List of Contributions

Valerie Gargus

NJ Festival Director/Membership Advisor

Contact Details

NJ Festival Director/Membership Advisor
Silver Member

My Content

1 to 20 of 38 total

RE: Plays with singing that aren't musicals

Posted By Valerie Gargus 02-20-2024 19:32
Found In Library: Open Forum

RE: Plays with singing that aren't musicals

Posted By Valerie Gargus 02-20-2024 19:32
Found In Egroup: Open Forum \ view thread
In the fall of 2011 we did Dark Deeds at Swan's Place (Or Never Trust a Tattooed Sailor) by Tim Kelly, licensed through Samuel French, now Concord Theatricals: Dark Deeds at Swan's Place (or Never Trust a Tattooed Sailor) | Concord Theatricals Concord Theatricals remove preview ...

RE: Festival 2021 and Adjudications

Posted By Valerie Gargus 08-25-2020 13:06
Found In Egroup: Open Forum \ view thread
How soon will EdTA make the decision of whether or not the 2021 International Thespian Festival will be held in Indiana or virtual? I have to give guidelines to parents. I am giving them the choice to have their money refunded from 2020 ITF, or putting the money toward the 2021 ITF. ------------ ...

RE: Rehearsal/production cubes

Posted By Valerie Gargus 01-13-2020 07:45
Found In Egroup: Open Forum \ view thread
Wenger sells "Stage Boxes" of various sizes. They are durable and sturdy, and a good investment. Here is the link to the theatre section of their catalog. Scroll down to page 112. https://www.wengercorp.com/catalog/education/10_wenger_theatre_np2013.pdf ------------------------------ Valerie ...

RE: Comedy - Nonmusical

Posted By Valerie Gargus 08-27-2019 08:55
Found In Egroup: Open Forum \ view thread
In 2009 I did "You Didn't Say It Was Haunted." It was such fun and the audience loved it. Be sure to keep it in the 70's when it was written so that there is no question about why the kids can't call for help. https://www.samuelfrench.com/p/9429/you-didnt-say-it-was-haunted ------------------------------ ...

RE: The Book of Everything

Posted By Valerie Gargus 08-20-2019 08:59
Found In Egroup: Open Forum \ view thread
Hi Jess!  I just looked up the "The Book of Everything" at the publisher's site. It says there are 5 female, 3 male. It does not give information about extra cast. There is no partial perusal to look at.  How do you have 25 cast members in this show? ------------------------------ Valerie Gargus ...

RE: Musical Stipend

Posted By Valerie Gargus 07-09-2019 09:54
Found In Egroup: Open Forum \ view thread
The head director is paid a stipend of $5,400.00 per show (fall play or spring musical). The assistant director, music director (vocal and instrumental), and head tech director are paid stipends of $3,800.00 each. The choreographer and assistant tech directors are paid stipends of $2,900.00 each. From ...

RE: Little Women

Posted By Valerie Gargus 02-22-2019 08:53
Found In Egroup: Open Forum \ view thread
I did Little Women of Orchard House by David Longest from Dramatic Publishing twice (2004 and 2018). It is a little long, but I love it because the first 30 minutes is the story of Louisa May Alcott's childhood with her three sisters and the famous writers of Concord, showing the influences of her writing. ...

RE: Beauty and the Beast Rose

Posted By Valerie Gargus 02-17-2019 08:13
Found In Egroup: Open Forum \ view thread
Hello Michael, Heartland has a rentable flower in a dome that drops its petals. Go to http://www.heartlandcostumes.com/?page_id=9. There is a magic mirror as well. We used them very successfully in 2012. What is really great is they have light up roses to sell which then pays for the rental and then ...

RE: Middle School Activities

Posted By Valerie Gargus 10-19-2018 10:10
Found In Egroup: Open Forum \ view thread
Raising the Curtain by Gai Jones is a wonderful resource for middle schoolers. I used it as the basis for my middle school theatre class. It has reproducible handouts and so many activities! Here is a link: Raising the Curtain Goodreads remove preview Raising the Curtain ...

RE: Help! Principal Wants A Lot Of Say

Posted By Valerie Gargus 08-09-2018 09:05
Found In Egroup: Open Forum \ view thread
Since you did a drama last year, you might want to try I Hate Shakespeare by Steph DeFerie (Playscripts). We did it last year. It was great fun, and the kids learned a lot about Shakespeare's plays. It is gender flexible, so Jerry Springer became Jenny Springer, and Jim Lange became Kim Lange. -- ...

RE: ITS handbook

Posted By Valerie Gargus 05-27-2018 07:56
Found In Egroup: Open Forum \ view thread
To make sure students get points in two areas, refer them to the Business category. Neither techies nor actors mind putting up posters, ushering, selling tickets or refreshments, etc. ------------------------------ Valerie Gargus NJ Thespians Festival Director Play & Thespian Troupe Director ...

RE: Students alter script intentionally

Posted By Valerie Gargus 05-22-2018 10:34
Found In Egroup: Open Forum \ view thread
I know just how disappointing and embarrassing such behavior can be. Set consequences and be sure to make these consequences clear before performances begin. Be creative but fair. My students have to serve nine hours (three hours over three days) cleaning the prop and costume closet for intentionally ...

RE: Looking for a Female-Heavy Drama with a cast of at least 20

Posted By Valerie Gargus 03-28-2018 08:01
Found In Egroup: Open Forum \ view thread
I directed all three of the following with very large casts and great success: Little Women is a great choice. Dramatic Publishing has a rather long version that begins with the life of Louisa May Alcott showing her inspiration for the novel. This 30- minute section provides double the amount of women's ...

RE: Points awarded for regional theater

Posted By Valerie Gargus 03-28-2018 07:52
Found In Egroup: Open Forum \ view thread
I believe students can receive points for outside productions as long as they are not paid for they work. Payment is their reward. Thespian points are earned for unpaid work. ------------------------------ Valerie Gargus NJ Thespians Festival Director Play & Thespian Troupe Director Northern ...

RE: rights for musicals - short rental period - how do you prepare in such a short window?

Posted By Valerie Gargus 12-27-2017 08:11
Found In Egroup: Open Forum \ view thread
I always rent a copy of the script and libretto  in advance to prepare. Then I also pay for using the scripts an extra month because two months is not enough time for us. We get the scripts in early January for an early April show. The orchestra books are still rented for two months. ------------ ...

RE: Peter and the Starcatcher - cast size

Posted By Valerie Gargus 12-21-2017 08:14
Found In Egroup: Open Forum \ view thread
Hello Arden, Wow! You really are doing something right! Over 20% of your school population is involved in your program? That is amazing! We have a little over 100 involved, but we are a school of 1400. Yes, in my long career I have found that involving as many students as possible grows them as performers ...

RE: Troupe Member Privileges

Posted By Valerie Gargus 10-12-2017 08:30
Found In Egroup: Open Forum \ view thread
Do you take your Thespians to your state Thespian Festival? The New Jersey Festival is our biggest incentive for membership. I don't bring non-members. I do a membership drive after our fall play so that even freshmen who did the fall play and at least one show in middle school can join and go to our ...

RE: Farce with a cast of at least 10

Posted By Valerie Gargus 07-12-2017 08:47
Found In Egroup: Open Forum \ view thread
We had great fun and great audience response from "13 Past Midnight" by Billy St. John (Samuel French) "You Didn't Say It Was Haunted" by Michael Flynn (Samuel French) "Dark Deeds at Swan's Place (or Never Trust a Tattooed Sailor)" by Tim Kelly (Samuel French) The kids can really go over the top ...

RE: Charlie's Aunt

Posted By Valerie Gargus 04-13-2017 07:20
Found In Egroup: Open Forum \ view thread
I believe the rule is one hundred years after the playwright's death, not one hundred years after the play was written. (I did not look up this playwright's death date. ) ------------------------------ Valerie Gargus Play & Thespian Troupe Director Northern Burlington County Reg HS Columbus, ...