Important Notes

Thank you for signing your child (or children for some of you!) up for our spring production of Grease: School Version.  Practice begins tomorrow, Monday, 1/28 after school until 5:30 pm. Please be prompt at pickup as 5/6 girls have a game at Berlin that I would like to attend and 5/6 boys need the gym for their 6:00 game so they will be needing to set up as we finish. This timing will be consistent for the first three weeks of practice.

Important Notes for the coming month:

1) This production, like many we use, is adapted for schools. I definitely would not recommend watching the movie version to prepare as much has been edited to make it more suitable for this age in the play.

2) This show will emphasize music and dance rather than lines. Prepare your child for the idea that only 2/3 of our cast will have lines to speak so even some of our 5/6 students will need to be cast in a chorus role. The good news to share is that this play is filled with great songs and lots of dancing so if your child likes music, then being in the chorus will be tons of fun.

3) Casting the right kids in the right roles has been the biggest challenge in all of these productions so we've continued to work hard looking at our practices. Be sure to check out our policies located at http://www.calaisdramaclub.blogspot.com/ particularly the section on casting.

4) Our first practice will be focused on establishing group expectations for the season and learning a couple of songs. Our second practice will be focused on learning some basic steps for fifties-style dancing like the jitterbug, cha-cha and twist. Our third practice on 2/11 will be tryouts. Some of you have expressed a willingness to help out with tryouts on your forms, just let me know before 2/11 if you will be available for one of our stations.

5) For tryouts we will divide our group into smaller groups to run lines and take notes for casting. Then everyone will return to one group for dancing and singing. The very end of tryouts is reserved for 5/6 kids looking for roles of more responsibility to sing a small solo. The coaching crew (me, Carolyn Beauregard, Grant Fair, and perhaps a few older students from U32) will meet directly after for casting based on all we have learned from tryouts and the first few practices. Results will be posted on our blog hopefully by 8 pm. Be sure to check posting results from home rather than school so your child feels supported in whatever emotional reaction may occur privately.

6) Have your child wear comfortable clothing and bring a water bottle to practice. Feel free to send your child in with a light snack if you think they need one before 5:30. Nothing messy please as the gym floor needs to be ready for a game right after.

I am looking forward to this season with great excitement. This show is one of my favorites and gives me the opportunity to join in with lots of singing and dancing too which is always fun. As usual please be sure to direct any questions or concerns to me directly.

See you Monday,
Cat

Parent Memo/Signups

To:             Drama Parents

From:       Cat Fair

Date:         1/14/13

Re:            Spring 2013 Drama Program 

Thank you for your interest in the Calais Recreation Association - Drama Program. This is a skills-based, co-ed program for children in the fourth, fifth, or sixth grade. Our coaching priority is for every child to have fun and learn more about working in the theater. Our main objective will be to promote team play and help the kids believe in themselves while working towards the common goal of an amazing musical performance on May 3rd, 2013.

PRACTICE:

Our practice schedule will start Monday, January 28^th and will continue through April 29^th. Practice and performances will be held at the Calais School. Practice will run from after school to 5:30pm every Monday afternoon.  We will need to end at 5:00 on nights there are basketball games.  A more detailed practice schedule will come home in a few weeks.  Each child should bring a filled water bottle to each practice and performance, and some need you to provide a snack.  Parents are responsible for transportation to and from practice and performance.

MISCELLANEOUS:

We are looking forward to a successful season full of lots of fun. If you have any ideas, questions or concerns, please feel free to give me a call or drop an email. Attached you will find a signup form, also available on our blog. While we are preparing for a large production, space is limited to the number of roles available.  This spring we are hoping to produce the school version of Grease so we are looking for speaking roles for 10 girls, 10 boys and a chorus of 5-10 kids. We will focus initially on 5/6 grade children for the speaking roles. We will do our best to follow a first come, first served plan. Please turn your form (signups) in at the front office with Mrs. Cioffi as soon as possible and if you are concerned about timing, you may ask her to date stamp your signups. You will be contacted by e-mail before the first practice to confirm your place in the program.

CASTING: This year, as usual, we will follow the casting policy laid out in our information and policy form. It is worth noting however, with limited roles available and a very talented and skilled cast, the selection process will be very challenging. Please be sure to review our policy sheets available at calaisdramaclub.blogspot.com

Cat Fair, 456-1007 Catsgarden1@gmail.com or Calaisdramaclub.blogspot.com