Hiss, Bang, Swoosh!!!!!
Posted by Lizzie B on January 25, 2013
The adaptation process for the Avondale –Logandale School show is in full swing, and as I watched the show taking shape today I noticed something really wonderful happening. Interesting, layered, diverse and beautiful sounds are everywhere in this show. I would like to say that it is all because of the talented people in the rehearsal room, but in fact I think it has a lot more to do with the students themselves and the influence they had on their teachers. I’ll take you back to our first rehearsal for this school show so you can understand why.
That morning we gathered as usual to read the stories the students wrote during their time with Barrel of Monkeys. Story after story was a hit. The teachers who had spent time with the students told us tales of their interests, personalities and accomplishments. Brandon told us about one student who was the real foley guy of the class. He jumped at the chance to add sound effects to any performance in the classroom. Whizz, Bang, Crash! This kid was on it.
Some how the tales of this expert young sound designer got into our souls because we are Whizzing and Banging and Crashing everywhere. In addition to the typically impressive compositions of musicians like Laura McKenzie and Immanuel Guest it seems almost every cast member is getting into the audible spirit of things. Whether it’s the delicious mix created by Lacy Campbell for the story The Flowers and the “Oceano” or the hissing radiators and slamming books assembled by Nancy Casas in The F, we are stretching ourselves as performers and adaptors to live up to the words and actions of these students.
I believe Barrel of Monkeys always strives to inspire students to use their voices to create imaginative stories that express who they are and what they think. However, not surprisingly, it appears that we have been inspired by them to stretch our abilities and imaginations as well. BAM!