friederich

Thespian Troupe 417/Speech Coach/Jr. High Drama/Fine Arts Center Technical Direc,
John R Mott High School

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Thespian Troupe 417/Speech Coach/Jr. High Drama/Fine Arts Center Technical Direc,
John R Mott High School

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RE: CONCORD THEATRICALS ANNOUNCES PARTNERSHIPS WITH BOOKTIX LIVE, ON THE STAGE, SHOW SHARETM AND SHOWTIX4U

Posted By Derek Friederich 10-02-2020 10:17
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Great news!  More publishers need to follow suit in their flexibility with streaming providers.  Its going to be very frustrating if others remain exclusive to one provider. ------------------------------ Derek Friederich Thespian Troupe 417/Speech Coach/Jr. High Drama/Fine Arts Center Technical ...

RE: Which platform to use?!?

Posted By Derek Friederich 09-18-2020 13:18
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I was excited to use On the Stage, as I had used them for ticketing once before and their streaming platform seemed really easy and user friendly.  Had to switch to ShowTix4u, as Dramatists is working exclusively with them.  MTI is, as well.  I have no qualms so far with Showtix4u, just wish I could ...

RE: Troupe Officer Duties

Posted By Derek Friederich 09-14-2020 16:31
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We are a new(er) troupe still trying to find our footing, but this is what we did at the start of this school year: I accepted nominations to elect a five-person officer board.  (Decided not to go with President, VP, Sec, so on as some students were more attracted to the title than the actual job ...

RE: Samuel French Help?

Posted By Derek Friederich 11-22-2019 10:22
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Any chance your school would let you pay by credit card?  That will go through right away and no need to worry about if/when a check will be processed. ------------------------------ Derek Friederich Thespian Troupe 417/Speech Coach/Jr. High Drama/Fine Arts Center Technical Director Postville IA ...

RE: Reclining Chair - Almost, Maine

Posted By Derek Friederich 10-07-2019 11:23
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We took this on the road to a festival last year.  I just had our Lendall entering from an offstage bedroom. ------------------------------ Derek Friederich Thespian Troupe 417/Speech Coach/Jr. High Drama/Fine Arts Center Technical Director Postville IA ------------------------------

RE: Marvel Spotlight Plays

Posted By Derek Friederich 10-02-2019 12:28
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I'm reading them over and leaning towards using them for my junior high production.  You could do a cast of around sixty-six without doubling.  Possibly more if you made the Squirrel Girl Chorus bigger in that play.  As for runtimes, I'd estimate 2hrs for all three.   I've grown to like them better ...

Problems with Samuel French

Posted By Derek Friederich 09-30-2019 11:27
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Has anyone else been having issues with Samuel French?  I contacted them several weeks ago about adding a performance date to our run for the fall play, but all I've received is an automatic reply that they are backed up on requests and they will reply within three weeks.  As of last week, that time ...

RE: Balancing Production rehearsals with other extra curricular activities like sports

Posted By Derek Friederich 09-17-2019 16:23
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This is my first year taking on the HS Fall production (after years doing JH)  and I am in the process of rebuilding the program after several lackluster years.  I tried to prepare for most of what was going to come at me,  as almost my entire cast are in a fall sport, dance, cheer and/or marching band. ...

RE: Mary Poppins Line Count

Posted By Derek Friederich 09-13-2019 10:30
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I do line counts (particularly for my 6-8th graders) because I inevitably get asked how many lines a role has.  I think some kids just need a concrete idea of how "big" or "small" a role is.  (Though I do explain that every role is important and has a purpose, otherwise the author wouldn't have bothered ...

RE: Trap by Stephen Gregg

Posted By Derek Friederich 06-07-2019 17:05
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To those who have done Trap, what did you use for the chirp?  I'm having trouble conceptualizing this sound effect. Thanks! ------------------------------ Derek Friederich Thespian Troupe 417/Speech Coach/Jr. High Drama/Fine Arts Center Technical Director Postville IA --------------------- ...

RE: New Troupe - a few questions

Posted By Derek Friederich 05-16-2019 10:58
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Hello Deanne, When I re-charted our HS troupe a couple of years ago, I went back more than one year for my juniors and seniors to calculate points.  Those students did the work and they deserved to be recognized for it.  As for your freshmen and sophomores, the troupe handbook states that students ...

RE: Thespian Points

Posted By Derek Friederich 05-15-2019 18:54
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The guidelines for awarding points do allow for activities outside of your school (community theatre and the like), but only up to five points from outside activities can be put towards induction. Its really at your discretion if you chose to award points for outside activities and how many points you ...

RE: Troupe Officers for New Troupe

Posted By Derek Friederich 05-15-2019 11:39
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I was in a similar position a couple of years ago.  Before our first induction ceremony, we elected an officer board out of our inductees.  The president did sign her own certificate and I guess we didn't really dwell on it too much.  Our president thought of it as a unique distinction that she would ...

RE: Brand New Troupe Question

Posted By Derek Friederich 05-15-2019 10:51
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When we chartered our Junior Troupe in the spring of 2017, I inducted something like 5 eighth graders and 5 seventh graders.  Since the eighth graders were moving on to high school, I gathered my seventh graders and took nominations/held a vote and elected officers.  Our newly elected president signed ...

RE: What to do with Certificates?

Posted By Derek Friederich 05-13-2019 15:57
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I like the idea to hold their certificates until graduation- makes sense as far as putting on the correct stickers.  On a related note, how do you handle star pins for members as they advance through the ranks?  (We re-chartered after a lengthy absence about 2 years ago.)  My initial plan was to have ...

RE: Trap by Stephen Gregg

Posted By Derek Friederich 04-29-2019 11:30
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We are starting our first rehearsal tonight for Trap.  The kids went nuts at audition by the time we got to the end of the script.  I think its going to be a fun couple of months working on this... ------------------------------ Derek Friederich Thespian Troupe 417/Speech Coach/Jr. High Drama/Fine ...

RE: Almost, Maine 2018 edition

Posted By Derek Friederich 04-24-2019 17:27
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Here is a letter from John Cariani that accompanied the script changes I received from Dramatists when I produced the play earlier this year.  Given our current climate, the changes are probably for the better.  All in all, the spirit and intent of the scenes that were changed are the same.    Dear ...

RE: Survey of school previews

Posted By Derek Friederich 04-22-2019 16:33
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I can remember attending preview shows all through elementary and then performing in them in JH.  Present day, I have done a preview of our JH show for the past nine years and on occasion, our HS show does as well.  We do not charge for the preview, but I should note our school hasn't done a production ...

RE: Plays in the horror genre (for high school)

Posted By Derek Friederich 04-22-2019 15:34
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I didn't know there was a stage adaptation of Let the Right One In.  Have you done it? ------------------------------ Derek Friederich Thespian Troupe 417/Speech Coach/Jr. High Drama/Fine Arts Center Technical Director Postville IA ------------------------------

RE: am I just being a purist...???

Posted By Derek Friederich 04-04-2019 11:47
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I dread any conversation that starts with "I watched the show on Youtube and..."  Whenever a student tells me that they found a video of whatever we happen to be working on, I tell them the best thing they can do is NOT watch it and to follow their instincts and make their own creative decisions.  ...