Break a leg this weekend...

Have a great time at conference!

Independent Project...anyone need help?

This is a big presentation and 2000 word portfolio coming up due. We will be presenting them the first three days I am back. That's right...the very first three days! Questions? Comments?

IB Theatre=thinking outside of the box

As you finish up your practicals, keep in mind this word of advice. There is not one set way to present this project. The entire point of it is to take it from YOUR angle. This is an opportunity for you to show what you have learned about the makings of theatre this year. You are showing your creativity, your understanding of the elements and how they work together; you are showing what you have learned about creatsing and fulfilling a vision for a piece of theatre. Taking the shadow puppet project from an epic poem to a performance...think about the steps. When Kat designed the characters, what did she have in mind? When Amanda briought in pictures of the chariots, how was that utilized as inspiration? We have been working on this project, mentally, since the first day of class. Trust your vision and put full effort into it. If you do that, I'm certain you will create a project that you will be proud to have represent you.
As far as all of these elements are concerned (like the mood collage or the DVD/CD), they are essentially tools for you to use to illustrate your vision. There is not one definitive, set way to complete them. You are showing your creativity and resourcefulness, like I've said, so do it in your own way. Originality and creativity in presenting a unified, well thought out vision for performance is what this project is all about.
BE BOLD, COMMITTED AND TRUST YOURSELF...good advice for life and this project as well.

Brecht explanations

Please get those to me. I want to make sure I assess you based on your understanding of the concepts, which was not as clear as I thought it could have been in performance alone. Don't forget!

due date approacheth!

Make sure you are expressing your vision (what your interpretation would look like on the stage) in your pitch and focus on style and technical aspects instead of plot. The graders know the plays...they don't know your interpretation and vision. That's what the pitch is for.
Really examine that list of supporting mat4erials and be creative with it.
Page 31 gives the grading markbands if you want to see inside the examiner's head. You have the information! Use it! I am excited to see your projects. Remember MARCH 14th (as close to the Ides of March as I could get :))

A day to give thanks...

35 years ago today, the world was touched by genius, one whose indelible mark has been made upon hundreds and hundreds of students, all of whom I hope are working hard on their Practical Performance Proposal. A great birthday gift for Mrs. Cook would be questions/concerns for her to think about regarding your PPP or Independent Project while she in enjoying her husband-baked lemon cake...

Warning to Procrastinators!!!

About those Independent Projects....Think about your main interest in theatre. Think about what you love to do. Think about what you've learned this year. Think about something you WANT to spend hours doing. Writing? Acting? Designing? Directing? Model Making? Costume Construction? Running a workshop? A combination of some of these? This is the most fun you will have in IB, if you make it that. Think about this...you are being given the opportunity to create your own path and follow it. If it is theatre focused and done independently, is qualifies. Let's get it on! If you wait until the last minute, you will undoubtedly end up with something that is slapped together and sub par that is dissappointing to you. I know what all of you are capable of doing! I believe in the creativity and industry of this group! This is 25% of your IB experience (meaning 25% of your IB creadit); as you know, the journal for this project is one of two internal assessments. Make it count!!! Bring on your questions...

Practical Performance Proposal Choices!

Snow in Midsummer by Guan Hanqing
A Servant to Two Masters by Carlo Goldoni
Dona Rosita the Spinster by Federico Garcia Lorca

READ AND UNDERSTAND THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE PROJECT! Do not wait to get your hands on these books. I got all three on Amazon for $31.99; that was easiest for me. You folks can get them from the library, buy and share...whatever you need to do. Bring on the questions! DUE TO WALDEN MARCH 14TH!

On the journal...

Sorry I didn't see your post sooner, Rohan. I didn't think to look at the earlier entries for responses...I'm new at this blog thing. My apologies.
Use the journal to record your impressions of the text. How would you approach a certain moment in a scene, for example, or what emphasis you'd want the actor to put on a certain part in the scene and why etc. Of course you can record your ideas for technical aspects too, like the scene where the transformation happens...how would you want to approach that? How would you want to see the audience respond? Think of this as prethinking for a Practical Play Proposal, which we will be starting soon. Have a look at the Practical Play Proposal information I gave you. Incidentally, you will be geting your play choices on Thursday, so open that email immediatly and chose the piece you want to do as soon as possible. Remember, IB stipulates that you get one month for this project; so, as soon as you get the information, get cracking on buying/borrowing the texts so you can make your choice.

Buchner!?!

Can you provide us with any more insight into his life Mrs. Cook?

What I mean is, he died at what age 23, but was a huge political activist, formed some new philosophic notions and wrote insightful plays before his death?

He's easy the most interesting for me since Wedekind feels like a slightly more sane Freud and Meyerhold's cool but his interests for theater are pretty straightforward.

What did people think of Buchner ( I ask to the class and to Cook), he lived way earlier than any of these guys but he has glimpses of all sorts of modern ideas in his work.

Questions answered..

I think the long and detailed description is meant to serve the function of drawing in the reader of the text with a realistic environment, because what comes after is anything but realism. For Ionesco's purposes, this was how he begins to unsettle his reader, by laying this groundwork. Do you have to follow his vision? You know the answer; you're right. Take it as YOU see it, but keep in mind who's len's to view through...Brecht. In your journals you can definitly begin to see the scene and visualize how you would out it up...but again, don;t lose sight of the objective of the assignment. You are attempting to read Rhinocerous through the newly opened eyes of one who now knows about Brecht, alienation and his purpose for theatre, and communicate that new knowedge though your reflecitons on your reading. So, think about WHY you would make the choice you are pondering. For example, think baout how well it serves the script to have this extremely well defined, normal looking place, when what happens is anything but normal...and yet, the players reaction to the events...etc...I don't want to give the plot away if you haven't read the whole thing yet...Let me stop before I say too much.

Rhinocerous Journal

I toyed with doing the reflection on this blog, but I haven't recieved the response I needed to convince me, so, I sent you the formal assignment today. If you want to talk about your reflection ideas or reactions to the text, come talk to me in our little cyberclassroom. I'm here waiting!

help me see it...

so you acted out some of chapter three...how did it go? What happened? What did you get out of it? Whatare your thoughts on Chekov and the others and their take on Stanislavski?

I miss my class...where are they?

I am sitting here during my fifteen minutes of silence (naps are wonderful) feeling alone in cyberspace. I miss my IB class. I feel so disconnected from most of them. My mind wanders...what are they doing in our classroom each day? My imagination spins an image of shananigans and tomfoolery, with most (not all...but most) students living for the moment and hoping that everything will work itself out in the end. I want to believe that my IB students are engaged in discussion of the reading, asking questions and clarifiying their queries. I want to see them at the library doing research...but when I check this blog and my email, evidence is to the contrary. No news, for me, is not good news.
And so I sit, and type, and hope that my students (not just a handful, but the class as a whole) are getting something out of our time apart...other than a good time.
Please keep up your communciation. Turn in your work. LEt me see what's going on in my absence. Don't let my imagination take over!!!

thinking about...

I just sent it. Make sure to stay on top of things here, my people. We will still be beginning our reading of Rhinocerous on the 4th, including daily reading journals where you will be writing about your reading chunks each day. You kow, Aaron, I think that maybe this forum would be a good place to do that journaling. Do you think that the others would get on board with an online discussion of the reading each day? I think it is a novel way to show me what you all are getting from the reading. I'll have to noodle withhow to assess individual understanding...but what do you guys think about it?

Brecht Project

So it's on the calender as due Febuary 1st.
When should we expect information on what to read and what to write...?

project update

Our conversation yesterday was helpful, I hope. I am still here in cyberspace awaiting your cries for help, comments, sparks of inspiration, and other sundry revelations.
Remember that was you write is as, if not more, important than what you show. The reflection is the backbone: It is the justification, the explanation and the evidence that this performance meets the guidelines of the assignment. Spend ample, honest time working on the written aspect of the piece.
Remember to approach your performance with honesty. Like I said to Jenny, if you are putting on silliness, the silliness is a mask to cover insecurity. This assignment is about stipping away the mask and attempting something that you normally would not.

Welcome class!

Let's see how this works! I'm so excited to be doing my first blog experience with you guys.
Based on your exams and essays, it seems that those of you who did the reading have a good handle on Grotowski's basic concepts. What are your questions going into the via negativa project?

Welcome!

It's a blog!
Well, we're going to try it anyway.

This will be an open forum to discuss all of the theater that we're doing in class, debate theorists and ask homework questions that might pertain to everyone.

More to follow