StoryTime Players

The Curtain Rises

As we approach the final performance, it’s hard to believe how quickly the time has flown. After all these months of commitment, we want to celebrate with you and thank you for being part of our theater community. We also applaud with grateful hearts the parents, grandparents, neighbors and friends who got these performers to their rehearsals each week and helped them practice at home. Thank you!

Call time is 5:30pm for dancers.  You may have water backstage. Please eat a light meal about an hour before you arrive. This will be much appreciated as the butterfly's start to mingle in their belly's.  

After the final show, we will have a quick set strike and clean-up. This is part of our commitment to the program, ensuring everything is properly stored and the space is cared for. The school will provide Hot Cocoa for everyone who stays—a small thank you for the hard work and teamwork! A list will be posted downstairs so you can see what your part is in the clean up. 

Thank you again for trusting us to be a part of your artistic journey. We’ve loved watching each of you ignite your spark and grow into your roles.

That’s all, folks! It’s been an absolute joy to see the sparks ignited in each performer. 

All for the best, 

Sherry, Mikayla, and Lainey

ps

you're already enrolled for spring, just let us know as soon as possible if something comes up and you need to withdraw. 

REMINDER: 

tech week is Tuesday and Wednesday 4-6. 

The show is Thursday 7pm. Actors should be there at 5:45 pm. 

Hello all,

As you’re planning your week ahead, I wanted to pop in with a few reminders to help everything run smoothly for our young performers and their families.

🎟️ Tickets
There are just a few tickets left. We added additional seating over the weekend and are now truly at our maximum capacity. Because of this, no tickets will be sold at the door. Please encourage family and friends to purchase tickets in advance—thank you for helping us make sure everyone has a seat!

 Rehearsals
Rehearsals are Tuesday and Wednesday from 4:00–6:00 PM this week.

 Costumes
We have all costumes ready. Please make sure your performer arrives prepared to change quickly and comfortably.

 What to Bring to rehearsal, and show
A bottle of water is always helpful for rehearsals and performance night. We will keep the kids entertained, it's a fast show, please no phones or gaming devices. 

Performance Day Call Times (Thursday)

• Dancers: 5:30 PM

• Actors: 5:45 PM
  Performers will get dressed first and then head upstairs to meet Santa for photos.

• Show starts at 7pm

 Santa Photos for Families
We will allow one parent early entry at 6:00 PM to take pictures of your performer with Santa. (please no siblings just yet)
If this time doesn’t work for you, no worries—just let us know, and we will gladly make sure your child gets photos and they will be emailed to you.

Audience Entry
Doors will open to family and friends at 6:35 PM. Audience members are welcome to take pictures with Santa before the show begins. This is when sibings can get photo's with Santa.  Want the whole family in one? Come saturday the 13, sunday the 14, or the next weekend and Christmas Eve to Santa Land, right here at BBSA! Santa, his elves and reindeer (these reindeer don't eat, so no need to bring reindeer food) will be here for photos. 

🌟 After the Show
You are welcome to take pictures of your star on stage! We do ask that only the performers step onto the stage, as they understand the staging, care of props and set, and safety needs.

If you have any questions at all, please don’t hesitate to hit reply. We are so excited to share this magical evening with you!

All for the Best, 

Mikayla, Lainey, and Sherry

 

This Thanksgiving week, I am so thankful for each of you.  The progress I have seen just in the past 2 weeks alone, has been incredible.  Many of you already know the work that goes into learning how to tell a story, and the reward is so great come showtime! Some of you are completely new to this, and we are here for you.  

Some things you might need to know or might be wondering about : 

Showtime is nearly here! With all the excitement, it’s easy to forget the importance of self-care. Stay hydrated, get plenty of rest, and take care of your energy—this is your time to shine!

Here are some tips to help keep everything running smoothly:

• Call Time: The time when performers arrive. Arrive ready to stretch, check props, and put on your costume.
• Check Your Props: Before the house opens, make sure everything is where it needs to be. If something seems out of place, let the stage manager know.
• Time Calls: When you hear “10 minutes,” “5 minutes,” or “places,” respond with “Thank you, ten,” “Thank you, five,” or “Thank you, places.” This lets the director know you’re ready.
• Costumes are taken care of, We will do a costume parade at end of  your class time, so please make sure and practice at home this week so you don't fall behind.  Listen to each other and your teacher so that rehearsals go smoothly and on time. You'll also learn how to care for your costume. 

Let’s make this show an unforgettable experience for our audience and ourselves. We’re so proud of your commitment!

You'll get another email next week that will talk about Tech week and all your call times, what to prepare for showtime, backstage time, etc. 

For now, Tech week is Tuesday and Wednesday 4-6pm where we will run the show with the dancers.  

Happy Thanksgiving, 

Ms. Sherry

 

Cast List 

PLEASE BE OFF BOOK (MEMORIZED LINES) WHEN YOU COME BACK OCTOBER 21  : remember we are on break next week. 

OCT 9th 

Hope you all are doing well and looking forward to a fabulous break! 

Will on break, it's important that the actors work at home learning their parts so that we can rehearse what they have practiced at home, but even more important now since we will not see them next week.  

Go over lines, record them, write them out, and then talk about why your character is saying what they are saying.  What is it that they need? Who has it? Who is keeping them from it? 

The nutcracker needs to go home.  He almost lost his kingdom to the mouse king.  The mouse king wants to keep the kingdom.  The dancers want to share a part of their home with Maria and thank her for saving the kingdom.  

If you have any questions, please hit reply, I'm happy to explain.  

Have a great fall break.  

9/30

Parts were given out this week.  Now is the time to highlight your lines. Start learning your lines by reading them, and asking “why do I say this? What happens to cause me to say this and what will happen after I say it”.  This will help you learn about your character and helps you learn the story so you can tell the story truthfully. 

 

 

StoryTime Players is the first step in your theatre journey.  This is where we dive deep into the basic techniques needed for being on stage.  We learn stage directions, how to receive notes, how to be a good acting friend, costume care, and everything the audience see’s like, gestures, posture, facial expressions and how we present ourselves. 

9/17

Ms Mikayla talked to the kiddos this week about auditioning next week.  We’re teaching them all about auditions.  One thing they can do this week, is practice reading outloud.  Even better, reading their favorite books with different emotions.  Play around with the way you say something, the pauses, emotions and just getting better at reading outloud. 

Nerves are a part of auditioning. 

You can help by not making a big deal about the nerves, try not to ask them if they are nervous, and if they tell you they are nervous or suddenly feel sick in their stomach, explain its a good thing; it’s what will help them bring energy to the audition and it’s exciting.  Nerves are just a part of the package.  We get nervous before going on a roller coaster, but we do it; it’s kind of the same thing.  Let the nervousness bring the energy and excitement or anticipation. 

Their audition will be cold reads from the script.  A cold read is when you read something outloud for the first time in an audition.  Sometimes you will get material ahead of time, sometimes you don’t. 

Another thing actors do to prepare is to find out information about the author, or playwrite, find out about the theatre and what their mission is; we bring books to life, so that tells you that storytelling is important to us.  

Here is a link to a pdf of The Nutcracker Story.  by E.T.A. Hoffman.  We are doing an adaptation of this.  That means we have taken this original work and turned it into our inspired work; A play with music and some dancing.  I encourage you all to go see The Nutcracker at Cherry Theatre on December 4,5,6. Tickets will sell out quickly, but I will post the link as soon as I can.  

 

9/14 update on time change : 

Thank you everyone for adjusting with us as we try and make the schedule work for all.  I absolutely love how Ms Mikayla is teaching these kids and the energy in the class.  I’m looking forward to when they graduate to StoryBook Players in a few years! 

So, Let’s try 4:30-6:00 this week.  This is the week Mikayla will be walking them through auditions, what it looks like, how to prepare and so forth.  ****We are moving the actual audition to next week.  Everyone will get a part.  We believe it’s important for them to practice the art of auditions as well.  

Since we have a light group this year, we are adapting The Nutcracter Story musical, so that everyone gets a part, but we are able to include some of our dance groups, and hopefully our music students.  It will be an adapted version of what we normally do, still wonderful and has many beautiful moments for students to shine in their gifting. 

Thank you again for sharing your beautiful, creative ones,  with us! We are enjoying every moment.  I love seeing the connection this group has too.  

See you all Tuesday! 

audition sept 23 - you’ll get all you need to prepare in class Tuesday Sept 16