Rickie Newell

2009 - 2010 Season

Our season for next year will be:

Aug 14, 15, 21, 22    Faith County: An Evening of Culture

October 28, 29, 30    Kochenderfer's Dracula

October 31                One aact Play Contest (Dracula)

Dec 4, 5                    Everything So Far (class production)

Jan 29, 30 and Feb 5, 6   Leading Ladies

April 16, 17, 23, 24    Spring Show (to be announced)

Rehearsals for Evening of Culture begin July 21. Watch this blog for announcements of pre-production meetings and auditions. Fresh Hawks, you coming along for the ride? Onstage or backstage, we work hard and play harder.

E-mail me at rickie.newell@cobbk12.org to introduce yourself and get invited to the meetings.

March 9 - 13

Acting I

Your first monologue was due Monday. We continue on those presentations. Remember, please, that you have a responsibility to your classmates to be a good audience for each other. Making comments and noises during performance is just plain heartless. Likewise, raucous cheers at the beginning are jarring to the concentration.

Fun I

A Midsummer Night's Dream continues in rehearsal. Now the lines are down (most of them) and we needs must develop character. Find the fun of your character! Bring paint clothes for Friday if you want to paint the Noises Off set.

Fun II and III / Tech

Noises Off  is marching closer. Now I how Davy Crockett felt at the Alamo. (Here they come, and there's no back door!)    There will be lots of tech, prop, and set work to do over the next two weeks.

After School

Noises Off rehearses Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday until around 7.  Building on Saturday, starting at 10. Lots of painting. If you plan to be on the crew in any capacity, come to rehearsal starting this week.

CRIMSON MASK         will NOT MEET this week.

Acting I

Your first monologue was due Monday. We continue on those presentations. Remember, please, that you have a responsibility to your classmates to be a good audience for each other. Making comments and noises during performance is just plain heartless. Likewise, raucous cheers at the beginning are jarring to the concentration.

Fun I

A Midsummer Night's Dream continues in rehearsal. Now the lines are down (most of them) and we needs must develop character. Find the fun of your character! Bring paint clothes for Friday if you want to paint the Noises Off set.

Fun II and III / Tech

Noises Off  is marching closer. Now I how Davy Crockett felt at the Alamo. (Here they come, and there's no back door!)    There will be lots of tech, prop, and set work to do over the next two weeks.

After School

Noises Off rehearses Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday until around 7.  Building on Saturday, starting at 10. Lots of painting. If you plan to be on the crew in any capacity, come to rehearsal starting this week.

CRIMSON MASK         will NOT MEET this week.

Feb 16 - 20

Acting I

You are continuing in the production project. Unit sets were constructed to teach you the basic set pieces and to make you more comfortable with measuring, cutting, and folding for model-making. Now you should be well on your way to completing the set design for your production.

Note: several students received a ZERO for Character Analysis on the duet scene. You can make up that assignment by choosing a lead character from your production play to analyze. You'll need to have that in by Monday, March 2nd.

Thursday of this week will be the costume design lesson. Remember that the most important thing about costumes is that a real human being has to fit into the clothing.  Cartoons do not cut it in costume design.

Fun I

A Midsummer Night's Dream continues in rehearsal. Start assembling your costume ideas and possibilites. And (you knew I was going to say this) LEARN YOUR LINES! Acting only begins when lines are down cold.

Fun II and III / Tech

Scenes due Wednesday of this week.

Techies are dividing their time between Noises Off and audio curriculum. Thanks to L for bringing in his speaker so we could take it apart. Onwards and upwards, guys.

After School

Noises Off rehearses Wednesday and Friday until around 7.  Building on Saturday, starting at 10. Stairs and stairs and stairs. We need to make every minute onstage count double.

CRIMSON MASK         will NOT MEET this week.

Acting I

You are continuing in the production project. Unit sets were constructed to teach you the basic set pieces and to make you more comfortable with measuring, cutting, and folding for model-making. Now you should be well on your way to completing the set design for your production.

Note: several students received a ZERO for Character Analysis on the duet scene. You can make up that assignment by choosing a lead character from your production play to analyze. You'll need to have that in by Monday, March 2nd.

Thursday of this week will be the costume design lesson. Remember that the most important thing about costumes is that a real human being has to fit into the clothing.  Cartoons do not cut it in costume design.

Fun I

A Midsummer Night's Dream continues in rehearsal. Start assembling your costume ideas and possibilites. And (you knew I was going to say this) LEARN YOUR LINES! Acting only begins when lines are down cold.

Fun II and III / Tech

Scenes due Wednesday of this week.

Techies are dividing their time between Noises Off and audio curriculum. Thanks to L for bringing in his speaker so we could take it apart. Onwards and upwards, guys.

After School

Noises Off rehearses Wednesday and Friday until around 7.  Building on Saturday, starting at 10. Stairs and stairs and stairs. We need to make every minute onstage count double.

CRIMSON MASK         will NOT MEET this week.

Feb 16 - 20

Acting I

You are continuing in the production project. Unit sets were constructed to teach you the basic set pieces and to make you more comfortable with measuring, cutting, and folding for model-making. Now you should be well on your way to completing the set design for your production.

Note: several students received a ZERO for Character Analysis on the duet scene. You can make up that assignment by choosing a lead character from your production play to analyze. You'll need to have that in by Monday, March 2nd.

Thursday of this week will be the costume design lesson. Remember that the most important thing about costumes is that a real human being has to fit into the clothing.  Cartoons do not cut it in costume design.

Fun I

A Midsummer Night's Dream continues in rehearsal. Start assembling your costume ideas and possibilites. And (you knew I was going to say this) LEARN YOUR LINES! Acting only begins when lines are down cold.

Fun II and III / Tech

Scenes due Wednesday of this week.

Techies are dividing their time between Noises Off and audio curriculum. Thanks to L for bringing in his speaker so we could take it apart. Onwards and upwards, guys.

After School

Noises Off rehearses Wednesday and Friday until around 7.  Building on Saturday, starting at 10. Stairs and stairs and stairs. We need to make every minute onstage count double.

CRIMSON MASK         will NOT MEET this week.

Acting I

You are continuing in the production project. Unit sets were constructed to teach you the basic set pieces and to make you more comfortable with measuring, cutting, and folding for model-making. Now you should be well on your way to completing the set design for your production.

Note: several students received a ZERO for Character Analysis on the duet scene. You can make up that assignment by choosing a lead character from your production play to analyze. You'll need to have that in by Monday, March 2nd.

Thursday of this week will be the costume design lesson. Remember that the most important thing about costumes is that a real human being has to fit into the clothing.  Cartoons do not cut it in costume design.

Fun I

A Midsummer Night's Dream continues in rehearsal. Start assembling your costume ideas and possibilites. And (you knew I was going to say this) LEARN YOUR LINES! Acting only begins when lines are down cold.

Fun II and III / Tech

Scenes due Wednesday of this week.

Techies are dividing their time between Noises Off and audio curriculum. Thanks to L for bringing in his speaker so we could take it apart. Onwards and upwards, guys.

After School

Noises Off rehearses Wednesday and Friday until around 7.  Building on Saturday, starting at 10. Stairs and stairs and stairs. We need to make every minute onstage count double.

CRIMSON MASK         will NOT MEET this week.

Feb 9 - 13

Acting I

You have begun a production unit. First, you read a text chapter and collected the vocabulary you need for this project. Next you chose groups - with certain parameters. Then as a group, you picked a play to produce on paper.

Now you are engaged in reading the play. Write your detailed summary as you go. When your play report is completed, you will build a set model to scale, design costumes according to the standards, and investigate either props or front of house responsibilities.

When you present your production to the class, you will also perform a short scene to give us a feel for the sound of the play. Set-building begins Thursday, so you'll need a ruler and scissors.

Fun I

We have cast a short version of A Midsummer Night's Dream for production in classtime. Parts were spread far and wide; idease are beginning to form. It's an exciting time.

Fun II and III / Tech

Some students have begun searching for a one act play to direct in April. Everyone is enjoined to read a play a week for the term. Also, we are taking a leave from the masters to work some scenes. We'll be looking at your process this time.

Technicals are wading through the Sound curriculum. Hang in there, guys. We're learning lots. We should also get some classtime stair-building in. Tech theatre is body AND mind - otherwise it would be called Not-So-Technical Theatre. 

After School

Noises Off rehearses Monday and Friday until around 7.  Big building on Saturday, starting at 10. Stairs and stairs and stairs. We need to make every minute onstage count double.

CRIMSON MASK         will meet Wednesday, 3:30 - 5.

Acting I

You have begun a production unit. First, you read a text chapter and collected the vocabulary you need for this project. Next you chose groups - with certain parameters. Then as a group, you picked a play to produce on paper.

Now you are engaged in reading the play. Write your detailed summary as you go. When your play report is completed, you will build a set model to scale, design costumes according to the standards, and investigate either props or front of house responsibilities.

When you present your production to the class, you will also perform a short scene to give us a feel for the sound of the play. Set-building begins Thursday, so you'll need a ruler and scissors.

Fun I

We have cast a short version of A Midsummer Night's Dream for production in classtime. Parts were spread far and wide; idease are beginning to form. It's an exciting time.

Fun II and III / Tech

Some students have begun searching for a one act play to direct in April. Everyone is enjoined to read a play a week for the term. Also, we are taking a leave from the masters to work some scenes. We'll be looking at your process this time.

Technicals are wading through the Sound curriculum. Hang in there, guys. We're learning lots. We should also get some classtime stair-building in. Tech theatre is body AND mind - otherwise it would be called Not-So-Technical Theatre. 

After School

Noises Off rehearses Monday and Friday until around 7.  Big building on Saturday, starting at 10. Stairs and stairs and stairs. We need to make every minute onstage count double.

CRIMSON MASK         will meet Wednesday, 3:30 - 5.

Feb 2 - 6 Feb already?!

Acting I

I look forward to your first duet performances Tuesday. The grading rubric will include marks for audibility, evidence of characterization, and line accuracy. Also, we'll be looking at your scene portfolio product.

It was good to see the growth of the class this week. Some of you are making astute comments during scene workshop and making my job easy. You all seem relatively comfortable performing for each other.

In your acting class, you will find, the esteem of your classmates means a great deal. You must earn that esteem by being someone they count on advice on scene problems, responsible partnering, and dependable performances. The class is an acting company, and you all have a role to play. Are you a lead or a bit player?

Fun I

I think you are ready to jump into the world of Shakespeare. Don't run screaming for your counselor - you'll be okay. We'll start slowly to investigate the Bard this week.

Fun II and III / Tech

Our Town scenes are due Tuesday. I really look forward to seeing those moments onstage. And some of you have shared with me your surprise at how relevant the play is today. That's the genius of Thornton Wilder - timeless, honest portrayal of human life.

Technicals are wading through the Sound curriculum. Hang in there, guys. We're learning lots. We should also get some classtime stair-building in. Tech theatre is body AND mind - otherwise it would be called Not-So-Technical Theatre. 

After School

Noises Off rehearses Tuesday until around 6 (Counselors need the stage).  Thursday until 5:30 (Ring Ceremony) and Friday until 6:30. This is one of the tough weeks, guys. We need to make every minute onstage count double.

CRIMSON MASK         will not meet. But my goodness, wasn't Chair-a-palooza great?

Acting I

I look forward to your first duet performances Tuesday. The grading rubric will include marks for audibility, evidence of characterization, and line accuracy. Also, we'll be looking at your scene portfolio product.

It was good to see the growth of the class this week. Some of you are making astute comments during scene workshop and making my job easy. You all seem relatively comfortable performing for each other.

In your acting class, you will find, the esteem of your classmates means a great deal. You must earn that esteem by being someone they count on advice on scene problems, responsible partnering, and dependable performances. The class is an acting company, and you all have a role to play. Are you a lead or a bit player?

Fun I

I think you are ready to jump into the world of Shakespeare. Don't run screaming for your counselor - you'll be okay. We'll start slowly to investigate the Bard this week.

Fun II and III / Tech

Our Town scenes are due Tuesday. I really look forward to seeing those moments onstage. And some of you have shared with me your surprise at how relevant the play is today. That's the genius of Thornton Wilder - timeless, honest portrayal of human life.

Technicals are wading through the Sound curriculum. Hang in there, guys. We're learning lots. We should also get some classtime stair-building in. Tech theatre is body AND mind - otherwise it would be called Not-So-Technical Theatre. 

After School

Noises Off rehearses Tuesday until around 6 (Counselors need the stage).  Thursday until 5:30 (Ring Ceremony) and Friday until 6:30. This is one of the tough weeks, guys. We need to make every minute onstage count double.

CRIMSON MASK         will not meet. But my goodness, wasn't Chair-a-palooza great?

Jan 26 - 30

Acting I

Today, a short quiz over some basic stage vocab, followed by a random selection of duet partners for your first "real scene." You and your partner will read the scenes from which you get to choose and find a scene that showcases both of you. THe only limit there is that only two duets can do the same scene. This is a big assignment; scenes don't happen overnight.

The rest of the week will be spent learning good scene rehearsal practices and applying those principles to your rehearsal with your partner.

Fun I

Good rehearsals today. First run of the scenes will be Tuesday.  We'll perform these scenes for two days. After discussion and assessment, we'll decide whether to move on or to work longer. Mastery, not "good enough," right, guys?

Fun II and III / Tech

Chekhov was a blast, right? But now you know the feel and look of Chekhov and you know it's not dry, boring words with no relevance to our lives. Chekhov has something to say to us.  We're taking the shortcut through Our Town by Thornton Wilder, but it's caught you, hasn't it? After we have viewed it, we'll break out some scenes and play it.

The techies are going to be up to their necks in work during class slack time.

After School

Noises Off rehearses Tues 27 and Fri 30, 3:30 - 7, with a Act I line drill on Thursday 29. We had a great Saturday's work in the shop.

Plans for the musical review are being revamped after auditions. Patience, ladies. We'll have an announcement next week.

CRIMSON MASK         Wed, Jan 28     3:30 - 5

Acting I

Today, a short quiz over some basic stage vocab, followed by a random selection of duet partners for your first "real scene." You and your partner will read the scenes from which you get to choose and find a scene that showcases both of you. THe only limit there is that only two duets can do the same scene. This is a big assignment; scenes don't happen overnight.

The rest of the week will be spent learning good scene rehearsal practices and applying those principles to your rehearsal with your partner.

Fun I

Good rehearsals today. First run of the scenes will be Tuesday.  We'll perform these scenes for two days. After discussion and assessment, we'll decide whether to move on or to work longer. Mastery, not "good enough," right, guys?

Fun II and III / Tech

Chekhov was a blast, right? But now you know the feel and look of Chekhov and you know it's not dry, boring words with no relevance to our lives. Chekhov has something to say to us.  We're taking the shortcut through Our Town by Thornton Wilder, but it's caught you, hasn't it? After we have viewed it, we'll break out some scenes and play it.

The techies are going to be up to their necks in work during class slack time.

After School

Noises Off rehearses Tues 27 and Fri 30, 3:30 - 7, with a Act I line drill on Thursday 29. We had a great Saturday's work in the shop.

Plans for the musical review are being revamped after auditions. Patience, ladies. We'll have an announcement next week.

CRIMSON MASK         Wed, Jan 28     3:30 - 5

Jan 20 - 23, 2009

Acting I

Last week we were able to move into Laban Movement Theory. We'll be building on that this week as we  move into improvisation. Warmups, games, Laban exploration, and improvisational sceneplay. That'll keep us busy and creative.

Fun I

Your warmups are terrific! I look forward to seeing a new one each day this week. This week we will study scene units and beats. You have chosen scenes to rehearse and present. Your classtime will be split between beat work, character analysis, and rehearsal. Use your rehearsal time carefully; it's not free time. Waste not; regret not later. 5 minutes of talk and planning (sharing character thoughts and ideas), 5 minutes to run lines for a portion of the script, rehearse that portion for 10 minutes, run lines for the next portion, then rehearse that section. There's no trick that replaces mindful, deliberate rehearsal. Rehearsal is the process of theatre; performance is what comes of that process.

Fun II and III / Tech

We can almost check off Chekhov. I am looking forward to your presentations and to your Hot Seat sessions. Now that the play has stewed around in your head, are you thinking about those characters in Cherry Orchard? Which one would be least interesting to play? Hard to say, yes? That's because they are all fascinatingly real and human. That's the gift of Chekhov.  Techies, what  is your production concept for Cherry Orchard?

After School

Noises Off rehearses Tues through Fri, 3:30 - 7. We had a great Saturday's work in the shop. Ten platforms make a great start.

Plans for the musical review are being revamped after auditions. Patience, ladies. We'll have an announcement next week.

Jan 12-16, 2009

Acting I

You will be relieved to know that you will get another chance to take your first quiz in Acting. We'll take a wee peekie at your results from Friday, correct your errors, and take another swing at the quiz. This is a one-time only opportunity. It's basic information necessary to daily operations for theatre work and I know you need to learn the basics.

You guys ARE starting out really well. You're getting to know each other and gaining confidence every day. Just keep building on that.

This week's topics will include another look at the Physical Acting notes, a quiz over that info, pantomime notes and assignments, vocal and physical warmups, games and acting problems.

Fundamentals I

What a great first week we had!                                                                                                     Two ongoing assignments -                                                                                                              1) stew on the Aesop's Fables project                                                                                               2)create your 8-step personalized warm-up

This week we will continue to work to integrate body, mind, and voice through physical and vocal explorations, calming, centering, and relaxing,  You'll be reintroduced to Laban this week also.

 

Fun II and III / Tech

We've begun Chekhov and The Cherry Orchard. As we read, look for metaphors and symbols of the themes we are beginning to see in the play. Watch for character alignments and changes in relationships. Which situations/people change and which situations/people stay the same - that's the crux of a play.

After School

Auditions for the Broadway review are Monday - Thursday by appointment. Sing 2 minutes of a Broadway song and be prepared to discuss April rehearsal conflicts.

Noises Off reads through Friday. Bring a snack; it's  a long read.

Crimson Mask Meets Wednesday, Jan 14 3:30 - 5

My New Schedule

For this spring semester-

1st pd   Fundamentals of Drama I

2nd pd  Conference (wherein I tear about the building doing things I should have done the day before)

3rd pd  Acting I

4th pd Fundamentals of Drama II and III and Tech Theatre

3:30 - 7ish  Rehearsals for Noises Off

My cell phone is posted on the syllabus you received in class.