DON'T FORGET...

PARTY TONIGHT!!!  The party is from 6:00 - 8:00 in the auditorium!!  I have a list of everyone's responsibilities before we partake in dinner and the dvd of our show!  This will be passed out when you arrive.  We have 30 minutes to help clean-up after our show.  Everyone is expected to help!  If we work together, we will get finished and be able to eat dinner and PARTY!!

PS:  Stay tuned for details on the VARIETY SHOW!

PARTY IS ON!

In case you haven't heard the word on the street, the PARTY IS ON!!  See you this Thursday from 6:00 - 8:00 in the auditorium!  Please wait for me downstairs, and I will come let you in once I arrive.

SEE YOU THURSDAY!
Miss Wilmes

THANK YOU!

Hi gang!

I just wanted to CONGRATULATE you on three great shows!  I have only heard fantastic things, and it is all because of your hard work and your parent's dedication in volunteering.  I am so proud of all of you!  I hope that each of you has enjoyed this journey!  What great fun we have had together!

CAST PARTY:  Due to the 8th grader's Chicago trip this weekend and the fact that we can't get into the auditorium on Thursday night, we have to postpone our video party to the following Thursday, February 24th.  Please stay tuned for details.  More than likely, the party will be from 6:00 - 8:00, but I am still waiting on confirmation.  Joe Kennedy and I talked this morning, and he thinks that we will be okay for next Thursday.  I will keep you posted!

Thank you for the beautiful flowers and the gift card to go shopping!  You all know that I LOVE both of those things!  You all made me cry, for you are so precious to me.  I'm so thankful that we have had the opportunity to share life together lately.  Here's to several more memories to come!

Much love,
Miss Wilmes

SOLD OUT!

We are sold out again for Saturday night!  As of last night, there was a waiting list of 15 people for Saturday's performance.  With that being said, if you have not seen the show, I would encourage you to show up -- but I cannot guarantee any extra seats as of now.  We have placed some extra seats around the auditorium, and we will do our best to accommodate everyone.  However, please know that as of last night, there are 15 people ahead of you.  This is a great problem to have -- but I do understand the disappointment.  Please show up tonight and talk with will call/tickets, and we will go from there.

Can't wait for tonight!  See you at 6:00!
Miss Wilmes

CAST PARTY TONIGHT!

Please see below from our wonderful cast party chair:


Good Morning All! 


With the last performance this evening it's time to celebrate the hard work all the cast members, crew members, the Director Miss Cindy, and the parents put in to make this show a SOLD OUT HIT!!!!!!  The Party will be at our home:
532 Chisholm Trail. My cell # is 739-3086 and our home # is 522-9883 (the cell# is a better bet to reach me). The plan is to start the party somewhere around 9:30 (as soon as the kids and volunteers get the costumes all together and whatever they need to clean up, put away, gather up, yada yada, they head to my house!) 


The menu will be pizza, drinks, chips/pretzels stuff, fruit and veggies and of course the sheet cake. If there are any leftovers from intermission, rehearsals-tech week, etc. please feel free to bring them and we'll set that out too. Pick up time will be about 11:30ish or what ever time you set with your child. So, drop off your kid, take a few hours to yourself and breath a little easier that you you will no longer have to schlep and sign in to and from rehearsal build, paint, gather, read e-mails, send e-mails and organize lots of stuff...well at least for a little while, the variety show is right around the corner! Enjoy, and well see your kids tonight! 


Pamela Meisner (Herbert's mom). 
PS., If you have not seen the performance yet, what a wonderful treat you are in for tonight!      

CONGRATS!!!

WHAT A GREAT SHOW TONIGHT!!!  One show down, two more to go!  I could not be more proud.

FRIDAY & SATURDAY'S SHOW:  Please arrive between 5:30 - 6:00.  Call was originally 5:30, but I will not be worried if you arrive at 6:00.  I tried to pass on this word today after the show, but just in case, you are running a bit late tomorrow, you are fine.  Please make sure your child eats dinner and has a moment to chill after school before coming to the school to perform.  The WMS doors will be unlocked at 5:30.  Please proceed  to your respective green rooms to get ready.  I would like to run the Tai-Chi at 6:20 and open the doors at 6:30.  You will still have 30 minutes to get ready, but you will not be allowed in the auditorium after 6:30.

ACKNOWLEDGING SOUND/LIGHTS:  I am unsure if all students knew, but I would love for all students to pause a moment after Shang and Mulan bow to recognize the tech crew at the back of the auditorium by presenting them.  We tried tonight, but due to timing issues, it did not work.  I will remind you of this again tomorrow when I see you, but I believe this is very important.  We are all in this together, and my tech crew seated at the back also deserve recognition.

Thanks again for a great show!  See you Friday!

WOOHOO!
Miss Wilmes

Quick KUDOS!

HELLO FROM YOUR DIRECTOR!!  I just wanted to say congratulations on a great rehearsal on Saturday.  I really feel like the 4 hour rehearsal helped!  Thank you for your dedication and attention to detail.  All of you have been great to work with, and I feel so privileged to be your director! 

Keep shining up there -- THIS IS YOUR MOMENT!!  Soak up the spotlight and SPARKLE.  YOU ARE GREAT!!  Don't let anyone tell you otherwise.  Give your all this tech week and keep bringing it each night -- bring your A-GAME, for we are going to rock it this week!!!

Thanks again!
Miss Wilmes

Costume Update: Feb 7th

Here is an email from our costume designer:

So, this is my last big email blast-I hope! First, if you are working this week as a hair and make up person or a costume person, please realize that you really are both! The kids may need help getting on their opening costume (lots of buttons, snaps, etc.) but they will all need to have make up and hair. When the show starts, they will need help with costume changes and slight make up touch ups. The cast is in 4 different locations. There are student helpers assigned to the pink, green and golden areas. The blue area (prop room) is all boys,
who only have 1 costume change. An adult should check on them. There will be a rack in each of the areas. The racks will be labeled for each kid.

At the beginning of the practice or show they should remove their costume from the garment bag, fold the garment bag and put it in their laundry basket and put their costumes on their section of the rack. At the end of the show the costume pieces should be hung on hangers and put back in the garment bag. Street clothes, small props, wigs, make up, back pack, water bottle, should go in the laundry basket which will be stacked and stored between shows. Everyone should be wearing their shoes this week and probably have their black pants and shirts.

The following are not for everyone, but read thru it in case it applies to your children:

If you are in Keep Em Guessin, you have a colored t-shirt in your bag.
If you are a featured dancer or an ancestor, you also are to wear the halter top.
Melissa-you have snaps on your long gown to help with costume changes and you have a different gown than you tried on. There is also velcro on the back of the neckline to hold the sash.
Sara-You have snaps on the long gown and the vest and a pair of red pants.
Janey-you have snaps on your dress
Adelaide-I added the snap and you now have a golden headband headpiece.
Allie-you have red pants
Also, the Ancestors have now been removed from the Emperor Scene so one
less costume change!
Elise-I put snaps on your dress for the last scenes to help with costume changes. I also adjusted the snaps and velcro on your kimono and added velcro to the back bow. But where does the kimono need to be kept for use in the scene?
Herbert-your headband is in your garment bag.
Maggie Hughes-your mother dress now has snaps. The fancy stuff does not even button, so just use the snaps!
Grayce and Quinn-neither of you has a boy costume in your bag for the
Draft scene. I will try and put something in there for you to be young
boys.
Huns-you all need swords. Molly Mariani knows where they are. Put your sword in your laundry basket (except Cooper-your is staning up with the sticks)
Chinese Army-Miss Cindy has not yet decided if you will need swords
Avalanche Scene-We will have to decide if you put the white robe over your chinese army costume or if there is time to change into your opening scene costume and wear it underneath the white robe.

I will be there on Wednesday for the entire dress rehearsal and get there as soon as I can on Tuesday evening. I cannot be there on Monday.

Break a Leg!! Ellen Kellogg

Rehearsal: Friday & Saturday, Feb 4 & 5

FRIDAY REHEARSAL:  ALL CAST CALLED
Please note that we will run rehearsal from 5:00 - 7:00 tonight.  We will begin with Mushu/Cricket's Honor to Us All and run as far we can.  Cast should be ready for "Keep 'Em Guessin" in the wings.
*Shang gang, Shang, and Roslyn:  Please note where set pieces are living backstage.  I stayed after to put everything in its place backstage.  This is where things should go in that big scene change.  Please try to figure out who will move what to make this happen.  It's probably one of the biggest scene changes.

SATURDAY REHEARSAL:  ALL CAST CALLED
TIME CHANGE:  10:00 - 2:00
I am sorry to have to make a time change, but I am asking that all cast come in an hour early and plan to stay an hour later.  It would be wise of you to bring a snack and drink to keep yourself hydrated and not so hungry.  Please also eat a nice breakfast!!  We are going to accomplish TONS on Saturday!  I am calling this extension because I feel that we need more time before we do costumes on Monday.  There are several scenes that need cleaning that I need to hit before Monday's rehearsal.  I realize that this may put a damper on some plans -- but PLEASE, DO ANYTHING YOU CAN TO BE AT THIS REHEARSAL FROM 10:00 - 2:00.  If it is absolutely impossible, I understand -- but I expect all cast during our regular scheduled rehearsal from 11:00 - 1:00 unless you have spoken to me about this previously.

PLAN FOR SATURDAY:
SET WORK:  8:00 - 10:00 (If you are scheduled to work set crew and can be there an hour early, awesome!!).  If needed, set decor/set construction can continue in the audience while we run rehearsal, but we will need the stage from 10:00 - 12:00.

REHEARSAL: 10:00 - 12:00

VOCAL REHEARSAL:  12:00 - 2:00.  I have asked a special guest to join us to help us with vocals from 12:00 - 2:00.  This part of rehearsal is absolutely necessary.  We worked vocals toward the beginning, but we really need time devoted to tweaking our vocals and working on specifics.  This will be an ALL CAST rehearsal.  Our guest will work with the ensemble and the leads.  Think of this as a double voice lesson to get us ready for show week.  I expect that everyone will respect our guest --- even more than you respect me.  Set crew can also have the stage during this time to finish any last minute touches, if needed.

We need to knock out all set work/set decor work on Saturday.  This will help us tremendously as we embark on tech week!!

TECH CREW:  If you are on tech crew (and not part of costumes and/or make-up), we need you to arrive on Monday right after school from 3:15 - 4:30.  You will be meeting with our stage manager and will be tweaking the lights and sound in the auditorium.
*****FOR NOW, EVERYONE ELSE, please stay tuned for tech week details*****

Thanks!
Miss Wilmes

Director's Note: February 2nd

Hi gang,

COSTUME RUN:  Tonight we are trying a rough costume run.  Miss Ellen may ask you to hold your costume up next to you during rehearsal.  We want to make sure the color theme is working with your current placements on stage.  You might not be asked to put your costumes on, and that is okay.  Due to the details (small buttons and decorations) of each costume, we are trying to minimize the wear and tear.  This is basically for my eyes -- not necessarily for size.  You have already been fitted in your costumes.

HONOR TO US ALL, PART 2:  If you are in this number, you need to come early and work on your dance BEFORE rehearsal begins.  You will need to stay down in the marble hallway, but it would be very wise of you to go over this dance.  I have re-taught this number 4 times to you, and I have noticed some students still struggling.  This should not be the case.  The choreography is easy enough -- you just need to memorize it and perform it with confidence.  I WILL NOT re-teach this again.  I need to move on and teach the end of the number, so you need to work on this in your own time.  I may start cutting people from this number if it continues to be a problem.  A few students are coming about 15 minutes early to work on this in the marble hallway before we begin rehearsal.  If possible, please join them.

DOWN TIME:  You all will have lots of down time as I run and clean scenes this week.  Please use this properly.  Work on dances you do not know, work on scenes you don't know, run lines, run transitions, practice lyrics.  There are TONS of things for you to do.  I should not see any students sitting around talking only to get up on stage and then not know what they are doing.

QUESTIONS:  I realize that several of you may have questions.  This may be your first show, and you are confused or need some guidance.  This is exactly why I have the blog and why we have had two parent meetings.  I don't mind questions, but when the questions are something that I have said five times since rehearsal has begun, I am wondering if your student is paying attention.  The question of "I have not learned this song since I wasn't here, what should I do?" is not legit.  The answer that I have said from day one still remains the same.  You will need to get with a friend or someone in that scene and run it.  Work together -- we are a team.  As we are running things, I will work you into the scene, so you have a "spot".  I will teach you, but I need you to take responsibility for your learning. 

MEMORIZE!!:  You need to be off book.  We are a week from the show.  Unless you are Mulan, you have no reason not to be memorized yet.  I expect everyone to be off book (choreography, blocking, lines, and lyrics - EVERYTHING) by Thursday, February 3rd.  You will notice as you are off book that your acting skills usually double!  When you don't have your head buried in your book, I promise your characters will come much more easily.  It's actually even way more fun!

HUGE THANK YOU:  A big thank you goes out to all of my students who have showed great leadership over the past two weeks.  I can tell who works on things outside of rehearsal times, and it is showing!  I don't always get time to pull each of you aside, but I want you to know that it does not go unnoticed.  Your leadership when you keep the rest of your friends on task and listening is helping me a TON.  I'm thankful for each of you!

GREAT JOB:  You all are doing a great job.  I am not disappointed, sad, upset, or worried -- BUT it is my responsibility as your teacher to push you to your best.  I am going to continue to do that.  I truly believe that each of you can be even better, and I'm not going to let you do this show half-heartedly.  I'm going to continue to push and tell you what looks good  :)  Trust me!  I want to teach you to give your 100% best in everything, and if each of us does this, I promise you, WE WILL HAVE A FANTASTIC SHOW!  Kudos to each of you, but we are not there yet.  Let's keep working hard this week and enjoy the journey.

You all hold my heart-
Miss Wilmes

T-SHIRTS

I talked to our t-shirt guy yesterday, and our t-shirts will be able to be picked up on Friday (YAY!).  I'll pick them up during the day and distribute them before the weekend.  Check out below for a sneak peek!

Biographies

Please turn in your biographies ASAP.  These were already due, so you need to fill this out TONIGHT at rehearsal (or better yet, bring them to rehearsal!).  You don't want Miss Wilmes making up a bio for you :)  THANKS!!

Olivia Ardo
Rachel Behrman
Nick Eggers
Ellie Harbers
Asia Blue Jones
Kelsey Lackey
Reid Lackey
Emily Lagaly
Ashley Lichtenberg
Lauren Metz
Asa Pranikoff
Skylar Wolski

TECH CREW

ALL TECH CREW KIDS ARE MORE THAN WELCOME TO ATTEND REHEARSALS THIS WEEK.  However, I will need you to sit and watch the show until your adult supervisor comes to rehearsal.  This would be a great time to sit and make notes of costumes changes, scene changes, etc.  This week is used for you to observe the show as we begin to run things. 

With that being said, here is the break down of the tech side of things for rehearsals until our show opens:

TUESDAY:  We are running rehearsal in stations.  I will be cleaning scenes and choreography upstairs while dancing and vocals are being run downstairs.  Tech crew does not need to be here tonight.

WEDNESDAY: I WOULD LIKE ALL TECH CREW KIDS ON WEDNESDAY.  You will be able to meet with your stage manager and lighting crew.  COSTUME TECH KIDS will be needed downstairs in the green room.  We are planning on doing a costume run through on Wednesday.  You will need to stay downstairs with your adult leaders to help with costumes.


THURSDAY, FRIDAY, SATURDAY:  These are rehearsals in which we will be running the show, but I will be stopping to clean things.  Tech crew is more than welcome to join, but you will need to sit and watch the show.  Therefore, you are not required to attend. We will not being doing costumes or make-up.  Lights -- if you would like to come to start playing around with the lighting board, you are more than welcome to.

SHOW WEEK:  TECH CREW NEEDS TO BE WITH YOUR TEAM LEADER during each rehearsal.  For example, all students helping with costumes and make-up need to be with their respective costume/make-up adult leaders.  LIGHTS AND SOUND will need to be in the back helping the lighting and sound crew.  USHERS and CONCESSION students are welcome to meet with their adult leaders (if they are there -- your adult leader will email you on an individual basis if you are needed at rehearsal), but until our show opens, you will not be helping with these responsibilities.  You are not required to attend until opening night but are more than welcome to come watch the show and be a part of our tech rehearsals.

Our tech crew is very crucial to the success of our show, but due to the amount of responsibilities that Miss Wilmes has, you will need to answer to your committee adult leaders.  I also CANNOT have any students wandering the hall during rehearsals.  You will need to either be in the green room with an adult or sitting in the auditorium.  My tech crew kids are not an exception to the rule when it comes to staying in the auditorium and wandering the halls.


Thank you for being a part of our show!  Please be patient as we are trying to work out each aspect of the technical side of the show.

HAIR & MAKE-UP

Please see the note below from our Hair & Make-up Chair, Patty Courtney:

Hello Mulan Families!
Below I have copied my notes from what we discussed today re: the current status of hair and make-up.

A few additional items:

• If anyone has a long black wig we can borrow, let me know.

• Blondes (I have Skylar, Grace A, Katie Z, Elise, Janey E, Sara S, Laura W, Abby C- let me know if I missed anyone): If there is no coloring option that will work for you (hair is too light, won't take color) please let me know ASAP so I can start figuring out wigs. I already talked to Grace's mom about this. Cooper- I think we can spray or mousse his hair.
  
• If you plan on dying your hair, please come to rehearsal like this on Monday during our show week.  It is a good thing to start this process earlier than Wednesday night in case something crazy goes wrong or if your color does not take.  We will be taking pictures of the show for you to have on Wednesday night, so your hair and make-up needs to be "perfect" by then :)  It will also help de-stress Miss Wilmes knowing that this part of the show is good to go (yay!)!
  
• If you are a BRIDE (or even a mother or daughter), and you have some flowers or chopsticks you would like to stick in your hair or wig, please bring them to show Mrs. Courtney TUESDAY, February 8th.  She will make this executive decision.  Plan to keep these in your laundry baskets if she approves.

Make-up

BOYS & GIRLS:  For all, prior to show time if possible (but probably not on Thursday!) Black eyeliner, across top lid, extending out < ½ cm outside eye. Try to make line even, straight, and fairly thick.  We will touch up eyes during performance. If you like, have your child bring their own black pencil. We will clean ours in between using.

If your child has lighter eyebrows, darken with brow pencil if possible.

GIRLS ONLY:
If they would like to wear some base color and light blush, that’s fine. Not too much, most of them have to turn into boys. Light pink/red lips ok too. For the girls who are boys throughout the show, it is not necessary
to do this (Rosalyn, Lauryn, Ellen).

HAIR
Options still being investigated! Most promising is ROUX FANCIFULL temporary color mousse, black or dark brown. Goes in easily, washes out easily. Easy to style once it’s on. Spray looks better, but a problem with wiping off. May use for touch ups. If hair is darker than light brown, especially when pulled back, then do not worry about color (yeah!)

Most/all girls change to boys, so we are thinking that starting with hair pulled back, in a low bun will be good. If hair is short, may be able to leave down, and we will just comb back. I am waiting for information on wigs, which may be an option for some.

BOYS:  most will just need their hair washed and combed. We may spray here (those that don’t have too many costume changes). Cooper- may need to consider the mousse.

Cricket and Mushu will be in costume and won’t need dark hair.

ALL:  If you are planning on taking care of your child’s hair color, please let me know (wcourtney@cinci.rr.com)

FOR THURSDAY SHOW:  If at all possible, have your child (this is mostly the girls) attend school with either hair color in and/or hair pulled back in bun.

Any other questions, suggestions, supplies (wigs?) please feel free to email.

Thanks!