Audition Information for the Spring Musical, Oklahoma, is now available on the Theatre Callboard outside room 121!  You can sign up for an audition time and pick up audition materials there.  Student Director applications are also available.  Crew applications will be posted sometime in January.  Check back then if you are interested in crew!

Our Junior Thespian Troupe had such a fun time today!!  First, we went to two different elementary schools to talk about theatre and play acting games with the 5th graders.  Next, we went to The Oxford Grand Assisted Living facility and performed a collection of Christmas songs, poems and a dance!  Finally, we had our first ever Thespian holiday party!!  So much fun!!

Theatre Class Activities for Wednesday, December 5:

FIRST . . .

Use the link below to read a short article on Children's Theatre:

https://d2wasljt46n4no.cloudfront.net/pdf/content-pages/community-pages/Pinocchio%20Poster.pdf

SECOND . . .

Use the link below to read sample Children's Play scripts.  Choose as many as you would like.  Get an idea of how children's plays are written.

https://www.dramanotebook.com/scripts-based-on-childrens-books/

THIRD . . .

Watch some sample videos of children's play performances.  Links are below.  You can look up more if you still have time left in class.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QWwYt3O-MAo

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ULgNSyRtLY

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uMPfKSiwli8

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NZ2xJ1V-FuA

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nonzvwTwnTg

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2svuPzgpJ80

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jOPAjhLCA-E

Alice in Wonderland show photos: https://photos.app.goo.gl/D52KBb2VNfwXoW43A

We just wrapped a very successful three night run of Alice in Wonderland!!!  The cast and crew turned out fabulous performances each night!  Below are some pics of actors and technicians getting ready for the Saturday night performance!  Check back soon for more pictures from the show!

We are having so much fun at rehearsals for our Fall Play Alice in Wonderland!  Below are some pics of our fabulous cast!  Be sure to get your tickets soon!  
Ticket Link: https://www.lps53.org/finearts

Link to buy tickets: https://www.lps53.org/finearts

With Alice in Wonderland auditions quickly approaching, I thought I would post some great audition tips to set you up for success!

Successful Audition Tips . . .

1. Read the Audition Packet/
Information Carefully!

Actors should arrive at auditions fully prepared, not just ready to perform,
but also to present any requested material. Examine the audition notice.
Should you prepare one monologue? Two? Is the audition a cold reading or
Improvisation?  Know what you are getting into!

Finally, based on the audition notice, make certain you are trying out for an
appropriate part. Read if there are any height or age restrictions for certain
roles.  Follow whatever guidelines are offered to ensure that you arrive at
the audition as organized as possible.

2. Be Professional

Show the directors how reliable you are by showing up at least fifteen
minutes before the audition. Be courteous, but don’t be too talkative. Don’t
pester crew members or fellow actors with idle conversation. Spend your
time privately readying yourself.

In general, think of an audition like a job interview. Avoid inappropriate
behavior, whether its chewing gum, using profanity, behaving too shyly or
brashly, or making long-winded speeches as to why you are perfect for the
role.

3. Dress Appropriately

Usually, it is best to wear comfortable attire that is slightly more dressed up
than your normal everyday school clothes. You want to exhibit charm and
professionalism, but you don’t want to look like a stock-broker or a banker.
Remember, many new actors make the mistake of wearing costumes to
audition. Perhaps they say to themselves: “Hey, I’ve got a great pirate outfit
from last Halloween! I’ll wear that!” Sadly, this is bound to cause directors to
chuckle under their breath. They might be amused, but they will definitely
not take the actor seriously.

If you are auditioning for a dancing part in a musical or an audition that
relies on lots of physical movement, wear dance attire or comfortable
clothes you can move around in. It should not be anything flashy or
expensive.

4. Get to Know the Play

Many auditions involve reading “sides.” Sides are small, hand-picked
portions of a script. Sometimes they are a brief monologue. Sometimes they
are short scenes involving two or more characters. Most of the time, you
won’t know exactly what scene you’ll be reading. In that case, you’ll want to
familiarize yourself with the play in general.

If you are auditioning for a popular play feel free to buy a copy of the script
online or at your local bookstore. Better yet, visit your local library.
Watching a film version of the play might help as well. However, don’t
simply mimic the movie actor’s performance.  Directors want to see what
you can create, not what you can imitate.

5. Practice Cold Reading

If the play is rather obscure or brand new, it may be difficult to purchase a
copy. In that case, you’ll want to polish up your cold reading skills. Cold
Reading is the act of performing lines as you read them for the very first time.
It can be a nerve-wracking experience, but with practice, most actors can
become quite adept at it.

The best way to become a fluent cold reader is to read aloud as often as you
can. When you cold read during your audition, do not worry if you stumble
over a word or two. The important thing to remember is to stay in character.
Create chemistry between you and your fellow actor. Make the director, and
anyone else watching, believe that you are thinking and feeling the words on
the page.

6. Don’t Apologize!

After an audition, an actor becomes his own worst critic. Often times,
hopeful actors are tempted to explain themselves to the directors. They
provide excuses or even apologies in hopes of gaining sympathy. Avoid this
as much as you can. Thank the director and leave the stage knowing that if
you are right for the part, they will see that. If not, know that you did your
best. And remember: there are many other wonderful roles out there just
waiting to be filled.

Congratulations to our 2018-2019 HMS Thespian Officers!!

PRESIDENT:  Bellamy

VICE PRESIDENT:  Colin

SECRETARY:  Madison

OUTREACH DIRECTOR:  Lily

HISTORIAN:  Camey

ACTIVITIES CHAIR:  Alayna

HMS and LMS Thespians joined together last Thursday for an Improv Workshop with LN BBFP!  It was a great time!  Be sure to check out BBFP's final show of the year in the HMS Auditorium on Tuesday, May 15!

Found an interesting article regarding the musical Oklahoma, which will be our 2019 musical production here at HMS.  The link to the article is below.  Check it out!

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/03/31/opinion/sunday/oklahoma-hamilton-world-war.html

Fall Play:

Alice in Wonderland

By Anne Coulter Martens

Based on the story by Lewis Carroll

Plot Summary:

As the curtain rises, Alice slides into view at the end of her long fall down the rabbit-hole. It is a
more delightful place for the audience than for Alice, though, who is trying desperately to get
back home. She tries to get help from the Mad Hatter, the Rabbit, and from the very nice Cheshire
Cat to name a few. Instead of helping her, Tweedledee and Tweedledum get into a fight - The
Mad Hatter has a tea party - and even the Cheshire Cat is enigmatic.  So poor Alice even decides
to ask for help from the evil Queen of Hearts. The action in this script is fast-paced and depicts
all of the delightful charm of Lewis Carroll’s great classic.

Character List

Alice Alice is the main character of the story.  She is a young girl with lots of imagination and is fond
of showing off her knowledge. Alice is polite, well raised and interested in others, although she sometimes
makes the wrong remarks and upsets the creatures in Wonderland. She is easily put off by abruptness and
rudeness of others.

Cheshire Cat The Cheshire Cat serves as sort of a narrator role in this version of the story. The Cat
is always smiling. Alice tries to engage him in a serious conversation, but he replies to her in nonsense
questions and answers. He vanishes and reappears, and sometimes only his head, or his enigmatic smile, is
visible.

White Rabbit The first creature that Alice sees in Wonderland. He leads Alice down the hole to
Wonderland.  The White Rabbit is nervous and seems to always be in a hurry.

Caterpillar The water-pipe smoking character whom Alice finds on a mushroom. He is disagreeable
and insulting to Alice. He is also moody and his color often changes to depict his mood.

Frog Footman Doorman of the Duchess' house. He receives the Queen's croquet party invitation
for the Duchess. He banters nonsense — with variations — to Alice.

Duchess The Duchess is a mad human character of hideous physical aspect and perverse disposition.
She abuses the pig/baby and throws it to Alice. Later, she moralizes with Alice at the croquet party.

Cook The Duchess’ Cook - She throws pots and plates about, but doesn't hit anyone, although one
plate grazes the Frog-Footman's nose. Her indiscriminate shaking of a pepper mill causes everyone in the
Duchess' house to sneeze, especially the pig/baby, who screams and cries.

Queen of Hearts The furious queen of the enchanted garden. She is the real power behind
Wonderland. Her violent and outrageous temper provokes Alice to overturn Wonderland and return to the
world above-ground.

King He is the Queen's husband and also the judge at the trial of the Knave of Hearts.  The King is the
more moderate part of the Wonderland Government.

Knave The only "person" in Wonderland to evoke Alice's sympathy. He is accused of stealing tarts in
the enchanted garden. Alice saves him from the queen's wrath and execution.

Courtier A servant to the Queen.

Ladies Ladies in waiting to the Queen.  They play croquet in the garden scene.

Heart Children Part of the Queen’s people - they play croquet in the garden scene.

Mad Hatter A guest-resident at the Mad Tea-Party. He is mad and speaks randomly, most of which
is nonsense or in the form of a riddle.  He is terrified of the Queen. The Hatter is interrogated by the King
at the Knave of Hearts' trial; he and the March Hare dunk the Dormouse in the teapot.

March Hare Host of the Mad Tea-Party. He and the Mad Hatter try to drown the third guest-
resident, the Dormouse.

Dormouse A hibernating guest-resident at the Mad Tea-Party. He awakes randomly to add
comments and, at one point, sings a song.  He is dunked in the teapot by the Mad Hatter and the March
Hare. He is barely able to stay awake, but appears later at the Knave's trial.

Tweedledee and Tweedledum Tweedledum and Tweedledee are twin brothers, fat little
boys who like grinning and reciting poetry to Alice. They continually act out the nursery rhyme from
which they come, quarreling because Tweedledum says Tweedledee broke his rattle. They are grinning,
rude, mischievous and violent.

Humpty Dumpty Humpty Dumpty is just who he sounds like – the egg-shaped man from the
nursery rhyme you probably learned as a child. Humpty Dumpty is a wordsmith, obsessed with making
the most of his vocabulary and not only reciting but explaining poetry to Alice. He's obsessed with being
able to force meaning to happen. He ends up falling off the wall at the end of his scene and breaking into a
million tiny pieces.

Mock Turtle A sad "mock turtle" who used to be a tortoise; he regales Alice with accounts of his
peculiar education. He recites the "Lobster-Quadrille." He and the Gryphon are not overly hostile or rude
to Alice.

Gryphon A mythical creature who is in the scene with the the Mock Turtle. He is introduced to Alice
by the queen. He is polite to Alice and is never overtly hostile.

Soldiers Soldiers to the Queen.  They form the wickets during the royal croquet game.  

Executioner An executioner - the 10 of Clubs.

Gardeners The Two, the Five, and the Seven of Spades; animated playing cards. They are
"gardeners" for the Queen of Hearts. Alice finds them painting white roses red. Alice saves them from
execution when the Queen orders them beheaded.

Flower-Girls Talking flowers that are in the scene with Humpty Dumpty.

Prop Men Two actors who move props and furniture to various locations in Wonderland.

**All parts except Alice, Duchess, Queen, King, Knave, and Executioner may be
played by either male or female actors.

Auditions:  August 29

Performances: November 1, 2, and 3