Theatre Teacher Happy Hour THURSDAY!

Join me at the ETC Oktoberfest for a happy hour!  Thursday, September 30th.  Free beer, brats and SWAG!  I'll be there at 4:30.  Check out what's new in lighting.  Get to know Chris Rynn, the local ETC rep and lighting designer extraordinaire.  See the beautiful Balboa Theatre up close.  The focus this year is “Success, Safety, and Sustainability for School Performing Arts Venues."  

When:  September 30th, 4:30 pm

Where:  Balboa Theatre (Horton Plaza)

RSVP:  rsvp@ocsltg.com

Teaching Acting?

Check out this new book, The Great Acting Teachers and Their Methods, Vol. 2.  It explores the acting teachers Andre Antoine, Jacques Copeau, Michel Saint-Denis, Elia Kazan, Uta Hagen, David Mamet, Anne Bogart and Keith Johnstone.  Have your students do a compare and contrast!


Discount Tickets 
Goldstar has some great discount tickets this week including the Globe, the Welk, Ion and Itrepid.  http://www.goldstar.com/events/browse/92101/9


Let me know what you're up to!  Hope to see you Thursday.


m.

News From Playwrights Project

25-line Play Contest Play a part in the 25th Anniversary Celebration by contributing your own 25-line play! The Contest is open to all ages.  Writers may choose any topic they desire; however, the play is restricted to 2 characters and a maximum of 25 "speaking lines" with specific words counts per line.  A template for submissions, based on an exercise from Playwrights Project's teaching programs, is available below. Play Template: Click Here Deadline: October 15

Play by Play: Cultivating Emerging Playwrights Playwrights Project is calling for submissions for the next round of Play by Play, a play development program for local emerging playwrights between the ages of 19 and 29.  The program offers playwrights the opportunity to hear their plays read by actors, engage in discussion with a select audience, and work one-on-one with a theatre expert to further develop their plays.  The program culminates in a community reading of the revised scripts. Please submit a writing sample (full or partial plays accepted) and the completed submission form to Chelsea Whitmore at cwhitmore@playwrightsproject.org. Submission Form: Click Here  Deadline: October 15 Eligibility Requirements: applicants must be a San Diego resident, between the ages of 19 and 29, and not currently enrolled in a playwrighting program. If you are outside of the age range and interested in participating in this program, please let us know so we can assess the need to expand the age range. Contact Chelsea Whitmore at cwhitmore@playwrightsproject.org.

Theatre Teacher Happy Hour

Last blog I mentioned getting together on September 30th for a happy hour at El Torito.  That was before I knew about the ETC Oktoberfest on the same day.  So how about this?  Let's still have our happy hour, but at the ETC event - that means free beer and brats and some take home SWAG!  

I'll be there at 4:30, come and  join me!  Check out what's new in lighting.  Get to know Chris Rynn, the local ETC rep and lighting designer extraordinaire.  See the beautiful Balboa Theatre up close.  The focus this year is “Success, Safety, and Sustainability for School Performing Arts Venues."  

The long term goal is to get current technology in your theaters and classrooms so that your students are current and ready to work upon graduation.  Feel free to bring an administrator or booster club parent!

When:  September 30th

Where:  Balboa Theatre

RSVP:  rsvp@ocsltg.com

Speaking of Lighting Design... 

The new edition of the Richard Pilbrow book, Stage Lighting Design is now available.  This is the go to book for advanced lighting design concepts and a must have on your bookshelf!  Check it out:  http://tinyurl.com/pilbrow

3rd Annual Honor Theatre Project

I am very pleased to announce that we will have another Honor Theatre Project this year!  Funding (as always) is tight, but VAPA Director, Karen Childress-Evans, is committed to making this project happen.

This year University City High School, Belinda Brown and her theatre students, will be hosting the event.  The fabulous Dennis Hollenbeck with direct.  We will again work with professional designers.  It should be an outstanding production!  We have just selected the play.  It is a wacky, romantic comedy from the 1930's, "Shooting for the Stars."  I will get scripts out to the high schools ASAP.

High school teachers - please keep this project in mind as you finalize your calendars.  The production dates are March 16 - 19.  Auditions will be in early December and rehearsals will begin in January.  

Again, this project is not designed to take students away from your program.  It is intended to provide an opportunity for theatre students across the district to come together and develop a greater sense of community.  In the long run this makes your program stronger as these kids then continue to stay in touch, see each others shows and keeps them excited about theatre!

I'll be coming out to schools in November to recruit students.  If you would like me to offer a workshop at the same time, just let me know!  More info and forms to follow.

How to Market Your Production

Here is a good article from the publisher Theatrefolk with great ideas for marketing your play.  Consider assigning this as a project to a group of students and really put them to work this year with the goal of increasing audience attendance. 

What do you do to get more "butts in seats?"  Consider giving each English teacher a comp ticket for each period they teach.  Have them give them to star students.  Make sure it is only for opening night.  This will help to generate a buzz and get more people there the rest of the run.

Share your ideas in the comment section of this blog

See a Show!  Support a Program!

You're a Good Man Charlie Brown
Patrick Henry High School
Directed by Chris Carr
September 21 - 24 at 6pm
September 24 at 3pm
September 25 at 2pm.
For more info email Chris at ccarr1@sandi.net

Email me your show dates! 

Best-

m.

SDETA Conference THIS FRIDAY! Sign up today!

THIS FRIDAY is the SDETA Theatre Teacher Conference.  This is one of the best events of the year.  Please come and be inspired, not only from the break out sessions, but from just being with other theatre teachers.  Too often we are an island unto our self on campus.  Remind yourself that you are not alone - there is a community ready to support you!

This year the theme is "One Community, One Voice:  Theatre is Education" and the keynote speaker is Jung-Ho Pak.  There will be break out sessions for all three levels as well as administrators.  Invite your principal or VP!  In addition there will be a session on Stage Combat and a speed acting lesson from Roberta Wells-Famula, Education Director at the Old Globe.  You will walk away with ideas you can use in your class immediately.  There is also SWAG, a raffle, breakfast and lunch.  All for $50.

Sadly, there is no money to pay for subs.  I used to take a personal day to go each year.  College credit is also available through USD.

To register (ASAP) visit http://sdcoe.k12oms.org/1023-40945.

Other Upcoming Trainings

A Puppetry Sampler
Monday September 20th, 5:30 - 7:30
Arts 342, Cal Sate San Marcos
This course is an introduction to puppetry with hands-on activities matched to the curriculum and VAPA standards.  Taught by Lynne Jennings, San Diego Guild of Puppetry.

Playwriting in the Classroom
Mondday, October 4th, 5:30 - 7:30
Arts 342, Cal State San Marcos
Includes active theatre games, writing exercises and improv to inspire writing.  Presented by Aleta Bartell from the Playwright's Project.

Creating and Developing Characters
Monday, October 11, 5:30 - 7:30
Arts 432, Cal State San Marcos
An interactive workshop using movement and voice to develop pieces for theatre and puppetry.  Led by Judy Bauerlin, theatre artist and assistant professor of theatre at CSUSM.

For more info on these workshops visit www.csusm.edu/centerartes or call 760-750-4431.

THEATRE PROGRAMS GROWING IN OUR DISTRICT!

This year four middle schools have added theatre programs.  This is great news, especially for the high schools they feed into!

Please welcome Dana Benevento at Bethune, Paula Zuill at Wilson, Henry Legorreta at Clark, and Maria Christodoulou at Mann.

Need a good theatre sub?

Cindy Lewis
clewis2@sandi.net
619-808-6433

Paul Carby
p_carby@yahoo.com

Rhea Perez (elementary)
rperez7@sandi.net

If you have a name to share, please let me know!

See a Show!  Support a Program!

You're a Good Man Charlie Brown
Patrick Henry High School
Directed by Chris Carr
September 21 - 24 at 6pm
September 24 at 3pm
September 25 at 2pm.
For more info email Chris at ccarr1@sandi.net

Save the Date!  Theatre Happy Hour!

Let's get together.  Thursday, September 30th at El Torito in Mission Valley.  4:30pm - ???

That's all for this week!  If you have an item to share, please email me at mtreger1@sandi.net.

BTW, I went to the PCPA Theatre Teacher Weekend and it was wonderful!  I highly recommend it for next year.  I'd love to share with you about it... 

Make Professional Development a Stuhl Goal!

Hello Friends!


There are many opportunities in the upcoming months for you to refresh your passion and skills in the classroom.  Those of you who are on that lovely Stuhl list this year, why not make one of your goals professional development and sign up for one or more of these conferences?

SDETA Annual Theatre Teacher Conference at the Old Globe
"One Community, One Voice:  Theatre is Education"
Friday, September 17th, 8:00 - 3:00
LOWER PRICE THIS YEAR (and includes lunch!)

The Art of Ancient Greek Theatre Symposium at the Getty Villa
Friday and Saturday, September 24 & 25, 9:00 - 5:00
Tickets $15 per day (Students/Seniors $10)

CETA Conference in Long Beach
Thursday - Saturday, October 7 - 9

New Website!

Ask a theatre professional your questions.  This comes from the folks who put on the Broadway Teachers Workshops in NYC, which are terrific! 
 
Ask a Pro  http://www.theatreteachers.com/

New Theatre App for your iPhone/SmartPhone

Thanks to Teri Ang at Valencia Park for passing this on!

"If you have an iPhone or an Android phone you might want to check out this free drama games app, Dramativity.  It has a list of theatre activities at your fingertips. The games are from David Farmer's book 101 Drama Games. He is a theatre educator in England. This just proves there is an app for everything."

MTI News

Some of you have asked for information about the MTI School Edition titles.  These can be much more accessible and often more cost effective than doing the full productions.  For more information:  http://tinyurl.com/schooleditions 

ALSO - be sure to check out the new DUAL-LANGUAGE version of Disney's Aladdin!

Patrick Henry Starts the Year Big

Chris Carr over at Patrick Henry has, for the second year in a row, offered a summer musical theatre workshop for her students.  The fruits of their labor start off the school year with their annual musical.  Be sure to check it out!

You're a Good Man Charlie Brown
Patrick Henry High School
Directed by Chris Carr
September 21 - 24 at 6pm
September 24 at 3pm
September 25 at 2pm.
For more info email Chris at ccarr1@sandi.net

Discount Tickets

Limelight at La Jolla Playhouse
Charlie Chaplin Musical
(One of my former students is in it!)

Intrepid Shakespeare Romeo & Juliet
These are the great folks who gave us a workshop last year

Leap of Faith  
Starring Raul Esparza and Brooke Shields, Music by Alan Menken, Directed by Rob Ashford
This show is Broadway bound at the Ahmanson

Mickey's Magic Show
For the little ones at the Sports Arena

As always- please send me any ideas you have to share!
Best-
m.