Week 9: Getting Back Into School

This week we discussed Performance Concepts and Pitches. 

Monday- We talked more about what was important to put in a Pitch.

• The message
• the target audience
• Performance Concept
• A brief overview of the story

We also discussed the message of 'Oh the Humanity!'

Wednesday- We talked about pitches again and Mr. Fearnehough had us reduce our 250 word pitches to 100 words.

• Then Halley taught us about miming and physicality. She taught us about miming and using your body to display emotion. She taught us about the three laws of movement- translation, rotation, and inclination, as well as the rule of opposition. This is used to for many things on stage such as when you are on stage but not speaking, it could be used to create a specific atmosphere (the Devil in 'Damned by Despair'), or to help block out scenes. We also learned that if you do one scene in a different style it will stand out more.
• Next Bekki went and taught us about ‘creating an ensemble’.  She showed us how to getting our energy going with “The YES! Game”.  The second exercise we did was the “Eye Contact Game”. We would stand in a circle and if anyone made eye contact with you then you were supposed to hold the contact and switch spots. Then she had us play “Bears and Lumberjacks”- to teach teamwork to the Bears and concentration to the Lumberjacks. Then we did an exercise about what type of performer we are. First we each struck a pose that represented what most enjoyed doing in a production. Then we each told a partner what made us like being this particular thing. After this we all came back together and each partner had to give three words that summed up what their partner had said. This really helped to focus on what was important and maybe prompt me to step out of my comfort zone.

Thursday- First we played the 'Voice' with our 100 word pitches. We went over what was really important to put in them. Then Lydia taught us about immersive theatre. She explained that is was about making the audience actually experience the story. It can be done in a hotel or school or any other type of public building. Then we split into two groups and made up our own immersive  theatre piece. This was very interesting!

                After considering my class choices all weekend and looking at all of the factors, I have decided to stay in theatre. I hope that it will work out and that I will be able to make up all of the work pretty soon!