Billy Elliot

This year we are going to take drama club to go see the musical Billy Elliot at the Pantages.

I have reserved seats for Saturday May 12 for the 2:00 PM show. Tickets are $26.36 per person. We will leave St. Philip's around 11am and have lunch at our favorite Hollywood pizza place just down the street from the Pantages. We can only take drama club members. Tickets are first come first and when we run out that is it. Please email me if you want to come and I will reserve a ticket as well as email you a permission slip. Please make checks out to St. Philip. If I don't receive a check AND the signed permission slip within two days of reserving your ticket I will make it available to everyone again.


Here is some information from the Pantages website:

Description:LOS ANGELES IS ABOUT TO BE ELECTRIFIED BY BROADWAY’S “BEST MUSICAL OF THE DECADE” –Time Magazine Thrilling audiences worldwide and winning ten 2009 Tony Awards® including Best Musical, “THE BEST SHOW YOU WILL EVER SEE” (New York Post ) is coming to LA! BILLY ELLIOT THE MUSICAL is a joyous celebration of one young boy’s journey to make his dreams come true. Ben Brantley of The New York Times calls BILLY ELLIOT THE MUSICAL “THE MOST INSPIRING SHOW I’VE SEEN IN YEARS.” Set in a small town, the story follows Billy as he stumbles out of the boxing ring and into a ballet class, discovering a surprising passion that inspires his family and his whole community. Based on the international smash-hit film, BILLY ELLIOT THE MUSICAL is brought to life by a phenomenal cast of 45 and the Tony Award-winning creative team – director Stephen Daldry, choreographer Peter Darling and writer Lee Hall – along with music legend Elton John, who has written what the New York Post calls “HIS BEST SCORE YET!” A big musical with an even bigger heart, BILLY ELLIOT THE MUSICAL will enchant the dreamer in all of us.

Parental Advisory:Recommended for Ages 8 and Up - Some Adult Language; no one under 5 admitted to the theatre

Music on Youtube!

Thank you Victoria for telling me about this!

lyricspeople1234 on YouTube has the soundtrack and words for the song from Once on This Island JR!!! I am not going to make rehearsal CD's for the cast. Instead use the following YouTube videos to practice.

If you have a solo part and would like to borrow the CD over the weekend to download the orchestration please let me know. I actually want soloists to do this. You need to be able to hold the song on your own as well as put your own stamp on it.

Drama Club T-Shirts

We still have some Drama Club shirts that can be worn on spirit shirt days. If you would like one bring a check for $10 to Mrs. Natalie.

oooops I forgot to add...

Had there been a drama club at St. Philip's when I attended I would have been an eager member. Alas there wasn't and I had to wait until high school to live my passion. I took theater all 4 years and participated in every play in one way or another. I had many devastating moments where I wasn't cast in shows. One particular play I desperately wanted to do and didn't make the cut. I was so sad. But I joined crew just so I could be close to the play. I never felt like I could speak to my drama teachers in high school about why I didn't get cast or what I could do better. I think I was too shy and afraid.

I don't want you to feel that way with me. If you want or need an explanation, encouragement or even understanding please don't hesitate to talk to me about it. Auditions are hard and sometimes you nail it while other times you don't. As difficult as it is to understand there are times where you just don't fit any part. That does not mean you aren't talented it just means there wasn't the right role for you.

I try really hard not to think of drama club members in terms of your grade or even how long you have participated. I make a huge effort to cast my plays based on your audition and how I see you fitting into the cast. But, I have found that by the time drama club members reach 7th and 8th grade they have grown so much gaining stage presence and confidence. Often it turns out the the lead roles go to older members because all the time and effort put into previous productions helps them grow as an actor. The pay off for being a long time drama club member in not that it guarantees you a lead role. Rather loyalty, dedication and most importantly participation help you grow and learn to be a good actor which in turn leads to better roles.

This year was particularly difficult. The amount of talent and loyalty in our 8th grade members is astounding. I remember your first productions and wow how far you have come. I wish with all my heart I didn't have to disappoint some of you. 

If you need to talk to me, I am here for you.

Once on This Island Jr. Cast List

Thank you everyone for auditioning. I think each show becomes more and more difficult to cast. Our first rehearsal will be March 6 from 3-5pm.

Alonso, Paulina	Choir/Peasant
Anderson, Sophie	Chior/Peasant
Baker, Aaron	Agwen
Ballard, Adrian	Papa Ge
Barrios, Keila	Choir/Peasant
Bolin, Brianna	Choir/Grand Homme
Burnham, Natalie	Choir/Gossiper 2/Grand Homme
Chavez, Anais	Storyteller 3/Villager 3 & 6
Ciampa, Audrey	Choir/Grand Homme
Covarrubia, Victoria	Choir/Gossiper 3/Grand Homme
Crump, Sean	Daniel
Damore, Alyssa	Choir/Grand Homme
Di Pietro, Laura	Asaka
Engstrom, Claire	Ti Moune
Galindo, Gracie	Choir/Villager 1 & 8
Ganguin, Claire	Choir/Grand Homme
Garcia, Claudia	Choir/Gossiper 5/Grand Homme
Gilb, Jenna	Gatekeeper/Gossiper 3
Goepel, Elayna	Storyteller 1/Villager 2
Granadino, Sofie	Choir/Gossiper 6/Grand Homme
Hankins, Dylan	Tonton Julian
Hankins, Sarah	Storyteller 2/Villager 4
Kuczma, Amanda	Choir/Peasant
Leonard, Camilla	Erzulie
Maldonado, Catherine	Choir/Gossiper 4/Grand Homme
Marez, Bella	Mama Euralie
Scofield, Tate	Storyteller 4/Villager 5 & 7
Searcy, Laura	Choir/Peasant
Telles, Melissa	Choir/Peasant
Torres, Sasha	Choir/Peasant
Verdin, Emily	Choir/Grand Homme
Vinci, Analara	Andrea
Vinci, Isabella	Little Ti Moune/Little Girl
Weidman, Emma	Choir/Peasant
Winschel, Alix	Daniel's Father/Grand Homme
Winschel, Kate                                       Choir/Peasant Cuevo, Faith	Choir/Peasant

Important

I just quickly scanned the two previous posts and don't think I mentioned anywhere that you cannot audition if you do not have your signed contract with you!!!!

PLEASE REMEMBER YOUR SIGNED CONTRACTS OR YOU WON'T BE CAST IN THE MUSICAL!

Auditions

Thought I would just clarify some things for auditions.

Thursday: You may sing anything and don't need a backup track unless you have one and really want to use it. I am not strict which what you choose to sing BUT I do highly recommend you sing something from a Broadway musical or even a Disney movie is ok. Of course the best is to sing something from Once on This Island. Once you have auditioned you may leave as long as I have seen that your parent is there to pick you up. If they are waiting outside for you they must come in and get you.
Here is what I am looking for in a good audition...

• That you are on tune and can keep a beat.
• Some emotion and feeling. Don't just stand there. 
• But don't fidget either. 
• Pick a song that you connect with and understand. Research the characters emotions during the song and let me see them!
• Don't pick a song that is too big for you. Try to find something that really shows off your voice. 

Every single person who has ever been cast as the lead in my shows just had something that made me immediately think of that character. It's as if they knew who character was and performed it! It really does help to do some research and know who you are going for!

Friday:  The dance auditions will go to about 5pm but they could end sooner. You will learn the dance as a group and then audition in small groups for Mrs. Simone and I. You don't need anything special.

You must be at both auditions or you will not be cast in the play. If you have a major conflict special arrangements can be made by speaking to Mrs. Simone or I. 

Mix ups happen

So a flyer was supposed to go home in the Blue Folders this past Monday announcing the parent meeting (today Feb 16) and auditions days (Feb 23 and 24). For some reason it only went home to 5th grade. Mr. Yniguez and I decided to keep the meeting as planned for 5th grade parents and have a student meeting today at lunch for veteran drama members and Jr. High students . I just finished meeting with the students. They have the cast contract and understand how the audition process works. Here is a recap of all that we went over.

1. Please look over all the dates in the contract. If there is a conflict with any of the mandatory dates I need to know about it before you audition. Please do not audition if you have major conflicts with audition days or times. 
2.  You must do both days of auditions. February 23 is the singing audition and February 24 is the dance audition.
3. If you want to be considered for a solo part you must sing one song on your own. I suggest picking a Broadway song or even better, something from Once on This Island. YouTube it!
4. If you feel uncomfortable singing on your own you may audition with a friend but please be aware that if you audition with someone else you won't be considered for a solo part. 
5. For the dance auditions on Friday, Mrs. Simone will teach the group a short dance. You will then audition in small groups. 
6. I have not set the first rehearsal date. So stay tuned for that. 
7. Cast list will go up Monday February 27 at Jr. High lunch. 
8. All flyers, contracts and other information will be linked in the tabs at the top of the blog.
9. Watch the calendar and read this blog often for all information and updates. 
10. Please email me with any questions.

Spring Musical

I am excited to announce that we will be preforming the musical Once on This Island Jr.!!!!!!!!

This was the first musical done by Mrs. Simone and I about seven years ago. Since it is a favorite of both of ours we think it is about time to do it again.

Set in Haiti, the story is loosely based on The Little Mermaid. Ti Moune is a poor island girl who falls in love with Daniel, a rich plantation owner's son. She dreams of living in Daniel's world and makes a deal with the gods to get him to fall in love with her.

Audition notices will be sent home soon. Auditions will most likely be the first week of March. 

Are you ready for a photo bomb?!

Thank you Mr. Bury for these wonderful pictures. Here are some highlights from Saturday night.

Becoming Fox

Becoming Snake

This part is always fun

Tyler is multi-talented!

"I've only ever drawn snakes from the outside and snakes from the inside"

Walking through a sunset

"I'd clean out my two volcanoes...The third one is extinct but I clean it anyway. One never knows"

"Then there are the baobab"

Flying among the stars

The King

A conceited man (errr woman)

The Businessman

The Lamplighter

A Geographer (said with a proper British accent)

"No bigger than a finger" The Snake

"You shouldn't tell him not to trust me. I never lie."

"And I know- I my-self - know one flower which is unique in all the world, but which one sheep can destroy in a single bite some morning without even noticing what he's doing. You think that's not IMPORTANT?"

Watching the sunset

A desert flower - of no importance. 

"You are not at all like my rose. As yet you are nothing. No one has tamed you, and you have tamed no one. You are beautiful, but you are empty". 

The curious fox

"My life, you know ... it's, well, it's ...I hunt chickens. Men hunt me. All the chickens are alike. all the men are alike. It's - very monotonous".

Don't ever sneak up on a fox

"YES! I'm tame! I'm finally tame".

Rose and Prince 

"I took him in my arms and set out walking once more. It seemed to me that I was carrying a very fragile treasure". 

"Listen! Do you hear? We've awakened the well. It's singing"

"Little man, you're afraid".

"Surely she has only enough poison for one bite". 

Little Prince's arms slowly raise up and he starts to fall backwards in slow motion - as depicted in St. Exupery's picture in the book. - Stage directions

"To forget a friend is sad. Not everyone has had a friend.
And if I forget him I might once again become like the grown-ups". 

Fox, Rose, Snake
Makeup by Mrs. Natalie

Our wonderful crew!

Another of Tyler's talents!