9/19/2020 Actor meet and greet
7pm-8:20pm
Introductions
• name
• preferred pronouns
• role
• something you should be good at but aren’t
• something you’re great at
Charades
Pitch Presentation
• Keep communication open
o We might say no to simple things. You can ask about crazy things
Find Game Score:
Connor- III
Corina- IIII
Emily- III
Aunah- II
Brynna- I
Clarissa- I
9/26/20 Scene 4, 5, 6
6:00- 7:50pm
Warm Up: 6-6:11pm
Scene 4: 6:11pm- 7:02pm
Break: 7:02-7:09pm
Scene 5, 6: 7:09pm- 7:50pm
Rehearsed Scenes 4, 5, 6. Played with different ways to do it and made preliminary blocking.
09/28/20 Scene 7, 11
6:59-8:34pm
Warm up: 7-7:08pm
Scene 7: 7:08-7:36pm
Break: 7:36-7:42pm
Scene 11: 7:42-8:34pm
Rehearsed Scene 7, 11. Played with different ways to do it and made preliminary blocking.
10/01/20 Scene 16, 17
8:02- 9:02pm
First Observation End time: 9:20pm
Warm Up:
1.) You have glue on your fingers but you can’t move the piece of paper you are holding until it is cut.
a. You are extremely clumsy with handling small objects.
2.) You need to put on a necklace but can’t get the clasp yourself.
a. You are deathly afraid of sharp objects and are insecure about this.
Rehearsed Scene 16, 17. Played with different ways to do it and made preliminary blocking.
Things to focus on: How do we show traveling?
Traveling solution- From cave to tunnel: pick up the camera and spin in place while talking. From tunnel to different place in tunnel: pick up camera at same time so that each person starts on one side of screen and ends on the other side.
10/4/20 Scene 13, 19, 21, 22
6:30- 8:30pm
Worked on physicality, flight, how to show an end to the story, speed and intonation of lines, high energy and touching slow moments, and basic characterization.
Thumbelina breaks during her last line of song (asked her to show physical pain as a trying to see what that would do emotion-wise and she brought it during the song rather than right before the line like I wanted and it’s so much better… just thought I’d mention that)
10/05/20 Walk/ Run Through
Jacquimo go out during Scene 2 and don’t come in til end
Tommy don’t come in til Thumbelina goes out top of Scene 4
Connor let’s see your desperation (maybe a paper), notice of Thumbelina, and exit
Aunah loved the your mother joking thing. Joanna loved your stage business.
Give ring later.
Great having Thumbelina breathing sounds in Scene 7.
Tommy don’t wait and see playfulness and concern sooner
Jitterbugs are ADORABLE
Scene 9- Aunah sit down at one point
Scene 10-Tommy don’t drop character, even when you’re ready
Scene 12- great transition out, nice job with trying new emotions
Scene 13- don’t point to her, show that you’ve found her by stopping
Scene 14- meant for jitterbugs to leave after Cornelius does, but that actually kind of worked with Ms. Fieldmouse knowing. Close your eyes when you freeze
Scene 15- look at camera when talking to Thumbelina, good job at oh no I just told her that and exiting. Thanks aunah for remembering the stuff. Brynna can you point to something in Aunahs direction.
Let’s work on reactions when we’re not talking
Nice reaction to stuttering. Brynna take more time to switch your decision. George come on during this scene when Connor mentions you- Scene 17
Scene 18- nice aunah with sneaking stuff. Brynna leave screen on
Scene 19- close your eyes George. Have the blanket below where we can see, only let us see it once you stand. Good timing with the thorn. Don’t take a break between lines for you’re sure to do impossible things if you follow your heart. Don’t do an accent.
Scene 20- I couldn’t see but freeze during flashbacks. Sound a little apologetic Aunah otherwise you look like a jerk. Get excited when you see the Vale of the Fairies.
Turn off camera George scene 2
Connor come in sooner
Work on o thank you o your welcome moment
Good job with the whispering
Whistling- no, then yeah/ Don’t do it the first time you did it, do it later
10/06/2020 Second Preview
Things to check at call time:
1. Names are set for start of show, go over how to change names
a. Even when you’re calling from offstage (Brynna, change to Mother bug then mother to call for Thumbelina then back to mother bug)
2. Everyone is in all black
3. Everyone has a blank background
4. All props are set (if time come back*)
5. Go over notes:
a. Tommy and Aunah move camera during LMBYW
b. George leave screen at end of Scene 1 and come in for line at end of Scene 2
c.
6. *go over prop list
7. Give everyone 5 minutes before to breathe
8. Start at 1pm and give prayer
Mother
Mother Bug
Child Bug
Gnatty
Beetle Ball Announcer
Beetle 1
Beetle 3
Priest
Beetle
Mr. Mole
Ms. Fieldmouse
Tabitha
Notes:
Tommy- bigger reactions, more contrast in scene
Connor- come in earlier
Tommy- “never” is way too dramatic, but “mother!” was perfect
Brynna, Mary don’t notice what’s going on til end (?)
Let’s have everyone leave so Aunah is alone on stage
Nice flying George in Scene 13. Aunah what’s your reaction
Tommy nice pace for trying to find Thumbelina, great urgency
Nice “you know my name”
Connor what’s your reaction to her talking about the sun
Aunah thanks for looking up at Jac scene 19 when he got up
Brynna thanks for moving in between flashbacks
Tommy close your eyes when you freeze
George nice smirk when you leave Scene 22
Comments from class:
Wasn’t sure when
Show size based on camera angles, especially Thumbelina- who is bigger than her?
The way the actors treated the camera said a lot about the character
Play with how do I enter this space differently. Use body to show where you are
Virtual backgrounds. Find empty space.
Play with proximity to camera
Not sure when they were in the same space
Started off well, set the tone for fantasy
Have music make characters connect to audience
Hide self view- tell audience about. If everyone goes out, it goes to white screen so make sure.
Clarify looking at camera- what’s the relationship to being able to see people when
10/07/2020 Jitterbug/Beetle Characterization
8- 10:01pm
Went over long, purposeful, slow, distant burlesque beetle movements as a contrast to sharp, quick, close, corner hugging jitterbug movements.
10/08/2020- Designer Runthrough
6- 7:50pm
Asked designers if they had questions- how are we going to have thorn pierce wing. Should Jitterbugs be in Scene 11? How do we get the wings on Thumbelina?
To dos:
Call Tommy and ask him to email Camden
Email Pollyanna and ask about how to get people in different location on OBS
Tell brandon that Connor and Tommy have light color options
10/12/2020 Experimentation Day
7:10- 9:10pm
Tried these different characterizations in select scenes to see what actors took with them after seeing a new perspective:
Jacquimo- tired all the time
Jitterbugs- random spasms
Thumbelina-
Beetle- be ditzy
Mother- cool mom
Part 1
Ask what they learned to apply before using these:
Who’s your favorite Disney villain?- possibly say act like the heroine. Oogie Boogie
Quality that starts with the first letter of your name? brilliant
Offensive stereotypical male/ female quality. Male- mansplaining, female- super demure
Favorite superhero? megamind
You’re having a party, what would be the worst party guest? vegans
Pet peeve? Pees on everything
Favorite animal? Grizzly bear
Give me a phobia. Hippopatamon- fear of long words
Extremely alert or extremely forgetful?
A medical condition you wouldn’t want to have? Diabetes
Act like a different person in the play
Aunah- megamind
Cornelius- pees on everything
Beetle- super demure
Jaquimo- grizzly bear
Ms Fieldmouse- oogie boogie
Have everyone pick a different dwarf and over-do that characteristic in their characters.
Grumpy, Dopey, Doc, Happy, Bashful, Sneezy and Sleepy
Part 2
Connor- a lot of self-confidence, work on incorporating that
George- pause during impossible monologue
Aunah- pacing faster, incorporate not dragging
Tommy- maybe try absent minded, try finding cracks in persona he’s trying to give up
Brynna- incorporate wonder and noticing opportunity
George- prominent, eloquent
Aunah- razzmatazz
Connor- country grammy
Brynna- Flynn rider
Tommy- absent mindedly manipulate
Be more scared
Sarcasm can be used
Take-aways:
Ms. Fieldmouse can do a cutesy laugh
Cornelius can compensate for bashful with more
Thumbelina liked having a quiet moment at the end
Mole it was interesting to not sympathize with him when he was falling asleep at his wedding
Jacquimo it was interesting to play him old. He can be older when narrating. It would be nice to find contrasting moments where he’s low energy.
10/13/2020 Love Scenes
Love stories experienced or heard about:
Tommy and girlfriend- Tommy been at a weird spot, easy to talk to, interesting, pretty, this feels nice
Aunah and boyfriend- Freshman year of hs in school musical, scared to talk to people, talking to him, friend then romantic partner, just there for her, waiting for her
Sammy- aunt and uncle met cause of brother and sister getting married, proposed on a surfboard
Favorite love stories in media
Aunah- Sherlock, not the steamy hot lady it’s the girl who was always there. Watson and his wife. Flip over hug
Sammy- Percy and Annabeth know each other very well. Similar circumstances, there are things they don’t like about each other but stil love each other. Kristoff asks what do you need in frozen 2
Tommy- Camelot, very quick, he’s bashful. Brandon Sanderson misbourn 2 character who don’t like each other, get betrothed and end up loving each other, wild west sheriff and cold list making person. She
Love Languages
Thumbelina- gift giving, words of affirmation
Cornelius- service, time
Love scenes needed work so we discussed what struck us with other love stories and incorporated connecting ideas into Thumbelina and Cornelius’ scenes. Made concrete choices and pacing.
10/16/20 Fun Day
4:04- 4:41pm
Breather day. Play with the scenes. Gave an actor in each scene something out of the ordinary to do in a private message so the other actor’s needed to change what they did in order to appropriately react to it.
10/17/20 Talk Through
8:05- 10:14pm
Talk through show and notice scene changes and what needs to be done
Let’s rehearse scene 12 again
Brynna, Mary move a lot as jitterbugs and stay toward edge of screen
George, whistle to bring on jitterbugs
Mary Brynna, be in same screen at end of scene
Aunah go offstage for the ugly line
George you need to find somewhere you can lie down. Can we see more shock that you were pushed, can seeing the people be from a distance for the first one and someone closer for the second
Tommy take more time to freeze, maybe we can take out the first freezing part
Brynna why do you say tender little thing? – show it. Liked the yes
Carina remember to freeze during flashbacks (including where your eyes go)
Tommy can your Thumbelina be in response to her wings
Things to have on Monday- makeup, costumes, and props rehearsed and ready.
Spaces in which you will perform ready (this includes a solid wall that is different than your costume or skin tone color)
Name Changes for Nadine to make during the show:
Joanna
Scene 9: maybe change to Gnatty
Scene 10: change to Tabitha
Scene 12: change to beetle 3
Scene 14: maybe change to Gnatty
Child Bug
Mother Bug
Gnatty
Tabitha
Beetle Ball Announcer
Beetle 1
Beetle 2
Beetle 3
When tech isn’t working, have people use chat
10/19/2020 Run Through
8:00- 11:10pm
Run Through of the show multiple times. Gave time to designer to discuss anything they needed to with the actors. Answered actor’s questions. Discussed 3rd preview and performance plans/etiquette.
10/20/2020 Third Preview
Heads up:
1. Our stage manager filled in for Thumbelina
2. We made background images, but some actors couldn’t find background through the green shield or start video
3. We were afraid that our technical director wouldn’t be able to do sound in addition to her other duties. I’ll discuss at our production meeting today whether she thinks that will be a possibility.
4. We are recording Let Me Be Your Wings tomorrow at 2:30pm
Questions for the class:
5. What can we do about the digital backgrounds? Any suggestions for what to do about the backgrounds?
a. Make sure they have the right device and updated zoom, also make sure they have zoom installed not just through the browser
6. Any suggestions for what to do about wifi?
a. Had to get an adapter to plug in directly to internet.
7. What moments of the show drew you in? Which took you out of the play?
a. Sound added to world of show, same with picture book. They loved the light for mole, seeing that this is fantasy. Actors made such drastically different choices drew in and not very different choices drew out
8. What parts of the plot confused you?
a. Kidnapping, didn’t focus on Beetle during LMBYW
Set- we’re asking actors to check out/ borrow laptops
10/21/2020 Run Through
At the beginning we can hear stuff
Mole mouse and thumb go toward your camera and back away for the transition now
We’re also changing the changing of fall
Kymberly
Aunah doesn’t come on til right before “hello mother”
George comes on at end of
Transition needed between scene 2 and 3
Maybe Connor come in a little later in LMBYW
Can Connor’s screen be farther away from Aunah, she just gets cut off
S 12 Joanna needs to be backstage the entire time. Everyone is either on or off stage. Aunah goes offstage again.
Aunah shouldn’t be in blue
Tommy can be made bigger slower toward the end
Fairy sparkles should last longer
Thanks so much for putting everyone’s names when I told you I’d get them to you. Could you also include Joseph as our composer
Brandon
Are we not doing Fall changing colors
Do only certain people have filters
Brynna
Mother can keep the laugh
Hop on the line “story, tell Mr Mole a story”- actually say all your lines almost on top of other people, it might help with speed
George
Whistle and whistle before your line don’t come in til she says help
Good job with looking to the left
George you need to find highs and lows in your monologue in S 9, otherwise we need to cut it
George be looking for Thumbelina initially then find her s 13
Good with the thorn, show that you’re cold before winter line
Brush up on cues
Don’t stop “I will find him to follow your heart”
Don’t look at the camera during S21
Aunah
Don’t sound as sarcastic during scene 6, we need to believe you’re really in love with him
Aunah can we see more hurt, we need desperation in finding the vale of the fairies. Also you’re cold, be cold
Can you hug yourself or something when you find out that Cornelius is dead. Maybe make all of your actions go in slow motion
Can you be ecstatic during s21 and let go into S22 until he says we’re here, but loved how you said take me home
Why do you start singing?
Tommy
What do you keep looking at on your bottom right
Don’t get scared til she holds out the thing to you, keep being scared til she puts the thing down
Can we see you fall in love with her before the song. The awkwardness is dragging on too long, maybe she makes you laugh
Tommy choreography comes first
Your freeze pose looks like hoodini- unfreeze later
Don’t say Thumbelina until she gets her wings
Connor
Let’s see you even worse and still that when you come back in and then register Thumbelina’s voice
Don’t actually give her the rose
Kiss her arm
Can we see what you think of up there when you say it
I liked your sad puppy dog what before, I think you’ve changed it the last few times
Josh
Can we cut the first trumpet sound
There’s a long pause between S 19 and 20, could we get wedding music for that transition
Beetles
Be back from the camera when you come in again and start/ speak lines much quicker
Jitterbugs
S 14 don’t look at the camera initially til Cornelius yells “Thumbelina”
10/22/2020 Pre-Performance Notes/ Performance
Things to practice:
Cornelius no longer changing the leaves and instead getting away from court.
Thumbelina and Cornelius laugh about the thing she holds out to him. She steps forward excitedly with it.
Scene 6, no more trumpet sound
Scene 11 movements
Scene 17 transition going forward and back
Scene 19 If you follow your heart and stop it lines
Unfreezing Cornelius
Fairy magic getting wings
Beetles
Be back from the camera when you come in again and start/ speak lines much quicker
Jitterbugs
S 14 don’t look at the camera initially til Cornelius yells “Thumbelina”
Performance and Post-Show Discussion
1-2pm