KSND Montage....

Opening Weekend

This weekend was spot on. The actors have every right to be so proud of themselves. They were amazing.
Teatime with Titania went off without a hitch and managed to be more awesome than I imagined when I first thought up the idea. I will post pictures soon to illustrate how truly adorable and successful it was.
Major props to Cora Derexson for hopping on as Peter Quince this weekend so Jessica could heal and rest her injured knee.

I love all of my actors!

Opening Night!

ROCKED! Everyone was on spot and was amazing! The kids were so awesome. The audience could not get enough of them. I love my cast!

Tech Week, Night Five and OPENING NIGHT!!!!

Our last Tech Week Rehearsal/ Dress Rehearsal went so well. We have a Cub Scout troop come to see the show and they loved it. We had a show, a GREAT show! I really hope to see everyone there this weekend or next.

The Fairies

 The Royal Court and Lovers

The Workers 

 Bottom, transformed, and the Fairies

 Titania and her beloved Bottom

 Pyramus and Thisbe (and wall)

Tech Week, Night Four

Tonight brought some interesting news to our cast and crew. Our dear Jessica (Peter Quince) fell and busted up her knee pretty badly. Either she broke it or tore a ligament. Whatever the case, we had to find someone to fill in for the production dates this weekend. Luckily, we were able to ask Cora Derexson, an older sister to a couple of our cast members, to fill in, to which she obliged. Junia and I were so relieved as we truly did not want to be onstage when we are needed behind the scenes. I am confident Jessica will be able to heal enough to rejoin our cast next weekend.
We, in short, have a show. The kids and musicians have done so well and we are so proud of them all. It is amazing how much they have accomplished over the past week and a half. It's a great show and everyone is going to love it.

Tech Week, Night Two and Night Three

Monday was canceled due to the winter wonderland outside everyone's window. Too many people were unable to get their cars moving enough to make it to rehearsal. Bleh.
Last night we were missing six people, but managed through rehearsal quite well. One of our Tech guys, Chad, was there and was quite successful in learning the lighting cues and caught on quite well.
We have two more nights of rehearsal until opening night. I cannot believe it! I am truly excited to see an audience each night for these kids. They really deserve it.

TECH WEEK, Day One

Mischievous Katie (Puck) in her freshly applied make-up I did. 

Ah, and Tech Week has begun. I cannot believe we're here. Time flies so fast. I have finally reached that moment where all of the things that needed to be done are either almost there or completed. I have very little to freak out about, thus my sanity is restored.

Yesterday we met at the theatre around 2:00 pm and didn't get out until 9:30 pm, for some of us 10:30 pm. In that time, the cast donned their costumes and make up and we ran through the show twice, breaking for dinner and minor adjustments to the acting, songs, lights, sound, etc. I am so proud of this cast as they have really stepped it up and produced such wonderful characters. This week is going to be a blast.

Gwenn (Titania) was so patient as I splashed glitter aaaaalll over her face. LOL

  Mackenzie (Mustardseed) and her mother Mary did her hair, and I figured I would match the make-up to its wild style. The resulting look is really cool onstage. 

 Tate (Cobweb) asked us during the first read through if Cobweb was gothic, voicing that he should be if not. Junia decided to take his idea and incorporate into his make-up, matching the costume we found for him. The sunglasses were Junia's device for keeping hair out of the way.

I liked what Junia did with a few of the Fairies, Including Miss Allyson (Moth). She took my idea for Puck's make-up, sparkle and swirl, and used it in the various colors to match the individual costumes. The kids all came with their hair done up in a myriad of ways. I really liked seeing the variety.

Little Miss Tia is so adorable in real life, but this photo is beyond precious. She is one of the best little fairies.

 

When not doing make-up or dressing, I had the kids group up and run lines. Here we have Connor (Lysander), Jake (Theseus), Tabitha (Helena), Faith (Hippolyta), Sam (Hermia), Nathan (Demetrius), and Robert (Egeus.) 

Whatever it was, something funny struck Allyson (Moth) and Carley (Peaseblossom) as they went over lines. lol

 Rachel's make-up was another variation of Junia's idea. Very sparkly onstage. 

 I think this photo is gorgeous. Faith (Hippolyta) has this sweet and innocent beauty that radiates and makes my heart smile. Junia did well on her make-up. 

  

 Katie (Puck) and Jarrod (Oberon) work well together on our stage. And look at the set! It has certainly come a long  way!

Saturday clean up

(Junia and Sophia) 
This morning Junia and I headed to RTP to assist other board members and Theatre folk to do some cleaning projects around the theatre. Junia was on baby duty.:o) We got several things accomplished and we were really pleased with the work.
After the cleaning, our fairies showed up to rehearse In Dreams. Junia also worked with our Puck and Peaseblossom on their solos in It's Only Magic. I furthered the progress on getting the set finished. We're almost there. I also started Titania's Arbour, which is a huge relief. WHEW.

Our Peter Quince stopped by with her new baby. I promptly freaked out. :o)
Tomorrow is our first rehearsal for Tech Week. WOOT!

Week Six, Night Four

Last night, I looked down at my cast from the Tech booth and felt really proud and relieved. We're going to have a show. It's not all together yet, but it will be come next week. Each actor has grown in their characters. The lines and songs are 92.5% memorized. We're getting there. We're almost where we need to be. Junia and I did some more make-up on a few Fairies and found some really cool designs we love. The kids are going to look awesome.
Despite a few minor backstage dramas and a possibly broken wrist, we are getting things done. Thanks to the fabulous Cathy, we have all of our costumes finished and ready. I am so excited to share this cast and their show with the community. Everyone is in for a treat. :o)

Week Six, Night Three Photos

Sean (Bottom), Richard (Flute), Robert (Egeus), and Jake (Theseus) 

 Hannah (Clarinet Player) and Jessica (Quince)

Gwenn (Titania) and me 

Katie (Puck) and me

Week Six, Night Three

 Katie (Puck), after my experiment with make-up. I think we found a winner....

Although schools were canceled today, I opted to have an... odd job evening of sorts. I was successful in figuring out how to set my own lights, a feat that will prove quite useful for future productions. WOOT. Then, as cast members trickled in, I began delegating certain jobs. Robert (Egeus) took over the task of painting the tops of our trees on set. A few of the girls looked for remaining set and prop pieces. A few guys found some fabric to put backstage to shield the traffic from the audience. I decided to check into some make-up ideas I had, and used Katie (Puck) and Gwenn (Titania).
After some labor, we went over the Workers' Song and In Dreams. I feel a whole lot better about several things after tonight, even if we didn't get a full rehearsal in.

Robert(Egeus) painting away.

Week Six, Night Two

We were not able to have rehearsal tonight due to the weather. BLEH. Luckily, I was able to sit at home and create 53 fairy halo/head pieces to sell during our show. I am so excited to show them to the cast!!!

Week Six, Night One

This evening I, with the help of Tiffany, Jessica, and, Hannah, was able to find 98% of the costumes. WOOT! They also started to find props. DOUBLEWOOT! I had the cast run through the show, no music. I am so pleased with them as they are almost completely off book. A few people called for lines and a few fumbled through lines, but I'm am really happy overall. Tomorrow we will work on music and I will hunt down more props. I'm also going to the printing company to order shirts for certain cast members that have handed in orders and money. I can't believe we open in less than two weeks. AUGH!

Week Five, Nights Three and Four

This past week was quite productive. We were able to fine tune the Finale/Curtain Call, The Workers' Song, In Dreams, and Bottom's Song. I was also pleased to find a parent willing to work on Bottom's donkey head, and a parent willing to take over the organizing of concessions and Teatime With Titania. Oh, I also spoke with Trish Bennett from the Herald and arranged for when she will come to see our production and write the review. YAY!
Our next rehearsal is this Saturday, 6-8 in the evening, praying there is no snow. Bleh.





This following video is proof we have WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY too much fun at rehearsals...

Week Five, Night Two

Tonight we worked on "Summer Nights" and It's Only Magic. I am so pleased to see that everyone is off book as far as the song lyrics go. I am so excited to see what reactions our audience members will give the kids when we reach performance time. I feel so scattered though. I need to finalize the programs, find a "head" for Bottom, figure out makeup and hair, finalize costuming, get with dad to do the lighting scheme, finish painting the set, organize the "Teatime with Titania," figure out ushers, gather props, and successfully run through the show, beginning to end, music included, no stopping. And we have 16 days. To make myself feel better, I say two weeks. AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAUUUUUUUUUUUUUGH!
Luckily, I have gotten the ball rolling on the T-shirt order forms and some parents and actors have started approaching me for those. I still need to order buttons and stickers for the concessions, OH, and start making the "Fairy" headbands as well. We will be selling those along with the stickers and buttons, and I have to get a sufficient amount to give to the little fairies who join us for Teatime on the 21st. Oh, I also have to get volunteers to bring tea and other such items for our Teatime.
Now begins the crunch time/insanity.