Blocking Notes from Full Run (Nov. 15)

In general, remember that there is no hiding when the audience is raised above you. If you end up in the wrong place, evaluate if it is essential that you move, and move with purpose.

Hey Ho

Set up the very first snap forward  (look around a little more just before that happens)

Family solo verse – Men, you started a bar too early

Mountain Nights

Xara, move to your three lines on the line “Pretty children they all were”

Your first movement will now begin on the Alto entry at the bottom of the first page.

Claire will review the video and provide feedback re: timing of certain moments of blocking

I See You

Xara exit during the piano ending, split centre and leave before the piece ends.

After Blow Blow

Large pause for the bear team to exit before Jennette begins narration

Tabula Rasa

Cue to enter is “You must have been so lonely”

Boadicea

Make sure you move to Forest B when Xara starts to sing again

In general, try to keep facing forward during the transitions between forests. Claire will review and make a decision if a change needs to be made.

Wind Soundscape

Review :

-       opening cues

-       south wind

-       aFRAID

-       traveling soundscape with decrescendo & west wind section

Ariana’s Lament

-       big pause (with Jenny filling with music) for wings to be set down and Xara to re-enter

-       narration starts at the same time as Ariana’s Lament

Scene 5 – The Queen’s Castle

When you are in the cross formation, the cue to drop arms for EVERYONE is now “As she approached the door, it blew open”

After “The Sky and the Dawn and the Sun”

There will be a transition scene with the little family – the XYE sisters, and the brothers. This is to leave time for Xara to do their costume change. 

Jul Jul

Enter when XYE sings “darkness and shadow”

Blocking Notes from October 12th

Blow Blow Thou Winter Wind (Ariana’s lonely song)  Video

Opening formation – open curtains

M. 8 – 16

“Blow blow thou winter wind” Lean forward into the wind, arms pull back

“Thou are not… because thou art not seen.” Stand and sing

“Although thy breath be rude” Lean back with the wind

M. 17 - 18 Cross to the other side of the stage, end mixed scattered.

M 20 -  Reach right hand, left hand, sweep hands across to the right, then left and allow that movement to carry you back to your original side, end in MIXED SCATTERED.

M 26-28 Peel back to the open curtain formation.

M. 29 - 36

“Freeze, freeze… “ Lean forward into the wind, arms pull back

“that does not bite… thy sting is not so sharp” Stand and sing

“As a friend remembered not” Lean back with the wind

M. 37 – 38 Sop 1s & Alto move backwards, Middles move forward, ending in mixed scattered formation

M. 40 Step back with right foot, lean right shoulder back – then Sop 1s & Altos push forward and step with their right foots while Middles reach forward with right hand and pull back. Return to MIXED SCATTERED

M. 44  Same as M. 17 (side to side cross, arms sweep up and cross back)

M. 51 Peel back the curtain

Tabula Rasa - Video

Beginning until the end of page 4:  Xara will be at the back of the stage, providing a backdrop for Ariana & Lucy. See photo for standing locations (Carolyn between Talisa and Jordyn)

Letter C – Come down off the platforms and fill the stage in mixed scattered by measure 53. Path TBD.

Letter D – M. 74 – Stand and sing

M. 75 – 82 Arms come up in a hug, sway one bar right, then rock back to centre. Lead with your right shoulder. Sense of comforting and keeping safe. See video.

M. 83 – 85 Gradually come to stillness and drop arms slowly to sides.

M. 86-87 Complete stillness

Don’t Be Afraid - Video

Remain offstage until measure 12. Then enter just enough that you can see Christina. Just on the periphery. Sing from here until Letter B.

Letter B – Enter a little more, remaining on the edges of the stage. ¾ turn toward Christina.

Letter D – Fill the space (spread around Ariana & Lucy, don’t be further toward the front of the stage than they are)

Letter E – Hold hands with your neighbour (Carolyn hold hands with Maria)

Letter F – Release hands and spread out to fill the space even more (it’s ok at this point to be further downstage than Ariana & Lucy)

Tundra Video 

Mountain Nights Beginning Lines: 

Notes from Oct 4 - Blocking

Again, many apologies about the lack of video / photos. Silly computer crash!! 

Tundra

Hallway #3 – At letter E

Hallway #4 – Midway through letter E (watch Christina for cue)

I See You

M. 1 – 10 Move from (off / side) stage to your mixed sitting location. You will sit there until measure 98, so make sure you are comfortable!

M. 9 – 24 – Passage of time, Ariana & Lucy’s friendship is just beginning. Slightly nervous, tentative feeling.

M. 25 – 40 – The friendship starts to build, curiosity and interest.

M. 41 – 48 – Altos are playing the voice of Lucy

M. 49 – 56 – Sopranos are playing the voice of Ariana

M. 56 – 98 – Increased happiness, playfulness, joy

M. 99 –107 – One by one, stand up and fill the space in mixed scattered formation. You can turn around to walk, no need to walk backwards.

Order of standing:

Alto 1b

Alto 1a

Sop 2b

Sop 2a

Sop 1b

Sop 1a

Alto 2s

Remain standing in these positions until the end of the piece.

Blow Blow Thou Winter Wind (Ariana’s lonely song)

Opening formation – open curtains  – Jordyn, Meghan & Leah P. will all be on stage left.

M. 8 – 16

“Blow blow thou winter wind” Lean forward into the wind, arms pull back

“Thou are not… because thou art not seen.” Stand and sing

“Although thy breath be rude” Lean back with the wind

M. 17 - 18 Cross to the other side of the stage, end mixed scattered.

M 20 -  Reach right hand, left hand, sweep hands across to the right, then left and allow that movement to carry you back to your original side, end in MIXED SCATTERED.

Rehearsal Notes from Sept 20th

SATB Notes

BOADICEA

·      Men – Change all hums to a nasal ooh (think of droning)

·      Women – Each time there is a tenuto or stacato at the end of a phrase, scoop up to it

·      Page 2 – dynamics are key! There should be a constant feeling of motion – either growing or receding

HEY HO! NOBODY HOME

There is no “S” at the end of nobody J

JUL JUL STRALANDE JUL

·      All men in unison throughout

·      Measure 17 – Sopranos & Altos only (two-part split, disregard the S1/2 indication)

·      Measure 33 – Three-part split for Sopranos and Altos

XARA Notes

HOMEWORK

·      Blow Blow Thou Winter Wind – to be memorized for next Sunday (Sept 27)

·      Tundra – to be memorized for next Sunday (Sept 27)

·      Altos, please review your entry notes for Mountain Nights

MOUNTAIN NIGHTS

·      Please make sure you rehearse this with movement, particularly to deal with the issue of keeping your tone steady while moving

·      When you are not mirroring Ariana’s movement, you are observing her

BLOW BLOW

·      Ellide “most jolly” (no stop between the two words)

·      Page 7 & 8 - Make sure you know where the accented consonants happen

TUNDRA

Auditions for Solo will be next week

·      Focus on diction when you practice this one.

·      Plan how you will approach the stagger breathing on the final page of music.

·      Note that measure 39 is a 5 beat measure, with the last eighth as a breath.

Movement: SEE VIDEO

Starting positions: Two lines (Sop 1 & Alto 1 in front; Sop 2 & Alto 2 in back) spread out across the back of the stage. Hold this positions until Letter C

Letter C: Become the castle

Letter D: Triangle behind Ariana