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