Notes from Rehearsal - Feb 19

Link to Running Blocking Notes

Soundscape 3

• Survivors move toward the back of the stage to remove costume pieces.
• Window movers return windows to the centre of the stage (Brianna, Antoinette, Leah, Rhian, Hayley, Colleen, Morgan, Raquel), in a row up the middle.
• Gabrielle, Georgia, Natasha & Nikki need to move behind the line of windows after removing their costume piece. Raquel will move to be near the front.
• Everyone else in a mixed scattered formation with Soprano 1,2 & 3 on Stage Right, Altos on Stage Left on either side of the windows, angled in towards the windows at about 45˚

Pacem - Video

M 1 - 26 Remain in opening positions. Nikki, Natasha, Gabrielle & Georgia will begin moving through the windows one at a time starting at measure 8. Everyone else watch them.

2 Before B - Move to your positions for letter B

Letter B - Sectional movement (see preliminary video)

Letter C - If you are seated at the end of B, stand up at the beginning of C

M 50 - 60 All walk forward

M 61 - 65 (this is the same movement as in Winter Sky, but slower because of the pace of hte music)

Raise left hand

Grab left elbow with right hand

Cross arms

Arms down

Look right

Left hand to right cheek

Right hand grab left forearm and turn face back to centre

Hands down

M 73 - More to come

2 Before D - Move to positions for Letter D

Letter D - Same as Letter B

Letter E

M 102 - 104 Move into mixed scattered on the sides, turned slightly towards the windows

M 105 - 122 , Brianna, Emma, Colleen & Raquel move through the windows while everyone else is in mixed scattered on either side watching.

123 - End Turn to face the front

Stage IIB

During the Morse Code, move to find a new location on the stage. Nurses & Midwives sitting, Survivors standing, Kallie in the centre door. Katelyn, Morgan & Jordyn, stage right please.

Lines are delivered from your locations, facing out at the audience.

After Jordyn’s line “My baby’s coming” - Everyone stands. Begin moving around the stage (we’re now in the hospital - move in character)

After Georgia’s line “Come quick it’s time!” - Freeze in place on “time”

After Leah’s line, resume moving - Julia, Antoinette, Kallie, Rhian, Hayley, Colleen, Raquel, Talisa will move the windows to the sides of the stage : Window 1 & 2 stage left, 3 & 4 stage right

Midwives find your pregnant woman :

Leah -> Georgia

Morgan -> Jordyn

Brianna -> Natasha

Soundscape 4

On the “Push push push” - move to mixed scattered across the stage. Remain in character, but your character is not necessarily in the same location or place in time as you just were.

Explosion Movement Score - Video

Prep for February 19 Rehearsal

Hi everyone!

I'm looking forward to having lots of time to do some super solid choreography work with you all this Sunday! :) Here's my plan for the day:

1:15 Physical Warm up
1:25 Vocal Warm up
1:35 Psalm 69 - finish blocking
2:20 Soundscape 3 Blocking
2:40 Pacem Blocking
3:40 Break
3:55 Stage IIb Blocking
4:25 Soundscape 4 Blocking
4:45 Explosion Movement Score
5:30 Home

If we end up with some extra time, I will squeeze in a run of Winter Sky with blocking!!

Note that Alto 1s are on snack! Reminder to soprano 2s to keep taking those rehearsal photos and videos! ;)

This would be an EXCELLENT rehearsal to wear a rehearsal skirt, as we will be doing a lot of moving around :) 

Note that for this week, Soundscapes 3 &4 and Pacem are to be memorized (to the best of your ability with Pacem given the shorter prep timeline)

See you Sunday!!! :) <3 

Notes from Power Weekend

Soundscape 2 - There have been some changes

Here is the link to the new score with voice parts (6-part split)

Soundscape 3

Ship’s Bell with the train whistle. On Christina’s cues. Only Sop 1s are involved in this.

Soundscape 4

On Christina’s cue, start quietly and build until the cut at the end of the train whistle :

Gasping & whimpering - Brianna, Katelyn & Rhian

“Hello” “Help” “Anyone”  - Morgan & Jordyn

Lord’s Prayer - Natasha

Hail Mary - Leah

Psalm 23 - Raquel

“James?” - Gabrielle

“A girl’s name” - Georgia

Moaning - Emma & Julia

Shuddering breathing - Mackenzie & Nikki

On Christina’s cue :

Train whistle. Slowly gliss up on Christina’s cue. Go as high as you can and then stop (don’t fall off the pitch)

Blocking Notes:

Here is the link to the Running Blocking Notes for the show.

Stage IIa

Note that this stage has a less frantic energy to it.

Over the Morse Code and Kallie’s text, the windows will be moved to a horizontal line across the centre of the stage. Window movers : Hayley Jordyn Colleen Shila Morgan Raquel Rowan Natasha (two per window)

Kallie, Katelyn, Brianna, Leah come in front of the windows, everyone else will be behind the windows.

Emma, Talisa & Antoinette should be just behind the windows on Stage Right and come forward on “Truro, Falmouth, Windsor, Aldershot”. (Emma first, then Talisa, then Antoinette)

Soundscape 2 - Video

People behind the windows will form into groups of three - two on either side helping the third person in the middle to walk around behind the windows (the person in the middle is in labour).

Georgia & Sophie

Rylee & Caitlin

Morgan, Natasha & Raquel

Rowan, Julia & Shila

Colleen, Gabrielle & Nikki

Mackenzie, Hayley & Jordyn

On the first breath, the women who are in labour should have a physical movement, then the helpers move to them.

When the first train whistle sounds (solo), get ready. On the second solo whistle, dissolve the groups. Move to your V’la l’bon vent positions over the rest of the whistles.

V’la l’bon vent - Video

There are videos for some of the smaller sections for more detail on that choreography.

Quartet downstage centre, Natasha and Nikki behind Shila and Katelyn.

M 1-34 (both repeats and letter A) Standing in two lines on either side of the quartet, in front of the windows, in mixed order. Original lines

Chorus : Look sideways at the quartet when they sing, look at one another and interact when you sing the echos and the V’la l’bon vent sections (listening to the news, then sharing the news)

M 35-36 Move. Quartet will relocate to be furthest stage right. The Sop 1, Sop 2, Alto 1, Alto 2. Still in two lines. Imagine you are moving down a narrow train aisle, go in a straight line as much as possible.

Letter C - All three repeats

1st time :  Alto 2s step forward, turn to face stage right and walk as far stage right as possible. Everyone else turn and walk towards stage left two spaces.

2nd time : Alto 1s step forward, turn to face stage right and walk as far stage right as possible. Everyone else turn and walk towards stage left two spaces.

3rd time : Sop 2s step forward, turn to face stage right and walk as far stage right as possible. Everyone else turn and walk towards stage left two spaces.

Moving to new lines and then the three repeats

M 58 - Turn your whole body toward the quartet.

Letter D - Drift sideways to a position behind the windows, then turn to face front again. Quartet move to a straight line across the centre of the stage.

Letter E - Walk forward, stepping on the second beat of every bar. Begin with right foot. Seven steps in total - the seventh step is feet together. Maintain the two lines, and come up behind the quartet. Quartet step in place.

After V’la l’bon vent

During the Morse Code, move to positions as shown in the photo below. Remain in these positions until Soundscape 3.

Prep for our Power Weekend!

Hi everyone,

We're making great progress on The Hours Turn to Nothing and we're really excited to welcome Ami McKay back to our rehearsals this weekend. Here's what you need to keep in mind as you get ready.

Homework

• Memorize V’la l’bon vent & Soundscape 2 (the one Ami taught last time)
• Bring rehearsal skirts!! (Maxi length, full if possible)
• Get the blocking we completed for Psalm 69 into your body
• Review the music and blocking for Winter Sky

Saturday, Feb 11 Rehearsal Plan - Dalhousie Arts Centre, Rm 121 (basement)
Snacks: anyone who can, please!

9:30	Warm ups & technique
10:00	Morning reheasrsal: Block Stage IIa Music for V'la l'bon vent Block V'la l'bon vent Soundscapes 3 & 4 (Ami)
12:15	Lunch
1:30 -  4:00	Afternoon reheasrsal: Intensive Music work on Pacem Soundscape perfection Block Soundscape 2

Sunday, Feb 12 Rehearsal Plan - St. Matthew's (as usual)
Snacks: Soprano 2s

1:15	Youth Mentorship Movement Clinic
2:00	Regular reheasrsal: Cronan Even When He Is Silent Block Stage II Review
5:30	Home

Notes from Feb 5 Rehearsal

Cronan
We spent quite a bit of time on pronunciation today. Christina will post a reference recording of herself speaking the text. The reference recording of the song uses correct pronunciation with the exception of the word "llua" which needs to have both vowel sounds with a slight emphasis on the u.

V'la l'bon vent
To be memorized for next Saturday.

Soundscape 2
The people saying "Push" will now say "Push Push Push Push Pu - shhhhhh". This is also to be memorized for next Saturday.

Blocking Notes From Today

SOUNDSCAPE 1

Telegraph noises - Walk to empty spaces, keep the energy and the urgency up. Heavy breathing while walking.

Wind noises - Over the end of the telegraph, and into the silence. Slow down the walking pace until you come to a complete stop.

Wind noises fade out - Begin walking again

Breath in (on Christina’s cue) - Suspension in walking

Breath out (on Christina’s cue)  - Move to bandages positions

On Christina’s cue - Bandage Action (video)

PSALM 69

Please note, all singers except Kallie are Midwives and Nurses in this song.

Soloists enter as they sing

On Colleen’s solo line (measure 3), Survivors turn over your right shoulder to face forward.

M 5 - 15 - When you sing, begin walking slowly to three clumps close to the front of the stage (Sop 2 stage right, Sop 1s centre, Altos stage left) Take your time!

M 16-17 - Draw together in a tight clump

M 18-20 - Look up at the balcony

M 21-24 - Sop 2s and Altos quickly spread out to the sides, Sop 1s quickly float backwards into diamond formation, Sop 2s and Altos fill in the centre

M 25-40 - Sop 1s glide forward, Altos and Sop 2s part to make way as the Sop 1s come through.

M 41-42 Stand and sing

M 43-?? - Change positions so that Sop 1s are stage right, Sop 2s are centre, and Altos remain stage left

M ?? - Form two lines across the stage

M 55 - Front row kneel

M 71 - Back row lean forward to offer hands to help the front row up - only start moving (both rows) when your part starts singing. Front row should not put their hands up until the back row’s hands are in place.

Running Blocking Notes

Audition Results & Speaking Role Assignments

Hi everyone!

Thank you to all who auditioned for vocal solos and speaking roles on Sunday. You make our job SO HARD because honestly everyone is sooooo good :) Luckily everyone gets an opportunity for some speaking lines in this show so we are happy to spread the love around! :)

It is mandatory that everyone goes through their script before Sunday's rehearsal and writes in the names of who is speaking which lines - it will be too difficult to remember "Midwife 5" and it will help you with your cue lines etc. 

Vocal Solos

Winter Sky (S2) - Leah
Winter Sky (duet) - Shila & Georgia

Psalm 69 (S1) - Gabrielle
Psalm 69 (S2) - Colleen
Psalm 69 (A) - Talisa

V'la l'bon vent Quartet
S1 - Shila
S2 - Katelyn
A1 - Nikki
A2 - Natasha

Pacem (alto) - Raquel
Pacem (soprano) - Rhian

Kyrie (opening) - Caitlin
Kyrie (end) - Kallie

Speaking Roles

Voice of the News - Kallie
Voice of the News understudy - Natasha (will perform June 3 & 4 touring shows)
Midwife 1 - Leah
Midwife 2 - Morgan
Midwife 3 - Brianna
Midwife 4 - Antoinette
Midwife 5 - Hayley
Midwife 6 - Rylee
Nurse 1 - Colleen
Nurse 2 - Raquel
Nurse 3 - Katelyn
Nurse 4 - Emma
Nurse 5 - Talisa
Nurse 6 - Sophie
Nurse 7 - Rhian
Survivor 1 - Rowan
Survivor 2 - Caitlin
Survivor 3 & 7 - Gabrielle
Survivor 4 - Nikki
Survivor 5 - Shila
Survivor 6 - Mackenzie
Survivor 8 - Julia
Survivor 9 - Jordyn
Survivor 10 - Georgia
Survivor 11 - Natasha

Prep for February 5 Rehearsal

Happy February everyone! Thanks for a great rehearsal on Sunday and for many top-notch auditions. Your talent makes our choices very difficult! We'll be announcing the results of the auditions in a separate blog post on Thursday but for now, here are some things to work on and plan for as February 5th approaches.

Homework
Memorize Psalm 69 and review/solidify the blocking for Winter Sky.

As a reminder, once we have taught the blocking/choreo for a piece, it is up to you to ensure that you know it as well as you know the music. Don't forget that you have Erin's amazing notes to help!

Character Development
When we announce the results of the auditions, we will also assign all the lines in the script so everyone knows what text they need to learn. This will give you a start at building your character's identity for our show. Offering an honest and believable performance to an audience requires that you really know who "you" are and we want to support you in developing a rich sense of your character's back-story. To do this, I've put together a fairly comprehensive list of resources that can help you get a better feel for what it would have meant to live in 1917.

Feb 5 Rehearsal Plan
Sop 1s on SNACK duty!

1:15	Alto sectional (in 3 AND 4 part split)
2:00	Full Ensemble physical and vocal warm up
2:20	Regular rehearsal with a focus on: Block "Stage 1" up to Soundscape 1 V’la l’bon vent for memorization Pacem Cronan Ps 69 memory check Block Ps 69
5:30	Home

Upcoming Special Dates

Just a reminder that the weekend after this one (Feb 11-12) is our "Power Weekend" (so called because we "power" through a ton of material!!).  On Saturday, Feb 11 we are rehearsing from 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at Dalhousie University (Rm 121 in the basement) and on Sunday we'll have our regular rehearsal at St. Matt's.