Well I did it. I pulled a Sunday rehearsal. I am lucky to have Paige and Colby in my cast. They had no hesitation about coming in on their day off to reherse. We had a hour and half session in connate gallery and made a lot of head way.
Both actors worked a lot with the script and are much more solid on their lines now.
To start we did work with projecting. I made them stand outside the arts library door while I stood inside it with the door shut. If I couldn't hear their lines I made them say it louder. We did almost a full through of the script like that. I thought it was very helpful because it helped Colby realize how loud he could be even during the quiet scene. It also helped the actors in their line memorization.
Afterwards we went into Connat gallery and started doing full run throughs. Both actors were much more comfortable with their lines and they now have them down pat. We did a little work remembering the diagonals but they were much better mainly due to the memorizing of lines.
I still believe that Colby needs to work on getting louder. Especially during the cold hands warm heart scene. He often times believes that it doesn't sound realistic. I will push him more on this next time to believe that projecting is much different than yelling.
Afterwards we moved into re-blocking the second half. I took Joel's advice and tried blocking the second half with more movment. Both actors get up earlier now. I like the idea of this because both actors keep better with the polar magnet staging.
It took a while for both actors to get used to the staging but it looks much better now. They both move beautifully on the diagonals. However they both are still speaking too quietly. Though I worked with them at length on this it was hard to tell them this in Connate because their voices echo. I will work on this next time in the theatre to show them how easily their voices get absorbed in the space.
Afterwards we did a couple run throughs just to go over any hicups. I am very excited for next sunday to see what tech will look like.
Tuesday, May 6, 2014
Monday, May 5, 2014
Rehearsal Six
Fridays rehearsal was long coming. We were unable to rehearse because of the rain on Wednesday pushing Colby's game to Thursday.
We worked on blocking the rest of the show (after the push) in the theatre. We able to complete the rest of the show! Of course it still needs more work to be fluid but actors have great command of the stage and are defiantly getting there.
After the push worked with remembering diagonals and how to keep their voices loud even if they are 'speaking softly'.
It was their first day without scripts so a lot of their energy was put towards trying to remember their lines. Both forgot some of their lines which gave the run throughs alot of hiccups. It also made them forget their blocking and their hops and pauses. They seemed to rush through the lines. However the main problem was with both Paige and Colby forgetting their diagonals.They seemed to rush through the lines. I hope that as we continue to rehearse they will become less self conscious of their lines and remember their original blocking.
The other thing we dealt with was how quiet both of they were being, especially Colby. It was an intimate scene and both played the emotions and and motivations of the characters beautifully. However it was damn near impossible to hear them. We did a couple of enunciate games (I slit a sheet and I bought a box of biscuits) and worked on projection. I explained to them the difference between being loud and projecting their voice across the theatre. Both need more work but as it goes I think it was good.
I talked with Joel after and he recommended that I have my actors sitting down for less time and I don't disagree with him. I think that the last scene, though it is intimate, can have more dynamic staging. I don't want to lose the idea of polar magnets in the last scene.
Next time we will work on getting the diagonals back, playing with more dynamic staging, and projecting.
We worked on blocking the rest of the show (after the push) in the theatre. We able to complete the rest of the show! Of course it still needs more work to be fluid but actors have great command of the stage and are defiantly getting there.
After the push worked with remembering diagonals and how to keep their voices loud even if they are 'speaking softly'.
It was their first day without scripts so a lot of their energy was put towards trying to remember their lines. Both forgot some of their lines which gave the run throughs alot of hiccups. It also made them forget their blocking and their hops and pauses. They seemed to rush through the lines. However the main problem was with both Paige and Colby forgetting their diagonals.They seemed to rush through the lines. I hope that as we continue to rehearse they will become less self conscious of their lines and remember their original blocking.
The other thing we dealt with was how quiet both of they were being, especially Colby. It was an intimate scene and both played the emotions and and motivations of the characters beautifully. However it was damn near impossible to hear them. We did a couple of enunciate games (I slit a sheet and I bought a box of biscuits) and worked on projection. I explained to them the difference between being loud and projecting their voice across the theatre. Both need more work but as it goes I think it was good.
I talked with Joel after and he recommended that I have my actors sitting down for less time and I don't disagree with him. I think that the last scene, though it is intimate, can have more dynamic staging. I don't want to lose the idea of polar magnets in the last scene.
Next time we will work on getting the diagonals back, playing with more dynamic staging, and projecting.
John and Emily Rehearsal
Today we accomplished a lot and now I know what direction to go in. We did a run through after a few warm ups to get their energy up. Watching the run through I realized there are still some areas they need to get their energy up and not just go half way. There were many times where they would try to get angry or be hurt and it came off not as realistic because they were not fully invested. That is the biggest concern for me right now.
After reading through Joel's notes I ale realized some of the staging, like the movement at the end has to change. This note made me realize I need to spend next rehearsal really working through those moments. I think from now on I am going to push them further to make bigger choices and make their characters actions more clear.
I am the most proud right now that they have not regressed or forgotten what we talked about at previous rehearsals. They both are making improvements at every rehearsal and this is good progress
After reading through Joel's notes I ale realized some of the staging, like the movement at the end has to change. This note made me realize I need to spend next rehearsal really working through those moments. I think from now on I am going to push them further to make bigger choices and make their characters actions more clear.
I am the most proud right now that they have not regressed or forgotten what we talked about at previous rehearsals. They both are making improvements at every rehearsal and this is good progress
Rehearsal Five
I was not a fan of this heads holiday. I did like it because I was able to sleep for a very long time but it got in the way of my rehearsal schedule.
However we were able to have a rehearsal during this mx block. I was happy to see that the presence of Joel has even less of an effect on Colby and Paige now. Joel also commented that our rehearsal were 'fun' so that also makes me happy.
As always we did a little moving in the space but we quickly got down to business. We ran through the first half of the scene and stop and did notes. All of what we have rehearsed so far has stuck with both Colby and Paige. The first half of 'The Dog' looks as good as ever.
We then moved on the the infamous push secene. I call it infamous because both actors seemed a bit befuddled on why it was in the script and how it was suppose to go. We spent a good portion of rehearsal blocking it and talking about the motivations behind the push.
I first started out by showing them the kind of humor I wanted this sense to be like. I asked Colby to put his hand on my head and I ran trying to 'attack' him. The gag was ridiculous and I explained to Colby that what Lizzy was trying to do was ridicouls.
We then worked with the push in the same way. Paige pushed Colby in such a way that it gave the illusion that she was pushing Colby hard but it had not effect on him. I asked them to do this, putting their script down. Colby burst out into peals of laughter and I asked him why, as a director, he nail on the head.
We talked about how James was not taking Lizzy seriously. Lizzy chimed in that in real that would only make her even more pissed off. I shouted 'YES!'. We tried the scene again and it started looking better and better. Both actors now understand what motivations are behind the push and why it is such a high tension moment. Colby and Paige continued to work off of each other and draw on their own experiences. (Paige even noted that when she was really pissed off her voice got higher and it was now starting to show in the push scene).
Though the blocking did take a majority of rehearsal I am happy with how it looks. I think both actors understand the motivations behind their characters and genuinely express them during the scene.
However we were able to have a rehearsal during this mx block. I was happy to see that the presence of Joel has even less of an effect on Colby and Paige now. Joel also commented that our rehearsal were 'fun' so that also makes me happy.
As always we did a little moving in the space but we quickly got down to business. We ran through the first half of the scene and stop and did notes. All of what we have rehearsed so far has stuck with both Colby and Paige. The first half of 'The Dog' looks as good as ever.
We then moved on the the infamous push secene. I call it infamous because both actors seemed a bit befuddled on why it was in the script and how it was suppose to go. We spent a good portion of rehearsal blocking it and talking about the motivations behind the push.
I first started out by showing them the kind of humor I wanted this sense to be like. I asked Colby to put his hand on my head and I ran trying to 'attack' him. The gag was ridiculous and I explained to Colby that what Lizzy was trying to do was ridicouls.
We then worked with the push in the same way. Paige pushed Colby in such a way that it gave the illusion that she was pushing Colby hard but it had not effect on him. I asked them to do this, putting their script down. Colby burst out into peals of laughter and I asked him why, as a director, he nail on the head.
We talked about how James was not taking Lizzy seriously. Lizzy chimed in that in real that would only make her even more pissed off. I shouted 'YES!'. We tried the scene again and it started looking better and better. Both actors now understand what motivations are behind the push and why it is such a high tension moment. Colby and Paige continued to work off of each other and draw on their own experiences. (Paige even noted that when she was really pissed off her voice got higher and it was now starting to show in the push scene).
Though the blocking did take a majority of rehearsal I am happy with how it looks. I think both actors understand the motivations behind their characters and genuinely express them during the scene.
Rehearsal Four
Today we jumped right in to moving in the space ( we were lucky enough to have the theatre to use). Both Colby and Paige were extremely exhausted from sports. Paige forgot her script and I think I almost killed her by telling her to go 'run' and get it. From there we went to the diagonal game, which was just moving in the space but using the diagonals.
Gib and her cast popped in on us for a bit and it was good to have them there. Both actors are a bit un-used to having an audience so it was good for them to have a taste of what it was like to have other people watching while they preformed. They had some problems not looking at the audience. It is the same as when Joel is in the room. Both Colby and Paige seem to stiffen a bit. They are not as big in their choices and sometimes become flustered with how they say their lines. However after a few moments both Colby and Paige fell out of the stiffness and became more comfortable. I would like to have Gib and her cast or other casts pop in on us more often because I think it will prepare the actors for what it is like when show time actually rolls around.
After Gib left with some encouraging words to both me and the cast, we continued playing. I pushed Colby to make bigger choices. He has gotten a lot better about taking side direction and takes these directions in the moment, instead of stopping the scene to ask questions. Sometimes when playing a call in response game (example: 'Where where you'... 'I was at home'), Colby only has a range of angry, going from slightly pissed off to yelling. After prompting him a few times to 'change his tactics' because Lizzy 'was not listening to him', he really got into the game switching his tactics to pleading, joking, serious, friendly. It was good to see this and I told him that he needs to apply these different tactics to the script.
It was also beneficial to see Colby change tactics because of Paige responses. With his investment in the game came her total investment in the game. At one point she got on a chair to respond to one of Colby's tactics. Other times she wouldn't even respond to his questions. This beautifully transferred into her role as Lizzy because of her reactions to James.
The other thing I worked on with Paige was her searching for Charlie. We talked about it together and Paige and I both came to the solution that though it was frantic it was really more of an avoidance technique. This improved the veracity of Lizzy character immensely.
We then did a ran through the script up until the 'push'. Both remembered the idea of the diagonals wonderfully and the overall picture of the stage looks wonderful. Both remembered their staging from the previous rehearsal which makes me very happy. They also both remembered the ideas of long pauses and hopping (Joel calls it topping in but Paige decided it should be hopping so there you go).
Though I had them stop at the push (it hasn't been choreographed yet) I let them run the whole thing without giving side direction and waiting for notes at the end. I said last time that I wanted to try to let the actors run for longer giving them time to play out the scene. It was the right descion. I am very happy with what the first half of 'The Dog' looks like.
I gave notes and we continued to run it (each time it looked better and better), until Paige had to go catch the bus.
Gib and her cast popped in on us for a bit and it was good to have them there. Both actors are a bit un-used to having an audience so it was good for them to have a taste of what it was like to have other people watching while they preformed. They had some problems not looking at the audience. It is the same as when Joel is in the room. Both Colby and Paige seem to stiffen a bit. They are not as big in their choices and sometimes become flustered with how they say their lines. However after a few moments both Colby and Paige fell out of the stiffness and became more comfortable. I would like to have Gib and her cast or other casts pop in on us more often because I think it will prepare the actors for what it is like when show time actually rolls around.
After Gib left with some encouraging words to both me and the cast, we continued playing. I pushed Colby to make bigger choices. He has gotten a lot better about taking side direction and takes these directions in the moment, instead of stopping the scene to ask questions. Sometimes when playing a call in response game (example: 'Where where you'... 'I was at home'), Colby only has a range of angry, going from slightly pissed off to yelling. After prompting him a few times to 'change his tactics' because Lizzy 'was not listening to him', he really got into the game switching his tactics to pleading, joking, serious, friendly. It was good to see this and I told him that he needs to apply these different tactics to the script.
It was also beneficial to see Colby change tactics because of Paige responses. With his investment in the game came her total investment in the game. At one point she got on a chair to respond to one of Colby's tactics. Other times she wouldn't even respond to his questions. This beautifully transferred into her role as Lizzy because of her reactions to James.
The other thing I worked on with Paige was her searching for Charlie. We talked about it together and Paige and I both came to the solution that though it was frantic it was really more of an avoidance technique. This improved the veracity of Lizzy character immensely.
We then did a ran through the script up until the 'push'. Both remembered the idea of the diagonals wonderfully and the overall picture of the stage looks wonderful. Both remembered their staging from the previous rehearsal which makes me very happy. They also both remembered the ideas of long pauses and hopping (Joel calls it topping in but Paige decided it should be hopping so there you go).
Though I had them stop at the push (it hasn't been choreographed yet) I let them run the whole thing without giving side direction and waiting for notes at the end. I said last time that I wanted to try to let the actors run for longer giving them time to play out the scene. It was the right descion. I am very happy with what the first half of 'The Dog' looks like.
I gave notes and we continued to run it (each time it looked better and better), until Paige had to go catch the bus.
John and Emily
Todays rehearsal was a bit more laid back then normal. We started off doing Katelyns favorite game she chose. It was a game where one sat on a bench and the other tried to get that one to move. as we went I gave them new tasks transforming the game. This was fun and my actors worked well with directions
Next we did a run through. My main concern for today was to see where they were memorization wise and for now I am happy. I still want to push them to have it all memorized soon. We worked on some blocking again that they forgot and did a lot of talking through sections. This was important but I don't want to do to much of this next time or soon.
Today I think they improved a bit on chemistry through the playing around with each other. I really like the atmosphere in the room and they have with each other. They improved mostly today in steping into their characters. with out having to hold the scripts I could more clearly see who their characters were and saw them much more invested in the scene.
I still need them to make bigger choices and up the energy but this is a good place to be.
Next we did a run through. My main concern for today was to see where they were memorization wise and for now I am happy. I still want to push them to have it all memorized soon. We worked on some blocking again that they forgot and did a lot of talking through sections. This was important but I don't want to do to much of this next time or soon.
Today I think they improved a bit on chemistry through the playing around with each other. I really like the atmosphere in the room and they have with each other. They improved mostly today in steping into their characters. with out having to hold the scripts I could more clearly see who their characters were and saw them much more invested in the scene.
I still need them to make bigger choices and up the energy but this is a good place to be.
4/29 - Lipidleggin'
Nicholas Guarracino
I did my first off-book, and it didn't suck!
Lets start off from the top. I'm trying to get my actors in a mood to be playful without breaking. That is a problem I've been having with them. I might give a comment ,or there might have been a mistake, and they feel the need to make a comment or remark. It's like "The Sparrow", except I have become Joel.That man mus have the patience of an angel.
We moved in the space before tongue twisters, and did a run through. The first run through, on book, was OK. They din't move in the space enough, and as such didn't present themselves to enough of the audience. So I did some diagonal work with them, some movement work, some character work, etc. The idea was to improve their ability to present their characters.
And then I gave them a surprise off-book run. And to be honest, I didn't expect as much from them as they gave. They told me they only had half their lines. They only asked for lines a handful of times. And they got the majority of their ques right! It's almost like this whole "rehearsal" thing actually works,and when I ask them to "memorize their lines", they actually put in the effort to memorize lines!
Am I worried? Yes! Hell Yes! It's essentially March, which means I have two weeks left. But I'm hopeful. If I can get my props in to them by next week, and get us back on the stage, then we will have one Hell of a play. Knock on wood for my optimism, but I don't think the play will suck.
Much.
I did my first off-book, and it didn't suck!
Lets start off from the top. I'm trying to get my actors in a mood to be playful without breaking. That is a problem I've been having with them. I might give a comment ,or there might have been a mistake, and they feel the need to make a comment or remark. It's like "The Sparrow", except I have become Joel.That man mus have the patience of an angel.
We moved in the space before tongue twisters, and did a run through. The first run through, on book, was OK. They din't move in the space enough, and as such didn't present themselves to enough of the audience. So I did some diagonal work with them, some movement work, some character work, etc. The idea was to improve their ability to present their characters.
And then I gave them a surprise off-book run. And to be honest, I didn't expect as much from them as they gave. They told me they only had half their lines. They only asked for lines a handful of times. And they got the majority of their ques right! It's almost like this whole "rehearsal" thing actually works,and when I ask them to "memorize their lines", they actually put in the effort to memorize lines!
Am I worried? Yes! Hell Yes! It's essentially March, which means I have two weeks left. But I'm hopeful. If I can get my props in to them by next week, and get us back on the stage, then we will have one Hell of a play. Knock on wood for my optimism, but I don't think the play will suck.
Much.
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