PARENT MEETING TONIGHT CANCELED

Hello cast/crew:

Since Wyoming has canceled school today, we have to cancel the parent meeting tonight.  Please stay tuned here on the blog, as I will post some very important documents before our first rehearsal in January, including a detailed schedule and who is in what number.  I am very excited about our cast and crew, and I think we have a very fun and exciting experience ahead!!

PARENT MEETING IS RE-SCHEDULED TO AFTER OUR FIRST REHEARSAL:  MONDAY, JANUARY 3rd FROM 7:00 - 8:00.  I realize that since this was not on the original schedule, there may be conflicts.  That is okay.  Please continue to check the blog, as this will be updated with all the information that you need in order to make this a great experience.  Any directions or instructions will be updated on here, so there is no need to email me unless there is a great concern.

Please tell your students to listen for an announcement from the office, as they will be able to pick up their scripts and cds tomorrow at school.  I would LOVE for all of your students to come back over Christmas break knowing the music and their characters.  It would be even more AMAZING if your child was memorized!  Please encourage them to look over their scripts and cds within their downtime over break.  As I am sure everyone noticed, we only have about 5 weeks to rehearse this musical, so we will really need to hit the ground running in January.


I will collect the $35 contribution at our parent meeting on January 3rd.  


ENJOY THE SNOW DAY!
Miss Wilmes

CAST LIST: Mulan Jr.

READ THIS FIRST:

THANK YOU TO ALL WHO AUDITIONED FOR THE WINTER MUSICAL!!  Please know that I had some very tough decisions to make while casting this show.  I am very proud of each child who auditioned, and you should be proud of yourself too!  It takes guts to get up on stage and recite a monologue and sing in front of strangers --- YOU DID A GREAT JOB!!

Please also know that casting a show is a process.  Please PLEASE please do not think that you are not talented if you were not cast in the show or in the role you had wanted.  There are several factors that go into casting on top of considering ability --- not the least which includes age, vocal range, how one might look with other characters on stage, stage presence, conflicts, theater background, projection, memorization skills.... the list continues!!  I have thought long and hard about these casting decisions, and I am confident that these were the right decisions to make for several reasons.  If you were not cast in the show or see yourself in a different role, please try again and audition with every opportunity that presents itself.  I also would encourage each of you to audition for me for the talent show.  I would love to see some familiar faces in the spring.

PLEASE REMEMBER:  If Wyoming has school on Thursday, December 16th, we will have our parent meeting from 6:15 - 7:15.  Please bring your $35 contribution, so you can take home your script and music cd to study over Christmas break.  You can make checks payable to Wyoming Middle School or provide cash.  Please also know that we will be taking head shots tomorrow that will be used for the lobby during show week.  You do not need to come prepared -- just bring your beautiful smile!  

If you do not accept your role, please let me know via email by 6:00pm on Thursday.

   WYOMING MIDDLE SCHOOL:  MULAN JR. CAST LIST

[Please read this thoroughly, as you may be playing multiple roles]

Fa Li	Margot Grom
Fa Zhou	Josh Beasley
Grandmother Fa	Maddie Henke
Mulan	Elise Hurwitz
Matchmaker	Maggie Hughes
Mushu	Nolan Morley
Cricket	Jadyn Collinsworth
Laozi	Melssa Campbell
Lin	Allison Bauer
Zhang	Sara Sasson
Hong	Adelaide Spicer
Yun	Janey Elliott
Shang	Nathaniel Hipsley
Chi-Fu	Roslyn Rathbone
Yao	Jacob Olausen
Ling	Will Courtney
Qian-Po	Herbert Meisner
Emperor	Hannah Fridy
Shan-Yu	Cooper Simmons
Magyar	Ellen Boster
Subar-Tu	Christian Robles
Xiao	Laura Wagner
Older Yi	Asia Blue Jones
Younger Yi	Kelsey Jobalia
Chen	Grace Akers
Liu	Quinn Steifbold
Cheongsam Salesperson	Bella DeJesus

FEATURED DANCERS
Cammy Miller
Sophie Harrisson
Brooke Neal
Katie Zackerman
Ruby Napora
Monica Unzueta
*Maddie Henke
*Maggie Hughes
*Margot Grom
*Hannah Fridy
*Indicates dancing in all numbers except Honor to Us All, Part 2
MOTHERS:
Mackenzie Jacquemin
Laura Wagner
Asia Blue Jones
Monica Unzueta
Brooke Neal
Maddie Henke
Maggie Hughes
Margot Grom
Hannah Fridy
DAUGHTERS:
Lindsay Sasson
Abby Casada
Quinn Steifbold
Grace Akers
Isabella DeJesus
Kelsey Jobalia
Emily Bence
Skylar Wolski
Kelsey Lackey
FATHERS:
Jacob Olausen
Will Courtney
Herbert Meisner
Roslyn Rathbone
Nathaniel Hipsley
Josh Beasley
SONS:
Christian Robles
Cooper Simmons
Ellen Boster
Lauren Rosseau
HUN ARMY:
Mackenzie Jacquemin
Christian Robles
Cooper Simmons
Ellen Boster
Lauren Rosseau
Linsay Sasson
Skylar Wolski
Kelsey Lackey
Josh Beasley
CHINESE ARMY:
Laura Wagner
Asia Blue Jones
Abby Casada
Quinn Steifbold
Grace Akers
Isabella DeJesus
Kelsey Jobalia
Emily Bence TECH CREW: Stage Manager Alexander Nocks Lights Rachel Behmen Sound Asa Pranikoff Lights/Sound Jr. Nick Eggers Tickets/Hospitality Lauren Metz Sean Madden Costumes Molly Mariani Elle Harbers Ellie Abrams Make-Up Emily Lagaly Ashley Lichtenberg Sydney Barth *I wouldn't mind two girls who are assigned to costumes/make-up to volunteer to help with PROPS. Please let me know if you are interested.

CALLBACK LIST

Thank you for your interest in the musical theater program at WMS!  I was THRILLED with all of the students who came out to audition.  The student interest, as well as each individual's patience and preparation, was truly noted.  Thank you for making the audition process a success!

Please know that there were over 60 students who auditioned!  I have most of the casting finished; however, there are a few students I would like to see again and invite to callbacks.  Callbacks is similar to a second audition that gives the director the opportunity to see his potential actors and actresses one last time before making the final call on the cast list.  You do not need to prepare anything for callbacks; however, you may be asked to read from the script and sing various songs from the musical.  Come ready to shine!  Do your best and know that you are in the same boat as your peers.  This is the last time you have to 'show me what you got' before I make my final decisions, so bring your A-Game and rock it tomorrow night!

CALLBACKS:  5:30 - 7:30 in the auditorium
You will be asked to sign in and will be brought inside the auditorium in groups.  You may even be allowed to leave early once I see what I need to see in order to make my final decision, so please bring a cell phone to call your parents for an early ride home or bring homework to work on until we finish at 7:30.  You may have down time, so be prepared to quietly work by yourself until you are needed on stage.

PLEASE NOTE:  IF YOU ARE NOT INVITED TO CALLBACKS, THAT DOES NOT MEAN YOU ARE NOT CAST IN THE SHOW.  It just means that I do not need to see you audition again.  Please check the blog late Wednesday evening (or very early Thursday morning), as the final cast list will be posted here.  I am only calling back 24 students and plan to cast around 40 students.  Please remember, if you are cast in the show, one parent/guardian plus the student cast needs to be at the parent meeting on Thursday from 6:15-7:15 unless this was on your list of conflicts on your audition sheet.  

STUDENTS WHO I WOULD LIKE TO SEE AT CALLBACKS ON WEDNESDAY AT 5:30:
Nolan Morley
Jacob Olausen
Herbert Meisner
Wil Courtney
Josh Beasley
Nathaniel Hipsley
Cooper Simmons
Christian Robles
Margot Grom
Hannah Fridy
Asia Blue Jones
Allison Bower
Sara Sasson
Adelaide Spicer
Janey Elliott
Maddie Henke
Roslyn Rathbone
Melissa Campbell
Elise Hurwitz
Maggie Hughes
Cammy Miller
Ellen Boster
Jadyn Collinsworth
Isabella DeJesus

Thank you once again for your support!
Miss Wilmes, director/choreographer

Available Character Descriptions for Mulan Jr.

This character description will also be available at auditions.

PLEASE NOTE:  If Wyoming DOES NOT have school on Monday due to the snow, I will hold auditions on Tuesday from 5:30 - 7:30.  If Wyoming does have school, I will see you at auditions on Monday from 5:30 - 7:30.

If your child is interested in helping behind the scenes, he/she needs to participate in the audition process but does not need to prepare a song or monologue or learn the dance.  He/She will need to fill out an audition form, a headshot, and theater resume (if available).  I will meet with these students during the scheduled audition time.

ANCESTORS: 
MUST BE STRONG SINGERS & ACTORS WHO CARRY THE SHOW:  CAN BE PLAYED BY EITHER A BOY OR GIRL

LAOZI (honor):  leader of the group

LIN (loyalty):  hardest on Mulan who doesn't appreciate challenges to the old world system 

ZHANG (strength):  strong silent type  

HONG (destiny):  Laozi's right-hand man  

YUN (love):  Mulan's greatest advocate; mother figure type  

PRINCIPALS:

MUST BE A GIRL:

FA LI:  Mulan’s Mother – needs to be able to sing and act (no heavy singing)

*GRANDMA:  Mulan’s grandmother – conveys wisdom and humor: character actor with strong acting (no heavy singing)

MULAN:  needs to carry the show – heavy singing with strong acting

*MATCHMAKER:  comic relief role – character actor (no singing)

MUST BE A BOY:

FA ZHOU:  Mulan’s Father who exhibits calm strength; strong singer and actor

CHI-FU:  the “bad guy” – character actor, cartoony but confident

*SHAN-YU:  needs to command the stage - believable that he could carry an invasion;  Non-singing role

SHANG:  strong male lead who commands strength but openness to learn from Mulan; heavy singing and acting

CAN BE PLAYED BY EITHER A BOY OR GIRL:

MUSHU: needs to have a strong but fun singing voice; character actor with great comedic timing

CRICKET: Mushu’s sidekick; strong character actor  - needs to be small in size

SHANG’S TRIO:  think Three Stooges –heavy comedic timing and strong actors who sing with a character voice (nothing too hard) and dance a bit

              YAO: tough guy – character actor
              LING:  scam artist – character actor
              QIAN-PO: sweetheart who would rather have a big meal than fight

*EMPEROR:  character role who sings and acts

*indicates a featured role but also may be cast in the ensemble to sing and dance

ENSEMBLE:  MUST SING, DANCE, and ACT
CAN BE PLAYED BY BOTH BOYS OR GIRLS

From the ENSEMBLE, I will also cast the following roles:

Chinese Army

              Xiao:  villager, willing to fight in the war
              Older Yi:  villager, willing to fight in the war

              Younger Yi:  villager, willing to fight in the war

              Chen:  Chinese soldier
              Liu:  Chinese soldier

              Cheongsam Salesperson: sells Cheongsams 

Hun Army
              Magyar:  featured Hun
              Subar-Tu:  featured Hun

**PLEASE NOTE: From these two ensembles, I will also cast the below roles, meaning that some students will play more than one role within the ensemble:
            Fathers

            Mothers

            Daughters

            Sons

Some Mothers/Daughters will also be dressmakers, hairdressers, groomers.

I am also looking for FEATURED DANCERS who will mainly dance while singing and acting in one of the ensembles.

MULAN AUDITION FORM

Please print this form and bring a completed copy to auditions. 

**PLEASE NOTE:  A parent/guardian signature is required for auditions.

Click to enlarge/print.

DON'T FORGET - ITEMS REQUIRED TO AUDITION:

• Memorized Monologue (1 minute or less)

• Memorized Song (1 minute or less - no longer than 1 minute, please)**student must bring an accompaniment/karoke cd or sing a capella (there can be no vocals on this cd).  There will be no pianist for accompaniment - a cd player will be provided.  Please sing a Disney song or a Broadway tune that best represents your voice.

• Audition Form (requires parent/guardian signature)

• Headshot

• Theater Resume, not required but helpful - please attach to your Audition Form

• Comfortable shoes/clothes to dance in for both auditions and callbacks

MULAN REHEARSAL CALENDAR

Please click to enlarge to print/view.

MULAN AUDITION FLYER

Audition Form, Rehearsal Calendar, and Cast of Characters will be available to download and view no later than Saturday.  Please check back to the blog frequently, as this is the main method of communication for all things middle school drama.

Curious about Disney's Mulan JR?  Check out Music Theater International's Mulan Jr. page for a preview of the music, casting information, and show synopsis.

AUDITIONS FOR THE SPRING MUSICAL

Auditions:  Monday, December 13th:  5:30 - 7:30
*no exceptions:  If you cannot be there right at 5:30, that is okay.  You will audition on a first come/first serve basis.  The sooner you get there, the sooner you will audition and be able to go home. The later you get there, the longer you may have to wait. 
(the callback list will be posted Tuesday evening by midnight)

Callbacks: Wednesday, December 15th:  5:30 - 7:30
*cast list will be posted by midnight Wednesday night on the blog

Parent Meeting (one parent required to attend + student who is cast):  Thursday, December 16th, 6:15 - 7:15.

ITEMS REQUIRED TO AUDITION:

• Memorized Monologue (1 minute or less)

• Memorized Song (1 minute or less - no longer than 1 minute, please)**student must bring an accompaniment/karoke cd or sing a capella (there can be no vocals on this cd).  There will be no pianist for accompaniment - a cd player will be provided.  Please sing a Disney song or a Broadway tune that best represents your voice.

• Audition Form (please check the blog to print this out and bring to auditions filled out **requires parent/guardian signature)

• Headshot

• Theater Resume, not required but helpful - please attach to your Audition Form

• Comfortable shoes/clothes to dance in for both auditions and callbacks

PLEASE NOTE:  The Calendar for all rehearsals is located with the Audition Form online; by obtaining parent/guardian signature, the student is confirming that ALL rehearsal conflicts are listed, and he/she will be at all auditions unless noted on the audition form

Please check back to the blog to download the audition form and calendar soon.  Please be patient, as I am creating a fully functioning website for middle school drama.  Please carefully watch the blog, as all updates will be posted here.  


The BLOG should answer all of your questions, but if you need to email me directly, please email:  wmstheater@gmail.com

POST-SHOW PARTY TODAY at 4:30

Hi gang!

Don't forget that today at 4:30 we are celebrating our show successes by striking the set, cleaning up the green room, and organizing all of our theater "things".  We will have dinner and dessert provided for all of the helpers who help us get the theater back into shape.  We will also have a viewing of the DVD tonight on the big screen in the auditorium.

TIME LINE
(this could change depending on how fast it takes to strike the set):

4:30 - Give out responsibilities:
I have a list of which kids will do what, but I welcome any adults willing to monitor and help.  We will need a lot of the adult hands to help take down the set, but I also need some adults to help the kids in the green room and prop room.

4:40 - 6:00:  CLEAN! STRIKE SET! ORGANIZE ALL THINGS THEATER

6:00:  Dinner/Dessert

6:20/6:30:  Announcement of Musical, passing out of picture cds/DVD, programs,  and head shots

6:30 - 7:30: Viewing of DVD

I would like us all to be out of the theater around 7:30, so we can enjoy a Friday evening with football, family, and/or friends!  Let's work really hard to get things done and organized, so we can end our show the right way.  There is no money  needed for tonight -- this has all been taken care of.

See you tonight!

NOTES

NOTES FROM WEDNESDAY NIGHT:

JANEY:  When you say “Great”, do something with you hands – be a little bit more excited

SIR SIMON:  Don’t forget your sword when you first chase the girls (you might have done this, just wanted to remind you)

VIRGINIA:  When you talk about the inscription on the landing, instead of going right to the door, go around the loveseat (chair), and look at the door from that angle (more center instead of by the door – it looks too crowded over by the door, and we can’t see your pretty face!)

WEEDS & SIR SIMON:  Your suspenders bit needs to come more toward the audience (you and Sir Simon should be more parallel to the audience – right now you face the door).  Weeds, you need to almost run in place for a few seconds / Sir Simon – hold him there.

MADDIE:  Make sure you do a continuous spray with hairspray – make it very funny

LAURA:  Could you take off your necklace?  Also, let’s see if we can put your hair up without the clip.  I think you would look more snobby/upper class without it.

JANEY & ROSLYN:  You have to actually look for the draped room; don’t stand center stage and point – go a little bit closer to the kitchen so the audience believes it’s there offstage.

HESTER:  When in doubt, face the audience instead of always looking at Sir Simon.  You can re-act to the audience, as you have a very good character.

LADY JOAN/SIR SIMON:  When you handshake, it should be more delicate. 

SIR SIMON:  You should exit through the bookshelf every time (unless for some odd reason it is not opened).  In Act 2, Scene 1 when you exit once you hear the family – instead of running to the kitchen, why don’t you go up the stairs (from the audience perspective, it will look like you are watching from the picture frame.  You don’t have to stay by the picture frame though – just exit through the stairs that one time.

HERBERT:  Tie your vest

MADAM B:  Every time you say “Madam B is here” – make that really big.

JANEY AND MADDIE:  When you run on and talk about the ghosts leaving, stay center – don’t block your mother who is behind the couch.

VIRGINIA:  Make sure your belt is actually on your waist (where the seam in the dress is – not on your hips)

ASIA:  Let’s pull your hair back (the wig) in a loose ponytail instead of letting it hang down

VIRGINIA:  You need stationary – can you bring this?

SIR SIMON:  Make your temper tantrum bigger!  You are so good at this – just give me more b/c you’re funny!!  Don’t forget to point your toes to the back of the auditorium – you need to keep you body facing center so we can see your facial expressions

EVERYONE:  When you sit on the couch (with the exception of Janey and Maddie), don’t slouch back on that comfy couch.  You are not watching tv at home J  You’re prim and proper on stage.

SIR SIMON:  When you are right next to Lucy when Madam B is on stage and you are yelling STOP – do something to Lucy, for you stand right next to her and she is scared, but you aren’t terrifying her.  Just quickly frighten her.

LADY C:  Practice walking with your cane – be prim and proper

VICAR:  Be a bit more excited when he gives you the jewels

LADY C:  You can be louder and more scarier as you talk about the past hauntings

EVERYONE:  DON’T TOUCH THE CURTAINS BACKSTAGE!!  I have placed stools to keep the curtain away from the flats and doors – so don’t move them or sit in them.  They are holding the curtains so they won’t move. 

EVERYONE:  YOU HAVE TO STAY BEHIND THE ELECTRIC TAPE on stage left.  NO EXCEPTIONS.  The lacey curtains aren’t hiding you.  We can see you every time someone opens the doors. 

EVERYONE:  On stage left (the bookshelf side), you have to stay by the piano as you are waiting, for we can see you when the bookshelf moves.

BOOKSHELF PEOPLE (Sir Simon/ Asha) – we are going to rotate the bookshelf the other way – we fixed this last night.  The audience will not see the black side – you will sneak out towards the kitchen table.

GOOD JOB, KIDDOS!!  Bring some energy tonight.  We’re going to have a blast!!

BREAK A LEG!