Diving In, Digging Deep
On Sunday, we hit the ground running. It was evident all of our actors came to rehearsal ready to work – we love that! But before it all began, all casts took a JPAS mindful meditation moment.
Being an actor takes practice and self-care. Help us set your actor up for success by making sure each week your actor reviews their lines, songs, choreography, and blocking. Once your actor learns the blocking for a scene, it is important for them to start memorizing that scene so that the blocking and the dialogue solidify in their mind.
Please show your actor our link to the Electronic Resource Library. It has choreography videos and MP3s of songs learned, organized per week, per cast.
We would love actors to be off-book as soon as possible. Off-book means not needing their scripts anymore to recite their lines. Directors will be providing an off-book date this week. Also, kindly encourage your actor to listen to the music as often as possible so that they become more comfortable with the music.
Equally as important is that our actors take the time to restore their well-being and fill their creative well – lessons we could all likely benefit from and incorporate more of into our daily routine. I encourage you too to take time for YOU.
Electronic Resource Library
This week’s choreography videos are online! Please also keep listening to the music, reading the script, and memorizing lines. Keep up the good work!
CLICK HERE TO VIEW RESOURCE LIBRARY
Conversation Starters
• Do you know what blocking means (ask your actor)?
• Ask your actor about stage direction and how to make notes in their script.
• Ask your budding actor what their character is like, how do they move?
Jungle Book
Excellent enthusiasm! We are already starting to see actors reacting to the scenes they are in and making great character choices!
• The actors danced their hearts out and had fun being monkeys in I Wanna Be Like You.
• Mrs. Linda taught the actors how body language and the way we move can invoke the animals they are portraying, even if they are not crawling on all fours.
• Encourage your actor to watch how their animals move and use that knowledge for their characterization.
•We reviewed last week’s lessons on stage directions and the importance of writing down blocking.
• Ms. Sklyar broke down how to write our dances and our blocking for choreography.
• Actors were also reminded of how it is important to be prepared and attentive during rehearsals.
Into the Woods
The teamwork and productivity were amazing! We covered a lot of ground. So many discoveries – our actors are learning about themselves and their characters.
• We began blocking the opening scenes of the show with Mrs. Linda and Ms. Liz. These scenes give the actors the opportunity to establish their characters.
• Actors are learning to be aware of the space they work in. This means that they learn not to put their backs to the audience and utilize the space as part of their characterization.
• One of the best parts of acting is delving into the characters’ backgrounds. Actors were encouraged by Mrs. Linda and Ms. Liz to think about their characters’ relationships with other characters in the show.
• With Ms. Skylar in dance, we solidified our places on stage for Opening 9 and added more character-specific choreography
• We also broke down how to write our dances and our blocking for choreography.
Rehearsal – Sunday, January 24
• Drop off is 1:10 – 1:25 pm.
• There will not be anyone outside after 1:25 pm and the front doors will be locked.
• Rehearsals will begin promptly at 1:30 pm.
• Please email me if you have any issues or unforeseen delays.
• Pick-up will be at 5:30 pm.
• Please remind our performers to bring their scripts, folder, pencil, and a highlighter.
• Please pack a healthy snack and a water bottle.
• Your actor should wear clothes they can easily move in. We suggest sneakers or bring their jazz/dance shoes.
Important Dates & Reminders
• Head-shots will no longer be taken this Sunday at the J. Unfortunately, we can’t take our actor’s headshots this year unless our actors are masked. Therefore, please email me a headshot (picture) of your actor by January 27th.
• Specifications: Preferably smiling, the actor is alone in the picture, waist up and in color is best.
• How to send: Subject line – actors name, headshot, cast.
• BIOS: Wednesday, January 27 – actor bios are due. YOU got this! If we do not receive your actor’s bio by January 27 they will not be included in the playbill.
• Click here to look at a sample format/instructions on how to send in your actor’s bio.
• PLAYBILL ADS: Wednesday, January 27 – actor Playbill Ad/Messages are due. Think of our playbill as our annual fundraiser. All proceeds help fund JPAS throughout the year, allowing us to be one of the preeminent youth performing arts programs in North Texas. This year’s playbill will be an online version sent out to our community, displayed prominently on our production web page for 2 months. Sponsors will also be recognized in promotional emails to our community. Even better, your actor will get a memory of a lifetime. The playbill is a great way for you or a relative to send a note of support, or utilize this opportunity if you own a small business. Placing an ad in our playbill is a strategic way to reach the community.
• Click here to purchase your playbill ad and learn more.
• I encourage you to please take care of both the bio and playbill ad now. Knock it off your to-do list and feel like a rock star.
Reminder About Healthy Snacks
Please continue to do your best to provide healthy snacks, low in sugar. Healthy, low-sugar snacks help to keep our performers engaged, focused, and on task. We will not be using the vending machines. Again, please pack a water bottle too!
Take the Stage – JPAS Performing Arts Camps
Camp StarQuest and Camp StarPower rock! The culture we create oozes awesomeness on every level – it’s the best of times!
Please register to save your spot…seriously!
• Click here to learn more about JPAS Camps: StarQuest and StarPower
• Online registration for members opens Sunday, January 24 at 7:00 am
• Camp friends (non-members) registration opens Sunday, February 7.
Be sure to follow us on Facebook and Instagram. We are posting pics there too!
Looking forward to seeing everyone this Sunday!
Shine Bright,
