Welcome to our 2013 show blog. Firstly let me say thanks for volunteering to be in this year's performance of The Wizard of Oz. It's a slightly more traditional musical than our previous shows and comes with its own unique set of challenges (anyone got a cute dog or a green elderly neighbour?). On a personal level, The Wizard of Oz is my favourite musical of all time, so there's extra pressure to do a good job this year!
This blog is where you will find information about rehearsals and resources that help you to learn the show; dance demonstrations, song backings and copies of the Director's notes. Any changes to the published rehearsal schedule will also appear here, so visit the site regularly. To encourage you to use the blog, we occasionally run competitions or set tasks for which there are Vivo's to be earned! (At least this year you won't have to tell me that 'You're The One That I Want' - sorry, Grease cast joke!).
So, before you can fully commit to the show, you need some diary dates...
Wednesday Rehearsals - 4.00pm - 6.00pm (prompt start!)
Show Dates - 11th, 12th & 13th July 2013 (starting at 7.30pm)
Technical Rehearsal - Sunday 30th June 2013, 10am - 6pm
Dress Rehearsal - Sunday 7th July 2013, 10am - 6pm
Ask your parents to put these dates in their diary so that any clashes are avoided. If you know that you will be unavailable for the technical rehearsal, dress rehearsal or on any of the show dates, then I'm afraid you can't be in this year's show - sorry! Attendance at Wednesday rehearsals is also vital, but not everyone is required every week, so you will have some 'time off'. We will publish a list of who is needed when on this blog. We try to give you a few weeks notice, but sometimes this changes - usually after a less successful rehearsal - so you need to be flexible (be prepared to attend any Wednesday rehearsal that we ask you to). We take a register at every rehearsal and anyone who misses rehearsals without a good reason will be asked to leave. However, I appreciate that things crop up from time-to-time so, if you need to miss a rehearsal for a good reason, let me know (Mr Hood) before the rehearsal. Please do not approach any other member of the production team to ask permission to miss a rehearsal, they have more important things to worry about than attendance; that's my job! I know all this may seem quite strict, but you have to appreciate that we schedule rehearsals to meet the performance deadline and have very little time to repeat rehearsal content for the benefit of absent cast members. This is where the blog can help - if you miss a rehearsal, check to see if there are any video demonstrations that may help you to catch up! Alternatively, seek support from another cast member.
I am really looking forward to rehearsing for this year's show. There are bound to be times when we all feel stressed and when things go wrong; there always is! And yes, there are times, particularly towards the end, when cast members have to sit around, waiting patiently for their 'stage time'. Be prepared for such occasions - bring a book or your homework to these rehearsals. The production team dedicate a lot of time to the show; planning rehearsals, preparing dances, planning the direction, preparing the set, etc, so we really need the support of enthusiastic and dedicated students. Enthusiasm and dedication are the only entry requirements in order to join our cast, there are no auditions for chorus members ('chorus' refers to singers/dancers without a lead role). However, if you want a lead role, there is an audition process...
