April 14 Rehearsal

April 14, 2013

Don’t sway	Avery at the beginning Cody and Savannah – welfare scene Graham and Cody –bar scene Cody- talking to Hilton Paige, Savannah, avery – hit the bricks Hannah – mortgage scene Gate & WALL Cody, Hannah, avery, Graham – when Nate is hurt
Women’s scene	Hannah – get on Rose’s left side so that we have two against one.
Michelle	Hit T in start I’ll start here
Everyone	People noises as Cody shouts order order People noises after Frank’s but our jobs. No  people  noises after strike TAKE ALL TAGS OUT OF COSTUMES – TY – tag in hat. Longer celebration after train leaves and louder At the beginning, people entering stage area looks too rehearsed. Diction- Blake wrote this several times. Rain stops on Hannah’s “foreclose” Make sure to hide the snow machine. After the welfare scene, we do not have any weather except in the rain scene.  It is cold and it is hot!!!!!!!!!!!!! Don’t let the baby show. Fix the pregnant pause in the welfare scene Cough into hands not elbows Move the table back. BUT OUR JOBS _ PEOPLE NOISES Quiet moving when other scenes are the focus. Communists and perverts – people noises STEP ON LINES
Cheyanne	Your emotions on your face are starting to look rehearsed.
Men	Checkers – still do  not feel your concern for Billy when he is told to do the checkers.  Still do not feel that you feel the heat. Graham’s whistling is louder than your speaking – fix one and it better be the speaking.
Reg	Mean it when you say no, stop. Fired me on the spot – Nah – step on her line. Tell everybody – watch hands. Do you say stinking or stinkin?
Paige	Lift hat up.  Don’t twirl umbrella
Cody	You lose your accent in first Marie/Louis scene. When upset at Hilton, we have to have verbal noises.
Carson	Stress my in my steel mill When Kelly says friendly – show her the smile and continue.
Billy	SMILE and keep your head up. Diction – hit consonants. Watch a fire show to see how people fall - backdraft
Hannah	Work on accent –hit consonants Work on accent –hit consonants BE LOUD Still screechy Fight back crying. Stage business in each scene. When you yelled Reggie, it was too high pitched.
Cody and Savannah	Seems rehearsed When you kiss at the beginning after checkers scene – it looks rehearsed.
Frank	Fight back more with Graham – especially vocally
Nate	Let’s see the anger grow before you pull her hair. Act hurt, keep head up.  It hurts to breathe. You need stage business when Rose says, I clean houses all day.
Savannah	Watch putting in the wrong end of the cig in your mouth – No one will want to kiss you if you have a burned up mouth. When frozen, wait until the sound to move. Great job waiting for the vote. Your monologue must be in front.
Billy and Nate	Let’s go speech – step on lines

area

Laurie Doyle

Everyone	Diction – consonants Must know who the characters are at the beginning.  They are talking to each other before they speak to the audience. We must have more energy at the beginning. Choose one scene in the play – one line where you express anger.  The rest of the time, figure out how to express emotions differently. Emotion should not carry into yelling.  Find a variety of ways to play emotions. Couples or threesomes who are in scenes alone, find stage business. People at the fire warming themselves, some turn around and warm your back. When it is raining, the rain comes in and out.  Put umbrellas down when the rain stops.  Hug each other when the rain stops.  It’s another small victory. Relief office – too many coughing.  Some sneeze, but not everyone.   Some just shiver, etc. We need another drunk besides Billy in the drinking scene – not Reg or Frank. In the Hilton scene, to help show Louis’s temper, try to go at him. Let other’s hold him back.  One person also stifle a smile or laugh. Too many are swaying. Lighten accents a little in the beginning to help the audience understand you. Watch freezing too soon.
Women	Too screechy. At some point when there is action somewhere else, go to Hilton and Kelly and try to reason with him.  This is so you are not DSC or DSR so much. During the Rose Nate and their son scene – before the radio scene. During the “On Sunday, I was walking the line – women go to meet with Kelly DSC. The women’s scene, Rose enters DSL.
Kids	Ladder scene was too slow.
Music	You were great and on time, but fade in and fade out more.
Nathan	In the train scene, don’t let your bright shirt detract.  Put a jacket or something on.
Billy	At the beginning and throughout the play, your head is down. Fix it. At the beginning, use the sign.  Lean on it. People loved you catching the broom.  Do something like it in another part. Don’t be the fence right off.  Run off left stage, then come running in in a different cap.
Nate	At the beginning, don’t slow down.  Pick up cues faster Show more pain, especially vocally and keep head up.
Louis	Call me a wop – more serious
Louis & Reg	Keep gestures close
Marie	Diction
Alice	You are pushing the emotion too much. Try to control it.
Reg	At the beginning, could not understand you.  Watch talking upstage. Be louder.
Alice & Reg	Hug must be finished.  Be real.
Frank and Reg	Don’t rush brother’s moments
Hilton	Don’t mess with cane.  You have power and we need a sense of control.  Move less. Make the men nervous.  Move more later when you are losing control.
Reg	Don’t move as much to show that  you have control.
Kelly	Deeper voice
Nate and Rose	We have to hear the slap or you can beat on his chest, he takes your hands and throws you down.
	We advanced again - so now it is regionals - one step before state.  Billy, Frank, and Rose received all star awards; Reg received honorable mention, and our tech guys received best tech team.   I received an email from a teacher in our middle school -Our staff was talking yesterday about the play and decided it was time for Texas teachers to form a union considering all the changes to TRS that are proposed…. But we would be fighting lots of attitudes like the play portrays and seems like it would be impossible.  J
	I confess I have wondered about the reaction you would get for presenting a pro-union play like this in a state like Texas. Your production must have made an impact. Congratulations. Please tell all of the cast members how proud we are of their effort and commitment. All the best for the regionals. Charles and I will be the Canadian cheering section. Bill Freeman
	Brownwood Peter Pan Hillsboro Paganini Burkburnett A View From the Bridge Abilene Wyle – Elephant Man Seminole - Ghetto

April 7 -four days to contest

2^nd time April 7, 2013

Scenes to rework highlighted

Everyone	Quieter putting welfare scene together. Still no people noises after Frank says his line about jobs. Need people noises in the second men’s scene. After Marie’s monologue – we need people noises. I don’t care who does it, but tools must be taken offstage.  The danger is noise when they fall. When someone drops a line, don’t look at them. Redo train scene – rushing it and there’s no screaming. Everyone is clumped in one spot. Wall comes out sooner. Winter during welfare scene. People noises do not need to stop until Reg says Okay okay. Strike with purpose Freezes are still not good. There was no coughing or sneezes in the welfare scene. Don’t drag props.
Billy	Notice  the sign at the beginning of the play before you pick it up and smile.
Reg and Frank’s fight	It was better.
Marie and Louis	Great job Kiss and smile – kiss looked authentic, but Marie moved her face in disgust and Louis did not smile afterwards Great job on capice – both reactions were great.
Allison	Hit the T in but Very believable Lost accent – you could lose your job.
Hannah	Good job welfare scene Good job with Reg in your first scene together Watch squeaking
Frank	Cross stage before the kids scene Great job looking concerned at the checkers. To hell with you – need vocals when you push back.
Paige	Whoa- not whoo hoo
Tucker	Louis, Louis….makeup gang…7:00 Wilcox gate (Say this on the US side of the barrel) During the three girls’ scene, take a drink when you are on the line. Work more right stage in the back. When you run off with the bag, keep running until you are about 3 feet outside the curtain line. Don’t anticipate the slap.
Cody	Dagos scene Take your time when you are mimicking.  Have other mimic for  you. Grunt when you are trying to attack Hilton. My name’s Louis was lost.
Graham	Yours and Hannah’s first scene together was believable. Diction – especially t’s
Girls	During Hannah and Graham’s scene, you are all the same level.
Music	What happened to the music in the second bar scene.
Cheyanne and all people in second bar scene	Dancing must be real – have fun with it.  Right now it looks like you are trying to get it perfect.
Men	Second men’s scene – Tucker was blocked. Be sure you are working US. Fade out the song in the mil scene. React to the heat. Vary gestures after “that’s it for today”
Avery	Voting scene – you are blocked. Watch moving during freezes.  Good expressions during the voting scene.
Michelle	Dissident workers – write your thoughts down. It was so good when you hit the pencil on your teeth?
Carson	Sit in your own chair. Many people with big egos would be offended if you took their chair.
Savannah	Great reaction to fight between Nate and Rose Say Yah’s differently Italian club to the audience Be sure you wear your wrist watch.
Tucker, graham and Cody	All standing the same way when talking to hIlton.
Nate and Rose	Work on both fight scenes.
Mac and Tucker	Be involved in scenes, not shaking hands in different ways. Pay attn to what is going on.
Plant vote	Mac Freeze.
Paige and Avery	React with each other during radio scene.
Cheyanne	Did not see you react to rain.
Women	Girls’ scene was better.
Redo	Fight scene – too quick. Redo Nate’s fight scene – too quick.
Mac -	When you hit the metal after the train scene – cross left stage not center stage so that we can see you.

DISTRICT CONTEST - CODY, BUSH, BUCHANNAN

Buchanan’s notes

Jack Cody gave us a 1

Bush a second and Buchanan a 3

Notes from Buchanan – These are from her oral critique.

1.       Actors must call each other by names to avoid confusion.

2.       All actors are playing the same age.

3.       Billy needs to look more tired.  We need to see the hard life.

4.       All actors – we need to see the wear and tear on bodies.

5.       Need to see the difference in each person.

6.       Plant feet

7.       Must see the relationships between characters – not just couples.

8.       Domestic violence scene seemed staged.

9.       Must see tension in all actors.

10.   Billy needs to feel the heat more.  She liked the first monologue, did not think he connected in the second.

11.   Nate and Rose’s scenes were too choreographed.

12.   Nate – need to see the decision to take Billy’s bag

13.   Louis shuffled feet. Need to see more of a relationship between Louis and Alice

14.   All girls need lower register in voices.

15.   Carson – Hilton – needed to punch UNION.  He needs to find different ways to show his emotion other than yelling. He needs to use different tactics with different people.  Watch being choppy.

16.   Rose – don’t anticipate violence.

17.   Paige – lower voice as welfare person.

18.   The tension in shoveling must be felt throughout the show.

19.   Nate – we need to see the tension in the body.

20.   Moment – Michelle and Carson – missed that –hilton and Kelly

21.   Alice – feel the emotion and try not to cry in the mortgage scene.

22.   Louis needs more texture in  his character

23.   Thought that Frank and Reg’s backing up seemed staged. Needed eye contact and a brotherly hug that lasts.

24.   Did not like music at the beginning –wanted to start with organic sounds.

These are from her notes:

1.       Beautiful staging – wow –such pretty stage pictures and it flowed so well from scene to scene.  Really tight ensemble from the entire company.  I can tell everyone is engaged.  Make sure all physical intentions are always clear and focused.  Some characters need age and maturity.  It’s a hard life and they read too youthful and naïve in places –especially let me see how they change at the end.  There were articulation problems.  Many characters are too youthful, not mature enough , not tired enough.  Keep working on relationships – relationships between partners and relationships within your circle of friends. The clarity of all relationships can help make this show shine. Motivation – Don’t play at scenes – live through them- you feel – don’t tell us how you feel. The audience will be more moved if you are trying not to cry instead of crying – trying not to be tired instead of being tired – trying not to be angry instead of yelling. Rising action and climax needs to be clarified.

These are from Dr. Bush – the shorter judge.

2.       Story was well told.  Loved costuming and props.  Work on accents and articulate.  Hit consonant sounds. Great visual – good use of full stage.  Keep soft moments soft and show the contrasts.

These are from Mr. Cody – the tallest judge.

Strengths –ensemble is strong.  Strong characterizations.  Pacing and tempo were great.  Lighting was amazing.  Good use of space.  Lots of energy.

Weaknesses –need help in identifying couples and establishing relationships. Sometimes the tempo is really too fast.  Slow down and wait for the audience to catch up.   The clarity of relationships need work. All the women looked alike.

From Couch -  We need more energy in Billy’s first speech – warm up to the audience.  Tell the story of a memory that you loved. SMILE and connect. Watch noodle arms – make gestures strong or do not do them.  Watch unnecessary pacing. Stand still while in dialogue. Think about the changes.

·         WOMEN – Three judges this contest said they cannot tell the women from each other.  Come up with a “leading gesture” that makes each actor an individual.

·         GESTURES – need to be big or don’t do them.  They must be strong.

·         Need levels vocally. 

·         We must see emotions on the faces and in the bodies.

·         We must see you thinking on stage.

NEW STUFF

·         HIT THE BRICKS –beat beat beat-Billy’s monologue beat beat beat Rose’s monologue beat beat beat –Marie’s monologue.

·         Kelly: Mr. Hilton.  You have to think about these men and their families. I’ve been down on the line, beat beat beat watching them march, beat beat beat hearing them cheer for the people who support them. Beat beat beat They deserve to be treated like humans, not machines.  I don’t think it will be the end of the company.

·         At the end – celebrate a long time. Make physical contact with each actor on stage except for Carson and Frank.  Michelle will walk into your scene and shake hands with Reg.  ----THIS IS THE CLIMAX. 

·         Go back to your original places from the beginning. Billy returns to his place at the edge of the stage.  He turns back and looks at his friends, says,”union. Immediately stepping on lines, we hear Louis and Marie look at each other, whisper union, Reg and Alice, then Rose and Nate. FREEZE   Reg takes his sign, smiles, looks at the audience and says union.  Lights go down slowly with Reg’s last line.

MORE NEW STUFF

• Hannah –First bar scene, be chatting with women, but let the audience know you are paying attention to Reg and Frank’s disagreement.
• For crew – When we go to Wayland and the next contests (knock on wood), ask if they have a white wall behind the back drape.  We can use that instead of a scrim.
• Billy, Reg, and Frank –after the welfare scene, Billy and Reg are talking about being kids. Frank crosses to right stage, and they gesture while kids are on the ladder.
• Rose & Hannah – Don’t get up too quickly when you are pregnant. Put one hand on the back of the chair to lift yourself up.
• Rose & Paige – Cover baby’s head.  When Rose hands Paige the baby, Paige – keep talking to the baby. Others can bend over to look at the baby.
• Billy – Be charming at the beginning, flirty. You are mischievous, unsettling, hard to reel in; the kid in class no teacher wants.  You are a rebel.  Same character at the end.
• Opening of show – WHISTLE, factory sounds, light and Billy speaks.
• Closing of show – Billy’s last line is to Frank. These whispers are stacked on each other. Rose & Nate whisper Union; Reg and Alice whisper union; Marie and Louis whisper union.  During this, we hear three staggered hits on metal with whistle.  Billy smiles at the audience, holds the sign and says Union.

·         Go back to your original places from the beginning. Billy returns to his place at the edge of the stage.  He turns back and looks at his friends, says,”union. Immediately stepping on lines, we hear Louis and Marie look at each other, whisper union, Reg and Alice, then Rose and Nate. FREEZE   Reg takes his sign, smiles, looks at the audience and says union.  Lights go down slowly with Reg’s last line. 


CANADIAN TRIVIA -Today, anyone who  wears a flannel lumberjack jacket, eats too many doughnuts and collects welfare cheques risks being labeled a hoser.

March 26

March 26, 2013

Everyone	Overall – great job on the performance last night!!!!!!!!!!!!!! We just need to polish now. We have two days to do this.  Be in my room tomorrow by 8:30. We will have time to rework scenes.  Think about which ones we have trouble with.  Can’t hear people center stage and at cooper, you will have to be really loud. Pervert would get more reaction – he is calling you bad names. After HIT THE BRICKS –some yell while other sing. Union song should be hearty – passionate and LOUD Every actor – how have you changed during the play? DO NOT TALK TO THE FLOOR.  Heads up!!!!!!!!!!!!! People noises after Frank and Reg’s argument. Hell with us – people noises – you are angry. Quiet getting second bar scene fixed. Set changes are too loud. Don’t drag the set – be quiet so it is not distracting. Umbrella scene – deathly cold everyone is despondent.  WE HAVE TO HAVE CONTRASTS.  The transition after that is sad too. Nate’s fight scene – we must have deeper voices and deep shouting. When Frank says think I’m right hit(MAC) & celebrate. Step on lines more in the intro. Girls – deeper and more noise during Frank and Reg fight.  More people noises before and during Cody’s Order Order Share umbrellas Struggle with the umbrellas because it is windy. ACCENTS AND DICTION _ EVERYONE LEVELS Be confident mumbling – don’t look like you are mumbling. More strikers and passing out flyers – flyers are passed out before results of the vote, then both signs and flyers after result. Cough and sneeze in welfare scene.  IT IS SAD!!!!!!!!!!! BUT PAY ATTENTION TO WHO IS TALKING! Lost lines in mill scene. Accents were a problem Cheers must have more levels – it still sounds like everyone is saying yeah at the same level- men and women.  Clap. Stamp your feet BE DIFFERENT! In Frank’s work council line, everyone is in a straight line. Be quiet when it is Hilton and Kelly’s scene. Walking was too loud on the radio static scene. You need to be in the room when static begins. Savannah – turn on the radio. After train celebration, we could not hear it’s a bust.  Michelle, wait until the last yell to talk.  More levels and panic when Reg says the police are coming. Perverts reaction looked fake. Kayla said we have the case of the haunted radio. It came on because no one turned it on. No one was affected by the wind. In the train scene, hands must be up in a believable motion.
Men	In the back – you are working well, but we need more levels.  That is why we have gray set on top of gray set.  We also need men on the floor, but not everyone.
Allison	You are losing your accent a lot. - lost half your jobs. Cry Cry Cry Emotional – cry slammed the door in my face.
Jared	We need to see the decision why you pick up the bag. Pull your cap up. Still a shadow. At the beginning, SMILE at the audience.  Let us see the good times in your memory on your face. React to each scene facially – use people noises too. Smile – ay   growl during Hilton, etc. Accent was consistent. Work on onion union scene. Glory days – mystical and sentimental SMILE When you are narrating, be in the light so we know what your job is.
Michelle and Carson	Look at what happened scene.
Hannah, Savannah, Avery, Paige, Cheyanne	Don’t believe you are tired of the strike.
Mac	We need to work more on the mustache. Did it come off?
Cheyanne & Paige	Good job  on working together on the sign in the bar scene.
Alice	We changed by getting a union – work on this. YOU are not strong enough. Saying REGGIE _ SCREAM AND CRY UMBRELLA IN THE WALKIN AROUND DRIVING ME CRAZY SCENE Louder on mortgage.
Nate	DICTION – hit consonants even with accent. Much better last night. Use upstage hand to gesture. Build to the violence. BE HURT Throughout that scene – not in and out.  Much better – groan more. Crew chief to audience. Louis, Louis – did you hear?  Slow down and say it more to the audience. Good job reacting to checkers line. WONDERFUL JOB last night.
Reg and Alice	Be more of a couple. Touch moer.
Cody	More love. When she says capice luigi – do something funny  - 1940’s funny Work on Italian accent especially in yours and Marie’s scene. angry about dagos. Slow down and exaggerate the part about the boss and the oil. Command the stage. Don’t sway in scenes. On police siren scene – men are ready for action when Billy says get the barricades.
Frank	Louder after train scene.
Kelly, Frank, Carson, Photographer	Move your scene more CS so that we get a view of the picture taking scene more and so that no one touches the curtain.
Rose
Mac	No jacket in the steel mill.
Billy and Reg & Frank	Look and gesture toward your memory – a slow gesture.  Reg be dreamlike.
Louis and Marie	Don’t anticipate each other’s lines.
Reg	More heart – cry- foreclosing is the end.  Not only did you lose your house but everyone else’s.  This is the end LOUDER Go at Billy – PEOPLE NOISES- a guttural cry when you jump at him. Pick up some of the Canadian accent. I wouldn’t ask if I didn’t think you could do it.  Get hints from Ty and Jared.
Marie	Fuller brush men – don’t let this die. Make sure you turn the radio on BIG so we don’t have a gap between scenes. IT was late last night. Slam your picket sign and be mad when you say it is your strike too. It is still not strong enough. The hair bump needs to go. You have to be unkempt, weary, and poor. Lost accent in welfare scene.
Lights	On snow!!!!!!!!!!!!  Cole and Lane Turn lights off Rose and Paige after fight.  Keep it on Reg and Alice – Jared will move. – Jared- get emotional during that scene.
Nathan Photographer & Little reg	Head up on the ladder.
Nathan and Cole	Be careful that we do not see your shadow on the cyc when you are holding the spot.