Mary Poppins - Week 2 - Aaron Family Jewish Community Center of Dallas

Diving In, Digging Deep

On Sunday, we hit the ground running. It was evident all of our actors came to rehearsal today ready to work – we love that! But before it all began, both casts took a JPAS mindful meditation moment. After a few calming deep breaths, Spoon Full of Sugar Cast did a heart hug meditation and the Step in Time cast focused on working as an ensemble. They did partner breath work to establish trust and comradery.

Being an actor takes practice and self-care. Help us set them 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 solidifies in their head.

Please show your actor our link to the Electronic Resource Library. It has accent 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 new songs and accent videos are online! Please also keep listening to the CD, reading the script, and memorizing lines. Keep up the good work!

Due to technical difficulties, both casts for Week 2 will not have choreography resource materials in the library. However, all sing-along and performance tracks are available in the ‘Mary Poppins JR Tracks’ tab in the Resource Library.

CLICK HERE TO VIEW RESOURCE LIBRARY

Conversation Starters

Ask your actor…. Do you know what blocking means?
Ask your actor what Call and Response is? Hint – “Places 5” “Thank you 5”
Ask your budding actor what their character is like
Discuss the themes of Mary Poppins JR at home. Maybe watch the movie together (original and remake) if you haven’t already or check out some YouTube performances – either the Broadway version and/or other youth productions

Spoon Full of Sugar

Discuss the themes of Mary Poppins JR at home. Maybe watch the movie together (original and remake) if you haven’t already or check out some YouTube performances – either the Broadway version and/or other youth productions.

Our production team is getting to know cast members not only by name, but by the creative choices they make as well! So, during rehearsal our actors practiced individualizing each of their characters in the prologue. How does my character stand? How do they pose? How do they walk and move about the space?
First choreography rehearsal – for those in the Step In Time Number! Everyone was tapping away.😊
First day of blocking – blocked prologue and more!
Music rehearsed: Step In Time – solo features were given out, and the alto and soprano parts were determined as well. Precision and Order, Feed the birds, Supercal and Bows were also learned! PHEW!

Step in Time

The teamwork and productivity were amazing! We covered a lot of ground. So many discoveries – our actors are learning about themselves and their characters.

The students had the experience of working on blocking, character-development, dance, and music (reading and singing).

A large group practiced walking around like one might in 1910! Think women in corsets and men in Jackets. Lots of standing tall!
First choreography rehearsal – for those in the Step In Time Number! Everyone was tapping away. 😊
Blocked first 12 pages of the script, set groupings for Jolly Holliday and our Park Strollers worked on posture and accents.

Important Dates & Reminders

HEAD-SHOTS: This Sunday are canceled. Sunday, February 13 is when we will be taking head-shots for both casts. Please make sure your actor is camera-ready!
BIOS: Wednesday, February 9 – actor bios are due. YOU got this! If we do not receive your actor’s bio by Feb. 9 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, February 9 – actor Playbill Ad/Messages are due. Think of our playbill as our annual fundraiser and a special way to create a memory to last a lifetime for your actor. 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.

Exciting – Tickets are on Sale Now! Limited Seating

Please spread the word about Mary Poppins Jr. to friends and family.

PURCHASE TICKETS

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!

Performing Arts Camps – Filling Fast!

Registration opened on Monday and we are already at 50% capacity. Space in these camps are limited and I would love to see many of our Mary Poppins family at camp with us this summer. Truth is…. Camp StarQuest and Camp StarPower rock! The culture we create oozes awesomeness on every level – it’s the best of times! Please register today to save your spot…seriously!