Musical Theatre: " Pracise Journal "

Today is the last day of my practise journal. Over the past few months, I was didn’t think I could improve my voice and other skills as much as I did through continuously doing particular and specific exercises. Due to the exercises and goals I wanted to achieve, it helped me to motivate myself to improve and keep up to the deadlines I set to myself for the exercises. I am still struggling with certain techniques in singing although there are no longer as bad as they were in the past (before I started to regularly practise). The noticeable improvements gave me the motivation to keep on improving so that I can become a better singer than I already am now. I can feel and see the improvements I have made and it makes me very proud and happy to be in the position where I am in now in terms of my singing. I have definitely improved my singing on the lower and high pitches. I have also noticed that I can sing quiet and softer notes with more easy and confidence as well as the higher and stronger ones. I am to control my voice much better and I know how I can use it most effectively. I am still continuing to practise my diction and will carry on to do so as it is my biggest weakness that I want to turn into my strength. I have also learned how to breathe efficiently and more effectively when singing so that I won’t get tired (out of breath) so easily as well as I won’t strain my vocal chords as much during a performance. I think that as long as I will continue to practise these exercises and continue to learn, I will go far as an artist (singer). I want to start taking private vocal lessons from October, in order to continue to have professional one-to-one training, to make sure that I am going in the right direction and improving. I also plan to open my own account on YouTube to create and post cover videos and start to work on my own.

 

 

Dance: "Dance Showcase- summary of the previous work"

Over the couple of weeks, we have been preparing for a dance performance that will take place tomorrow in our college (Leyton Sixth Form College) at 19:30, with free entry. The performance will consist of a ballet, breakdance and capoeira dance genre. It will also include a joint performance with the dance group from a different class. We have done this joint performance because pupils from my Musical Theatre class are also doing the dance course in a different class. In the ballet performance we have the music taken from the musical ‘West Side Story’ where they also have a ballet scene. Just like them, we will also showcase a temporary ballet. The choreography has been partly created by our dance teacher but mostly by the whole class’ ideas that we joined together to create this piece. It has been decided that for the ballet performance we will be wearing black vest tops, long black trousers or black non-see-through leggings/ tights, and of course with proper ballet shoes with hair tied back. In terms of the breakdance performance and capoeira, we will be wearing the same outfits. Black tops, black trousers/ shorts, everything black apart from colourful cap hats. The breakdance will be began with the choreography created by our dance teacher, where we will be dancing to a song by Jenny Jackson- Rhythm Nation. Straight after will be my solo with Ruth, Cagla, Courtney and Isabel’s.

After the solos we will be performing the capoeira piece, including the capoeira duos, straight after that, we will return to the solos. First one to do theirs is Marta, Nancy, Daniel and Rafa. After these solos, we will finish our breakdance performance which was partly created by our teacher and us. The biggest struggle we all faced was with the capoeira duos and solos. Through our rehearsal and practises, we were able to create god group choreography ad join everything together. In terms of the individual pieces, each and every one of us had to choose a song they want to perform their solo to and create their own choreography. I chose the song “Crazy in Love” by Beyoncé where I can show off my best dancing skills in freestyle. I am continuously practising my choreography and checking if I am doing everything with grace, precision and passion, and correct technique. I am practising every day after college hours so that I am perfect at what I love to do in life- perform. I think that we are well prepared for the show. Tomorrow’s day will consist of last and final rehearsals which includes the final run to see if everything is where it should be. I cannot wait to perform tomorrow!

During the performance I have to pay attention and make sure that I do the ‘turn out’ in ballet correctly, and the timing with breakdance when dancing to Jenny Jackson’s song. These were my goals, and now after all the rehearsals, I know that I have made big improvements and now I have to make sure that I don’t make a silly mistake in the actual show. Over the weeks of practising I have noticed the significant improvement in my ballet skills. I am paying attention to every detail and hints given to me by the teachers and friends in my class so that that I can improve even more as a performer. My dance technique has improved a lot in every way e.g. dynamic, precision of my moves, timing, flexibility, and everything else. Through tough and assertive training over the two years, I can confidently state that I have acquired technicalities in dancing and can call myself a professional artist in Musical Theatre.

Musical Theatre: " Weekly Summary"

We only have 3 rehearsals before the actual show-day, the whole process has been sped up in order to finish the preparations on time. As a class (including the teacher) we have decided that Wednesday will consists of a whole day rehearsal plus tech run; setting up the stage (lighting etc). It will also include checking if everyone remembers when to get on and off the stage as well as when to move the platforms. In class, we have also discussed the costumes, so what each person is going to wear for each scene in the play. Our self-prepared costumes need to be brought to the rehearsal on Wednesday, as well as the props in order to check if everything is matching with the scene and the script. It will be a long and tough week up ahead because we have to set everything to perfection (including us and our roles). Each and every one of us is expected to have memorised the script, songs and choreography of by heart. There are no more excuses. A lot of work and no time to spare, but I believe that if we try really hard to make it work, it will be a very good show. The show will take place in our school (Leyton Sixth Form College) on Thursday and Friday in this week at 19:30 on each day, the entry is free for the audience. I cannot wait! Keep your fingers crossed that everything will be on tip top and ready. During the rehearsals as well as up to the show, I will be practising songs, scenes and choreography that I am involved in after school hours. I want this to be the best show I have taken part of, especially as it will be my last show in this group and probably in my near future. I want to be proud of what and how I’ve done, I will miss this.

Musical Theatre: " Final Audition "

For this Monday the whole class has to prepare for one of our previous assignments, one of them being the final audition. The purpose of this assignment is to allow learners the chance to showcase the skills they have learned throughout the academic year in the most basic certainty of our business, the audition.

We have to prepare song a 32 bar cut of an appropriate musical theatre song and present a one minute contemporary monologue. Also we must to provide a list of audition pieces that you considered for this audition. Our list must contain at least 3 songs and at least 2 monologues. And last thing which we also have to do is to choose one song and one monologue, and produce a document or video describing , explaining, and analysing the suitability of our choice. It may help to compare our final choice with the other choices that you considered.

We take audition for : "Violet" by Tesori and Crwaley , "American Idiot" by Green Day and Armstrong and "Rock of Ages" by D'Arienzo

My 3 songs are :

1) "Before its over" from Dogfight Musical
2)"I know where I've been " from Hairspray Musical
3)"Somebody to love" from Musical We Will Rock You

My first choice is song from Dogfight called "Before Its over".
Playwright: Peter Duchan
Composer: Pasek and Paul
Lyricists: Benj Pasek and Justin Paul

My comments for this song:

I chose this song because first of all I really like this musical and I always wanted to sing some songs from it. I think this song can show of my soft side of singing but at the same time my range in high notes in refrain at end of the song. Also I think this song can be a good example to show all my acting skills such as characterisation (of young woman). This song will allow me to express my emotions through acting the song. This a calm song, I think it is a good song to start my showcase because with every following song will have a faster pace and will be stronger. Also, I like the mood in this song and the way how it is built; from slow and quiet to the big ending. I think that kind of songs are more interesting for the audience because they always build tension and the audience don't know what to expect. Also I think is very good comparing with musical "Violet " because as we know the play “Violet” takes place in the mid-1960’s and focuses on a young woman in search for a miracle, and who bears a horrendous scar on her face from an accident when she was a child. The musical opens with Violet boarding a Greyhound bus that is traveling to Tulsa, Oklahoma, where she hopes to be physically healed by a famous TV preacher. On her journey of self-discovery, she meets several people, including two soldiers, who soon become her friends. As the young adults traveling advances, so does their understanding of many important lessons and choices about life and growing up. Throughout the play, Violet flashes back to her childhood memories, especially those moments with her father, whom she condemns total responsibility for the accident. Ultimately, Violet experiences a form of healing that is truly more important than the physical miracle she was searching for.
So as you can see this musical have a bit similar story and some of the characters are similar to musical Dogfight too that's why I think this song is one of the good choices.

My another choice is from Hairspray- "I know where I've been"
Music: Marc Shaiman
Lyric: Marc Shaiman and Scot Wittman

My comments:I chose this song because I think it can show of my range (low and high pitch) and the control of my voice. This song is quite powerful with strong characters. I think I can connect with this song and the character easily because I understand how difficult it was for them to fight for equal rights in that time and even now some people still have to do this. This song is suitable for me because I can show my full vocal range (not just high note as in first song), also I can show power of my voice (how strong it is) and a little improvisation at the end where I can play around with my voice . From the acting side, this song allowed me to show the leader of the crowd of people which follow me and fight at the same time for the same thing as me. I will be able to present a strong character who knows what she’s fighting for. In this song I am a kind of person which is an example, a role model for people to mobilise themselves to revolution.

My last choice is song from musical "We will rock you" called "Somebody to love":
Playwright: Ben Elton
Lyricists: Queen, Ben Elton

My comments:

This is my last choice. I think these 3 songs are similar to each other but different at the same time.  They are kind of  contemporary-rocky songs which will show off all my acting and vocal skills such as: range(high and low pitches) truthfulness, connection with the characters and lyric, power of my voice in soft and strong ways. Also, I can show how clearly and easily I can sing as well as how well I can manipulate and control my voice. Moreover, from vocal skills these songs will allow me to show my colour, tune and emission of my voice. From the acting side I can show off: good voice emission, diction, ability to analyse and understand the text, dramaturgy, the ability to evoke feelings and play, improvisation, stage fight, observation and imitation of my characters. These songs are very hard to sing but I know I can do this. Whereas this song is closer to the musical "Rock of Ages " because It’s the tail end of the big, bad 1980s in Hollywood, and the party has been raging hard. Aqua Net, Lycra, lace and liquor flow freely at one of the Sunset Strips last legendary venues, a place where sex machine Stacee Jaxx takes the stage and scantily clad groupies line up to turn their fantasies into reality. Amidst the madness, aspiring rock star (and resident toilet cleaner) Drew longs to take the stage as the next big thing (and longs for small-town girl Sherri, fresh off the bus from Kansas with stars in her eyes). But the rock and roll fairy-tale is about to end when German developers sweep into town with plans to turn the fabled Strip into just another capitalist strip mall. Can Drew, Sherri and the gang save the strip–and themselves–before it's too late? Only the music of hit bands Styx, Journey, Bon Jovi, Whitesnake and more hold the answer.

Also I think this song is good choice for the musical " American Idiot" because the story, expanded from that of the concept album, centers on three disaffected young men, Johnny, Will, and Tunny. Johnny and Tunny flee a stifling suburban lifestyle and parental restrictions, while Will stays home to work out his relationship with his pregnant girlfriend, Heather. The former pair look for meaning in life and try out the freedom and excitement of the city. Tunny quickly gives up on life in the city, joins the military, and is shipped off to war. Johnny turns to drugs and finds a part of himself that he grows to dislike, has a relationship and experiences lost love.

To summarise I think this song is closer to these musicals because of the musical style, tone, genre, power of the songs, the way the they are sang and performed, mood and topic of songs and this is why I have decided to sing this song in my musical. It is the closest song in terms of the topic and vocally to the musicals, and also through them I can show myself from the vocal side as well as from the acting side.

My choices of monologues:

1) "Like a Virgin"
2) "Lost in Yonkers"

'Like a Virgin'

No, you go. I don't feel up to it... I've got to live a bit. Maxine, I'm dying. I don't know why but I am. I don't know why I've been picked to have such a shit-awful life. What have I done that's so bloody wrong?
So you can piss off with your, 'Let's be jolly,' routine. With you, 'Lets pretend everything's alright and we'll have a laugh like we used to in the old day's.'... Do you know something? I've never had sex. I'm a virgin. Yeah I know what I said, what we said, but...well, they were just stories full of me, us trying to be gorwn-up. But I'm never gonna grow  up. I'll never grow up and be a woman and have children. Why me? Why the fucking hell does it have to be me? It's not fair. How would you like it if someone told you that you were gonna die? Come on, it's not easy is it? YOU ARE GOING TO DIE. You have got four weeks to live. What are you going to do? It's not easy is it, is it, and people are so full of understanding... so full of shit. 'I'd go on holiday, I'd travel.' What is the point in spending your time in spending your time in strange lands with strange people? S you'll have lots of happy memories and photographs to look back on. When? I haven't got time, I'm dying. What's the point in laying on the beach getting a tan? So I'll look good in coffin. So people will be able to gork into my coffin with...with..tear-stained eyes and say...'She looks really good'...'She's the best suntanned corpse I've ever seen'... Well, they can all fuck off. Sometimes I feel as though I should have some dignity and write poems and raise money for charity an' all that...Be a symbol for other people to look up to. But why should I? What has anyone ever done for me? Look at you, you're pathetic stood there not wanting to say anything in case you hurt my feelings. Making excuses for me. 'It's her condition... It's understandable... She's just a bit down.' Well don't patronise me. Tell me to fuck off. Slap me. Go on. Go on. Go on, do something.

 

'Like a Virgin' written by Gordon Steel in 1998.

Synopsis

 Inspired and written around Madonna's album 'Like a Virgin,' explores the lives of two best friends who are filled with all the teenage interests such as boys, parties, clothes and secret hand shakes. The two girls, Angela and Maxine are completely obsessed with Madonna, like many young girls in the 80's, and have dreams to be famous until Angela's path changes their feature forever.
Angela

 The character I am playing during the monologue is Angela, a 16 year old girl who has dream to be famous. Angela appears to be a normal teenage girl growing up in the 1980 however she is dealing with much more than any other 16 year old. Angela has Leukaemia and during the monologue she has just been told that she has 4 weeks to live. From looking at reviews of the production it appears that Angela warms up slowly however rapidly changes from a go happy teenager to a young girl battling a deadly illness. On top of her illness she had also got to deal with the reality of her parents, Mum and Dad , breakup. The family from Northern England.

 

The monologue I am performing is from Angela herself. She is in her bedroom with best friend Maxine reflecting on how society has reacted to the news of her life expectancy which Angela sees as very unrealistic and pathetic. She explains to Maxine how she finds it unfair that she is going to die and try's to explain what it is like to be told you will die. It is a very sensitive monologue that touches a lot of different emotions from sad to angry and from depressed to aggressive.

Lost in Yonkers

Me! He wants me !He wants to marry me! I want to marry him ...I want to have his children... I want my own babies.

You think I can’t have healthy babies, Momma? Well, I can...I’m as strong as an ox. I’ve worked in that store and taken care of you by myself since I’m twelve years old, that’s how strong I am... like steel, Momma.  Isn’t that how we’re supposed to be?...But my babies won’t die, because I’ll love them and take care of them...And they won’t get sick like me or Gert or be weak like Eddie and Louie...My babies will be happier than we were, because I’ll teach them to be happy....not to grow up and run away or never visit when they’re older or not be able to breathe because they’re so frightened...and never, ever to make them spend their lives rubbing my back and my legs because you never had anyone around who loved you enough to want to touch you, because you made it so clear you never wanted to be touched with love...Do you know what it’s like to touch steel, Momma?  It’s hard and it’s cold, and I want to be warm and soft with my children.... Let me have my babies, Momma.  Because I have to love somebody.  I have to love someone who’ll love me back before I die...Give me that , Momma, and I promise you, you’ll never worry about being alone....Because you’ll have us...Me and my husband and my babies...Louie, tell her how wonderful that would be...Gert, wouldn’t that make her happy?....Momma? Please say yes....I need you to say yes...Please?

Character name: Bella

Written by: Neil Simon

Played by: Mercedes Ruehl [US], Maureen Lipman[UK]

Character's age: mid-30s

Character's type: She is pathetically affectionate ;and a mess at dressing.

Time and place:1942;an apartment in Yonkers, New York

Situation: Bella is a little retarded and has been looking after her mother ;now she wants to move out and marry an older man. Her brother Louie and sister Gert are also there.

General comments:
I think that the song “somebody to Love” and a monologue from the play “Like a Virgin” are the closest to the 3 musicals I have chosen because they are very similar in terms of topic. In every of the 3 musicals, the main characters are struggling and fighting different problems such as drugs, money, death of a close person, travelling and seeking a place they can call their own and fighting for a better tomorrow. They are fighting for their dreams, love, family, equality and freedom. After analysing and explaining the 3 songs and 2 monologues, I think that they also show off my best vocals and acting skills. I feel comfortable for when I have to present them on the stage and I think that they are a good example and a good choice for the audition. I think so because it is hard to choose a song and a monologue to represent and reflect fully the message and meaning behind the 3 musicals because they vary in style, atmosphere, music style, tone… But in my opinion I think that the closest representatives for the 3 musicals will be the song and the monologue.


*Some of the information is based on Wikipedia and from other different resources

Musical Theatre: " Practise Journal"

Throughout the week we have continued to practise scenes one by one, we paused at the scenes that needed changes and improvements. We have also rehearsed particular songs that we struggled with as well as fixed or added in to the choreography where it was necessary. We have worked really hard on every little detail that needed our attention in order to make it perfect. In addition, we had to learn all of the songs and script of by heart and when each person steps onto the stage and when to move the platform that we will be using. The platforms play a very big role in the play as they are used to change the scene through the play as well as used as props. In the next week, we only have 2 rehearsals before the show-day, of which is the tech run which involves setting up the lighting and other technical stuff ready for the show which takes up a lot of time. The will also including checking our costumes and timing if there will be enough time in-between the scene to get changed for the next scene. Everybody has a to be perfectly prepared for tomorrow’s rehearsals so that there will be no stoppage during. So recapping, we have to work hard and make sure that we are perfectly ready for our last show this year.

Last Thursday after our rehearsal, our teacher gave us an overall opinion and thoughts about the whole show thus far as well as individual feedback to each and every one of us. He told us what our strengths and weaknesses, how we can improve our character, what scenes to improve on etc. I have to improve on the song “Opportunity” and “Getting Ready”. I have to practise on my diction because I sound unclear in the last couple of lines. In the second song, I have to improve my timing as I don’t sing exactly with the music as well as rushing words in certain lines. So my goal and aim for improvement was and still is diction and rhythm.

From the acting side, my teacher gave a feedback on the volume level whilst I’m on the stage. He said I am too quite at times and I need to talk louder so that the audience will hear what I am saying. Although I think this may be because he is playing on the piano throughout the play and it may appear like I am not loud enough because he sits closer to the piano and can hear it much loud. On the other hand I do agree with this opinion because I can catch myself saying lines too quietly at time, where I think I am loud enough but re-watching it on the computer shows that I need to be louder. The fact that we will all have a microphone when on the stage will make us all sound much louder. He also said to me that I need to play more with my character and let loose so that it will make it more reliable and realistic. I think that I will improve on all of the points so that on show day I will be ready to give the best performance I will ever have.

So I am pasting the 2 videos below where I am practising the points I had to improve on (including diction):

 

 

Muiscal Theatre: "Practise Journal"

In this week, we have practised and mastered most of the scenes from the play. We only have a few scenes, which mainly consists of choreography practise, before it’s all ready for the show. The scene that we didn’t practise yet is the scene from “Brand New You”. Next week, our plan is to practise the choreography with the song as well as there will be a person chosen by my teacher to present this scene. I hope that I am the one that is chosen to sing this song because I really like it, and I believe that it is another song that can show my vocal range and skill and I also think that it suits me very well. I like the rhythm and tempo of this song as well as the style, I actually like it a lot as a whole. Also in this week, we have begun rehearsing the entire play from the beginning. We started to rehears the timing of when each one of us enters the stage and other technical stage propping stuff. If there was something we didn’t like or it didn’t work, we transformed and change it so that it fits the play better. Tomorrow is another day of rehearsal of the songs, choreography and the script from the beginning. There is a lot of work to be done and so little time to spare, but we are closer to the finish day after day. I am getting more excited after every rehearsal.

Here I'm pasting the video with song  "Brand New You" from Musical 13:

 

 

    From the vocal side, during this week I have practised the emission of my voice and singing quiet and gentle notes as well as the louder and stronger ones. Of course, I am still practising my diction, this is the one thing I will have to be practising for a long time in order to get really good at, although I can see improvement week by week. I never back down and stay stubborn to my practise routine. My aim was to get better at the quiet notes and tones when singing because most of the songs I will be doing require me to be gentle and soft. There are many songs that I really like, but I realise that I don’t have an as well-rounded voice as I need in order to sing them comfortably and up to a very good level. It was a hard task to do over the week, and from the first week I honestly cannot judge if there are any improvements in this field of singing, I will continue to practise this over the next week. From the acting side, I believe that every song allows me to show myself from a different acting perspective, and I feel that with every song I improve and evolve my acting skills. With every rehearsed song I feel like I understand my character better which allows me to get in role better with every characters’ song or scene. This makes me more reliable as I act out the role as well as makes me a better actress. I also believe that it makes my performances better and more memorable for the audience. Through this skill I can an atmosphere around me and the character I am playing, and to make the audience empathise with me.

 Here I am posting two songs that I have used for this week to practise my skills listed above:
1)Big Girls Don't Cry- Fergie
2)Bubbly- Colbie Caillat

 

 

 

 

Musical Theatre:"Practise Journal"

in the past week, we have practiced as a class the scene "It can't be true", which includes songs mixed with dialogues and in addition we practiced our dance choreography for this song. We have also practiced our position of every person in the scene. We have finished the scene/ song/ choreography of "Opportunity". In addition, we have rehearsed the whole scene of "Getting Ready", we still have to practice that scene in the future lessons, although it is close to finishing it off. This is the song that I need most practice with because it is necessary to speak clearly in order for the audience to understand it well (diction). I am still struggling with a couple of lines, therefore I have to rehears and focus on this scene more than others right now.

In the song "It can be true" the thing I have to learn most urgently is the dance choreography due to the fact that I am standing in the front row, and I am leading the rest of the group. Also, I have to learn the chorus of the song because I wasn't supposed to sing it before but now my teacher gave me this as an additional part to perform. In addition, I have to practice the timing of this particular song in the second verse, as well as when I am singing at the same time with Molly. I have practiced the scenes Did that work ?You bet it did and "A little more homework" in my spare time.

In the next week, I am planing to practice all of the scenes I have already rehearsed, go over any material that I did not fully understand and focus o my role and the preparation for the show.From the vocal side, my biggest struggle/ challenge is the song "Getting Ready" because it enforces me to practice my diction which is my biggest weakness. I think that until the show, practicing the songs, will massively improve my diction, timing and other parts that I am struggling with. I will take this as a challenge and will strive to make sure i learn from it as much as I can and in effect become a better performer. From the acting side, I believe that this role will allow me to evolve and show-off all my acting skills such as impressions, improvisation, playing with my role.

Here I am pasting my rehearsal video of "Getting ready", and the second video is "It can't be true":