Making Your Own: Sword, Cutlass or Knife

Alrighty, here comes the really fun homework: making your character a homemade sword, cutlass or knife. Which you make will depend on your character. What do you use in the stage fights? What has the script called for? What would you carry for work and survival each day?

- Lost Boys and Pirates: need a sword for the sword fight on the pirate ship. Peter and Hook do not need to provide a sword for this fight.

- Lost Boys: many of you need a knife to carry at your belt.

- Pirates: the iconic pirate weapon is the curved cutlass.

- Peter: carries a knife at all times.

- Indians: some need weapons.

Step 1: research costume cutlasses, swords and knives online and in productions of Peter Pan.
Step 2: determine what your character needs.
Step 3: create your own design or use the following link to get started. This link shows a sword that looks more Medieval than Peter Pan, but you could curve yours to create a cutlass, make it smaller to create a knife, leave off the tin foil, and personalize yours with craft paint or spray paint.

http://video.about.com/familycrafts/How-to-Make-a-Costume-Sword.htm

Have fun!
Happy Holidays!

Dye Fabric With Tea

Hi guys! I hope your holiday has been happy and restful so far.

Here is a short and sweet video showing tea dyeing. This one shows a fabric that has been dyed DARKER than what we're hoping for. We just want our shirts to look aged like those you've seen in the Peter Pan movies, but not fully brown. So, while this video recommends steeping 10-20 teabags and soaking the fabric for 8 hrs., you could begin with 5 teabags for 8hrs. If the shirt does not seem dark enough, steep more teabags in boiling water and add this to your first batch.

http://www.ehow.com/video_4987242_dye-fabric-tea.html

January 2012: The Final Stretch

Important Dates for January:

Thursday January 5th noon to 4:00 at the Pinnacle Playhouse- rehearsal with karaoke CD

Monday January 9th- after school rehearsal 2:40 until 5 with the band

Finish program

Tuesday January 10th- set move rehearsal Andrew and Steven begin to work with Alex on lights

Sunday January 15th- Final dress rehearsal all day 10 to 6 all sound, lights, props, costume,etc.

Friday January 20th- Opening Night- All actors in for makeup by 4:30 or 5:00; curtain 7:00

Saturday January 21st- show at 2:00 and 7:00- actors should arrive 2 hours before curtain

Sunday January 22nd- final show at 2:00 PM. All arrive at noon.

Production party after clean up.

Reminder: Bring t-shirt money!

THIS WEEK: Set, Props and Costumes

- Painting Party, Wed. Dec. 21, 2:45-8:30

- Bring all costume pieces and prop weapons to rehearsal Monday and Thursday

Coming Events FOR THIS WEEK

PAINTING PARTY IN AUD WEDNESDAY December 14th.... 2:45 to 8:30
REHEARSAL WITH BAND & POSSIBLY FENCING THURSDAY December 15th 2:40 to 5:00

ALL DAY REHEARSAL December 18th 10:00 to 6:00
Schedule: 10:00 to 11:00 Peter, Hook, Starkey, Smee, Cecco, Wendy and Tiger Lily
11:00 to noon Darlings and Peter
Noon to 12:30 All Pirates
12:30 to 1:30 lunch and getting into costume
1:30 warm ups for run starting at 2:00 sharp
2:00 to 5:30 RUN SHOW
5:30 to 6:00 NOTES & CLEAN UP

Mary Trip December 7th

Toronto at Night

Week of December 5 to 11th

T-shirt Money due this week

Raffle ticket money

This week's reminders:

Monday rehearsal: fight choreography for lost boys and pirates

Wednesday: Mary Poppins Trip leaves at noon

Thursday rehearsal: stand and sing with the band

Sunday rehearsal:

10 AM selected scenes with Peter, Darlings

11 AM selected scenes with the lost boys

11:30- run ACT ONE
12:30 lunch
1:30 get ready for full run

begin run soon after

5:30 notes and cleanup

Reminders

Here are some reminders for upcoming events:

Fencing Rehearsal again this week

Money and form for Mary Poppins

Money for t-shirts/sweatshirts

$2.00 donation for raffle basket

Saturday December 3rd- Dewe's all day

First all day rehearsal December 11th ... 10 to 6

Flash Mobbing the Memorial

Saturday November 26th found the CSS Peter Pan cast and crew dancing at the Festival of Trees.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Alje85edCxI

Huge Thanks to Paul Thompson and His Helper Maija (and Allegra)!

Thank you, Paul (of Thompson Tents), for donating your time and truck to our float! Paul (and his helpers Maija and Allegra -- Nana's understudy) hung the murals, strung and re-strung the lights and saw us safely through the parade. We couldn't have done it without you!

Preparing for the Parade

What a great night! Here we are preparing for the parade.

Thank you to everyone for all the effort in creating a great float and a great night. The murals looked amazing and your spirit and characterization in the parade was inspiring!

Santa Claus Parade

The singing, dancing crazy kids from CSS Peter Pan... November 20th, 2011... Fantastic Fun parade.

Upcoming Events for CSS Pirates, Indians, Lost Boys and Darlings

As we get closer to Christmas, we have a lot of commitments coming up.

Here are the dates for our upcoming events:

Thursday November 17th... Chapters Night 6:00 to 8:00

Sunday November 20th...Santa Claus Parade 5:00 to 7:00 at QSS parking lot

Possible fencing training for pirates Monday November 21st from 4:00 to 5:00*

Saturday November 26th... Flash Mob at the Memorial Arena 6:00 to 7:00

Saturday December 3rd...Raffle ticket sales at Dewe's 7:30 to 6:00

Wednesday December 7th...Mary Poppins Trip noon departure until 12:30 AM

Sunday December 11th...all day rehearsal 10:00 to 6:00

Sunday December 18th...all day rehearsal 10:00 to 6:00

Thursday December 22nd...Christmas Pot Luck Supper and Dance Party details to follow.

* more fencing rehearsals to follow thanks to Mr. Rob McFadden

Midterm Stage Design Journal

1) List the skills you have learned since our previous self-assessment. These could include stage design/construction skills and work habit/teamwork skills.

2) Evaluate yourself on the following success criteria (A, B and C). Assign a Level and provide a brief explanation. In the explanation, answer the bullet-point questions and add your own thoughts.

A) Maquette creative process, construction and workmanship
- Did you arrrive on time each day and use your time wisely?
- Did you fully research the script directions/set transitions/blocking that correspond to the set location you chose?
- Did you construct a maquette to the best of your ability?
- Were your drawings, maquette and concept statement completed on time?

B) Maquette presentation
- Did you prepare a concept statement that fully explained your design intentions (and did you share those in your presentation)?
- Did you apply excellent presentation skills?
- Were you a positive member of the class? Did you listen respectfully? Did you listen actively and contribute by asking questions, raising concerns and contributing ideas?

C) Set preparation, painting and construction
- Have you contributed to the preparation of our set (and costume and props) with initiative, self-motivation, inquisitiveness, respect for safety, collaboration, positive attitude, and perseverence?

Journal due: Friday, Nov. 11th

next journal questions

JOURNAL #3

1. Explain how you have contributed to this production of “Peter Pan”. How have you demonstrated the ability to take responsibility, both as an individual and as a member of a group, when working in a theatre ensemble?(e.g., make artistic decisions, give support to others);

2. Describe how movement and non-verbal communication can be used to portray
character, to define relationships among characters, and to communicate dramatic
tension.

3. Now that you have had some time to see the class project coming together, you can describe the complexity of putting together a musical. Remember to look at all areas of the production in your response such as dance, costume, makeup, advertising, programme, acting, fund-raising and promotion.

Due: Monday November 21, 2011

Noah's poster design

Sincere thanks to the Heinrick/Grice Team

The weather held off for us, we had a great lunch, and we received a rather generous donation from Keint-he Winery. Many thanks to all the pickers and, of course, to J's parents!

Link to prezi

http://prezi.com/zf9ldwyj8eqn/peter-pan/

A Concept Statement for Peter Pan

See here for one example of a Stage Design Concept Statement. This one is Richard Finkelstein's.

http://www.rfdesigns.org/pancon.htm

Darlings

Congratulations to the Darlings who all worked very hard this week to learn their new blocking and dance. Such Darlings!

The Recreation of Barrie's Peter Pan

Uncle Glug, the super narrator, tells the story of Peter Pan with some pretty serious actors.... see it here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fw1vCtOtyng

Stage Designs of Richard Finkelstein

• Set inspiration
• Examples of Process Sketches, Maquettes and Sketch-up Illustrations
• This man thinks out of the scenic-design-box! See the list on the left of all of the productions he has designed. Check 'em out for creative inspiration.
  

http://www.rfdesigns.org/wiz.htm

October 3rd & 6th

CALLING ALL DARLINGS AND PAN

Monday rehearsal from 2:40 to 4:00

Thursday rehearsal from 2:40 to 5:00

Programme and Poster

In keeping with the Victorian Mood of this piece, the poster and the programme should resemble a Victorian playbill.
The ads on the back will be done so they look old- but we'll use modern businesses.
Our next step will be to price out the ads and ask local businesses for support.

Gorgeous Set Design Photos!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/dustykaystutsman/page12/

Peter Pan Set Maquettes!

http://sctbehindthecurtain.blogspot.com/2009/09/peter-pan-set-model-by-carey-wong.html

Set and Scrim Designs: Still Images

See this link for still images of the set and scrim from Cathy Rigby's Peter Pan. Note the use of horizontal and vertical space to create visual movement and asymmetrical balance. Think about the dimensions and the arrangement of the set pieces.

http://www.conradaskland.com/blog/2006/10/peter-pan-set-sword-prop-and-scrim-designs/

Style Notes for the 19th Century Poster & Programme

Right: This is a clever piece of writing. The whole text is about the kinds of type they used in these old playbills.

The font on the left is called "Playbill".

Character Sketch

Music Theatre: Character Sketch

Look fors: creativity, logical plausible conclusions about your character, usefulness for your own use as an actor.
DUE: October 3, 2011
_________________

In order to play a character in a convincing way, you must consider his/her motivation. Developing an understanding of why certain characters do what they do or say what they say, helps the actor make effective choices for dramatic movement, facial expressions and voice.

Create an extensive BIOGRAPHY for your character or if you are not playing a character, choose one character in the play using information provided in the script as well as your own imagination. ANY creative form you choose:

→Scrapbook
→ Narrative Story
→ Article for People Magazine
→ Diary Entries
→ Scripted Interview for The Biography Channel
→ Memory Box
→ and the list goes on . . .
BE CREATIVE!!!

Include all of the information below:

a) Personal Information: Name, Age, DOB, Height, Weight, Appearance.
b) Family: How does your character’s past effect how they are feeling/behaving now?
c) How does your character move? (eg. quirks, qualities, voice, gestures, habits, etc.)
d) What is the relationship of your character to other characters on stage? How do other characters interact with your character? What clues in the script help to explain these relationships? (choose a few of the most important relationships to examine)
e) Favorites: Food, Colour, Music, Movies, Books, etc.


** Information about your character not inherent in the script must be created by YOU. Try to give as many specific examples as possible and include any additional information that you feel is relevant to understanding your character.

***You will present your Biography to the class and hand it in for evaluation on the DUE DATE!!!

Research Assignments

ADB20/ 3M/ 4M
CSS Musical Theatre
Peter Pan Research Project
Ms. Lindenberg

In groups of two or three, you will research one of the following topics and present your findings to the class in a slide show (like PowerPoint) format.
You will have two periods in the library for research.

Topics
Production History of Peter Pan
Victorian England
The life of J.M. Barrie
In depth look at pirates
Fashions of 1900 England
Theatrical production History of Peter Pan
Movie versions of Peter Pan

Each presentation should be about 5 to 10 minutes long and must include the following:
pictures, video- when possible, citations for all sources including pictures, and any extra props you may want to add.

Due Date: Presentations will take place September 22nd and 26th.

Set and Costume Inspiration: "Cathy Rigby is Peter Pan"

It's worth watching all of the parts of this version of Peter Pan. Inspirational sets and costumes. Begin here with Part 1.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lSMCSaDF2Ps

Set and Lighting Inspiration

See this video for set and lighting inspiration (especially the shadow and the pirate ship).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bzpjNBd4UEY&feature=mh_lolz&list=PL0845072DEEB7DDF5

Monday's Peter Pan Get Away

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9jds-s8I8pM

Many versions of Peter Pan on youtube

For some background, check out these youtube videos about Peter Pan

JM Barrie's Peter Pan - YouTube
Peter Pan-Part 1 - YouTube
PETER PAN the REAL WARDROBE from the film - YouTube
Peter Pan - Indians - Sondra Lee - 1955 - YouTube
Peter Pan -- Pirate Ship Scene - YouTube
The Peter Pan Rock Musical (part 1/2) - YouTube
Peter Pan The Musical - TIme-Lapse - YouTube
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9i67r31Ocy0&feature=related

journal assignments

ADP2O/3M/4M Ms. Lindenberg
Music Theatre Journal Assignments

Please answer all the questions in a journal book or on this class blog:

Remember to put your name on your journals.
Each question is worth 10 marks.
The journal assignments represent 15% of your final grade.

Answer the following in full sentences:

JOURNAL #1

1. Every theatrical production needs to become a team of like-minded people working towards a common goal. What activities would you suggest the class do to help create unity?

2. What are the main themes in “Peter Pan”?

Due: Monday October 3, 2011

JOURNAL #2

1. Explain how personal professional and social skills* can be developed through dramatic arts and then applied in a variety of contexts (personal, social and career).

*collaborating, analyzing, empathizing, speaking, negotiating and communicating

2. Look closely at Peter Pan. How does his relationship with Wendy change over time? Does he change?

3. Describe the process of creating a character (e.g., script analysis, character analysis,
experimentation with movement and voice).

Due: Monday October 31, 2011


JOURNAL #3

1. Explain how you have contributed to this production of “Peter Pan”. How have you demonstrated the ability to take responsibility, both as an individual and as a member of a group, when working in a theatre ensemble?(e.g., make artistic decisions, give support to others);

2. Describe how movement and non-verbal communication can be used to portray
character, to define relationships among characters, and to communicate dramatic
tension.

3. Now that you have had some time to see the class project coming together, you can describe the complexity of putting together a musical. Remember to look at all areas of the production in your response such as dance, costume, makeup, advertising, programme, acting, fund-raising and promotion.

Due: Monday November 21, 2011

JOURNAL #4

1. Explain what new skills you have developed as a result of working on “Peter Pan”. Are there other skills that you would still like to explore or improve?

2. Identify and evaluate your personal artistic strengths and weaknesses.

Due: Monday December 12, 2011

September 2011 Calendar

6 school starts
12 class day trip at Pinnacle Playhouse 8 to 12:30
14 auditions
15 auditions if needed
16 cast show

19 read through Sept
23 PA Day

29 meet and greet aud. First Rehearsal 2:30 to 5:00
30 character sketch due

First Field Trip

Welcome to Peter Pan at CSS.

Our First class trip will be Monday September 12th at the Pinnacle Playhouse.

We will start at 8:30 and end at 12:30.

Then we'lll all head back to school in time for period 5.

Things you'll need to bring:

• water

• lunch or lunch money



• money for the city bus



• permission form



• comfortable, practical clothing



• a sense of humour

You will leave CSS by city bus at 8:15 AM and head directly downtown. If your parents prefer, they can drop you off at the Pinnacle Playhouse for 8:30 AM. Please indicate how you plan to get to the theatre.
Our morning will be filled with activities, fun and laughter.

Let's get going!