Thursday, February 28, 2008
Theatre Tour
Since many of the students have never been to the theatre, it seemed time to go on a little field trip. Kim is directing Steel Magnolias for the Sioux Empire Community Theatre at the Orpheum Theatre. It was a perfect opportunity to introduce the students to the actual stage. The students poked around the Steel Magnolias set, the dressing rooms and the scene shop. They asked great questions as they uncovered the backstage realities.
The students were treated to a tour of the other spaces in the complex. The were welcomed into the City of Sioux Falls television station - Channel 16. Also, they were shown the Annie Zabel black box theatre.
After touring, I (Ashley Schwab) took the students back to the black box theatre where we worked on a little improv. We began with the game “Freeze.” The students got into a giant circle and I re-explaining the rules and demonstrating “Freeze” for them. Two students volunteered to go in the middle. From that moment, the game excelled. Many of the students were willing to jump in there and just go for it, while some preferred to watch. It was fifteen minutes of nonstop improvisation. The student’s willingness to participate was inspiring.
We then switched to “kitty wants a corner.” “Kitty wants a corner” is a game where everyone gets in a circle and one person stands in the middle. While the people on the outside attempt to switch places with members of the circle on the opposite side using only eye contact and facial expressions to communicate with one another, the person in the middle watches and tries to steal one of those spots. We got into two smaller circles for this game and played this game for the rest of our time together.
The students were treated to a tour of the other spaces in the complex. The were welcomed into the City of Sioux Falls television station - Channel 16. Also, they were shown the Annie Zabel black box theatre.
After touring, I (Ashley Schwab) took the students back to the black box theatre where we worked on a little improv. We began with the game “Freeze.” The students got into a giant circle and I re-explaining the rules and demonstrating “Freeze” for them. Two students volunteered to go in the middle. From that moment, the game excelled. Many of the students were willing to jump in there and just go for it, while some preferred to watch. It was fifteen minutes of nonstop improvisation. The student’s willingness to participate was inspiring.
We then switched to “kitty wants a corner.” “Kitty wants a corner” is a game where everyone gets in a circle and one person stands in the middle. While the people on the outside attempt to switch places with members of the circle on the opposite side using only eye contact and facial expressions to communicate with one another, the person in the middle watches and tries to steal one of those spots. We got into two smaller circles for this game and played this game for the rest of our time together.
Popcorn Writing
Last week (February 20th) while Kim was teaching away at Augustana College, Kristi Jones and myself (Ashley Schwab) ventured to Joe Foss to work and write with the students. We had the students do a little popcorn writing—one of the student’s, Jess, volunteered to write the six song titles from the musical down on the board while the rest of the students got in groups of five to six (or three or eight, however they saw fix). Miss Mills gave a short synopsis of each song title, and then each student picked a song and began writing a scene.
Randomly (roughly every five to ten minutes) I would go to each table and tell them to switch, and they would then pass their paper to someone else in their group. The objective was to have them proceed with what was previously written, to write a consistent scene, and to stay on task.
The outcome was phenomenal. Some students passed the papers back and forth themselves, others worked together in groups writing, and some insisted I wrote as well, so I wrote a song and a scene with a few of the students. At the end of the hour and half, I collected everything and read a few of the scenes out loud to the group.
There were more students present then there had been in the previous few weeks; around thirty attended this session. It was unbelievable. These students are outstanding. I have so much fun hanging out and working with them; they are amazing personalities with so many talents and so much potential.
Randomly (roughly every five to ten minutes) I would go to each table and tell them to switch, and they would then pass their paper to someone else in their group. The objective was to have them proceed with what was previously written, to write a consistent scene, and to stay on task.
The outcome was phenomenal. Some students passed the papers back and forth themselves, others worked together in groups writing, and some insisted I wrote as well, so I wrote a song and a scene with a few of the students. At the end of the hour and half, I collected everything and read a few of the scenes out loud to the group.
There were more students present then there had been in the previous few weeks; around thirty attended this session. It was unbelievable. These students are outstanding. I have so much fun hanging out and working with them; they are amazing personalities with so many talents and so much potential.
Wednesday, February 6, 2008
"Happily Ever After"
We had a great day at Joe Foss. The writing topic today was "Happily Ever After." The students wrote a best case ending for a contemporary dramatic scenario that they also created. I was so impressed. Some of the students who tend to be more social in previous sessions really produced this morning. Also, there were about 5 new students who joined Millzworkz Theatre for their first time...the more the merrier!
My goal is to structure scenes to be read in class in two weeks. These scenes will be commulations of today's work. I also continue to retool the monologues that came in two weeks ago. This will become a choral work of individual stories and voices that will serve as dramatic transitions.
After class, Jess interview Amanda Simon, Ashley Schwab and me. She is working on an article for the school paper. This is an impressive young woman with a talent for writing and leadership. All of these students have so much to offer; their work is raw and real.
My goal is to structure scenes to be read in class in two weeks. These scenes will be commulations of today's work. I also continue to retool the monologues that came in two weeks ago. This will become a choral work of individual stories and voices that will serve as dramatic transitions.
After class, Jess interview Amanda Simon, Ashley Schwab and me. She is working on an article for the school paper. This is an impressive young woman with a talent for writing and leadership. All of these students have so much to offer; their work is raw and real.
Tuesday, January 22, 2008
Dear....
Today Millzworkz Theatre (MT) worked on getting more personal narratives down on paper. The company wrote letters that they probably would never send. As we continue to look for the dramatic arch for this musical, it is important to dig and uncover real stories for each individual. Once we have enough material, I can start melding the stories to build believeable fictional characters and their lives.
The students worked really hard today; Kristi Jones (the USF student who accompanied me) and I were impressed with the honesty of the writing. Everyone has so much to offer. I have to admit, I sometimes get frustrated with too much talking when others are quietly trying to get their thoughts down on paper, but hopefully as each person takes on more ownership of the project, we will all become more focused.
We showed the students a clip from Spring Awakening, the Broadway musical that won 7 Tony Awards (Theatre's version of Oscar's and Grammy's) in 2007. It also is a "coming of age" musical with AMAZING music and performances. "The Bitch of Living" is one of my favorite numbers from the show. If anyone is interested in reading more about Spring Awakening, go to www.springawakening.com You can watch cast interview videos, actual musical footage and even check out their facebook page.
Next week we will meet at 10:30 on Wednesday. I want to start the "workshop" segment of the process soon. So, hopefully by next week, we will be able to hear the first scene of our musical.
Please feel free to drop ideas and comments on the blog. This will be another vehicle that will keep us on track to the fall production.
The students worked really hard today; Kristi Jones (the USF student who accompanied me) and I were impressed with the honesty of the writing. Everyone has so much to offer. I have to admit, I sometimes get frustrated with too much talking when others are quietly trying to get their thoughts down on paper, but hopefully as each person takes on more ownership of the project, we will all become more focused.
We showed the students a clip from Spring Awakening, the Broadway musical that won 7 Tony Awards (Theatre's version of Oscar's and Grammy's) in 2007. It also is a "coming of age" musical with AMAZING music and performances. "The Bitch of Living" is one of my favorite numbers from the show. If anyone is interested in reading more about Spring Awakening, go to www.springawakening.com You can watch cast interview videos, actual musical footage and even check out their facebook page.
Next week we will meet at 10:30 on Wednesday. I want to start the "workshop" segment of the process soon. So, hopefully by next week, we will be able to hear the first scene of our musical.
Please feel free to drop ideas and comments on the blog. This will be another vehicle that will keep us on track to the fall production.
Saturday, January 19, 2008
Back and Blogging
Wednesday I was reunited with the wonderful, creative juices of Joe Foss! I missed them. We walked through the musical calendar. We are going to meet every Wednesday at 11. On the 4th Wed. of each week, we will be workshopping the musical, as if it is a professional production.
I am excited to invite both JF and USF students to comment. Here are the instructions so to post comments on the Millzworkz blog:
1) Click on "0 comments" at the bottom right corner of blog entry (sometimes it will have another number denoting how many comments have been made so far...ie: 3 comments) 2) Clicking this will take you to another page to comment. 3) Yes, you have to have a google account or a blogspot.com account to publish your comment However, if you don't, it asks you to sign up by clicking on the 'sign up here' link. Go ahead and do it. It is free with no obligations. 4) Then, comment away! 5) Click on publish to post your comment.
I am excited to invite both JF and USF students to comment. Here are the instructions so to post comments on the Millzworkz blog:
1) Click on "0 comments" at the bottom right corner of blog entry (sometimes it will have another number denoting how many comments have been made so far...ie: 3 comments) 2) Clicking this will take you to another page to comment. 3) Yes, you have to have a google account or a blogspot.com account to publish your comment However, if you don't, it asks you to sign up by clicking on the 'sign up here' link. Go ahead and do it. It is free with no obligations. 4) Then, comment away! 5) Click on publish to post your comment.
An SD - NYC Colloboration
Ashley Schwabb, a CST senior, did a beautiful job of introducing acting skills to the students while I was working in NYC. Seriously, she had these students doing colleageate contentless scenes. I was impressed with the participation, committment and leadership of all.
They sent me some of their writings, which I combined and edited. These students know how to write honest and visceral work. This is fun.
They sent me some of their writings, which I combined and edited. These students know how to write honest and visceral work. This is fun.
Pouring a foundation
The month of September was rushed. I, along with some of my students, tried to set a foundation before I left on my NYC academic sabbatical. We worked on choreography, we wrote, we revised, we wrote again. I was thrilled by the numbers that we were seeing. The first time we met, we offerred pizza, 40 people showed up. The next time there was no pizza as an incentive and 43 students attended...rock on!
Friday, January 18, 2008
In the beginning...
This project began on a hot day in the summer of 2007 in downtown Sioux Falls. Counselor Janelle Mills called me to discuss her idea about introducing performance arts to Joe Foss school. Janelle, an accomplished musician, had written some music and wanted Kim's opinion on its potential for performance. It was perfect for a modern, coming of age musical. The stage was set to serve as the matchmaker for a seemingly, unlikely couple - an alternative high school and and a private college. On with the show...
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