|
By: STO Karis Klammer, Montgomery High School, Troupe 5986 After a super busy summer it is finally down to pull out the cute sweaters, bring out the spooky decorations, and order all of your favorite pumpkin spiced flavored items. I mean, who doesn’t love fall? October is one of my favorite months of the year because of a very special holiday that takes place. You might assume that I am talking about Halloween, but here at Texas Thespians, we are talking about J-Fest! J-Fest stands for Junior Festival, and is a mini festival that takes place for junior high school. You may be thinking “Karis, it says junior in the title! How good can it be?” well I am glad that you asked and I will answer with a story! Back in June when the STOs were at camp, our lovely Junior Festival Direction, Miss Gette, told us these words when we were planning J-Fest. “If big festival is a cake, J-Fest is a cupcake” as you can imagine, we were all very confused. How could an analogy about delicious desserts possibly be an outline for an entire festival? After thinking about it for a while it started to make sense! Our goal is to make J-Fest just as fun an experience as Big Festival, and to give junior high students a headstart for starting high school theatre. Here are some of the workshops that the STOs will be teaching at J-Fest! Acting: Starting with this one, because I will be teaching it! Here we will learn about the importance of warm ups and character voices! We will also be heavily discussing what to expect and how to prepare for auditions. Tech: In the Tech workshop, students will learn about all the different elements of technical theatre. From stage managing to props to lighting and scenic design! You will learn it all! There will also be many opportunities for everyone to ask question! J-Fest will be such an incredible learning experience for our young thespians and we are so excited to be seeing everybody on October 23! Sincerely, Your 2021 Texas State Thespian Officers
0 Comments
By: STO Gentry Phillips, Springtown High School, Troupe 1494
Did you know that in 2020 it was recorded that over 3.6 billion people use social media! That’s almost half of the population! Social media is a good tool to inform and reach out to others. While a lot of people use it for personal reasons, social media is also used by companies, organizations, and of course high school theatre troupes all around the globe. Having social media for your troupe is super fun and useful. It allows your troupe to advertise and inform a larger number of people with a lot less work. How do you make a social media, and how do you make it stick out? This blog will teach you exactly that. What social media can I use? When picking a platform to work with, choose something you know will reach the most people. Have a lot of theatre parents involved in your troupe, use Facebook. Have a large troupe, use Instagram or Twitter. You can work on as many platforms as you like to reach your designated audience. What should I post on my social media? Pictures are the obvious answer to this question. Post pictures of things your troupe is working on or doing like shows, community service, or workshops. Graphics are also something you could post to your feed. Graphics are a great and simple way to get information out, while making your page look super put together. Graphics are relatively easy to make and can be created using websites or apps like Canva or Photoshop. Graphics are a great way to have your social media really stick out! How should I run my troupe's social media? When running your troupes social media it is very helpful to have a calendar or schedule of posts. This way you can be prepared when making graphics and knowing important dates. Putting these items in place allows for things to be organized and put together. What else do I need to know to be successful? Make sure your media presence is strong! Have expectations and goals for your social media. Be consistent, establish your brand, and check your statistics regularly. One of the most important things to remember is to post responsibly. Make sure your feed is full of positive and appropriate content. How your social media looks is a reflection of your troupe. With all these ingredients culminating together, you should have the perfect recipe to start your troupe's own social media. Now get out there and start posting! Catch you on the flip side, Your 2021 Texas State Thespian Officers By: STO Gentry Phillips, Springtown High School, Troupe 1494
Ah yes, fall. The season of pumpkin spice, coldish weather (especially here in Texas), and everyone's favorite autumnal event, fall shows! Theatre students and their directors alike are working hard to make sure the kick off to their show season is one to remember. So, what exactly are the shows that some STO’s are putting on? Let’s find out! STO Abi Colburn, The Woodlands High School, Troupe 1053 What show are you doing? Play That Goes Wrong. Who are the authors? Henry Lewis, Jonathan Sayer, and Henry Shields. What is the show about? The Cornley Polytechnic Drama Society is putting on The Murder At Haversham Manor, but nothing goes quite as planned. What is your role in this show? I play Annie, the demure stage manager who tries her best to stop things from going wrong, but her efforts never turn out very successful. While fixing technical mishaps, she also steps up to play a role when characters are indisposed. STO Brenna Kenney, Rouse High School, Troupe 7679 What show are you doing? The Government Inspector. Who are the authors? Nikolai Gogol. What is the show about? Set in a small corrupt Russian town in the 1830s, the mayor receives news that a government inspector is incognito and on his way from the capital. The town tries to fix all their foolish mistakes and they shower the inspector with bribes, praise, and love. In this funny and crazy satire, the town realizes that the inspector isn't actually who they originally thought them to be. What is your role in this show? I play Marya Antonvich, who is the troubled teenage daughter of the mayor and his crazy wife. I hate everyone and everything, until I meet and fall head over heels in love with Ivan Khlestakov. STO Talya Hammerman, Ridge Point High School, Troupe 7678 What show are you doing? Peter and the StarCatcher. Who are the authors? Rick Elise. What is the show about? Peter and the StarCatcher serves as a prequel to the well beloved story Peter Pan and provides backstory to many of the characters. What is your role in this show? I play Smee, a very comedic and physical character. He disguises himself as Lieutenant Greggors, causes havoc with Captain Black Stache, and overall is an INCREDIBLY fun character to play. He even dresses like a mermaid and plays the ukulele! What fall shows are you doing? Let us know, Your 2021 Texas State Thespian Officers By: STO Folarin Oyeleye, Foster High School, Troupe 7961; STO Maleah Minyard, John Horn High School, Troupe 6292
Wow, this is quite the year to be a musical lover. First we had In The Heights debut in cinemas earlier this June, and now it looks like it’s Dear Evan Hansen’s turn. The movie rendition of this beloved musical is set to debut on the 24th of September, so we'll make sure to give you all the necessary info to feed your excitement. Playing the man in the title we have Ben Platt. Some of Platt’s previous roles include Elder Cunningham (on the second national tour of The Book of Mormon), and Friedrich (from The Sound of Music). Now his next venture in this movie is one of great enthusiasm. While Platt is aware of fans' worry regarding his aging since his last portrayal of the character, he does assure them by telling them to wait patiently for he has worked fervently, and is more than confident in his abilities. (And just a little fun fact, the premier date of September 24th also happens to be Platt’s birthday! So make sure to hit him up with birthday wishes and love for the movie). Now, for our main love interest, we have Kaitlyn Dever playing as Zoe Murphy. Some of her notable works include her time on Last Man Standing (as Eve Baxter), and her role as Gwen Thompson in An American Girl. This movie will actually be quite a change for Dever as this will be her first major role in a musical related film. She has noted that although filming during the pandemic has been a bit strange, she’s excited that she gets to continue acting. Last but not least, we have Danny Pino as Larry Murphy. Some characters on his resume include Nick Amaro from Law and Order: Special Victim Unit, and as John Bishop in Gone. The interesting thing about Pino’s role as Larry Murphy, the father of Zoe and Connor Murphy, is the change the movie has decided to make. Instead of being their biological father they are instead making him their step father. Whether or not this makes a huge impact on the story is something you can only find out by seeing the movie in theatres when it comes out Dear Evan Hansen is a beautiful story about a boy with social anxiety who wants to make friends. This story, whether you can relate to it or not, is a worthwhile experience. The cast has nothing but love and care for this, and we’re sure that’ll be easily spotted in their performance. Thanks for reading, Your 2021 Texas State Thespian Officers By STO Marisa Berrones
Are you interested in design but don’t know where to start? Well, this is a good place to look! We asked Texas Thespians across the state what questions they had about theatrical design and answered them to the best of our abilities. So let’s soar into theatrical design. Q: What does theatrical design encompass? A: There are four areas of theatrical design: scenery, lighting, costuming, and sound. Without any of these areas, the show will be missing a crucial part of the experience you get from live theatre. Q: When a tech crew is working on designing a show, how can you make sure everyone is on the same page and properly communicating? A: While it may seem like an easy answer, the best way to make sure everyone is communicating effectively is to talk. My favorite way to communicate is by sending out rehearsal reports after each rehearsal and making sure everyone reads it by adding a few questions in! Q: What skills do you need in order to do lighting design? A: Whether you are new to tech, or have been a part of the crew for years and are just starting to learn the ropes of light design, there are no skills needed prior to joining. Just come prepared with a ready-to-learn attitude and lots of extra paper! Q: What is the average size of a set? A: There isn’t one! Every show is different and every stage is different so there is no average set size! Q: In theatrical design, how often do you view the set from the audience’s view? A: I personally look at the set from the audience’s view every time the set is put up and taken down. I also take pictures from the middle of the auditorium to compare the set from other perspectives. For my OAP set last year we changed the setup nearly every day, so watching from the middle and back of the auditorium was crucial to our set design. Q: How does viewing a set design from the audience change the final layout and mapping of the stage? A: Viewing the set from the audience’s perspective allows directors to see where the performers may be hidden, light cues need to be fixed, or props need to be moved. Another part of sitting in the audience during a rehearsal is being able to see if any dialogue is misheard or if any sound cues are too low. Q: What is the average amount of time it takes to fully design a show? A: The average amount of time it takes to design a show is around 4-6 months, but that does not include the hours of rehearsals used to get every last cue exactly how it needs to be. Now go out there, and design those shows! Best of luck, Your 2021 Texas State Thespian Officers By: STO Gentry Phillips, Springtown High School, Troupe 1494
It’s the moment we’ve all been waiting for… Broadway is finally making its way back onto the stage! After a long wait, shows will finally be opening back up starting in September. Let's take a look at some of the productions we will be seeing back in swing next month! Hadestown Being one of the first shows to reopen, the cast and crew of Hadestown are ready to get back into the saddle! This show will be opening starting September the second. Before their Broadway return, Hadestown has toured in South Korea, these performances being first non-English productions of the show. The North American tour will begin on October fifteenth in D.C.. What an excellent show to kick off the reopening! Waitress Waitress is also reopening on September second! Sara Bareilles is set to star in her musical as the central role come opening day. Waitress’s first show back will take place at the Ethel Barrymore Theatre, a new stage for this company seeing that the original production was performed at the Brooks Atkinson Theatre (which is now the home to the musical Six!). Dear Evan Hansen Lastly, Dear Evan Hansen will be reopening on December eleventh. Casting has yet to be announced, but everyone is eager for the list. The London production of the show will be opening back up on October twenty-sixth. The North American tour for Evan Hansen is set to get on the move December seventh. Excited for the things to come, Your 2021 Texas State Thespian Officers By STO Abi Colburn, The Woodlands High School, Troupe 1053
It has come that time to start auditioning for high school shows. Here are some tips and tricks so you will absolutely rock your audition:
2. Know your character. Read up on the show you are auditioning for; it gives you an idea of what the directors are looking for. 3. Don’t be nervous. Everyone gets nervous, but try to remember that the directors are on your side. They want you to be the person that they have been looking for. 4. Don’t apologize. In your audition, don’t be overly apologetic. Be confident in yourself and you will rock it! 5. Don’t be afraid to make choices. Many directors are looking for fresh perspectives to work with. If you have an idea that fits your character and piece, go for it! 6. Pick material from published plays. If you are asked to perform a monologue, pick one from a published play. Directors much prefer it and it makes it easier on you because you can find out exactly what your character is going through using the play. 7. BREATHE. Auditioning can be a very scary thing. You are putting yourself out there in front of directors in the hopes of being casted. Just breathe, taking deep breaths helps calm the nervous system and then you will be more confident in your audition! Hopefully these tips will help you succeed in rocking your high school auditions! And remember, it's just high school. It is not the end of the world if it doesn’t go the way you want it to. Sincerely, Your 2021 Texas State Thespian Officers By: STO Marisa Berrones, Midland High School, Troupe 3376  STO Deonte Sanseverino was a part of Troupe 7556 at Pottsboro High school, where he worked as a tech and cast member. He served on the 2016 STO Board when the theme was “Home”. He is now an Electrical Engineering college student.
Q: What was it that made you want to run for the STO position? A: Getting to work with talented individuals from across Texas. Being on the National Qualifying All-State Show Big Fish helped me see that I wanted to spread out more. Q: What is your favorite memory of being an STO? A: Socktober, our final planning meeting in October for festival! Q: What was your favorite musical then? What is it now? A: Hamilton, it still is Hamilton. Q: What did you learn then that you still carry with you? A: Be agile, things don’t always go as planned but they have to be carried out somehow. Q: What would you have done differently in high school? A: Focused more on SAT/ACT instead of my class rank. Q: What would you have done differently in your troupe? A: I would have done more teambuilding events! Q: What would you have done differently as an STO? A: I would have visited more neighboring troupes! Q: If you could send your troupe one message what would it be? A: Act well your part, for there all the honor lies, and that applies beyond just theatre you know! Would you like to be like Deonte and represent Texas Thespians? Check out how to become an STO here! By: STO Gentry Phillips, Springtown High School, Troupe 1494
As the new school year draws ever so near, the concoction of nerves and excitement is producing a strong brew. What will I wear the first day? When will our first auditions be? Will people like my new haircut? Did I personalize my school supplies too much? Don’t stress, this blog has got your back! Here is some advice for each grade, school and theatre related, that will hopefully mellow out all those emotions you’re experiencing. Freshman: First and foremost, BE YOUR AUTHENTIC SELVES!!! High school can already be a stressful place, so there is no need to exhaust your energy pretending to be someone you’re not. By being true to yourself and your personality, you will find where you fit in much quicker and make friends faster as well. Confidence is key! Keep in mind everyone is made unique and our differences are what makes us special and great. In regards to theatre, familiarize yourself with your director(s) and peers. Experiment with different jobs in the department and figure out what you like to do best! Sophomores: Now that you have the general idea about what high school is and what it has to offer, try something new! This could be theatre related, or pertain to some other activity. Find a new hobby, join a new club, or push boundaries into new territory. Maybe switch it up and give improv a shot, or try your hand in the lighting booth. There is so much to explore, so why not try as much as possible?! Juniors: Hate to break it to you, but this year is the heaviest when it comes to academic work. College entrance exams are super important to your future, so study, study, study! When you have free time make sure you are preparing for college auditions or focusing on your best skills. Make yourself impressive so you get into your dream school, or get that perfect job after graduation. We believe in you! Seniors: This year will be truly bittersweet. Take this year to focus on what’s important, reminisce on what you have accomplished, and have fun! Take that last bow with pride and know that you have done well. However, don’t neglect your responsibilities, high school isn’t over just yet. We can’t wait to see what you accomplish, Your 2021 Texas State Thespian Officers By: STO Folarin Oyeleye, Foster High School, Troupe 7961, and STO Gentry Phillips, Springtown High School, Troupe 1494
Themes are a great way to make ideas take flight! You can use a theme for pretty much anything. Parties and special occasions are where themes are most commonly found, but as most of you likely know, each year the STO’s plan a theme for Thespian Festival that happens every November! However, the question is, how do you create and execute a theme? With a little hard work, a great crew of people, and some fun ideas, any theme can be executed turbulence free! The first thing to do when coming up with a theme is to brainstorm. Let’s say you’re planning a social event for your troupe to celebrate the winter holidays; the troupes’ board should come together and air out some ideas that could fit the type of celebration. Your theme could be traditional or something a little more quirky! It’s all up to what best fits the needs of your troupe. Next, you’ll want to plan out your theme in its entirety. Figure out how you’ll come together as a crew and steer your ideas in the right direction. This step will be very detail oriented, and will require you to think about a variety of things. For example, will you be serving food at the gathering? Who will pay for this food? Does anyone in the troupe have allergies? Things like decorations, time and place, and activities will also need to be thought out in order for your theme to truly take flight. After everything is planned you’ll want to start gathering your resources. Who will be able to host the event and where can you have it? If you need funding for the social, think of how you can get it or if someone would sponsor you. Also, this step will include actually setting up your social or banquet. This process will be a breeze if you have all hands on deck, ready and willing to work. Obviously, creating and accomplishing the theme won’t be as easy as it sounds on paper. This task can be a grueling one and it might require you to travel to great lengths in order to make your ideas work the way you want them to. Trust us, we went through a lot of that this year. However, if you put your mind to it and stay determined, there’s nothing you can’t do! Let your theme ideas soar, Your 2021 Texas State Thespian Officers |
|
|