My name is Cindy Wilmes, and I am the drama director at the Wyoming Middle School. I will be directing, choreographing, and working with the music for this winter musical. I am very excited to work with your children! Thank you for entrusting them to me and for encouraging each of them to audition. We had tons of talent come out for auditions, and I am truly looking forward to working with a tremendously talented cast and crew!
We only have a short time before we open Mulan Jr. This is a very complex (but a very fun and quite entertaining!) musical. We will have to work VERY hard in order to have the best show, but I want each of you to know that I am fully dedicated to letting your students shine. In fact -- that is my top priority. I plan to have a very professional quality of a show and expect each student and family represented to also add to that top quality. This will be a team effort, for I need each family represented to volunteer to help us put on the best show possible -- but more than that, it is a chance for you student to learn more about the theater arts while embarking on a great adventure. I can guarantee that this will be one of the highlights of their middle school career at WMS.
A few things before we dive into specifics:
ALL CAST IS NEEDED FOR REHEARSAL ON MONDAY, JANUARY 3rd. You were given a rehearsal schedule before auditions of planned rehearsals. Please check the blog (and the parent packet that you will receive at the parent meeting on Monday) for a detailed schedule of who is needed when. Since we will be learning the music, dancing, our characters, and blocking in about a month, the entire cast needs to be on call for all rehearsals; however, I might be able to give some characters the nights off if you are not needed on that specific rehearsal day. For now, please plan to be at all rehearsals (unless you noted this on your audition form) AND then check the detailed schedule to see if you are needed that night. If not, it's more time for you to study your lines and work on dance numbers at home.
PARENT MEETING IS ON MONDAY, JANUARY 3rd from 7:00-8:00. ALL CREW + CAST and at least one parent/guardian is required to attend. Cast, since you are already going to be at rehearsal that evening, your parents will join you upstairs. If you cannot make it, please check the blog for the items you have missed.
A few things to know before coming to the parent meeting:
*ALL CAST & CREW will get their picture taken for the program before leaving. You do not have to wear anything specific. Please come dressed as yourself!
*$35 is required for ALL CAST & CREW before leaving WMS tomorrow night. Please bring a check and make payable to Wyoming Middle School or please bring exact cash (we may not have change). This was noted on the audition sheet and signed by a parent before your child auditioned. This covers a show t-shirt, meals during tech week, lobby headshot, an offsite cast party, and a DVD of the production.
*PLEASE BRING YOUR CALENDARS!! In order to make this production a success, I will need parent volunteers in each aspect of the production. This will be explained in detail at the parent meeting. I will need each family represented to work at least one show during show weekend (unless you have been contacted recently to be a committee leader) AND three pre-show shifts (helping build the set, decorate the lobby, etc). I also will need each family represented to volunteer to help monitor one rehearsal, as I may need groups of students to work on dancing while I help others with acting. Don't be confused -- this will be explained in detail at the parent meeting. Amy Elliott has agreed to be my parent coordinator and does a great job at organizing volunteers. Please be on the lookout for an email from her and some explanation at the meeting. You will be asked to sign up for these slots before you leave, so please bring those calendars and a willing heart!
A sneak peek into how rehearsals will be run:
A PARENT/GUARDIAN MUST SIGN IN AND SIGN OUT THEIR CHILD FOR REHEARSAL. Due to rehearsals running later into the evening and it getting dark much earlier, I need each parent/guardian to sign in their child when he/she is brought to rehearsals and signed out when you come to pick them up. This helps us monitor who is in the building since this is after school hours and can only increase the safety of the students. This begins Monday!
ALL STUDENTS MUST LEAVE WMS UNTIL REHEARSAL BEGINS: I purposely moved rehearsals later in the evening in order to ensure that students go home and get something to eat and begin working on homework instead of hanging out at school waiting until rehearsal begins. I needed to do this, for students have to be under supervision at all times. Please arrange for you students to be taken care of until rehearsal begins. The downstairs door will be open no earlier than 5-10 minutes before rehearsal begins.
Things your students should know:
STUDENTS: Bring something to quietly work on during your down time at rehearsals. You will not always be needed every second of rehearsal on the days that you called but will need to stay in the theater. Feel free to bring a book to read or homework to work on.
STUDENTS: CELL PHONES WILL NEED TO BE KEPT IN BACKPACKS/PURSES DURING ALL REHEARSALS.
STUDENTS: Please bring your script and a pencil to EVERY rehearsal.
STUDENTS: Please also dress ready to dance for every rehearsal (this means dance shoes [or gym shoes until shoes are bought] and comfortable clothing).
This will probably be the last bulk email to the cast and crew unless something urgent arises. Please check the blog, as this will be the best way I can communicate to 50+ families. I also would encourage you to please refrain from emailing, unless it is absolutely necessary. Most (if not all) questions will be answered via the blog: wmstheater.blogspot.com I updated this blog frequently with pertinent information. If something is urgent, please come see me after a rehearsal. I will be available for at least 15 minutes after rehearsal ends for questions or conferences and would love to meet with you.
I am looking forward to meeting you and your family tomorrow night! Please do not hesitate to introduce yourself to me! I am very excited for the adventure that lies ahead.
Theatrically yours,
Miss Wilmes
