StoryTime Players

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