Prep for MONDAY, Apr 2 Rehearsal

I hope you're all looking forward to a change in pace this weekend ... I know I am! I'm also looking forward to our first rehearsal with one of our guest artists on Monday evening!

REHEARSAL LOCATION
St. Matthew's is no longer available for us on Monday evening so we will be rehearsing at Fort Massey United Church on the corner of Queen and Tobin Streets. Use the Tobin Street entrance. Our rehearsal is from 6-9 PM, which is shorter than usual ... please be a bit early so we can start right on time!

Homework
1. Memorize I See You
2. Keep improving all of your memorization and accuracy on existing repertoire (a reminder that the last three pages of Pallaanda really need work!!)
3. Choose your preferred black base outfit and bring other options with you for Jordyn to look at/discuss with you. If you weren't at last week's rehearsal, our costumes for Rise are going to go overtop a black base. This needs to be something you feel good in, but shouldn't have a lot of excess fabric. Sleeve length is whatever you'd like (but no strapless please); leggings are a great option but a maxi skirt without too much extra fabric would also work (i.e. no fuller than A-line).

Our Guest Artists
Starting this week, at least one of our guest artists will be at each rehearsal. As many of you already know, El Jones is no longer able to be part of our team but I'm thrilled to announce that Maia Bruce will be stepping into her spot. Maia is a remarkably talented African Nova Scotian cellist. She plays regularly with Symphony Nova Scotia, she has two young girls, and she teaches at the Maritime Conservatory. Our collaboration with her will take the form of music for choir, cello, and piano and will provide a beautiful contrast to the spoken-word/monologue sections we are doing with Rebecca and Michelle. Maia is choosing the music (from among things that are very achievable for us!) over the next couple of days and I will have it for us to read through and work on this Monday

Rehearsal Schedule
Alto 2s are on snack!

6:00	Warm ups
6:15	Womanly Song of God music review
6:45	Run WSOG 2x (incl blocking) with notes/fixes in between
7:10	Rebecca Thomas collab work (Night Yoik & Warrior)
8:00	Break + Pacifico briefing + ticket info
8:15	Music rehearsal: I See You Rise Up New Music (cello + unmemorized choir)
9:00	Home

Rebecca Thomas will be at rehearsal and Michelle Raine may come to listen to I See You.

Rehearsal Notes from March 25

COSTUME NOTES 

On April 2nd (next Monday), please bring in what you would like to wear for your black base. This should be something that creates a strong silhouette. Top can be tunic length, but shouldn't be bulky. Varying lengths of sleeves are fine, bottoms should be below the knee or longer. Fabric should not be see-through under lights. 

We will be wearing bare feet, and black dance slippers during the show.

Pacifico Night is April 13th - tickets will be distributed next week, but please talk it up this week in order to get some sales ahead of time! 

Link to Script with all Blocking Notes

Video of Full Run from today

Xara singing "I See You" - Reference Recording. This is to be memorized for April 2 (next Monday).

Changes to blocking for Winter Sun

Letter E

Form 2 double Vs. The front people of the Vs are are Molly,
Laycie, Madelaine & Talisa

M 53 - Place right hand in fist on chest, with left hand covering

M 65 - Hands slowly release and float down

M 67 - Hold hands, facing out, with the people in your V

M 69  - Melt into two straight lines, continue holding hands,
meet in the middle

M 72 - Drop hands, turn to face the centre on low Alto “light”

Letter F

M 75 - Turn head to face audience

M 77 - Turn body to match head

M 79 - Turn the two lines into a Double U

M 83 - Turn head to face audience

M 85 - Turn body to match head

RISE Show Week Schedule

Wednesday, April 25 (SMU, McNally Theatre)
6-10 PM
Tech Rehearsals

Thursday, April 26 (SMU, McNally Theatre)
6-10 PM
Tech finish up; Full dress rehearsal

Friday, April 27 (SMU, McNally Theatre)
6-10 PM
Alumni and XCTE Rehearsal; Full dress rehearsal

Saturday, April 28 (SMU, McNally Theatre)
1 PM Call; 3 PM Show
6 PM Call; 8 PM Show
9:15 PM Birthday Reception

ALL ELEMENTS OF SHOW WEEK (rehearsals, performances, reception) ARE MANDATORY.

Prep for March 25

Hi all,

We got LOTS done last week and I'm very excited that we have nearly the whole Xara-only portion of our show ready to polish.

Homework:
1. Memorize all text (please make sure you're working from the new script!!)
2. Improve your memorization of the music and choreography for ALL pieces.

Reminder:
If you are absent from a rehearsal is your responsibility to learn the material that you missed. Typically, this means getting together with someone from your section and going through the rehearsal notes and videos, practicing together, and getting up to speed on everything. Some of you have done well at this but some of you need to put in some further effort. We do not re-teach things from scratch in the rehearsal setting but between the notes, the videos, and meeting with section-mates, it is entirely possible to learn what you miss!

Rehearsal Plan for Sunday:
Alto 1s on snack duty!

1:15	Warm ups
2:15	Winter Sun choreo wrap up
2:30	Blocking - all remaining text
3:30	Break
3:45	Pacifico Fundraiser briefing
3:55	Mark Through
4:30	Run
5:00	New Music

Notes from March 18 Rehearsal

Link to Updated Script with Blocking Notes

Wanting Memories - Video

Everyone begins stage right - distressed, down, not seeing a future

M 1 - 12 
Theresa, Talisa, Mack, Gabrielle, Molly & Rowan - Move downstage left and sit or kneel, connect physically with one another. Hopeful energy.

M 13 - 22
People on Stage Right sing toward the people on Stage Left.
People on Stage Left stand up and move toward Stage Right to comfort the others.

M 20 - Laycie, Maiti, Anna, Rylee, Katie, Genevieve, Antoinette, Sophie, Raquel, Cecelia, Sarah & Georgia take a step towards the audience and face front

M 22 - 30
Charlotte, Katelyn B, Madalaine, Kaitlyn C, & Morgandy move back with the hopeful group to Stage Left

Measure 22

M 31 - 39
Stage Right group spread out the mixed scattered formation to create more space

Katelyn, Morgandy, Kaitlyn, Molly, Madalaine & Rowan move towards the Stage Right group to console them, and bring them back on the next chorus.


M 40 - 48
Rylee, Antoinette, Laycie, Ceelia, Sarah & Raquel join the group on Stage Left

Measure 40 - 48

M 49 - 58

Everyone on Stage Left stands up and encircles the remaining people on Stage Right (Maiti, Katie, Anna, Georgia, Sophie, Geneviève - move toward the centre of the stage in a clump inside the U) in a large mixed U shape - not in rows

M 54 - 58

The following partnerships occur - those in the U come forward to comfort those in the middle (and take them with you at Measure 59)

Kaitlyn - Maiti

Molly - Katie

Raquel - Anna

Morgandy - Georgia

Sophie - Antoinette

Geneviève - Charlotte

M 59 - 65
Move to the complete formation :

Measure 59

M 66 - 75
Mothers walk from Stage Right one at a time, approximately one person per measure. Moment of greeting. Different emotions (relief, overwhelmed, shock) Not all of the Mothers have returned (these 8 mothers are representative of those who survived)

Camila, Kallie, Mackenzie will move to downstage right

Rhian, Jess will move behind the group of Daughters and stop in the centre

Erin, Leah, Hayley will move behind the group of Daughters and go all the way to downstage left

M 76 - End
Mothers join Daughters in the formation.

Winter Sun - Video

Begin in a double U formation facing into the centre. All references to parts are based on what is in the music.
Inside U : S2, A1, A3
Outside U : S1, S3, A2

Letter A
On the downbeat of the first full measure "light", turn your head to look at the audience
M 4 - On the downbeat "water", turn your body to match your head
M 6 - Move to two lines (Inside U is the front line, Outside U is the back line)

Letter B
Move when you sing
Float backwards to reform the two lines at the back of the stage

Letter C
Pick up to C : Split between Mack & Charlotte in the front, peel off and reform front line at the front of the stage.
Pick up to 24 : Split between Rhian & Katie in the back, peel off and reform back line at the front of the stage.

Letter D
M 31 Connect with one another physically, look up at the balcony. Hold until M 37
Pick up to 39 : Drift back as a group, still touching
M 41 In place
M 44-45 Hands drift down to your sides

Letter E
Stay in place in the two rows
M 67 - Step forward with right foot
M 69 - Step forward with left foot
M 71 - Step together
M 73 - Split between Kallie & Morgandy, Hayley & Sarah - turn to face the centre


Letter F
M 75 - Turn head to face audience
M 77 - Turn body to match head
M 79 - Turn the two lines into a Double U

Prep for Mar 18 Rehearsal

Hi everyone!

We are making solid progress on things and it was really excellent to do a run of the first half of our Xara-only section of the show. I was really pleased with it for a first run!

Starting this week (although only briefly), we will be looking at new music for the other shorter sections of Rise. In the coming weeks, we are going to be making rapid progress toward polished performances and I need to ask you all to move heaven and earth to be present at each rehearsal. There are a very limited number of previously scheduled absences and I would really like it to stay that way. Winter is tough and we have had a lot of illness but it is incredibly difficult to solidify aspects of our blocking and the fine details of the music when not all bodies and voices are present. We've been averaging 4-5 people missing per rehearsal that makes things challenging. Even if you are sick please come if you can possibly pull yourself out of bed so you can at least watch and possibly stand in place when we are determining critical blocking and formations.

I also want to ask that we up our game with our focus during rehearsals. I have enjoyed watching new friendships form between singers and the warm interaction with our YMP participants but I'm going to be more strict about staying quiet and focused through our rehearsal in the coming weeks so we can be as productive as possible. I want you to be unendingly proud of and confident in your performance when we finally take to the stage. The way to ensure that is to put our best in at rehearsals.

Homework:
1. Memorize Wanting Memories
2. Memorize Winter Sun
3. Watch the partial run from last Sunday and make notes
4. Perfect your memorization on everything that's already been memorized.

Script for Scenes 4 and 5:
There will be some changes to the script for the last two scenes. I will be posting these on the facebook group later this week but I will also print out new pages for you to use at rehearsal.

Hayley's Recordings:
Hayley has altered the pitch of the pieces that we are not doing in the original key so you will have something to practice with that is correct. Thank you Hayley!! They can be found here:

https://drive.google.com/open?id=1_OU_RvPWvgMz5N0bDmFYEC7Zu3TMlZyE

https://drive.google.com/open?id=1oAmbsV6umIepzmixFwGCAgXkzeMTJdC4

https://drive.google.com/open?id=1loJjPUg9tu2Z2E0I4h2Pu6tiMMplCDiy

Rehearsal Schedule:

1:15	Text workshop with Jennette
2:15	Warm ups
2:35	Memory check - Wanting Mem
2:45	Block Wanting Memories
3:30	Break
3:45	Memory check - Winter Sun
4:00	Block Winter Sun
5:00	New Music

Notes from March 11 Rehearsal

Winter Sun
Please change the pronunciation of the word "roofs" to "rooves" :-)
This piece is to be memorized next week.


Script with ALL Blocking Notes (songs and text)

Video of Run to the end of Pallaanda

Notes:

Sarah, Cecelia, Madalaine & Morgandy - work on differentiating the way you deliver your lines right before KNT

KNT
- Review long and short "A" vowels
- Review all dynamics
- Mothers, look at Daughters at the start of the piece
- M 48 remember to snap to the centre
- Letter H - walk two steps per measure, don't try to touch everyone's hands, just let it be natural

Text after KNT
- Christina will cue line for Mothers
- More antagonism between the groups, especially from the Mothers
- Daughters reactions can be varied (intimidated, aggressive etc)

When the Earth Stands Still
- Mothers, don't start touching Daughters until measure 11
- At the end, Daughters in the front should look down

Famine Song
- Be more deliberate with the "bada" in the accompaniment on the first page
- Christina would like to make more of the tempo changes, be ready!
- Alto 1s, change to an "oo" on the downbeat of M 34 (finish the word "wild")
- Sop 2 & Alto 1 carry through the bar in M 48
- This whole piece is about sensing that the storm is coming. It needs to be more ominous and fearful.
- Remember to do the "scoop" action before weaving your hands together

Pallaanda
- Some individual memory work is needed, and keep reviewing!
- When you drop your hands (after having them pressed together), it is a sharp fist and then down

Prep for March 11 Rehearsal

Hi everyone! We got a lot accomplished at our rehearsal this past Sunday and I feel as though things are coming along well. This is a funny point in our show prep - it’s the time when we’ve already done a lot but there’s still so much left to do. It can feel a bit like being trapped in the midst of a lot of “mediocre” work but please don’t get discouraged! At the end of this coming week’s rehearsal, we will have done a rough run-through of 2/3 of the show (up to the end of Pallaanda) which will definitely give us a good feeling of accomplishment, even if there are some stumbles along the way!

Homework:

1. Memorize your text and blocking up to scene 3.

2. Review and IMPROVE your music and choreography on everything we’ve done so far. 

If you missed a rehearsal where choreography was taught, this is just a reminder that it is your responsibility to meet with one or two people from your section and learn it, to the best of your ability. We never re-teach things from scratch so you need to put the time in to make up for what you missed.

Rehearsal Plan:

Sop 1s on snack!

1:15	YMP Clinic* (youth member only)
1:55	Full choir arrives // transition
2:00	Text workshop - Scenes 4 & 5
3:00	Run show up to end of Pallaanda
3:45	Break
4:00	Notes/Fixes from Run
4:45	Music: Winter Sun, Warrior

* YMP Clinic this week is a vocal clinic with Christina

Text/Script Changes:

At this Sunday’s rehearsal, I will have a new version of scenes 4 & 5 for you. I will also print out an up to date version of the storm for everyone.

Movie Musical Fundraiser:

Just a reminder that Mamma Mia is coming up next Friday (March 16) and all singers are expected to be there! We will be performing one song (I’m leaning toward Wanting Memories) before the movie starts. Also remember that the Altos (all of you!) will be taking care of the concession/snacks for the fund raiser. On Sunday, I will have $100 in cash to give whichever singer(s) is/are going to do the purchasing (they will have to bring receipts and any change that’s left over to Jess). You should probably start a facebook messenger convo or secret group to plan what you are going to do, ensure that you can afford the snacks you plan, and sort out who is going to do what. Last time, there were both savoury and sweet snacks that were pre-portioned into baggies as well as flavoured water, which went over very well. All snacks were by donation. If you have any questions about this, please don’t hesitate to ask!

Finally, please be sure to share the event and reach out individually to people you know with a personal invitation. Based on last time, it should be really fun but we definitely need to make sure we’ve got lots of folks there. We are using this event to promo RISE as well as to raise awareness about Xara in the wider community.

Notes from March 4 Rehearsal

Pallaanda - Video

Begin in mixed scattered (positions at the end of Famine Song)

M 1 - 8 Mothers move toward the centre when you start to sing. Daughters surround them in a loose, mixed scattered U.

M 9 - 16 : Daughters come forward (staggered timing) and get a Mother to escort to the back of the stage, then move forward to fill up the space in two straight lines. Mothers are taken in this order, and make a line across the back:

Hayley - Raquel
Kallie - Katie
Camila - Mack
Jess - Sarah
Mackenzie - Antoinette
Rhian - Katelyn B
Leah - Maiti & Erin - Gabrielle

Front row : Rowan, Rylee, Geneviève, Madelaine, Mack, Raquel, Charlotte, Morgandy, Sophie, Antoinette, Kaitlyn C
Back row : Laycie, Anna, Maiti, Katelyn B, Talisa, Cecelia, Theresa, Sarah, Gabrielle, Katie, Molly, Georgia

M 17 - 32 Daughters only choreo, the same both times :

M 17 - 18 - Alto 1s reach out and hold the hand of the Alto 1 next to you

M 19 - 20 - Alto 2s reach out and hold the hand of the Alto 2 next to you

M 21 - 22 - Alto 1s Cross-over arms (right arms on top with palm facing down)

M 23 - 24 - Alto 2s Cross-over arms (right arms on top with palm facing down)

M 25 - 32 Raise your hands and press against the palms of the person next to you. If you are on the end, keep your outside hand at your side.

M 33 - 34 Repeat these two bars (to make it a 4-bar pattern)

Front  row : Madelaine, Mack, Rowan, Anna, Rylee, Maiti, Geneviève, Sarah, Cecelia

Back row : Raquel, Charlotte, Morgandy, Gabrielle, Katie, Molly, Sophie, Antoinette, Kaitlyn C, Katelyn B, Talisa, Theresa

M 35 - 50 Same choreo both times
M 35 - 38 Sop 1s step with right foot, lean forward, look to the right, then hold hands on M 38

M 39 - 42 Sop 2s step with right foot, lean forward, look to the right, then hold hands on M 42

M 43 - 49 All Sops reverse the lean (step back, keep holding hands, then lean and look to the left)

M 50 - Drop hands and stand straight


M 51 - 56 Change formation to have Choir 1 stage right, Choir 2 stage left. Mixed scattered in two defined groups near the centre of the stage (empty space between the two groups)

M 57 - 59 Choir 2 take small steps forward, one step per bar (right foot first). Close on M 60

M 61 - 63 Choir 1 take small steps forward, one step per bar (right foot first). Choir 2 step back. Close on M 64

M 65 - 67 Choir 2 take small steps forward, one step per bar (right foot first). Choir 1 step back. Close on M 68

M 69 - 71 Choir 1 take small steps forward, one step per bar (right foot first). Choir 2 step back. Close on M 72

M 73 - 78 Move to 3 row formation (stand close together!) :
Front : Mack, Rowan, Rylee, Genevieve, Katelyn B, Cecelia, Sarah
Middle : Madelaine, Raquel, Anna, Maiti, Sophie, Antoinette, Talisa
Back : Laycie, Morgandy, Katie, Molly, Gabrielle, Theresa, Georgia

M 79 - All hold hands
M 83 - Cross over hand hold (right arm on top, palm facing down)
M 86 - Drop hands and take a step apart
M 87 - Hands up to the sides, palms pressed together on the downbeat


Storm Soundscape 
Melody line, please note that all G's are natural, not flat as written in the document.

Storm Soundscape - Video
As soon as the storm begins, move together into a tight clump in the centre of the stage.

After the yell (after the melody line) - the Mothers will start to move upstage right into a tight clump. Daughters will spread out in mixed scattered formation, but not near the Mothers.

During the decline of the storm, Daughters will move to the floor (sitting or lying down) in a staggered order (Sop 1s first, then Sop 2, then A1 then A2) - begin on Christina's #4 cue.