Dear Students and Parents, Mrs. Piercy and I are very exciting to begin working with you all on The Pirates of Penzance Jr. Please make sure to read all of this information carefully in order to make sure that the rehearsal process and fulfillment of this show is as efficient and enjoyable as possible. Within this packet you will find: 1. Important Dates - Including mandatory rehearsals and performances. 2. Rehearsal Attendance/Schedules 3. Audition Process 4. Cast Fee Information 5. Rehearsal Etiquette 6. T- Shirt/DVD Information 7. Cast List 8. Current Prop List 9. Audition Form 10. Contract All information and forms can be found on the Spring Musical webpage: (HBW Website è School Life è HBW Musical) If you want to be kept up- to- date with current information, please sign up for e- alerts on the HBW webpage. Please check our website for information on how to do so. Please attend one of our two parent meetings to see how YOU can help create a fantastic production! Many hands are needed for putting on a production and there are many ways in which you can help. Show Dates: March 30 Performance 1 (7:00 PM) March 31 Performance 2 (1:30 PM) PLEASE KEEP IN MIND THAT WE WILL BE HAVING MANDATORY DRESS REHEARSALS FOR THE TWO WEEKS PRIOR TO THE PERFORMANCES. PLEASE KEEP THEM CLEAR OF ANY FORESEEABLE CONFLICTS. Please feel free to contact Mr. Michalowski at anytime if you have any questions. Brian Michalowski HBW Middle School bmichalowski@veronaschools.org
Rehearsal Attendance/Schedules Mr. Michalowski and Mrs. Piercy understand that students are involved with other activities and encourage this! Please understand, however, that being in a cast is a team activity and an absence affects everyone! We expect everyone to be at rehearsals they are called for unless a previous arrangement has been worked out with Mr. Michalowski. Even one absence is a big deal. Excessive absences or even the absence from a mandatory rehearsal will result in the removal from songs/scenes or even the production. November 2011 M T W 28 29 3:00 - Information Meeting 7:00 Parent Meeting 30 December 2011 M T W Th F 5 3:00-5:00 Audition Grades 5/6 12 3:10-5:00 Frederick, Mabel, Ruth, King 19 3:10-4:00 4:00-5:00 Major- General 6 3:00-4:00 Call Backs (TBD) 20 3:10-5:00 Daughters 1 3:00-5:00 Audition Workshop 7:00 Parent Meeting 2 3:00-5:00 Audition Grades 7/8 7 8 9 3:10-5:00 1 st Rehearsal CAST 13 14 15 3:10-5:00 Pirates 21 22 3:10-5:00 Frederick, King, Samuel, Jacob, Ruth 16 3:10-5:00 Police 23 March 2012 M T W Th F S 19 20 21 22 23 Family Night 26 27 28 29 4:00- Final Dress 30 6:00- Call 7:00- Show 1 24 31 12:30- Call 1:30- Show 2 EACH SCHEDULE WILL BE RELEASED IN THE PRECEEDING MONTH
Audition Process Audition Workshop Students will have the opportunity to learn the audition material and gain some advice on what Mr. Michalowski and Mrs. Piercy will be looking for in casting. We will work on basic auditioning technique and presentation. Auditions Grades 5/6 and 7/8 will be auditioning on two different days. Auditions WILL last from 3:00-5:00, so please make sure you are available for the entire time. Students will get the opportunity to sing and present predetermined songs and monologues INDIVIDUY. There will also be a group dance portion to the audition. Due to the amount of students, we will not be able to accommodate anyone who needs to leave the audition early. If you cannot make your audition day or can only stay for a portion, you are allowed to audition on another day WITH PERMISSION FROM MR. MICHALOWSKI AND WORKED OUT AHEAD OF TIME. The following items are needed on the day of the audition: Audition Form, Contract, and Cast Fee. Auditions are required for everyone, including students who may only be interested in ensemble roles. Cast Fee students must contribute $40 to participate in the production. This money goes towards the purchasing of the license to perform the work, costumes, set pieces, props, programs, etc. Payment is accepted in the form of cash or check (preferable). Please make checks payable to HBW. The $40 fee is due on audition day and is refundable up until the first rehearsal (December 9).
Rehearsal Etiquette The Musical is a school activity; therefore, all school policies will be followed. While this play should be an enjoyable experience, a high level of professionalism and respect for others is required. 1. Respect for other cast members, parents, directors and any other individual is expected at all times. 2. Bad attitudes will be checked at the door. 3. Each person is expected to clean up after themselves. 4. No gum chewing. 5. No roughhousing/disruptive behavior/foul language. 6. No cellphones. 7. Students should always have an activity or homework in the rare occurrence of downtime. Discipline Policy: All students should WANT to be at rehearsal. If discipline is needed, the following order will take place: 1. Warning 2. Removal from Situation 3. Asked to leave rehearsal and possible dismissal from the show. T- Shirt/DVD Information You have the option of purchasing a cast/crew T- Shirt and DVD of the production. Both items cost $15 individually. Starting this year, orders will be able to be placed online at a later date. Please keep an eye out for more information! T- Shirts We will be having a T- Shirt design competition for the first time! Any student is welcome to submit a design. All submissions must include: 1. The title of the production: The Pirates of Penzance, Jr. 2. The performance dates: March 30 & 31, 2012 3. The name of the school: H.B. Whitehorne Middle School 4. Any personally made graphic you feel is appropriate for this show Mr. Michalowski and Mrs. Piercy will select the winner from all of the submissions.
List of Roles Pirate King The leader of the pirate crew, the is a whole- hearted romantic. He and his crew are rather like barking dogs who love the barking but are ready to run away if things get serious. Frederic - He is young, manly, genuine and an innocent. Frederic is funny because he is so sincerely trying to do the honorable thing. He has great verve and energy, is out- going, unaffected, and honest. Ruth Frederic s nanny. It is from her that he has learned to be so polite and honorable and to cherish respectability - and to give himself so wholly and immediately to love. The feelings between Ruth and Frederic are almost like mother and son. They care for each other on the most profound level. Samuel - King's right- hand man, not awfully bright Jacob Just like Samuel, not awfully bright. Kate - Mabel's sister, proper, pleasant, bright Edith - Another sister, proper, young, snappy Isabel - Another sister, like the others Marion Another sister, like the others Mabel - Very much a young woman of the 19th century. She is like something from an early silent movie (Lillian Gish or Mary Pickford). Major- General The father of many daughters. He is respectability. The grand out- going musical hall tradition works well, with a wide variety of character approaches. The important thing is that he be vivid with the kind of warmth and good- humor of Santa Claus, that he be quirky, but believable. Sergeant - Gangly police captain, stiff yet agile Young Frederic, Frederic s Father, Pilot (non- speaking) Police Chorus Daughter Chorus Pirate Chorus
Prop List as of 11/26/11 Please let Mr. Michalowski know if you have any of these items!!! This list can also be found as a working document on our website!!! Fencing foil (2) Treasure Chest (large, but light weight) Fake Gold Items (necklaces, coins, etc.) Dice (2 pairs) Playing Cards (2 sets) Pirate Swords Telescope Travel trunks/bags Old fashion umbrella Parasols (12) preferably different colors Old Fashion Lantern Many fancy and different colored handkerchiefs
Audition Form Name: Grade: M / F Home Address: Home Phone Number: Parent s/guardian s Names: Parent s/guardian s Email: Number in Case of an Emergency: Role(s) interested in: Previous Experience: Show Title Role Year Do you/have you ever taken private voice lessons? If so, for how long? Name of vocal teacher Do you have any acting/dance training? If so, what type and for how long? Do you have any special skills/talents? Please list them: Conflicts with rehearsals? Please list any regular appointments or commitments that may interfere. Please use the back for more room as well.
Dress Rehearsals/Performance Please review the run through, dress rehearsal and performance schedule and note any conflicts. These rehearsals are mandatory for all involved. A copy of this schedule can also be found on pg. 2 of this packet March 2012 M T W Th F S 1 2 3 5 6 7 8 9 10 12 13 14 15 16 17 19 20 21 Family Night 22 23 24 26 27 28 29 4:00- Final Dress 30 6:00- Call 7:00- Show 1 31 12:30- Call 1:30- Show 2 Continued Conflicts:
Contract 1) I have read all the attached information and will keep the packet on hand for reference. 2) I understand the policies and procedures. 3) I will treat everyone involved in the production with respect. This includes other cast/crew members, directors, adult supervisors/helpers, and any other person involved with the production. 4) By showing up to the first rehearsal after auditions, I have accepted the role I was given. If I accept a role in the show (including ensemble) I have made a commitment to be in the show until the final performance. 5) I understand that failure to following these rules could result in the surrendering of my role in the production. 6) I have listed all of the conflicting dates on the audition sheet. Signature of Parent/Guardian Signature of Student