Voice, Heart, and Soul!
Our performers are working hard – way to go! It is so incredible to see how unified each cast has become in such a short amount of time, and to watch the friendships and the camaraderie build upon doing something they love. Each of you would be super proud to know that all our actors are stretching their comfort zone and putting themselves out there by embracing all of the theatrical direction they have been given. It’s amazing; they are amazing.
Please continue to encourage performers to be “off-book” (both lines and songs) and to practice their choreography and accents at home. I’ve received such wonderful messages from parents that their actors are coming home excited and inspired, and we are thrilled…thank you for sharing!
This week we worked on diving deeper into blocking, choreography, character-development, and working to find our characters’ voice, heart, and soul! It’s been a ton of fun embodying our animal characters. Putting on a main-stage production is hard work. It requires 100% dedication. Rehearsing for four hours takes focus, refocus, and then some more focus – and they’re doing great! Our amazing artistic staff is also hard at work, ensuring everyone is giving it their all, and also having fun!
Electronic Resource Library
Get the latest and greatest on music and choreography learned from past rehearsals. Happy practicing.
Choreography
These past few weeks both casts have been working hard on the musical dance number, Circle of Life, Stampede and Hakuna Matata . We couldn’t be more excited or proud of our actors. Both casts showed awesome recollection of the previous week’s choreography! This week, we added a new dance number into the mix, challenging their skills. Here is a sneak-peak at their hard work!
Pride Rock Highlights
- We started the day with our meditation topic Hakuna Matata: No Worries. We talked about how worrying doesn’t help whatever situation we are in. When things get stressful, take a deep breath, and do your best!
- Our actors learned how to sing in three-part harmony during The Circle of Life.
- We practiced staying on the rhythm while singing and dancing The Grassland Chant.
- Since it was National Make a New Friend Day, we challenged the kids to meet someone new and/or learn the name of someone they don’t talk to as much.
Hakuna Matata Highlights
- This week not only was it National Make A Friend Day but our theme was Hakuna Matata! To help our actors get centered, during meditation we breathed in success and good intentions for ourselves, our rehearsal, and our show and we challenged them to connect with someone in the cast that they may not know!
- We got to see the beginnings of the set and start combining different theatrical elements of music and blocking as we worked through our scenes!
- Our kids learned how to sing in two- and three-part harmonies as they reviewed several new songs for the show like Be Prepared, He Lives in You, and the Shadowlands.
- Our actors’ characters started to really come to life as they practiced moving on the stage like their animals.
- Using improv, we began to create more dialogue opportunities for several of our actors to shine on stage!
Rehearsal – Sunday, February 18th
- Everyone should arrive promptly for drop off at 1:30 pm
- Pride Rock Cast will meet in the Zale.
- Hakuna Matata Cast will meet upstairs in the Mankoff room.
- Pick-up will be at 5:30 pm in the lobby.
- Please remind our performers to bring their scripts, rehearsal folder, pencil, and a highlighter to every rehearsal.
- Please pack a healthy snack and a water bottle.
- Wear clothes you can easily move in with sneakers or bring your jazz/dance shoes.
Important Updates and Reminders
- Playbill Bill Ads and Bios were due on Feb 14
- JPAS Social Crew – Lion King Movie Sing-along! Thursday, March 14! Register!
- Save the Date: March 17in the morning before rehearsal we will be going to the zoo!
Mark Your Calendars – Costume Fittings
- Pride Rock will have costume fittings on Sunday, February 18 and February 25. This cast has been given their specific time slots/dates.
- Hakuna Matata cast will have costume fittings on Sunday, March 3, and March 10.
- I will be sending an email with specific time slots for the Hakuna Matata cast soon. Please keep an eye out. More to come.
Let Your Inner Marketer Shine – Marketing Materials Are Ready!
Last Sunday, at drop-off, I had some marketing materials available for those who wanted to help spread the word – yard signs (limited amount) and flyers (hang at school, temple, local coffee shops, libraries…you name it). We have some posters left. Please reach out if you would like some materials. If you want to begin spreading the word via social media, rock on; we would love that too! I will be sending out the digital marketing kit in a separate email soon.
Purchase Your Tickets – Buy Early and Secure Your Tickets
Please spread the word about The Lion King JR to friends and family.
Reminder About Healthy Snacks
Please 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!
What’s the Best Camp At the J?
Ask someone who has attended our performing arts summer camps and they will tell you! Camp StarQuest and Camp StarPower rock! Want to learn more? Call me at 214-239-7140 or email arobinson@jccdallas.org. I would love to tell you all about it. Please register today to save your spot. Seriously!
StarQuest has an official waitlist (still register if interested – in case a family drops) and StarPower has 4 spots left! Once full we will be starting an “official” waitlist for StarPower too!
- Click here for to learn more about StarQuest
- Click here for to learn more about StarPower
- Click here to register
New! One Week Theater Specialty Camps
- July 15, July 22 and July 29!
- Stay tuned for more info.
This is How We Do It At JPAS
Looking forward seeing everyone this Sunday!
Shine Bright,
