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Valerie O'Riordan

Drama Director

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Drama Director
Bronze Member

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RE: Working with a Co-Director

Posted By Valerie O'Riordan 10-29-2020 22:53
Found In Egroup: Open Forum \ view thread
Sounds like a horrible situation. If co-directing or double casting every show were on the job description when I took my drama director job it would have been a deal breaker.  Some collaborations are fine, but two directors (and two casts) are nonsense in my book. Good luck! Valerie --------- ...

Coney Island...?

Posted By Valerie O'Riordan 09-14-2019 21:08
Found In Egroup: EdTA Theatre Education Conference \ view thread
Hello there!Anyone staying in (on?) Coney Island during the Convention? I'm staying with a friend there and know there's a line directly to the Convention locale.Thanks,Valerie -- Ms. Valerie O'Riordan | Acting & Frosh Skills Teacher Artistic Director, Drama Club Moderator, ESU Shakespeare CoordinatorRussi ...

Improvised One-Act

Posted By Valerie O'Riordan 05-27-2019 10:35
Found In Egroup: Open Forum \ view thread
I am producing Student-directed one-acts in the fall, as I did years ago with four seniors who were awesome. Three were published scripts and one was an experiment with improvisation. However, it's been a long time and I can't even recall how we approached it, even though it worked well. Basically we ...

RE: Title Suggestions needed

Posted By Valerie O'Riordan 10-20-2018 12:25
Found In Egroup: Open Forum \ view thread
Breaking Down Drama by Jeana Whitaker ------------------------------ Valerie O'Riordan Drama Director, MFA, AEA, Russi House Provincial Archbishop Riordan High School Troup 5596, I.T.S. San Francisco CA voriordan@riordanhs.org ------------------------------

RE: One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest for HS

Posted By Valerie O'Riordan 10-20-2018 12:14
Found In Library: Open Forum

RE: One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest for HS

Posted By Valerie O'Riordan 10-20-2018 12:14
Found In Egroup: Open Forum \ view thread
I directed it at our all-boys' Catholic school in 2005.  Used my set of character masks as the spirit of dead crazies, who loomed the halls and only the other crazies (and, of course the audience) could see.  We have SMATs and I put a note in the invite that mentioned the language, and that I toned it ...

NEED Snoopy's Dog House? Attachments

Posted By Valerie O'Riordan 10-12-2018 19:09
Found In Library: Open Forum

NEED Snoopy's Dog House?

Posted By Valerie O'Riordan 10-12-2018 19:09
Found In Egroup: Open Forum \ view thread
We need the room that SNOOPY'S DOG HOUSE has been taking since we did the show in 2014. It measures approximately 4'L x 4.5'H x 3'W (5.5' W with "wings"). If you are interested please contact me at voriordan@riordanhs.org in San Francisco. Here's photos! Ms. Valerie O'Riordan | Acting & Frosh Skills ...

24 Hour Play Fest

Posted By Valerie O'Riordan 10-04-2018 08:59
Found In Egroup: Open Forum \ view thread
Anyone have schedules, themes, specs, details of how to run a 24 Hour Play Fest? Posted a couple weeks ago, but my one connection never got back to me.

RE: Public Speaking/Presentation Skills

Posted By Valerie O'Riordan 09-25-2018 10:55
Found In Egroup: Open Forum \ view thread
Along with my Intro to Acting class I started teaching a Freshman Skills class a couple years ago and continue to tweak the lessons.  We are coming into our Work/Career/Public Speaking Unit, which is the longest of all.  In this unit they research their top job choice, learn to use note card/bibliography ...

RE: Public Speaking/Presentation Skills

Posted By Valerie O'Riordan 09-25-2018 10:54
Found In Library: Open Forum

24-Hour Play Festival curriculum?

Posted By Valerie O'Riordan 09-24-2018 10:38
Found In Egroup: Open Forum \ view thread
We're looking to try a 24-Hour Play Festival this year, and I have some information that was in an article in Teaching Theatre. However, I'm wondering if anyone out there has more details about timing, logistics, themes.Thanks! Ms. Valerie O'Riordan | Acting & Frosh Skills Teacher, Drama Club ModeratorRussi ...

Sound Design/Operator needed for Spring musical

Posted By Valerie O'Riordan 08-29-2018 10:55
Found In Egroup: Open Forum \ view thread
Archbishop Riordan Drama in San Francisco is seeking a knowledgeable sound design operator for our spring musical. The show goes into tech March 24 and the show opens March 29. Interested designers please contact Greg Callaghan at gcallaghan@riordanhs.org.Thank you! -- Ms. Valerie O'Riordan ...

TD/Set Designer needed

Posted By Valerie O'Riordan 07-30-2018 13:20
Found In Egroup: Open Forum \ view thread
I am posting this again, for the person taking over as director/producer at Archbishop Riordan HS in San Francisco. He is needing in TD and Set Designer for his new season. Interested parties please contact Greg Callaghan @ gcallaghan@riordanhs.org Ms. Valerie O'Riordan | Drama Director ...

TD & Set Designer NEEDED in SF CA

Posted By Valerie O'Riordan 07-09-2018 16:41
Found In Egroup: Open Forum \ view thread
I am posting this for our new Drama Director (Greg Callaghan), so please reply to him if you are interested or have a referral. Thanks much! Valerie Hi Folks! I'm the new Drama Director at Riordan High School in San Francisco. We're looking for a set designer and tech director for our upcoming school ...

RE: Students alter script intentionally

Posted By Valerie O'Riordan 05-22-2018 09:58
Found In Egroup: Open Forum \ view thread
High school theatre is different in so many ways from how I was trained, and we certainly don't have a 2nd and 3rd string as in football.  Through the years I've told my student actors that there are only two things I had over behavior like this:  1) not casting them again, and 2) not writing a letter ...

RE: (Prop) Tommy Gun for CHICAGO

Posted By Valerie O'Riordan 03-14-2018 09:19
Found In Egroup: Open Forum \ view thread
I've used this place (Toy Arsenal) for both silly plastic cap guns for acting class (all-boys school, they love them!) and for heavy duty guns.  Not sure if they have a tommy gun but it would be worth a shot. They are my go-to.  Good luck! Toyarsenal remove preview TOY ...

Job Opening for Drama Director

Posted By Valerie O'Riordan 02-17-2018 11:52
Found In Egroup: Open Forum \ view thread
Hello all, I am stepping down after 18 years as the Drama Director at Archbishop Riordan HS in San Francisco.Here's the link to the job posting, please share. https://www.riordanhs.org/employment-opportunities/Thank you!Valerie Ms. Valerie O'Riordan | Drama Director, Russi House ProvincialArchbishop ...

RE: Ticket Pricing

Posted By Valerie O'Riordan 01-25-2018 10:13
Found In Egroup: Open Forum \ view thread
I haven't changed the price of tickets in 18 years and there's one reason.  After every performance the cast walks down the aisles to collect donations for a non-profit that is theme-related to the show; i.e.: Harvey was the Mental Health Assoc. of SF, Jesus Christ Superstar was American Leprosy Missions, ...

RE: High School Theatre Textbooks

Posted By Valerie O'Riordan 01-09-2018 10:55
Found In Egroup: Open Forum \ view thread
I do not use book either, meaning that all students do not work out of the same text book.  In my syllabus I list the inspirational books that I "work" out of and then I tell them "you do not have a book for this course.  I have read them all which is why you have to LISTEN when I talk." Shurtleff's ...