Posted by Mary T on November 12, 2012
School Shows
We have completed one week of rehearsals for the Lorca School show, but to me, as a new member of the Monkey crew, it feels like we have completed a month of rehearsals! We have gotten so much accomplished! With stories featuring transformers and bionicles*, John Cena roundhouse kicking some multi-grain bread into existence and best friends from all walks of life, I have learned a thing or two about what it means to be a Monkey this week. A few things I have learned:
-Style changes everything. Sometimes a story has many different layers. Unexpected characters, contradicting points of view, or physical action that seems difficult to execute are all things that can be brought to life in a new way through simply making a story into a musical number or adding a Wrestlemania announcer as narration.
-Zombies don’t even care about people. They just want to eat berries.
-The answer to creating something new is “yes” and then you figure out the specifics after. Sometimes that means that your original idea doesn’t get to stay, but the attitude of enthusiasm and eagerness in this group makes every idea worth exploring.
-There are some specific terms that Monkeys use for different aspects of rehearsals. For instance, “plug-ins” are actors that are needed for a scene that has already been adapted but requires more characters than were available during the original adaptation process. In “Soda and Juice” by Alan B. we got to see the original dialogue between Soda and Juice, but to make the scene complete, we added “plug-ins” to help create the environment of a cooler full of sodas and juices.
-Music, music and more music! Music makes me lose control! Monkeys sing all the time in rehearsal, even when nobody is asking them to.
-Lorca School is going to love this show. Stay tuned! More to come!
Also, look at these pictures!
Jeff as John Cena holds a customer (Brandon) hostage while he checks to see if his bread really does taste terrible!
Brandon (played by Andres) recounts the story of how he was chased by Zombies (Tim)!
*I didn’t even know what a Bionicle was before we started adapting “When I Was Playing with My Toys” by Tony O. They are really cool and sometimes come over to your house and hang out with you and sometimes star in action movies, depending on the day.
Posted by Kassi on November 1, 2012
School Shows
With two rehearsals for the show at New Sullivan School complete, it seems that the Millenium, and its popular culture will be well represented in this show. And for that I am very excited!
Exhibit A: Laser Tag
While Laser Tag has been available to the masses since the 1980’s, I feel it really hit its stride in the late 90’s. I believe I attended 4 Laser Tag birthday parties in 1998.
In the story The Winners by KyTwone J., the stakes for this particular game of laser tag are very high.
Here are Nick and Tom becoming The Winners
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Exhibit B: The Mall in 1999
This example happens to be a little more direct, but no less thrilling.
In My Day of Cool School by Mya T., Mya is transported to the the mall in the year she was born, instead of her first class at a new school. This my friends, is why we will never have time machines in schools.
This is how I remember the mall in 1999
Only 4 more rehearsals ‘til the big show. I hope Y2K doesn’t get us!
Posted by Tim Soszko on October 23, 2012
School Shows
I am so happy to be back with the Monkeys for another school year. We’re rehearsing for the Chalmers show right now, my first show of the year, and its a wonderful mix of the new ensemble members we’ve just hired and some old guard pros!
The new guys are ridiculously talented. Gymnastics, energy, singing, piano playing, characters, the list is endless! There’s a story, untitled by Latavia, that will knock your socks off. Music, monsters and fight choreography, that’s all I can say.
Another story, I got to work on, is so epic that it took us a half hour to adapt into a scene. The other Monkeys watching, and Molly the director, gave us a standing ovation when we finished. I was sick that night, but in that moment it all went away. I think I take for granted sometimes just how good I feel being a part of this company. It’s unlike any other theatrical experience I’ve been a part of.
The Chalmers students are in for an amazing show!
tim
Posted by Jeff Trainor on September 26, 2012
School Shows
The 2012/2013 Season has begun and the students from Learn Campbell Campus are starting the year off right! We have only had one day of rehearsal and already the Learn Campbell fall show has love, heartbreak, annoying boyfriends, bananas, and a really proud mother!
Look at Brad and Zoe go!
Nick is learning a great lesson here.
The Characters are taking flight in this show!
I can’t wait to see what else the students from Learn Campbell Campus have in store for us!
SEE YOU SOON!
Posted by Bradford on May 25, 2012
School Shows
4:30 am : Got up. Made breakfast, then looked over scenes and practiced the song for Rhinestones or Glitter(It’s gonna be in COA on June 5th, so check it out people!!)
6:30 : Picked up our good friend Zeke
6:40 : Then scooped up Kurt and Nick and we laughed and cracked jokes on the way down to Ms. Biscuit (It’s a really sweet restaurant yall) where we met up with the rest of the Monkeys.
8:ish : Got to Dixon and did a cool run through
9:50 : Said hi to all the kiddos as they started making their way into the theater ( it was really nice to see my kids from last year who are now in 6th grade!) before kicking off Start the Show at 10:00.
!
11:15 or so : Did the post show talk back, then two young ladies called me over and performed an awesome rap they made about how I loved to chew gum. It’s so true guys, I’m all about the fresh breath!
The show was amazing my friends. Congrats to each and every Dixon student that was in one of our residencies this year. You guys were great, and I look forward to being back next Spring. YES!!!
