Check out these great photos that were taken during our final dress rehearsal of Tied to the Tracks!!
Click HERE to view photos!

Our Spring 2020 Musical will be . . .

Book By Douglas Carter Beane

Music and Lyrics ByJeff Lynne and John Farrar

Click the link to learn more about the show:  https://www.mtishows.com/xanadu-jr

Xanadu Tony Awards Performance: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w02xPH5uUtI

Xanadu Broadway Soundtrack: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLjMolyvmqMD4xwBz6apdmXLXZVjVoThW9


AUDITIONS: February 3, 4 AND 5
PERFORMANCES: April 16, 17 AND 18

**CHECK THE THEATRE BOARD AND LISTEN TO ANNOUNCEMENTS FOR AUDITION INFORMATION**

Tied to the Tracks tickets are on sale NOW!! This year we have reserved seating so be sure to get your tickets in advance to secure the best seats! Click HERE to purchase tickets!

The Audition Workshop for the Fall Play is Wednesday, August 27 from 3:00-4:00 in the auditorium!!  Everyone auditioning should plan to attend!!

MUSICAL MELODRAMA AUDITION TIPS

Before the Audition

-  Get to know the show!  Read script samples, listen to the
songs, watch videos, watch/research melodramas, etc. 
You can find lots of information on the HMS Theatre Site under
the Theatre Productions tab: 
http://heritagemstheatre.blogspot.com/p/theatre-productions.
html

-  Read the audition materials carefully!  If you don’t understand
something, ask someone!

-  Prepare your song!  Be sure to practice and plan to sing with
accompaniment.  If you don’t know how to pronounce
something, look it up! Make sure you understand the context
of the song.  Plan to sing your song in character with
expression. Plan out movements and gestures that fit with the
song and the character! Remember, this is a melodrama so
everything you do should be extremely exaggerated and over
the top!

- Check out the Theatre Productions section of the HMS theatre
site: http://heritagemstheatre.blogspot.com/

This section has sample songs, audition cuttings, information
about characters, etc.

- Research Melodrama!  The style for melodrama is different
than what most actors are used to.  The characters are very
stereotypical and over the top!

- Plan to attend the Audition Workshop on
Wednesday, August 28 from 3:00-4:00! 
This workshop will provide you with lots of tips and information
you will need to know for your audition!  You will also get to
practice the audition songs!

-  Don’t forget to proofread your audition form for errors!

- Sign up for an audition time!  Write the time down so you will
remember!

Welcome Back!!!  We are so excited for HMS theatre productions and classes this year!!  If you are in one of the classes, you can access your class content and links using the tabs above.  If you are interested in our outside of class theatre productions, there is a helpful tab with information above.

Audition Sign Ups and Packets for our Fall Show have been posted on the HMS Theatre Board outside of room 121!!  Be sure to grab a packet and sign up soon!  For more information, see the theatre productions tab above or ask Mrs. Wheeler.  

2019-2020 Thespian Officers . . .

Congratulations to our new Thespian Officers!

PRESIDENT: Caroline

VICE PRESIDENT: Makena

SECRETARY: Brijet

HISTORIAN: Jason

ACTIVITIES

CHAIRPERSON: Grace

Theatre 7/8 Activities for class on Monday, May 6

Children’s Theatre/Script Writing Research Assignment

Your next theatre project will be to write and perform your very own Children’s Play!  

You will be assigned a small group to work with and together you

will write a play that is meant to be performed for young children.

 Below are links to videos and articles to help give you ideas

for children’s theatre and also script writing tips!

Step 1:

Read the Script Writing Guidelines document:
 https://docs.google.com/document/d/1lHIFqnvWEkQKlyx3DvP5jV0dHZ5JNYW2Ext8aKdVGiY/edit

Step 2:

Use the following links to read about children’s theatre:

https://www.dramaonlinelibrary.com/genres/childrens-theatre-iid-2471

https://prezi.com/5bq1crc4egut/what-is-childrens-theatre/

https://www.theguardian.com/stage/theatreblog/2013/oct/23/why-childrens-theatre-matters

Step 3:

Use the following links to watch some videos of children’s theatre.  
Some of the videos are promos and others are excerpts from children’s shows.

https://www.octc.org/2018-2019-season

http://thecoterie.org/performance/bud-not-buddy#.XMsKYJNKjBI

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jF7Abfw-oSU

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z06FSGi0ioc

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kf67T5_R9Po

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8i3WhGQNvD8

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7IQvCXdDvhA

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

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AReuUcF0Iu4

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

Speech and Debate class activities for Friday, April 26:

1. View the Public Forum Debate explanation slides: 

https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/18PTDAgmaefB-7TigfoM_x1kVDDmaPTwMHY053sIMNc8/edit#slide=id.p3

2.  Watch the Public Forum round video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NsNUx8iGVy8

3.  Read the Guide to Public Forum Debate: https://debate.uvm.edu/dcpdf/PFNFL.pdf

Don't miss your chance to see Oklahoma!  Two more performances left!  You can get tickets at the door or online using the link below:

https://tickets.vendini.com/ticket-software.html?t=tix&w=1785f4efbc7beefa6f44f924564379d5&vqitq=fab3806b-7f5b-4dd5-89e7-da56b1f86da9&vqitp=c23916e9-969c-4477-a952-89932e943599&vqitts=1553886024&vqitc=vendini&vqite=itl&vqitrt=Safetynet&vqith=c4f89223ebedb3967057da4f1d87cb94

The HMS theatre department is thrilled to announce our 2019-2020 shows!!!

Our Fall 2019 show will be . . .

Book By Tim Kelly

Music By Anne Christiansen

Lyrics By Ole H. Kittleson

Tied to the Tracks is a Musical Melodrama!

Click the link to learn more about the show: https://www.pioneerdrama.com/searchdetail.asp?pc=TIEDTOTHET

Our Spring 2020 Musical will be . . .

Book By Douglas Carter Beane

Music and Lyrics Jeff Lynne and John Farrar

Click the link to learn more about the show:  https://www.mtishows.com/xanadu-jr

Xanadu Tony Awards Performance: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w02xPH5uUtI

Xanadu Broadway Soundtrack: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLjMolyvmqMD4xwBz6apdmXLXZVjVoThW9

Class activities for Thursday, March 14:

Theatre Classes:  Use the links below to research Melodrama.  Our next project involves reading a melodrama script, so it is helpful to have some basic info regarding melodrama before we do that.  Some of the links are articles and some are videos.


https://burtsdrama.com/2015/07/20/melodrama/

https://study.com/academy/lesson/what-is-a-melodrama-definition-characteristics-examples.html

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wxzz31ww4M4

Speech Classes:  Anyone who has not performed their oratory should rehearse.  Those of you who have, should watch and critique someone who is rehearsing.

Tickets for Oklahoma!  are on sale!!!  Get yours today!

Link: https://www.lps53.org/tickets

Beginning today (March 8), clues for next year's play and musical will be posted on the Theatre Board!  The show titles will be posted on Friday, March 15!  Enjoy guessing and tell Mrs. Wheeler your guesses!

Attention Oklahoma cast members . . .

Check updates on the Oklahoma rehearsal calendar (on the right side of this page).  Some dates/times have been changed due to not having school today.  Email Mrs. Wheeler with questions!

The HMS/South Valley Speech and Debate team traveled to the Bingham Middle School tournament on Friday and did exceptionally well!  The team received the 2nd place overall sweepstakes award in the large school division!  Individual finals names and places are listed below.  Congratulations to the entire team on a job well done!

Jane Grundy and Kaden Mason got 2nd place in Novice Public Forum Debate

Jenna Lewis received 1st place in Impromptu and 3rd place in Original Oratory

Alicia Wegener received 3rd place in Prose and 5th place in DI

Emily Coleman received 8th in Prose

Ava Levings was 2nd in Storytelling and Madison Tucker was 3rd in Storytelling

Colin Madison got 4th place in HI

Alayna Pickard received 4th place in DI

Drew Hagen and Hunter Gill were 7th in Humorous Duo

Dramatic Duo:  Bellamy Brockman and Madison Tucker - 3rd, Lianna Morelli and Mady Van Ness - 7th

Tyler Parsons and Mason Allenbaugh were 3rd in Humorous Duet Acting

Lily Aikmus and Ava Hussey received 3rd place in Dramatic Duet Acting

Duet Improv: Tyler Parsons and Colin Madison - 2nd, Bellamy Brockman and Mady Van Ness - 5th, Lily Aikmus and Alayna Pickard - 7th

Due to the snow day today, we are altering some of our scheduled rehearsals.  See info below:

Thursday, February 21  3:00-3:30 *Finish Farmer and Cowman 

                                        3:30-5:00 *Kansas City Choreography

      IF YOU ARE IN KANSAS CITY AND HAVE TAP SHOES, PLEASE BRING THEM TO REHEARSAL TOMORROW!!!

                      Vocal Schedule on Thursday:

                      3:30-4:00 Farmers and Farm Girls Ensemble, Ellen, Kate, Virginia, Vivian, Laurey, Ado Annie, Curly

4:00-4:30 Laurey, Ado Annie, Curly

**Choreography for "Many a New Day" has been moved to Tuesday, February 26**

**Everything else for the next few rehearsals will remain the same**

Sign up for the 2019 Summer Center Stage program today!!  We would love to see lots of Heritage students at Center Stage this summer!  Center Stage is a great way to meet other theatre kids in the district, gain points to be inducted into the National Junior Thespian Society and HAVE FUN!  Use the link below to sign up!!

Center Stage Sign Up Link: https://www.lps53.org/Page/3145

Speech and Debate Team Members:

The LMS Speech and Debate Tournament for February 8 is cancelled!  We will keep you updated on whether or not it is rescheduled!

CLASS ACTIVITIES FOR TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 12

1. Use the following link to view examples of Middle School Monologues.  Use your earbuds to watch as many videos as you have time for on this playlist.  Link to playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLMFV_VBD0xpjlYLTe8e-HKz9YhpAgFtRd&disable_polymer=true
2. Research Monologue Performance Tips using Google.  Just search for articles and information on this.
3. If you have extra time, you can search for more monologue performances on Youtube.

Congratulations to the Speech and Debate team for placing 3rd place overall in the large school division at the Raytown South tournament this weekend!

Below are individual results and places:

Humorous Duo:  Bailey O'Brien and Camey Crossley - 3rd place

                           Hunter Gill and Drew Hagen - 6th place

Dramatic Duo:    Bellamy Brockman and Madison Tucker - 1st place

                           Lianna Morelli and Mady Van Ness - 6th place

Dramatic Interp:  Alayna Pickard - 7th place

Humorous Duet:  Mason Allenbaugh and Tyler Parsons - 1st place

Dramatic Duet:    Lily Aikmus and Ava Hussey - 2nd place

Storytelling:         Bailey O'Brien - 4th place

                            Madison Tucker - 6th place

                            Ava Levings - 7th place

Poetry:                Abby Roach - 4th place

Original Oratory:  Jenna Lewis - 1st place

Impromptu:          Jenna Lewis - 7th place

Duet Improv:        Bellamy Brockman and Mady Van Ness - 1st place

                            Lily Aikmus and Alayna Pickard - 4th place

Because of the snow day on Wednesday, we have made some changes to our auditions/callbacks schedule for Oklahoma! Thursday, January 31 we will see all auditions that should have occurred on Wednesday.  We will post a Callback List Friday morning.  Callbacks will be held from 3:00-4:00 on Monday, Feb 4.  The Final Cast List will be posted Tuesday, Feb 5 in the morning.  The first rehearsal for all cast members will be on Tuesday, Feb 5 from 3:00-5:00 in the Vocal Music room.

MUSICAL AUDITION TIPS

Before the Audition

-  Get to know the show!  Read the script, listen to the songs,
watch videos, etc.  You can find lots of information on the
HMS Theatre Site under the Theatre Productions tab:  
http://heritagemstheatre.blogspot.com/p/theatre-productions.
html

-  Read the audition materials carefully!  If you don’t
understand something, ask someone!

-  Prepare your song!  Choose one of the cuttings you will be
successful at.  Be sure to practice and plan to sing with
accompaniment.  If you don’t know how to pronounce
something, look it up! Make sure you understand the context of
the song: is it funny or dramatic, etc.  Plan to sing your song in
character with expression. Plan out movements and gestures
that fit with the song and the character!

- Check out the Theatre Productions section of the HMS
theatre site: http://heritagemstheatre.blogspot.com/

This section has sample songs, audition cuttings, information
about characters, etc.

- Plan to attend the Audition Workshop on
January 22 from 3:00-4:15!  This workshop will
provide you with lots of tips and information you will need to
know for your audition!  You will also get to practice the
audition songs!

-  Don’t forget to proofread your audition form for errors!

- Sign up for an audition time!  Write the time down so you will
remember!

Auditions for the spring musical are quickly approaching!!  You can find audition resources under the Theatre Productions tab.  There will be an informational Audition Workshop on Tuesday, January 22 from 3:00-4:15 in the auditorium.  This workshop is encouraged but not required to audition.