http://www.pbs.org/wnet/
Sunday, August 25, 2013
American Musical Find
While working on researching information for the last summer assignment, I came across this link about
PBS making a six-episode documentary about the evolution the American
Musical. I thought it'd be cool to watch parts of this in class when it
comes out. I told Mrs. Burke about it, and she was definitely game! She said maybe I could even help lead this unit, which would be really cool because I LOVE musicals! I've been going to Broadway shows since I was a little girl, so I actually think this show could be really interesting, and definitely relevant to our class.
http://www.pbs.org/wnet/
http://www.pbs.org/wnet/
Running into Theatre
On Sunday August 4, 2013, I went on a 7.5 mile run with my dad. We ran up to Horsetooth Reservoir, which we'd done several times before, and then around Dixon Reservoir, which I hadn't run around before. At one point, we had to stop because my dad had gotten a rock in his shoe, and what do you know? There was an amphitheater about 200 feet from the trail! I couldn't take a picture obviously because I was on a run, but it was really cool to see! It was a cute little place, and in an absolutely beautiful setting: surrounded by trees with the reservoir and mountains in the background. It would be a really fun place to have a performance. It just goes to show, you never know when you'll "run" into theatre...pun intended :)
Summer Assignment #6
The last summer assignment was cmpletely new for me, as it was a looking forward to the new topics of this year to come.
Here's the prompt:
Looking Forward to our 2013 – 2014 IB Theatre Curriculum – Please research the following topics, and then write a 500 – 750 word response PLUS include the links that you used to research the following topics: - DUE IN CLASS, August 26th, 2013 - (50 points) a. The American Musical b. Critique / Reviews of Plays c. Japanese Theatre d. Contemporary Greek Theatre e. Playwriting
And here is my response:
Here's the prompt:
Looking Forward to our 2013 – 2014 IB Theatre Curriculum – Please research the following topics, and then write a 500 – 750 word response PLUS include the links that you used to research the following topics: - DUE IN CLASS, August 26th, 2013 - (50 points) a. The American Musical b. Critique / Reviews of Plays c. Japanese Theatre d. Contemporary Greek Theatre e. Playwriting
And here is my response:
The American Musical is a classic form
of theatre well-known to most Americans, especially with its presence on
Broadway. Musicals involve singing and dancing that are incorporated into the dialogue
that would constitute a play. The American Musical originated in the 19th
century with its base in opera, which spread to comedy in the early twentieth
century. These early productions mainly featured simple plots, whereas contemporary
musicals now have more varied subject matter. Although most people associate
Broadway with the American musical, it also features musicals from other
countries, such as Phantom of the Opera
and Les Miserables.
To
really understand and think critically about theatre, it's necessary to have
knowledge and the ability to write critiques and reviews of plays. To write a
good review, it's important to remember not to summarize the plot itself,
rather one must critique the methods used in the production. Although the word "critique" closely
resembles "criticize," not everything about a play review needs to be
negative; acknowledge both the positive and negative aspects of the [production.
Also, a play review should be focused, which means it can't cover every single
aspect of the performance; rather, it is important to focus on a few parts of
the performance so as to create a more assertive review.
Japanese
theatre has three major types: Kabuki, Noh, and Bunraku. Kabuki is a very
elaborate form of theatre, with ostentatious costumes and make-up, as well as
exaggerated movements/actions by the actors because the old Japanese is more
difficult to understand. Kabuki is made unique by the platform that goes from
the stage through the audience and the fact that the play usually encompasses
only the more integral part of a whole story. Noh theatre is geared toward song
and dance with slow movements, and poetic language. All Noh performers are
male, so they heavily utilize masks to portray different characters. Bunraku is
Japanese puppet theatre. While this may not seem to pertain to our theatre
class, Bunraku is important to Japanese theatre culture. Three performers
operate the puppets and are dressed in black to symbolize their invisibility.
There is also a single narrator who must change his voice to portray different
characters.
One
country who is really suffering in today's economy is Greece, the country which
gave us the theatre we appreciate to this day. I'm interested to see how their
economic crisis affects theatre and the arts. I read one interesting article
about The European program, World Crisis
Theatre, which organizes performances that depict the impact of the European
economic crisis. This is especially interesting because there is less money at
the moment to give to the development of theatre. The aim of this cooperation
is promoting tools for forming a European identity through art.
Playwriting is a very difficult, yet rewarding
form of writing. I have had one experience with playwriting, but I think it's
important to have more knowledge about it before writing another. When writing
a play, it is first necessary to work out details in your head, such as the
general plot, length, performance space, and inclusion of musical or dance
numbers. When writing the play it is important to assure you have a cohesive
story that makes sense. Although it may sound silly, it's also important to
format your play correctly. We worked with that when writing Hansel and Gretel in the Big City. The
character's name who is speaking is centered above their dialogue, which is
left-justified. Stage directions are right-justified. Playwriting is a
comprehensive process, so it's important to follow all of the necessary
procedures.
Summer Assignment #5
The fifth summer assignment was a little different because it wasn't all about material we'd covered in the past year. This was our prompt:
International Baccalaureate Theatre ASSESSMENTS - The Research Investigation (RI), The Practical Performance Proposal (PPP), The Theatre Performance and Production Presentation (TPPP), and the The Independent Project and Portfolio (IPP). I will give you several examples to look at, examine, and review. You will then be expected to write a 350 – 500 word post PLUS at least five (5) references to the example projects. I would also like to see at least three questions at the end of your post. Read and respond to each of these project examples – DUE by MIDNIGHT, Friday, August 16th (30 points)
And this was my post:
I've already done two of the IB assessments, the RI and PPP, so I hope to impart some of my wisdom to you first-years. For the RI, I researched epic theatre, and focused on the play Mother Courage and her Children. My question was: How could actors playing Mother Courage and Swiss Cheese interact to convey Brecht's idea that theatre should appeal to reason, not feelings? It was pretty interesting to research, but I definitely struggles with finding sources. Also, make sure you're careful not to summarize too much. I really struggled with that because I felt like I needed to explain myself, where I could've used that space for a more in-depth analysis of the actors strategies. I've also done two practice PPPs, the example of the Hagia Sophia, as well as one about the Seven grandfathers. With both of them combined, I definitely learned about how to improve for my real one. For my first PPP, I had a really strong pitch but lacked in supporting materials, whereas for my second one I became so focused on having an array of supporting materials that my pitch lost its "pop." Mrs. Burke said to think of the pitch as a commercial, which helped me try to use more exciting vocabulary and action words. For example, my first sentence of the Hagia Sophia really seems to "sell" my idea. I hope for my next PPP I'll be able to combine a strong pitch and supporting materials. As far as the IPP and TPPP, that will be totally new for me this year. Looking at Example 1 of the TPPP, I noticed that, as the examiner stated, the images were mostly focused on acting. It's really important to remember that we are covering ALL aspects of theatre, not just acting. I know that can be a challenge for me sometimes because I don't have a lot of experience with things like lighting and sound, but trying out ideas with unfamiliar aspects is all part of the learning process. However, I thought the student did a good job with tackling her task with innovative ideas. I especially had never thought about drawing a make-up diagram before. Finally, I think the IPP will prove to be the most challenging, yet most rewarding project. I know it will be challenging for me because I'm so busy, but I have to remind myself to make it easy to put theatre in my life! I looked at Example #2 of the IPP and found it interesting that the student pursued theatre of cruelty, because we found in class that it was a more difficult and obscure topic. Yet, this student clearly did their research and seemed to work well. I liked how they included diagrams, charts, and pictures to help us better understand their process. It ended up being a really impressive project. Questions: How can we make sure the PPP includes a strongly worded pitch, as well as helpful supporting materials? Will we be able to use notes for the TPPP? Can we use an in-class production for the IPP?
This post was interesting because it combined my experience from last year with my lack of knowledge about the other two projects we will do this year.
International Baccalaureate Theatre ASSESSMENTS - The Research Investigation (RI), The Practical Performance Proposal (PPP), The Theatre Performance and Production Presentation (TPPP), and the The Independent Project and Portfolio (IPP). I will give you several examples to look at, examine, and review. You will then be expected to write a 350 – 500 word post PLUS at least five (5) references to the example projects. I would also like to see at least three questions at the end of your post. Read and respond to each of these project examples – DUE by MIDNIGHT, Friday, August 16th (30 points)
And this was my post:
I've already done two of the IB assessments, the RI and PPP, so I hope to impart some of my wisdom to you first-years. For the RI, I researched epic theatre, and focused on the play Mother Courage and her Children. My question was: How could actors playing Mother Courage and Swiss Cheese interact to convey Brecht's idea that theatre should appeal to reason, not feelings? It was pretty interesting to research, but I definitely struggles with finding sources. Also, make sure you're careful not to summarize too much. I really struggled with that because I felt like I needed to explain myself, where I could've used that space for a more in-depth analysis of the actors strategies. I've also done two practice PPPs, the example of the Hagia Sophia, as well as one about the Seven grandfathers. With both of them combined, I definitely learned about how to improve for my real one. For my first PPP, I had a really strong pitch but lacked in supporting materials, whereas for my second one I became so focused on having an array of supporting materials that my pitch lost its "pop." Mrs. Burke said to think of the pitch as a commercial, which helped me try to use more exciting vocabulary and action words. For example, my first sentence of the Hagia Sophia really seems to "sell" my idea. I hope for my next PPP I'll be able to combine a strong pitch and supporting materials. As far as the IPP and TPPP, that will be totally new for me this year. Looking at Example 1 of the TPPP, I noticed that, as the examiner stated, the images were mostly focused on acting. It's really important to remember that we are covering ALL aspects of theatre, not just acting. I know that can be a challenge for me sometimes because I don't have a lot of experience with things like lighting and sound, but trying out ideas with unfamiliar aspects is all part of the learning process. However, I thought the student did a good job with tackling her task with innovative ideas. I especially had never thought about drawing a make-up diagram before. Finally, I think the IPP will prove to be the most challenging, yet most rewarding project. I know it will be challenging for me because I'm so busy, but I have to remind myself to make it easy to put theatre in my life! I looked at Example #2 of the IPP and found it interesting that the student pursued theatre of cruelty, because we found in class that it was a more difficult and obscure topic. Yet, this student clearly did their research and seemed to work well. I liked how they included diagrams, charts, and pictures to help us better understand their process. It ended up being a really impressive project. Questions: How can we make sure the PPP includes a strongly worded pitch, as well as helpful supporting materials? Will we be able to use notes for the TPPP? Can we use an in-class production for the IPP?
This post was interesting because it combined my experience from last year with my lack of knowledge about the other two projects we will do this year.
Summer Assignments #3 and 4
The next two assignments were created by Gwen and Katherine, and I helped by commenting on other student's posts to help steer them in the right direction.
Here are the prompts:
Here are the prompts:
For assignment #3, please complete BOTH options (A and B). Thank you!
A. First research Absurdism (NOT Absurdist theatre) and give a brief synopsis of elements of the origin (who, what, when, where, why). Second research Absurdist theatre and find what elements of it make it “Absurdist” or at least what sets it apart from other types of theatre. Explain two of these elements. Thirdly, apply the two elements you chose to the French play Rhinoceros by Eugene Ionesco and determine whether Rhinoceros is, in fact, an Absurdist play.
B. Research the practice “Theatre of Cruelty." (Tip: don’t get frustrated if you don’t find much; it’s a difficult research topic for this very reason) Read enough to get an idea of what you believe the practice is. In YOUR OWN WORDS (no cheats) explain what you believe the practice is and what its motive might be. Lastly, explain why you do or do not feel this is a usable practice (ie. do you agree with the methods of the practice?)
Notes: Remember 350-500 words. Post the link(s) with your research, and happy reading. DUE: on or before WEDNESDAY, July 10th at 11:59:59
Notes: Remember 350-500 words. Due on or before - WEDNESDAY, July
24th at 11:59:59 PM. Post the link(s) with your research, and happy
creating!
A. First research Absurdism (NOT Absurdist theatre) and give a brief synopsis of elements of the origin (who, what, when, where, why). Second research Absurdist theatre and find what elements of it make it “Absurdist” or at least what sets it apart from other types of theatre. Explain two of these elements. Thirdly, apply the two elements you chose to the French play Rhinoceros by Eugene Ionesco and determine whether Rhinoceros is, in fact, an Absurdist play.
B. Research the practice “Theatre of Cruelty." (Tip: don’t get frustrated if you don’t find much; it’s a difficult research topic for this very reason) Read enough to get an idea of what you believe the practice is. In YOUR OWN WORDS (no cheats) explain what you believe the practice is and what its motive might be. Lastly, explain why you do or do not feel this is a usable practice (ie. do you agree with the methods of the practice?)
Notes: Remember 350-500 words. Post the link(s) with your research, and happy reading. DUE: on or before WEDNESDAY, July 10th at 11:59:59
For assignment #4, please complete ALL THREE SECTIONS (Editing, Directing, Technical). Thank you!
From an editor's standpoint (concerning the Hansel and Gretel script): What scene(s) did you change and why did you change them? How do your changes enhance / clarify the piece as a whole? If there was one aspect (character, lines, blocking) you could eliminate from this script what would it be and why?
From a directorial standpoint (concerning either the Hansel and Gretel or Blood Wedding scripts): How does blocking and tone (of the characters) develop the characters' personalities / motives? Why did you chose to have certain characters perform certain movements? Pick two of your favorite blocking decisions, one from each piece, explain why those movements add to the scene or script as a whole.
From a technical standpoint (concerning either the Hansel and Gretel or Blood Wedding scripts): Which technical aspect did you chose, why did you chose it, and how does it add to the production? How does your element (ie. lighting ,sound ,costume) make the production a more cohesive / fully realized production? How does your chosen element (ie. lighting, sound, costumes, props, set) make the production a more cohesive / fully realized production?
From an editor's standpoint (concerning the Hansel and Gretel script): What scene(s) did you change and why did you change them? How do your changes enhance / clarify the piece as a whole? If there was one aspect (character, lines, blocking) you could eliminate from this script what would it be and why?
From a directorial standpoint (concerning either the Hansel and Gretel or Blood Wedding scripts): How does blocking and tone (of the characters) develop the characters' personalities / motives? Why did you chose to have certain characters perform certain movements? Pick two of your favorite blocking decisions, one from each piece, explain why those movements add to the scene or script as a whole.
From a technical standpoint (concerning either the Hansel and Gretel or Blood Wedding scripts): Which technical aspect did you chose, why did you chose it, and how does it add to the production? How does your element (ie. lighting ,sound ,costume) make the production a more cohesive / fully realized production? How does your chosen element (ie. lighting, sound, costumes, props, set) make the production a more cohesive / fully realized production?
Summer Assignment #2
The next assignment was created by yours truly! Here was the prompt I gave students:
For assignment #2, please choose ONE Greek question and ONE Shakespearean question to research / answer. Thank you!
Greek Theatre (3 options - Please choose ONE of the following questions to answer / research): - How important was theatre to the ancient Greek people? How does Greek theatre in its time reflect the culture / people of the time? - Research the significance of the chorus to Greek theatre and apply it to a contemporary theatrical practice today. - How did Greek theatre incorporate masks and costumes and how does that relate to contemporary theatre? (Think of prom's theme this year too :))
Shakespearean Theatre (3 options - Please choose ONE of the following questions to answer / research): - How did Shakespeare's life influence his works? (Don't just regurgitate facts about Shakespeare's life, really focus on analyzing the facts' impact on his work) - How did Shakespeare's work, and other works of his time reflect the history and historical events of his time? - How does Shakespeare's work still maintain significance today? (Modern productions, adaptations, etc)
Notes: Remember 350 - 500 words TOTAL. DUE BY 11:59:59, June 26th (30 points) Post the link(s) with your research, and happy reading / researching!
This was an interesting assignment because I don't usually do assignments where I create the prompt for the rest of the class. I really liked this assignment though because I like teaching and have thought of becoming a teacher, so it was interesting to assume the role of the teacher for the assignment. Also, since I've taken a year of this class, I could direct the prompt to help students get to know what the really need to to do well in the subject area/entire class. I'm looking forward to doing some more student-created assignments this year.
Greek Theatre (3 options - Please choose ONE of the following questions to answer / research): - How important was theatre to the ancient Greek people? How does Greek theatre in its time reflect the culture / people of the time? - Research the significance of the chorus to Greek theatre and apply it to a contemporary theatrical practice today. - How did Greek theatre incorporate masks and costumes and how does that relate to contemporary theatre? (Think of prom's theme this year too :))
Shakespearean Theatre (3 options - Please choose ONE of the following questions to answer / research): - How did Shakespeare's life influence his works? (Don't just regurgitate facts about Shakespeare's life, really focus on analyzing the facts' impact on his work) - How did Shakespeare's work, and other works of his time reflect the history and historical events of his time? - How does Shakespeare's work still maintain significance today? (Modern productions, adaptations, etc)
Notes: Remember 350 - 500 words TOTAL. DUE BY 11:59:59, June 26th (30 points) Post the link(s) with your research, and happy reading / researching!
This was an interesting assignment because I don't usually do assignments where I create the prompt for the rest of the class. I really liked this assignment though because I like teaching and have thought of becoming a teacher, so it was interesting to assume the role of the teacher for the assignment. Also, since I've taken a year of this class, I could direct the prompt to help students get to know what the really need to to do well in the subject area/entire class. I'm looking forward to doing some more student-created assignments this year.
Summer Assignment #1
Over the summer, we were given several assignments to complete for our theatre class. The first was a "Get to Know You" post:
Hi, I'm Hali McKinley Lester and I'm a senior (wow that's weird I was about to type junior). I was in the IB Theatre class this past year and it was a blast! I chose to take the class because I have always enjoyed acting, but I could never fit any theatre related activities in my schedule before. When I decided to take the IB Programme, this class was definitely an enticing factor, and I'm really glad I chose to take it! I first became interested in theatre when I was in second grade and got to say a line in my cousin's play at Harvard. For the next seven years, I decided I was going to become a famous actress. Although that's not my dream anymore, I still enjoy being involved in theatre. I'm an energetic, hard-working, crazy and adventurous person. Outside of school, I run cross-country and track, and in my spare time, (HA! that doesn't actually exist in IB ;)) I enjoy reading, swimming, and travelling. I don't really know what I want to do with my life or where I want to go to college. I know I'm almost in my senior year now and should know these things, but I'm only 16 (for 11 more days) and I'm still trying to figure out what I want to pursue. I am most looking forward to having new people in our class. This past year, we only had 6 people, which was wonderful, but I also think it will be a new and exciting experience to have more people that can contribute their perspectives because that is often the way to learn even more. My theatrical experience entails making my debut on the Harvard stage, taking this class, participating in the middle school musicals, and overall enjoying attending theatrical performances. I know this is way over 100 words, but you'll find that I always have a lot to say :)
Hi, I'm Hali McKinley Lester and I'm a senior (wow that's weird I was about to type junior). I was in the IB Theatre class this past year and it was a blast! I chose to take the class because I have always enjoyed acting, but I could never fit any theatre related activities in my schedule before. When I decided to take the IB Programme, this class was definitely an enticing factor, and I'm really glad I chose to take it! I first became interested in theatre when I was in second grade and got to say a line in my cousin's play at Harvard. For the next seven years, I decided I was going to become a famous actress. Although that's not my dream anymore, I still enjoy being involved in theatre. I'm an energetic, hard-working, crazy and adventurous person. Outside of school, I run cross-country and track, and in my spare time, (HA! that doesn't actually exist in IB ;)) I enjoy reading, swimming, and travelling. I don't really know what I want to do with my life or where I want to go to college. I know I'm almost in my senior year now and should know these things, but I'm only 16 (for 11 more days) and I'm still trying to figure out what I want to pursue. I am most looking forward to having new people in our class. This past year, we only had 6 people, which was wonderful, but I also think it will be a new and exciting experience to have more people that can contribute their perspectives because that is often the way to learn even more. My theatrical experience entails making my debut on the Harvard stage, taking this class, participating in the middle school musicals, and overall enjoying attending theatrical performances. I know this is way over 100 words, but you'll find that I always have a lot to say :)
Wilkes University Day 2
I was visiting my mom during her residency for two days, so on the second day, June 26 2013, I got even more theatre experiences. After lunch, there were several panels going on, and one of them was about play writing, so my Mom and I attended that one. The speakers were all professors at Wilkes who had published plays. They talked about their process for writing, which was incredibly fascinating, and will definitely help me during our play writing unit. They also talked about making sure you block out the time for writing every day so you make yourself get it done, although some admitted that they can be binge writers. After the panel, my mom introduced me to several of the speakers, and I told them about my theatre class. They were really interested to hear about it, and told me we could contact them at any time and they'd love to talk to us--maybe we could Skype in class. One man even lives and works in New York City (can you say FIELD TRIP?! ;) ). Then, that night was another reading session like the previous night, although this time it was all plays, instead of short stories. This was really cool because while these weren't fully actualized productions, you could get the feel for the play more than just reading it on paper. Also, the fact that it was only read by the author was interesting because their voice intonation and expressions were what they envisioned when they wrote the play, whereas an actual production differs from the author's original intentions. Overall, it was a fun visit and a great opportunity for me to learn more about the theatre world and make some great connections
Monday, August 19, 2013
Breakfast Club
So I remember last year in theatre that we always seemed to talk about Breakfast Club and everyone kept telling me that I needed to watch it. After Katherine's monologue, I was definitely more interested but with summer starting I sort of forgot about it. Then, on Saturday August 17th, I was watching Pitch Perfect with my friend and one of the characters was talking to this girl about how she needed to watch the Breakfast Club. She refused, saying she didn't like movies, but eventually she watched it and cried and loved it. The next day, I saw that Netflix now has the Breakfast Club!! I'm hoping I'll get the time to watch it before school starts. :)
Colorado Summer
In April, we found out that my dad had gotten a job he applied for in Colorado as the Colorado State Forester. His job started July 1st, but I wanted to finish my senior year here, so my mom and I will stay here. However, my dad and oldest sister left for Colorado in mid-June. Then, my mom and I went out to join them for a month starting in mid-July. Because I didn't know anybody there, I had more time to go do things with my family. It also meant that I wanted to get some more theatre experiences out in Colorado. I thought it would be really cool to see if being across the country would change the theatre experience. There's a few theaters around here, but I've been to a lot of them, so I was excited to be able to try something new. We were in the city of Fort Collins, and one thing I thought was really cool was that they would often have performances in Old Town, which was essentially the major center of the city with all these cool shops and things to do. For example, on Wednesday nights they would have jazz nights, and often on the weekends there would be people playing their instruments as we walked along. It was really cool to see all these different performances going on in a casual setting, yet it felt like a professional performance.
Here is a link for information about the different upcoming performances
http://www.beetstreet.org/streetmosphere
Here is a link for information about the different upcoming performances
http://www.beetstreet.org/streetmosphere
University of Colorado Boulder
Since my family is in the process of moving to Colorado, I am looking at more schools out there. On Tuesday July 23, 2013 I visited University of Colorado Boulder. We took a tour of the campus, and I was really excited we got to see the theatre building. It was absolutely beautiful, just like most of the campus. Who knows, if I go to school there, i may be frequenting this building a bit more :)
Wilkes University Visit-1st Night
On June 25 and 26, I went to visit my mom at Wilkes University, where she was for her week-long residency. She is a creative writing professor for the Wilkes MA/MFA program. On Tuesday, she had a reading that the students and fellow professors attend. There were seven other presenters in addition that were all presenting original work. I didn't even think about it until afterward, but this was a great theatre experience. I was a little disappointed in some of the presentations because they dragged. In fact, I thought this night gave me a really interesting perspective on the need for an effective presentation because some people had interesting story lines that were well-written, but their presentation was bland so I didn't enjoy the piece. I found that the pieces I enjoyed more were the ones that presented in an entertaining manner. My mom was second-to-last and even without my bias she was clearly the best one. Her story was about the time there were snakes in our pool before my birthday party. She read loudly and clearly, with voice intonations. She made it so that everyone was sitting on the edge of their seats and had the audience roaring with laughter. Afterward, everyone kept coming up to congratulate her. They told her that hers was the best reading of the night and they absolutely loved her story. I was so proud of her! Now I know where I get my theatre inclinations :) Here is me with my mom after she presented--proud daughter!! By the way, she wore that blue shirt to resemble water (my pool)...so even though this wasn't a theatrical production with costumes, my mom still thought about small implications of her outfit!
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