IDR

Okay, folks. We're hovering around 91% energy and 82% volume. You've got to let it rip tomorrow.
Don't hold back.

Call tomorrow is 5:30. Do not be late.

• CONNOR - You are still moving your feet a lot as the bishop. This is especially noticeable because of your costume. It tends to sway a lot.
• ALEX - Don't stand center stage in the post-bishop section of the PROLOGUE. You will be in the projections. Go directly to stage left.
• JULIA - In I DREAMED A DREAM, stand up quicker and immediately cross to stage right where we originally blocked you.
• ALEX & JULIA - The white roses look great. We'll use them.
• ME - Remember to give a rose to Greg before the show
• ME - Talk to James about doubling the second lovely ladies song to give JULIA more hair time
• ALEX - you and JULIA should be dead center at the end of DOCKS. This falls under the category of finding your light
• EVERYONE - Do not roll the bed, lift it. Practice this before the show if you need to
• HOLLY - Make sure to point in the direction of the well
• LOGAN & HOLLY - When you get to rehearsal, spend a few minutes practicing with the duffel bag
• EVERYONE - Where was the red table cloth during ABC CAFE
• ANDY - THE PEOPLE'S SONG: all I wrote was "damn". I meant that in a positive way.
• STUDENTS - Have your guns during the PEOPLE'S SONG
• EVERYONE - The bench in RUE PLUMET must have been set by someone who was very confused. See DANNY for proper bench setting instructions
• VALERIE - If no one brings out flowers, leave your book in the garden for HOLLY to take during ONE DAY MORE
• ESTEP - Sit closer to Marius during RUE PLUMET. He's handsome; you want to be near him, etc.
• VALERIE & CHRIS - Get the bed off quicker in the epilogue. Practice when you get to rehearsal
• EVERYONE - DO NOT FIRE YOUR WEAPONS. If you do not hear gun shots, do not pretend to fire, just aim.
• DANNY - Get everyone into the auditorium tomorrow and play the cannon sound for them. STUDENTS: die at the cannon sound
• GHOSTS - Take the sheets off the tables when you sit down in the CAFE SONG
• LOGAN - Hold your stomach when you get punched
• EVERYONE - The table was too far stage left during the ABC CAFE
• DANNY - have someone close the cyc before the house opens
• DANNY - Check the clip lights backstage
• DANNY - Make sure you are giving the crew, James, and Carolyn the same time checks you give the cast. Here are a list of time checks you should give:

1. 30 minutes to house
2. 20 minutes to house
3. 10 minutes to house
4. 5 minutes to house
5. house/30 minutes to places
6. 20 minutes to places
7. 10 minutes to places
8. 5 minutes to places
9. places
10. (during intermission): 15 minutes to places
11. (during intermission): 5 minutes to places
12. places

• ME - Get walkies
• EVERYONE - Make sure you get your mics before the house opens
• JULIA - pin that dress up
• ALEX - lose the top hat
• ELIZABETH - What needs to be done to speed up the transition before THE BEGGARS? It took forever. Get with the people doing this transition and figure something out.
  
• EVERYONE - Are you having trouble hearing the orchestra? let me or Cliff know.
• JENNA - Make a sign that you can stick on the door from the hall into the kitchen that reads, "please do not lock this door during the show", and tape it to the door.
• STUDENTS - Get angry during your choruses in the ABC CAFE
• DANNY - MARY needs to be there to help JULIA off the Pepsi machine

A word about the cast party:
We will have the cast party in the auditorium after the show. There will be food, drink, music and destruction...of the set, that is! If you have a electric drill/screwdriver you could bring, it would be super helpful.

Final Dress

Things went a lot better tonight. We are far from where we need to be in terms of volume and energy, but we made some real positive progress.

Thursday's schedule
3:30 - 4:00 => JAVERT AT THE BARRICADE
4:00 - 4:30 => CURTAIN CALL
4:30 - 5:00 => THE DOCKS
5:00 - 6:00 => DINNER
6:00 - 7:00 => PREP
6:30 => HOUSE OPENS
6:50 => DIRECTOR'S MINUTE IN THE BAND ROOM
7:00 => CURTAIN
? => POST PLAY NOTES IN THE BAND ROOM

While everything can be louder the following parts were particularly soft:

• CHAIN GANG
• END OF THE DAY
• MASTER OF THE HOUSE (CHORUS)
• THE BEGGARS

Tonight's notes:

• ALEX - Don't kneel during the Bishop's stuff
• ALEX - Do not start your last PROLOGUE solo center stage, start it stage left where I put you
• BRAD - When you are breaking up the fight, be busy eating and enjoying the fight until Valjean appears. I want to see that you are interrupted and have to put on your foreman hat, so to speak. Try to show a contrast between the guy who enjoys the fight and the one who is the reluctant adult supervision
• BRAD - When you say "virtuous" you are mocking Fantine. Let's hear that.
• ALEX - Use the top hat in the shadow
• VALERIE & EVERYONE - if you take a drink of something, swallow. otherwise it looks like you are just holding a bottle to your mouth
• LOGAN - I can see you transitioning out of your *character*, but I want to see you transitioning back into it. This should be labored, like putting on a heavy coat.
• HOLLY - Be careful not to anticipate the bag being thrown. You are flinching before the bag is even in the air. Not anticipating something you know is about to be thrown at you is extremely difficult - see the dvd extra features for the movie Dodgeball for examples - but I know you can do this.
• ALEX - At the top of THE BARGAIN be clearer about to whom you are speaking.
• HOLLY - During THE BARGAIN, when you get up to join your husband, cross upstage of Valjean and Cosette
• TAYLOR - When you are standing still during THE ROBBERY, clasp your hands behind your back. You can do this as a constable whenever you are awaiting instructions. It's a shame because you do such a good job of hanging your arms by your side comfortably. This is very, very difficult to teach young actors. But I need you to look more formal.
• ELIJAH - Move around more when you are on the bridge. You tend to stand in the same place.
• ESTEP - When you sprinkle the flowers, hold them higher
• STUDENTS - Hold guns during ONE DAY MORE
• ESTEP - Don't pretend to have pockets when Valjean gives you money. Just hold it in your hand
• ALEX - Have money to give to ESTEP
• TYLER - When AMY brings out the crate for ON MY OWN during THE BARRICADE, bring a book to put on it. Any book will do.
• ALEX - do all the knife business with your left hand. you can borrow the knife tomorrow afternoon if you want to pracktice
• ALEX - cut the business about the gun shot after you let Javert go. It's not necessary
• YISEON - You are singing too much upstage during JAVERT AT THE BARRICADES
• ALLIE - Take the sheet of the table, put it on the ground, strike it when you leave the scene
• CHRIS - make sure you don't see any ghosts
• VALERIE - make your storming off stormier. the audience really needs to know you are angry
• ANDY - The paper in the music stand is your prop. Set it before the house opens. Just use any scraps of paper. If you are nice to Kathy and the cute piano player in the front, they might put them on their stands for you
• ALEX - Don't smile when you are dying
• ALEX - We need to see more of a contrast between sick Valjean and free, dead Valjean. Think about the weakness of limbs and the struggle you are going through to stay alive long enough to tell Cosette you care
• LOGAN - Don't put your hand on Cosette's shoulder at the end. With both of you doing it, it looks like your are making her do something.
  

Second Dress

I forgot one important thing about tomorrow: Wednesday is performance conditions, so no watching from the audience, no asking for cues, if there's a problem on stage, fix it in character.

Wednesday's schedule:
3:30 - 3:50 => ABC CAFE
3:50 - 4:00 => LITTLE COSETTE
4:00 - 5:00 => JAKE + SOUND EFFECTS WORK
5:00 - 5:50 => DINNER
5:50 - 6:00 => HOW TO HANG COSTUMES W/ MR. CARTER
6:00 - 6:30 => GET INTO COSTUMES, CHECK PROPS, WARM UP
6:30 - 10:00 => RUN SHOW

Tonight's notes:

• CONNOR - 1000% better as the Bishop
• ANDY - do not move the light off stage until it is completely out
• JULIA - remind me to talk to James about your hair moment
• TAYLOR - While pushing KLEIN brought some much needed energy to the stage, it may have been a little too hard.
• ASHBURN - We need to see you in more pain once you get up from the crash
• EVERYONE - Whoever pulls the cyc in THE CART CRASH needs to do so as soon as the on lookers begin to exit the stage
• EVERYONE - Dialogue is frequently in the context of a conflict that demands one character trying to persuade another in some way. Are you trying to convince someone of something? Convince them! Don't try to convince the audience you care. Convince the person or persons to whom you are speaking. Also, think about the stakes of the arguement: what do you stand to lose if you fail to be persuasive? what is on the line?
• ALEX - More stage presence
• EVERYONE - I don't know who strikes the bed after FANTINE'S DEATH, but you forgot.
• HOLLY - Go easy on the bottle. Drink about half as much.
• LOGAN - When you have your *special moment* in THE BARGAIN, you are speaking to Fantine. Look high in the sky to a fixed point and keep your gaze, there.
• EVERYONE - Louder in THE BEGGARS
• VALERIE - Watch your light in RUE PLUMET. Do not go too far stage left.
• CHRIS AND VALERIE - Get used to reacting to Eponine's scream. I know you can't hear it now, but you need to be startled by it. Really startled.
• DANNY - Get one of your ASMs to have a push broom she can use to brush off the food Eponine throws at Cosette during THE BARGAIN. She can do this while the cyc is drawn before THE BEGGARS.
• LOGAN, ASHBURN, ALLIE, ALEX, CHRIS - Move all the stuff for THE SEWERS stage left about three and a half feet
• BRAD - White athletic socks are not part of period costume.
• JULIA - Be sick in THE DOCKS. I'm not seeing it at all.
• VALERIE - Talk to me tomorrow about spurning Valjean in MARIUS & COSETTE

First Dress

First, I must express my dissappointment with the cast. There were far too many props and costume pieces lying around back stage. I understand you may not have known exactly where these are stored, but you all know better than to leave things lying around. If you misplace a costume piece that gets lost or damaged, you will be billed for it. As a frame of reference, a coat from UVA costs $250 to replace and the dresses run from $400 - $500.
You know where to hang your costumes. Bring props to Mary, Danny, Zach, or Reyn (they'll be here soon).

Tomorrow's Schedule:

3:00 - 3:20 => Javert's Suicide
3:20 - 4:00 => Master of the House
4:00 - 4:30 => End of the Day
4:30 - 5:00 => Individual work with Connor, Amy, and Brad

• EVERYONE - Feel free to move around stage a little more when you are in the background of scenes. I will let you know if it's too much. Feel free to experiment, just be careful not to run into anyone or do anything too distracting. I recommend walking somewhere with a task in mind. I do not recommend trying to do something you think is funny.
• ASHBURN - I found the video camera lying in the audience. If I find it again, you will not be aloud to use it anymore.
• ALLIE - You left your script here. We'll discuss that with the rest of the cast tomorrow afternoon
• CONNOR - Give the silver platter to Valjean when you dismiss him
• ALLIE - You are going to close the cyc during the PROLOGUE, see me for specifics
• EVERYONE - Stop looking at the pianist when you are on stage. That's a bad habit to get into
• YISEON - Bring on a bottle of wine during END OF THE DAY and drink from that. Also, beg for things as people walk by.
• TAYLOR - Get your entrance right at THE DOCKS
• LOGAN - I want you seated, writing in a ledger, counting money, etc. during MASTER OF THE HOUSE
• CONNOR, TYLER, HOLLY - There were several times where you need to calm your feet. Be concious of this. If you dance around in place tomorrow, I will yell, "Happy Feet" at you.
• CONNOR, KLEIN- Don't worry about the other two crates during THE BEGGARS just get on stage and stand with LOGAN
• ESTEP - When you look at Marius' books, don't look at the outside cover upside down, just flip through, looking carefully at the words. I'm sorry if I demonstrated it the way you have been looking at the books, but Eponine is illiterate, not from outer space
• RACHEL, KLEIN, CONNOR - When you enter during ATTACK ON THE RUE PLUMET, there are no mics picking you up. Don't worry about singing, just shout your lines.
• STUDENTS - THE NIGHT was terrible. You can all be louder. Sacrifice sounding pretty for volume
• YISEON - When you bring out the wedding table, make sure to have the jewelry on top. There will also be a cake when we get one.
• EVERYONE - I have posters to hang. Come by and get them from me tomorrow.

FOR MONDAY

Thanks again for your hard work on Saturday. Here is the schedule for Monday:

3:30 - 4:00 - Vocal work on END OF THE DAY, THE DOCKS, and beggars during THE BEGGARS
4:00 - 4:30 - Practice all scene and mid-scene transitions in PROLOGUE, END OF THE DAY, I DREAMED A DREAM, THE DOCKS, CART CRASH
4:30 - 5:00 - Tech Stuff
5:00 - 6:00 - Dinner
6:00 - 7:00 - Check props, get in costume, vocal warm-ups
7:00 - 10:00 - Run Through

Act II

Remember to check the blog tomorrow in case of bad weather. I will update by noon if there is no school.

• VALERIE - Be careful not to cross your feet too much when walking on stage - see me about this. Also, look up high over the wall in RUE PLUMET
• CHRIS - Don't hop over the wall, try to slide during HEART FULL OF LOVE.
• EVERYONE - Watch Eponine and Marius as she is dying.
• LOGAN - leave for the sewers earlier in ATTACK ON RUE PLUMET
• ELIJAH - jump forward faster to help during THE BARRICADE
• TYLER - Remember, you are in charge. Point people to their duties. Give them directions.
• EVERYONE - Get up faster at the end of night. There is about to be a battle!!
• EVERYONE - Remember to keep your heads down when walking behind the barricade.

ACT I Run-Through

We did not get through all of ACT I, but we got through a good amount. We will start tomorrow with RUE PLUMET and hopefully finish up the show.

Don't forget to check the Blog tomorrow morning if school is cancelled.

Here are notes for today:

• CHAIN GANG - Sing on your exit
• CONNOR - as the Bishop, keep looking at ALEX
• ALEX - Do not enter the Bishop's house so early or eagerly. You are still distrusting of people
• CONNOR - Be careful of your feet. Try to stay still.
• EMILY - Make sure you are reading the letter as you recite it.
• AMY - Be careful of your feet. Try to stay still.
• WHORES - Don't smile when singing, but force a smile when greeting potential customers.
• ELIZABETH - We need to see your pain. Fall down when JULIA stomps your foot. Continue to nurse it until you speak to JAVERT, then you can stand.
• RACHEL & VANDERPOOL - Do not celebrate and hug JAKE until ALEX says, "24601"
• CHRIS & ESTEP - Take 2 1/2 steps down stage during your dialog in THE ROBBERY
• VALERIE - Don't turn the full 360 when CHRIS bumps into you. Just get bumped and step back.
• ALEX - Don't try to be sneaky during THE ROBBERY. Just hustle off while you keep Cosette's protection in mind.

Back to Work

Great job with the painting and costumes. We got a lot accomplished. Here's the plan for tomorrow:

• Bring in any costume pieces you had at home: shirts, pants, skirts, shoes, tights, etc.
• We will run Act I with music tomorrow. Review your blocking and music. Get Psyched.
• Be prepared to stay until 6pm. I'll get you out earlier if I can.
  
• Consider staying around after rehearsal to help build. Mr. Wooley, I and others will stay later to do some painting and construction. If you have some time to spare, bring some extra clothes and lend a hand. You may get to use power tools!
  

Hope you enjoyed your break

• EVERYONE - Come to rehearsal Tuesday. We will be trying on costumes. If you have to go somewhere, let me know, and I'll get you out of rehearsal as soon as possible. Bring costume pieces for yourself if you have them: especially shoes! I will also be working with individuals on a few things as I see you.
• EVERYONE - Wednesday we will run Act I and Thursday we will run Act II. Be prepared to stay until 6pm these days.

DON'T FORGET

Bring your Entrance/Exit lists to Danny on Wednesday.

Sing-A-Long Monday

I think we got a lot accomplished in today's big sing. Wednesday will be the same for Act II.

• EVERYONE - Hit your entrances bigger. I know it is different without the CD, but confidence is your best friend. If you don't have confidence, fake confidence will be your best friend. Think of it like this: If you come in at the wrong time but do so confidently, some people will notice, some will not, and some will assume the orchestra is off; if you come in at the right time, but do so weakly, everyone will assume you do not really know when to come in.
• EVERYONE - Bring in your entrance/exit list to Danny by Wednesday at the latest. Make sure you note 1) when you enter/exit, 2) what you are moving or carrying at the time, and 3) what part of the stage you enter from. If you have any questions, Danny will clarify what he needs. I have instructed him to tell me who has not handed them in as of the beginning of practice Wednesday. You might want to just get it to me tomorrow so you won't have to risk forgetting Wednesday. For those who do forget, I hope you were paying attention to Elijah during his Front-Back-Go exercise.
• EVERYONE - Bring in costume peices Wednesday, too.

Saturday

I know today may have seemed slow and tedious at times, but we got a lot of small things worked out for the first act. It will enable us to run this act in bigger chunks in the future.

• EVERYONE - I know this was your first day without the CD, but I need more volume from everyone. Yes, some of you may have microphones, but if you are depending on that, we'll be in trouble.
• EVERYONE - Spend some time on the Chorus during THE EPILOGUE.
• EVERYONE - Know what you are doing during your transitions. Rehearsals up to this point have been about working scenes and songs. Starting Monday, we will be running the acts without stopping. If you are not sure where you are in a scene, find out before we start the run.
• EVERYONE - Take fifteen minutes this weekend to do a entrance/exit review. Look in the table of contents of your script, make sure you know where and when you either enter or exit in each scene and if you bring in or strike an object. Write it down and make a copy. Give one copy to Danny and keep the other in your pocket.
• EVERYONE - The best costumes are the ones that already fit you. Monday or Wednesday, bring anything to rehearsal that might work as a costume. Unpleated pants, white collared shirts, long wool skirts, and leather shoes might all be useful. Brown, black, white, and grey are the colors we're looking for.
• EVERYONE - Make sure you are not leaving trash back stage. There will barely be room for the props, actors, crew, and set pieces, let alone your dasani bottle.
• ALEX, JULIA, ELIJAH - You guys are my Tuesday rehearsal.

Good Work Friday

• GHOSTS - you were much better the second time around in THE CAFE SONG. However, if you are talking to someone at the table, be careful not to stare into the audience.
• ALEX - during your confesion to Marius, look out over the wall. Find times to turn and speak directly to Marius, but focus over the wall. It's as if there is a movie of the past playing on the other side of the wall that you are watching.
• KLEIN - wait for CONNOR to be ready, then dance on with him.
• LOGAN - think about a different character for the top of the wedding. You're trying to deceive Marius at the top before he recognizes you.
• CHRIS & VALERIE - when you leave the wedding, exit down stage of ASHBURN & TAYLOR
• HOLLY - go over to the table a few lines before the end of THE WEDDING. Inspect the table, decide you want it all, wave LOGAN over, and exit as you are singing "Won't we see y'all in Hell"
• ALEX - during the epilogue, drift off to sleep around measure 80. CHRIS & VALERIE will be concerned and wake you up in time for your line.

A Few Notes for Everyone

• Make sure to tell Danny about your availability for Saturday. If your availability is in any way limited, talk to me first. If you have already spoken to me, tell Danny. If you are free from 10-4, tell Danny.
• Sign up for a 5 minute conference.
• Do not make any drastic changes to your appearance between now and the show. Do not get your hair cut (Julia, your hair needs to be really long since we'll be cutting it two nights in a row). Guys, do not shave. Do not die your hair (exception: Jenna, if you wanted to try and get your hair to match Valerie's, it will save me the trouble of looking for a wig). Do not get any additional piercings to your face or head (Alex, no nipple-piercings). Do not get any face tattoos of biblical dragons from out outer space. If any of this is a problem, please see me. I understand restrictions you may have for jobs or things like that.

Great Wednesday

We got through a lot today. Thanks for your hard work.
Since we were so productive, I am making the following change to the schedule (sorry):

THURSDAY we will block THE CAFE SONG and THE EPILOGUE. THE CAFE SONG includes everyone who died in the FINAL BATTLE, but you were all planning to be here anyway since it was on the schedule for Thursday. THE EPILOGUE will include EVERYONE, but if you already have plans to be somwhere else, that's fine, just let me know (I realize this is late notice). We will block THE EPILOGUE first, and I promise to not take more than 30 minutes for it.

FRIDAY we will run from THE SEWERS to THE EPILOGUE.

Don't forget about SATURDAY. 10am - 4pm. I will have a great lunch for you.

Sign up for 5 minute conferences.

Notes for today:

ESTEP & CHRIS - You can step down stage a little further at the top of THE BARRICADE: Two (2) more steps down stage.

TYLER - Bring out the crate and place it where it was when you enter at the top of Eponine's lonely song.

ASHBURN & BRAD - Be a little flirtier during Eponine's lonely song. ASHBURN, poke him or do something playful like that, but don't do it until ESTEP is sitting down looking at you. She will mimic your playful behavior.

STUDENTS - Be preparing your weapons when the Army Officer is threatening you.

TYLER - Stand on the crate on "Damn their warnings..."

ANDY, JASMINE, TAYLOR - Keep looking out across the barricade when Eponine is climbing it.

CHRIS & ESTEP - Much better death. I especially like clutching his arm. CHRIS, stay engaged with her.

STUDENTS - When you bring Javert forward, do not get so distracted you forget to talk to Valjean. Also, be clear when you speak to him. Right now it's just a jumbled mess, and you are all too fixated on Javert. Some need to focus on Javert, others on Valjean. Your lines will guide you as to which you are.

STUDENTS - We need to work on building some relationships between you. When people die - Eponine, Gavroche - you can console each other. You can encourage each other and get one another pumped up. Remember, you probably expect to die very, very soon. The person next to you is special and may be the last person to whom you ever speak. You might be the last person to whom he or she ever speaks. You are depending on them to keep you alive by maintaining their posts and fighting hard, and they depend on you to do your job as well. However, I do not want you getting overly emotional; there's no time for that. But sometimes a look or a hand on the shoulder can be enough to let the other person know he or she is not alone.

EVERYONE - Do not ever yawn on stage. I know you may be getting ready to sleep in a scene, but yawns of a way of spreading into the audience, and we do not want that.

ASHBURN - Say "Marius" a little louder.

ALEX - See if you can get closer to Marius a little sooner. I want the audience to know you're singing about him. It's possible this will look too obvious. I do not want to beat the audience over the head with this point, so this may change later.

JASMINE - Don't forget to take JAKE off at the end of THE NIGHT.

ALEX - Think about what kind of a wound you get during THE FINAL BATTLE. It needs to be something that will slowly kill you without incapacitating you.

Tuesday's Rehearsal

Great work. Thanks to your focus and quick work, we were able to finish early.
Remember your word for rehearsal tomorrow.

AMY, butter.

ALLIE, monster trucks.

BRAD, puppies

ELIZABETH, pizza.

JAKE, book.

VANDERPOOL, Hip-Hop-a-potomus

JASMINE, spoons.

ESTEP, biscuit.

Monday's Notes

- ANDY, talk to me about stealing during "One Day More". I think I'm going to have you walk in front of the stage and steal sheet music off the orchestra stands.

- HOLLY, when you talk about Cosette being sick during "the Bargain" make sure you are not resentful. Don't try to be "fake" sincere for Valjean; try to be sincere. The audience will know Mme. Thenardier doesn't mean it. Your objective is to get more money from Valjean, and he will only do that if he feels sympathy.

- EVERYONE, good job living in the scenes. "Innkeeper Song" and "Beggars" are looking especially good. Make sure you do not upstage the rest of the action. Do not sign or overuse gestures. Point to something if you are talking about it or you want someone to pass you something, but that is probably as much pointing as you'll need to do.

- CONNOR, I like you looking at the table of girls and I like ASHBURN's reaction, but doing this once in the scene is enough.

- PEOPLE WHO DO NOT CARE, do not smile when on stage. Even if you are walking and talking to someone, talk about serious things.

- LOGAN, during "Bargain", move slower into your light when you are singing about poor Fantine. You are trying to draw out the drama.

- BEGGARS, move a little less. You are starving and weak. Find a small circle about 5' in diameter and confine yourself to it.

- ANDY, you entered from center-right and bent over to tie your shoe just as Gavroche was singing about Eponine. ESTEP, you walked by him while he was bent over: take his wallet while he's distracted.

- CONNOR & KLEIN, I was wrong, do not exit "Robbery" until measure 125.

- EVERYONE, great work today. Keep it up.

Friday, February 1

Great work, everyone. Don't forget to sign up for a time to meet me next week. If you want to meet me C, D or E period, see me, and we'll figure something out.
Check the calendar and look over your blocking notes before Monday's rehearsal. Listen to the CD.
Have a great weekend