Practices are not going as smoothly as we would like and it is taking a long time to get through just one scene.  The players and directors agreed that it was because the actors are not prepared with their lines, songs or dances and it slows the show down tremendously. Therefore, we are all asking for everyone to have all their lines memorized by Monday March26, and the only people with scripts will be those in charge of groups, reviewing lines and sending actors on stage.  That will afford me the time to instruct the players on characterization of their parts and movement on stage and not have to worry about spoon feeding the parts. As I have said many times, if there are too many lines for you, I will cut them down or out but YOU need to tell me to do so, otherwise I will expect you to know them and when to say them.

On Friday, March 23, we will have a full cast practice starting from scene 1-9 acting in character as we go through dances, songs, and some lines so that the storyline is understood by players and by the  audience.

On April 2-5 the painting of the scenery will begin in the hallway outside the library.  Ms. Jessie, artist, will be here ready to instruct players on how and where to paint the panels, truffula trees, and thneed cityscape.  The players will come out of their classrooms at certain times to help paint.  The groups will be small so that we can supervise the activity.  We need all the adult supervision we can get so if you can volunteer time that would be great.

The schedule for April will remain the same unless you get a note otherwise.  We may need a few small group practices to help the players be ready for the dynamic performance May 15 and May 16 at ASU Farthing Auditorium.

T-shirts are being ordered, costumes put together, dances taught, and songs practiced.  The brochure for the production will soon be released and the promotions will begin.  We are looking forward to another outstanding show from the Extraordinary Players , but we will need all the support from parents to help ready their children for the performance.  Please review parts with your child daily and question them as to when they are on stage and what do they do. The script is difficult to memorize and follow so encourage your player to do his best and to ask for help when needed.

Mr. Carver and I always comment on how much we love working with this group this year, their talent and enthusiasm and the fact that they have been so patient through these early practices. Our goal is from now on to have the time of our lives acting, singing, dancing and showing off all our talents.  If I have asked you to see if you have some costume parts, please return those forms ASAP because I am daily working on costumes for this cast of 50 plus 38 from Avery Middle School.

See EVERYBODY FRIDAY, MARCH 23 for a FUN time with for EVER GREEN!

Mr. Carver and I are so excited about this year’s show  for EVERGREEN to be performed at Farthing Auditorium on May 8 and 9.  We have so much to do before then so I am hoping we will not have too many snow days to contend with.  Ms. Jessie will not be coming to conduct the scenery painting activity until April 4 this year so I am trying to get everything else done before that.

I will be asking for volunteers to help staple the canvas on the panels so that they are ready to go. I also have many props and costumes for 50 players to get assembled.

The schedule for January and February is as follows:
EXTRAORDINARY PLAYERSPractice schedule for January/February 2012

• January 16: All players in Scenes 1-5
• January 23: All players in Scenes 4-9
• January 30: All players in Scenes 1-6
• February 6: All players in Scenes 5-9
• February 13: All players in Scenes 1-5
• February 20: All players in Scenes 4-9
• February 27: All players in Scenes 1-9

Please refer to this if you are in doubt or call me at school.  If the schedule changes, I will notify you.  Please spend time reading and rereading your script and memorizing your lines and when you say them so that practices can be more fun and we can practice our music/dance/songs each practice day.

Players we can make this show teach the great lesson of saving our Mother Earth AND we can outshine the 3D version coming in March to theaters near you.

Ms. Laurie

This year we have 48 students signed up to learn how to sing, act, dance, and be a true player for this year’s production that will be performed at ASU Farthing Auditorium, May 8 and May 9.  Again, we hope to have all of the elementary schools and middle schools attend the May 9 show cheering us and supporting our efforts.

It looks kike we have some really talented students from pre-k to 5th grade interested in learning how to be  an outstanding performer. The show we are performing is still a secret and  untitled, as I hurry to finish the first draft of the script. I am trying to see who will fit with the character descriptions that I have decided upon and then I will write the dialogue to match the performers level of acting.  The Reveal is coming soon.

Right now we are working on some acting skills, getting our confidence boosted , trying out for singing parts, narrator parts, and dancing parts.  However, the MOST IMPORTANT part of being an Extraordinary Player is the ability to work with others in a way that everyone can be the best that they can be.  Parents and players, it is up to you all to make this year the BEST YET.

Remember, Mondays after school until 4:00 are practices.  See you on Monday afternoon.

Tuesday, May 3:
Students will travel by activity bus to Farthing Auditorium, leaving NES at 8:30 am.  Snacks will be provided during the day.  We will remain at Farthing until after the show that evening, at which time your parents will take you home.  Lunch will be either the school lunch you ordered or packed from home.  Dinner will be the McDonalds Happy Meal you have paid for.  We will not be transporting students back to NES after the show that night unless absolutely necessary.  Be sure to get a good night sleep for the BIG performance on Wednesday for all our friends of Avery County Schools.

Wednesday, May 4:
Students need to be at school at 7:15 in the morning so we can leave for Farthing at 7:30 and begin dressing for the show by 8:15.  The show will begin at 9:30 and after the show we will have a pizza picnic on teh campus of ASU compliments of Extraordinary Players.  We will return to NES before school dismisses for the day.

NOTE TO STUDENTS:
1. Be sure to bring your lunch if you are not getting a school lunch.
2. You may bring a DS or ipod BUT if it interferes with practice, performance, or it causes problems among the cast, we will remove it from you possession until Wednesday afternoon when we arrive back at NES.  So is is up to YOU not to abuse the privilege.
3. Bring schoowork to catch up on, books to read, things to color.
4. Anything that gets in teh way of practicing, performing, being attentive to the tasks required will be removed from you possession until Wednesday afternoon.

We will have practice for everyone on Wednesday, April 27, focusing on scenes 5-10. Please have all your lines memorized, songs learned, and dances practiced. Make sure you have found the characterization for your part in HOOKED. The next practice will be on Friday, April 29 for everyone and we will review scenes 3-6, the opening number/Sandstorrm, and singers will practice with Ms. Burnop on last minute tips for success on stage.  Then it is off to the BIG STAGE on Monday, May 2 for many practices on stage and a dress rehearsal with photographer present. You will leave NES at 9:30 a.m. and return to NES at 5:30.    Tuesday, May 3 leave NES at 8:30 a.m. and stay until the show is over that evening.(showtime is 6:30), Wednesday, leave NES at 7:15 a.m. to get ready to perform at 9:30 for all your friends in Avery County. We will return to NES after a celebration of pizza for lunch in time for school dismissal.

Mr. Carver and I are very excited about what you all are capable of doing on stage and acting during the practices. Please take this time to prepare yourselves for long,busy days getting ready to rock the full house at Farthing Auditorium. Not everyone is fortunate enough to have this opportunity to showcase your talents to lots of people. Make the best of it. Please stay healthy, get rest, and get your homework and classwork caught up. We love you and are so proud of what you have accomplished this year with such a hard script and storyline.

Ms. Laurie and Ms. Carver!

ON MONDAY, APRIL 18: EVERYONE Comes to this FUN PRACTICE.  It will be all dance training and practicing your dances for HOOKED.

See you there!

Ms. Laurie
Mr. Carver