Musical Update

Musical Update 5/21/19

By: Ellie Lowenberg

This will be the last musical update ever written. Since the shows and practices are over for the year, all we can do is await the day Mr. Libonati writes the 26 musical contenders on the whiteboard next year. I’d say that Shrek was a success. Not going to lie though, it got off to a very very slow start. You all saw the show and can understand all the elements that went into it. Pinocchio's nose for example, that was a challenge to get right for when he would make it grow, or play the sound. For how it grows, that’s a secret ;) . The Friday curse wasn't a huge deal for this show because we had a rough Thursday show, but a really good Friday and Saturday one. As this being the eighth graders last show, they wanted to go out with a bang. I know everyone involved wanted -wholeheartedly- to do their best. I never imagined we'd do this show, but from the word Shrek being written on the board in December, to Quinaby belting out a glass shattering note, the cast and crew was all in from the beginning, and this show is one to remember.

Musical Update

By: Ellie Lowenberg


DISCLAIMER: I wrote this last week, the week of the shows. Sorry 'bout it.

Today is 5/16 the day of opening night. With our show schedule being Thursday (7 pm), Friday (7pm), and Saturday (4pm.) A lot of the actors have had an ongoing joke about the dreaded Friday "curse". The Friday "curse" was determined by how the shows normally go each week. On Thursday, everyone is usually really nervous and tries to be laser focused on everything that is happening, therefore, the show goes pretty well. Because of that success, the Friday show is most likely sloppier because the cast and crew get a little over confident. But for the last couple of years, the group involved in the play has broken said "curse" and hopes to make every show as perfect as possible. I've loved being a part of the middle school play the last three years, and while it's a lot of work, and insanely demanding, it's a great middle school experience whether your the lead role, an ensemble member, or a part of the crew, you will have tons to do and always have fun.

Musical Update 5/7/19

By: Ellie Lowenberg


This is the last week of true show preparation. Because next week is carefully awaited……… SHOW WEEK. The musical will be performed on the 16, 17, and 18th of next week. As always, opening night is Thursday at 7 pm. The stage and tech crew is working incredibly hard to make this show look amazing. Shrek requires a ton of props, sets and costumes, while it is a lot to manage if all goes well the show will look awesome. I asked Sophia, the manager of all props going on and off the main stage what the hardest part of her job is. "Having to change props fast from one scene to another very fast". The stage crew does not have a lot of time to transform the stage, but they are doing amazing. The hardest prop Sophia has to handle two heavy wood walls. She has to transport them on and off the stage with most every scene. Though Sophia stays backstage, she makes the show possible.

Musical Update

By: Ellie Lowenberg

The next 2.5 weeks are crucial to the success of the shows. The cast has exactly 2.5 weeks left to practice, and then it's showtime. Most of the scenes are roughly blocked out. (Blocking is an acting term for where you go on the stage and when you go there.) Though not everything is running smoothly quite yet, it's now up to the actors, mainly the ensemble/ extras. The ensemble are the characters in the background of most scenes, though they don't have as many lines as say, Shrek, or Fiona, there are very important to how the show looks, because everyone is always a character. I interviewed the Pied Piper (kind of like a postman) Mar Ubiergo, who doesn't have the biggest part, but is in about 4 scenes. "Make a move" the song that is performed by Donkey (Sloane) and the Storytellers (Kaedyn, Hannah, Riley, and Elena) is Mar´s favorite dance scene. Unfortunately Mar isn't in that scene, but her favorite scene that she is in, is her scene with Fiona. "Morning Person" In this scene Mar comes on stage with her flute, her trademark rats not following her. Once Fiona plays the right tune on the flute the song can carry on and the rats follow Mar off stage.

Pied Piper

(Mar)

Musical Update

By: Ellie Lowenberg

The show is fast approaching and will be performed very soon. This week, the cast only had two days to rehearse, but they are working hard. They are working on the 3 dances in the show, to both "Duloc" songs, and the hip hop dance to "I'm A Believer." They are also working on the wedding scene. The costumes are coming in, but there is still lots of work to do. The lights and mics need to be hooked up, as do the spotlights, and curtain crew. But the show will all come together in the end!

Musical Update 4/2

By: Ellie Lowenberg

Every year after Spring Break, the musical gets kicked into high gear. The cast and director work on getting every scene blocked. In shows, blocking means learning where everyone goes and stands during a scene. So far the cast has 8/14 scenes blocked, so they still have a lot of work to do. The play is a little over one month away, and most of the costumes are in the directors’ possessions. The three Fionas, young, teen, and adult, are all wearing identical red wigs in the show. Also, this week Mr. and Mrs. Libionati´s son, Taylor, is coming to Saturday rehearsal to teach the cast their hip hop dance to the closing song, ¨I'm a Believer.¨

Musical Update 4/9

By: Ellie Lowenberg


This week, the cast is blocking scenes and working on the dance, rehearsals aren't going to be super fun, but it’s work that needs to be done. This week I interview 3 of my castmates. Riley (Storyteller), Abraham (Papa Ogre), and Amryn (Mama Bear).

I started with Amryn, she has about 10 lines and some of them are in songs. ¨I have a solo, in ‘Freak Flag’ and another song, but I forget what it's called,¨ Amryn told me. She loves they play because she likes to meet new friends and learn the songs.

Next I interviewed Abe. He opens the show with his song, ¨Big Bright Beautiful World.¨ The song is a duet with Mama ogre (Angelina). He loves the play and will for sure do it next year.

Lastly I interviewed one of the Storytellers, Riley. Riley loves her part because she has solos in 3 songs. Her favorite part of the play is, ¨Meeting all the new 6th graders and making new friends.¨ The show is a lot of work, but it's very fun and these 3 definitely recommend it. If you have any questions about the play you can ask Riley, Abe, Amryn, or anyone wearing a Shrek shirt!!

Musical Update

By: Ellie Lowenberg

3-8-19

Rehearsals are officially in full swing. The whole cast attended four rehearsals the first week, but last week, Mrs. Libonati only had people with lines attended, so that character work could begin. The cast also made their dance to the, "What's Up Duloc?" song. They also worked on the songs, "I Know It's Today," "Story Of My Life," "Big Bright Beautiful World", and the classic Shrek and Donkey duet, "The Travel Song".

All the cast members -whether they have a lot of lines or none at all- are learning the songs so they can sing them backstage. This week the cast will be focusing on the very beginning and opening of the show, to perfect it. They cannot wait to get started.

Musical Update 3/19

By: Ellie Lowenberg

This week was a big week in terms of getting the cast from the floor, to the stage. Last Saturday a couple of ¨Shrek¨ cast parents came to school to build the stage extension. The extension is really helpful to the cast and allows more space for the cast to move around, and for extra cool set pieces. Also this week the shirts were delivered to the cast and a bunch of actors already have them. They will also be sold at all of the shows for $10.

Musical Update 2/25

By: Ellie Lowenberg

This week is the first week of rehearsal. Since the cast is just starting out, they have been working on getting their songs right. The musical director, Mrs. Libonati, has the cast work on one song at a time.

Since they aren't using the lights yet, the stage crew doesn't have much to do. I interviewed Sophia Deyoung on stage crew, who did props for the Wizard Of Oz. I asked her what her favorite part of being on stage crew is.

¨Being able to see everything that happens as it happens, but behind the scenes.¨

I also interviewed Owen James who is playing Lord Farquaad, ¨What is going on at play practice?¨ I asked Owen.

¨We are doing songs as a group and trying to get our vocals right¨ The cast is hard at work and we can't wait to see the show.

Musical Update 2/18/19

By: Ellie Lowenberg


The 2019 Middle school musical is finally underway. Middle schoolers have already auditioned for Shrek, and you can read more about that on the main school news page. But the parts were announced last week on 2/11 and here is the cast that will be performing Shrek for you in May.

Shrek- Dane (8th)

Fiona- Quinaby (8th)

Donkey-Sloane (8th)

Farquaad- Owen (8th)

Young Fiona- Stella (7th)

Teen Fiona- Ella Wolverton (8th)

Gingerbread Man- Ella Higgins (6th)

Pinocchio- Sam (6th)

Storyteller 1- Kaedyn (8th)

Storyteller 2- Elena D.(8th)

Storyteller 3-Riley (7th)

Storyteller 4-Hannah (7th)

Captain of the guards- Will (6th)

Mama Bear- Amryn (7th)

Papa Bear- Luka (7th)

Baby bear- Brynly (6th)

Wicked witch- Phobe (6th)

Pig 1- Ellie (8th)

Pig 2- Elijah (7th)

Pig 3-Alex (6th)

Peter Pan- Claire (7th)

Ugly duckling- Quinn Baker (6th)

Mama ogre- Angelina (8th)

Papa ogre- Abraham (7th)

Baby Shrek- Kjel (6th)

Knight 1- Elise (8th)

Knight 2- Haven (6th)

Knight 3- Ella Wolverton (8th)

Knight 4- Stella (7th)

Pied Piper- Mar (8th)

Dwarf- Jordan (6th)

Big Bad wolf- Moa (8th)

Bishop- Micah (7th)


Ensemble Characters:

Alexandra (6th)

George (6th)

Chloe (8th)

Mazin (6th)

Ginger (6th)

Leslie (6th)

Klein (6th)

Emily (7th)

Jaidyn (8th)