WE ARE PERFORMING NEXT WEEK!!! Musical Theatre 2018

Here is a short and sweet reflection of musical theatre this week.

What have I learned so far?

Here are Bugsy and Blousey

This year in musical theatre I have already learned so much, from how to properly do a Brooklyn accent, to learning how to not lose my voice while yelling. My character is Fat Sam Stacetto, a grumpy, but sweet gang leader who has to deal with a dumb gang. Sometimes getting that character across can be hard. Learning to not use a throaty sort of voice while yelling was hard for me. This year, I have the massive job of telling a lot of people off during the musical, sometimes I can get carried away and the loose control of my voice and strain my voice a bit to sound louder. But lately, I have been trying to take deeper, longer breaths instead of taking a short one and straining my vocal cords. Another new skill I had to learn this year was how to do a Brooklyn accent. When first practising my accent, I sounded quite southern, like I was from Texas or something. But when I got home, I started to watch videos on how to do a Brooklyn accent and that kind of helped my situation. But it was when I started watching shows with people that had Brooklyn accents was when I really picked it up. I have gotten the hang of it now and can make it sound somewhat legitimate.

How have I been challenged?
One of the biggest challenge this year was again, learning how to do a Brooklyn accent. I spent so long trying to get the hang of it, it was a good choice in the long run. It seems to make the musical more authentic. One of the other challenges I faced was getting into character. Fat Sam has so many layers to him. His character is quite complex, he is able to be happy one minute and the next minute, he is screaming at the top of his lungs. I have been told many times that I am intimidating, and Sam is intimidating, but is also very sweet and isn't completely mean like Scar was last year!

What have been my favourite moments so far? 

There have been so many highlights from this year so far! From being able to play a lead role, to having my own song, this year has been great so far. One of the biggest highlights for me was to play another "mean" character this year. Last year I got to play Scar in the Lion King, and this year I get to play another "meanie". I love playing mean characters, this year I get to yell a lot at people and I find that really fun sometimes. Last year as Scar, I didn't have the chance to sing "Be Prepared" that is in the musical, but this year I am glad to say that I have my own song, "Let me Entertain you" by Robbie Williams. I really like this song, and I haven't had a solo in a musical yet, so this year's show should be great!

What am I looking forward to?
This year I am very excited to perform. I love performing, it is one of my greatest hobbies to perform. There is something about performing on stage that I love. I haven't performed in a musical in a year and I am so excited to get on the stage again!

What is Matariki?

Here is a piktochart that I made about Matariki. 

Stories about Matariki, The Seven Stars of Matariki by Toni Rolleston-Cummins

• What type of story is this?
• Who was it written for? {the audience}
• What is the main idea?
• What did you like about the story?
• Choose one story and explain how you would perform it on stage
• What would it look like on stage?

This story is a narrative, a made up story, its a story that is supposed to give children a

small understanding of what Matariki is. This story was written for children but has appealed to many adults.

We actually did it! Reflection of the Revolting children musical piece..

Revolting Children
What have I learnt?
This term in Drama, we have been learning a lot about musicals. I have learnt many new things about musicals. After being in the Lion King, I had a massive interest about musicals and I have since grown a passion about them as well. I have learnt that it takes more than just an actor and a song to make up a musical. There are many elements of musicals, not just the songs and the dancing. In some cases, many actors in musicals have years of ballet experience, some actors have had classes in facial expressions. The costume and set designers have many years of fashion and architecture experience.

What did I find challenging?
The thing that I found the most hard was getting my head around the choreography, I am not very good at dancing so I was a bit nervous about that part. But I managed to learn it and remember it for most of the performance.

What would I do differently if I did it again?
I would probably practice more of the choreography, I did okay but I think that I could learn it a bit more. I didn't practice enough for my liking. I did enjoy dancing though.

What did I enjoy?
I enjoyed the chance to be a complete idiot! The whole song was about how we children are revolting. I enjoyed using my facial expressions in the musical performance. I love it when people use all their energy in their performance.

What am I wondering?
I am wondering how long it took for the actually Matilda cast to learn their dance and lyrics. There are many complicated dances and lyrics in the performance.

What was it like performing on the day?
I really enjoyed performing revolting children. I knew most of the moves. But there is a part where I forgot and just played the character as the really energetic one. I felt a bit sad that I wasn't one of the main people in this particular performance but I understand why I wasn't. But I tried my best to be the most energetic person on that stage. 

The time warp

What did I find challenging?
I found that it was hard to work with people that don't want to do anything. Most of the people in my class didn't look like they wanted to be there. I wasn't nervous at all, but that is because I feel the most comfortable on the stage.

What would I do differently if I did it again?
I would work with the class more on the dance moves and the expressions because no one except Jess and I looked like they wanted to be there.

What did I enjoy?
If i'm being honest, I enjoyed being recognised by other students the most. It's quite nice being known as the kid that knows the dance moves and as the kid that is energetic and fun.

What am I wondering?
I am wondering what our class piece would look like if we perfected it. I also am wondering low long it took others to learn the words as I already knew them.

What was it like performing on the day?
For me personally, I really enjoyed performing. I was centre stage and I love that. I love being on the stage, and putting myself out there. It was a bit sad that some of my class didn't show any enthusiasm at all, but at least Jess and I were there to show a lot of energy. If you can't tell, I'm the one in the front dancing.

The video of our performance isn't working on my chromebook at the moment. But as soon as it works, I will add to this post so stay tuned!

WAR IS POINTLESS, WHO WOULD"VE THOUGHT?

Today we have been planning our latest project for drama. Our performance is based off ANZAC day. We have been practising multiple skills like movement and silence by playing various drama games like sneak up on granny, freeze and focus and tequila. All of those games use different skills that you need for drama. We have started a slide that we have included all of our ideas and prop ideas. I am working with Molly and Jessica. Here is the link to our google slide. Link. This photo says "LEST WE FORGET" this is to commemorate all of the soldiers that fought in World War one. Personally, I think that war is pointless and nothing is going to come out of fighting and brutality. 

Reflection on this ongoing process called drama

  "Lets do the time warp again"

   Our class piece from the Rocky Horror Picture show... 

  I get to play Magenta, I am so happy

For the past weeks in drama, we have been working on our class piece. Our class is doing the Time Warp from the Rocky Horror Picture show. This is a really funny musical that I happen to love. I have a "special part". I get to play the part of Magenta, she is a maid/ servant in the castle. I was really excited to find out I got this part. I like playing dark characters very much. Our class is starting to do some choreography from the just dance version and some of the original version from the movie.

The original lady who played Magenta is called Patricia Quinn. I think that she did a great job, I aspire to do the same job in our class piece. One thing I really hope to have in our performance is costumes, at least for the main characters. This would show some distinction from the others in the class.

The strength that I have in this class piece is the words. I know all of the words to the Time Warp inside out. I have been spending most of my spare time learning all of the words. I know all of the ques. It has been fun dancing and listening to this song because it is from a musical I love. \

The other main characters in my class are Molly and Jessica. Molly is playing the Criminologist, the instructor. This person yells out most of the dance moves. It's also a chance for Molly to put herself out there. Jessica is playing Columbia, a groupie. She has a high-ish voice. This is quite a fun character. She has a tap dancing solo. I think that Jessica is a great pick for this character.

The Rocky Horror Picture show is such a fun musical. Sometimes at the real performances, they have some audience members yell out lines. They include the audience and that would be a really fun experience. I think our class would do quite well with the time warp. The Rocky Horror Picture show is weird, exciting, loud, funny, different and extravagant.

Let's do the time warp again- Drama

For Drama, our class is doing the time warp for our class drama performance and it is going quite well. We are learning the dance moves and it is going very well. I would like to play the part of Magenta, she has quite a few lines. She is different from any characters I have played but I think I would do quite well. Magenta is one of the castles maids. She has a low kind of voice, that I think I could do.





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Act 1 songs for our Musical

For our musical that we are going to do, we have to pick some song options.

Possibly something from Grease maybe "we go together" or "greased lightning". There are many other musicals to choose from such as Hairspray, maybe "you can't stop the beat". Possibly something from Hamilton, we listened to "nonstop" and it looks really good, I think that it would be a good option for us. Some of these options would be good because they would include all of the people in our class.

For our own group musical, Molly and I are still struggling to find a musical number for our group to perform. There are so many possibilities!

Drama

My name is Nadia, I am 12 years old and I have two siblings.  

Who is your favourite performer? There are too many performers to choose just one!

Video clip of the musical: The Lion King 

Extension work:
Top musicals of the 1930s- 1990s

1930s- The Wizard of Oz. The Wizard of Oz is a musical that was adapted for a book.
1940s- The Phantom of the Opera. The Phantom of the Opera is not only performed on stage, it is also a movie!
1950s- Singing in the rain. This film is commonly considered as one of the finest musicals of all time.
1960s- Oliver! Oliver is a musical film on the novel, Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens.
1970s- Chicago. Chicago was based of true occurrences.
1980s- Cats. The work that its based on was actually going to include dogs, not cats.
1990s- The lion king! The lion king is based off the 1994 disney movie, The lion king.