You guys are so ready!

So psyched for our last rehearsal tomorrow. You all did a fantastic job tonight and should be so proud of all of your hard work!

A few notes (everyone must read these before tonight):


Notes from Ms. Neville
We Dance

• Ben, come see us for a note! We have to reposition you at one point because you're so tall!
• Matt, PROJECT! Your voice drops off at the end of your line... your tone gets so low for the "Mercedes" part and we can't hear it at all... it's such a great line!!
• Alex, you are so vibrant at the end. Keep it up!

One Small Girl

• Rayne & Ari, your battle for Christy & Ben's attention is so great! Keep up the great movement.
• Alli, Christy, Ben, your moment in the hut is SO ADORABLE I CAN'T EVEN TAKE IT.
• Storytellers, make sure your clump SR is tighter at the end of this song. Your clump during Waiting for Life is perfect, but some of you were too far center during One Small Girl.

Waiting for Life

• My eyes went right to Caroline Badyna, Eliza Elliott, Maddy Brown, Ryan DeStefano, Iain Johnston -- you guys are doing a great job acting here! 

And the Gods Heard Her Prayer/Rain

• Gods: awesome, awesome, awesome! This is a song where all four of you shine! You work so well together.
• Dyson & Noah: act a little bit more when you're coming up the steps. Feel the rain storm beginning!
• Carly Martinez, Divya Jain, Cassie Graff: you were ROCKIN' it during Rain!

Pray

• EVERYONE: Make sure you are frozen when the lights come up on Alex. If you are in the wrong position, don't worry about it, just get there when you unfreeze. YOU MUST BE FROZEN IN THE BEGINNING! If half of you freeze and the other half don't, it looks kinda goofy!
• Melissa and Robyn: thank you for always being in character and so energetic onstage!
• Jordan: I always forget to tell you how much I love your line - "if it hadn't been for Julian's daughter" - it's so clear, and you sound great!
• Ciara and Matt S.: during the blackout after Rain, hop up onstage (right above where you are on the risers); after you say your lines, come back down to the risers -- we want to make sure you are lit during your lines so the audience knows where the voices are coming from!

Forever Yours

• Rayne, your movement here is fantastic. You really give the illusion that you are working some powerful sort of magic. Keep up the amazing work!
• Matt, the way you fell after Ari "dropped" you yesterday was PERFECT PERFECT PERFECT! You pulled your body up perfectly and then sort of crumpled to the side, facing the audience... LOVE IT!
• Andrew, thank you for taking initiative when your cast mates were not ready for their cue. When in doubt, DO IT.

* Everyone: a note on missing cues *

If any of your cast mates ever miss a cue, the music doesn't come on, someone's mic is out, whatever (so many things can potentially happen during a show), all you have to do is STAY IN CHARACTER and no one will notice. If you enter with a handful of others and no one is ready, ENTER ANYWAY. If someone drops a line, do not whisper it under your breath to them, try to think what your character would say and say it in a way that might jog your cast mate's memory. This can be tricky, but it CAN be done! 

Ti Moune

• Alex, great job slowing down the dialogue right before you sing, "What I am..." 
• Ben, Christy, and Alex: all 3 of you did an amazing job acting in this song. I noticed some pauses in the dialogue/singing just because I know the music so well, but your acting was flawless and made the whole scene feel so heartfelt. Keep thinking about what your characters are thinking in that moment, and this could very well be one of most emotional numbers in the show. I had chills!

Mama Will Provide

• EVERYONE: Remind me to talk to you about hats!
• Everyone on stage: when the playoff begins, keep rockin' out onstage. Stay in character and dance back so the curtain can close but DO NOT EXIT THE STAGE UNTIL THE CURTAIN HAS CLOSED COMPLETELY. Ally will call out to Alex, "Now go and find him, Ti Moune" and she will reply "Thank you, thank you!" so make sure you are not making noise over them.

Some Say

• Nick: come see me & Ms. Sunnergren!
• Boys: practice your harmonies for this at home. Your harmony needs to be cleaner!

Pray Reprise

• Alex & Matt C.: PROJECT YOUR VOICES! We couldn't hear you when you were on the back platform during the bit with the necklace. You cannot rely on your microphones!

The Ball

• Mary Wenner: so graceful and cheery! You are a joy to watch in this number!
• Carly Martinez: you are always acting, always "on!" Great job!

Forever Yours Reprise:

• Ari: love how you start out low and then jump up the octave for "you keep!" Threaten her with those words. Let the "you keep!" pull you deeper into the darkness of your character... you're about to give her the ultimate test! This is what Papa Ge has been waiting for! Also, when you raise the knife on "your life is forever mine," make sure you are right up in Alex's face... you're too far away!

Notes from Ms. Sunnergren

WE DANCE:

• Everyone! I NEED the “V” at the end of “alive.” It sounds like you’re all singing “a lie.” My, how important consonants are! Please fix this!

ATTENTION SOPRANO ENSEMBLE: I’m not hearing enough soprano 2 harmony. First sopranos, I divided you in half for a reason. You know which part you should be singing.  I’ve instructed section leader, Hannah Atlas to remind those of you who should be singing soprano 2... if you’re not sure what the part is (I hope this is not the case!) please see me… OR you may ask Hannah, as she is a section leader and doing a fantastic job!

ONE SMALL GIRL:

• Ensemble: Half of you missed your cue before “On this is island of two different worlds.”  Your heads MUST be up and your eyes must be on me when you hear Rayne say “strength of love.”  

WAITING FOR LIFE:

• ATTENTION Alto girls and some boys: After Alex sings “Catcing a glimpse of a stranger in white racing BY” you MATCH HER PITCH on your “OOOh la” ‘s.  DO NOT sing an octave lower with the few boys who are. The only people who should be singing an octave lower are Andrew, Chip and Iain.  

RAIN:

• Ensemble: Sing “THE Rain” at the end, not just “Rain.” Some of you forgot.  
• Tommy, center your microphone at the top of your cape, please.  Every time you turned your head we lost your voice. “Let there be a girl” – see me. 

PRAY:

• Ben, “I will find where he comes from”- see me. 

MAMA WILL PROVIDE:

• Ensemble: Do not sing mama’s line “and whatever you need mama will” before the little percussion interlude at the end of the piece.  You only sing “PROVIDE” at the end.  

PRAY REPRISE:

• Featured Villagers: Keep the dialogue rolling during that beginning segment. MELISSA, be prepared to sing over someone else’s dialogue in case it’s not spoken in time.  YOU DID this in rehearsal -- WAY TO BE ON THE BALL! 
• Robyn, thank you for jumping in at 3 minutes notice. Great job!
• Aaron, you’ve got the entrance down! Make sure to look up at me for your cue.  

WE TELL THE STORY: 

I had tears of joy in my eyes after the glissando! WOW what a sound!  The sound just comes flooding out when you don’t breathe there … it’s incredible. KEEP DOING THAT! Music has brought me to tears a handful of times in my entire life…. And I can name each one of those times. You just added one to the list. Thank you for making such beautiful music. I am so proud to be conducting you all. 

See you from 6PM-9PM at GWES tonight!

Some vocal notes from Ms. Sunnergren

Now that we're running the show, we have started taking notes about little things that need to be tweaked. Below are Ms. Sunnergren's notes from yesterday's rehearsal. Everyone must read these before tomorrow, so spread the word and start thinking about these things now so we get it nice and sharp tomorrow!

ENSEMBLE:

“Waiting for Life”

Remember the form.  A - Dip - A - Slide. A lot of you forgot the dip! Please go over your music and remind yourselves!

“Forever Yours”  vs. “Forever Yours Reprise”

Remember the “oooh”s are longer in the first “Forever Yours.” The reprise has the short cut-off (Papa Ge sings “forEVER”-- you cut off on the “-ever")

“PRAY”

WOW- you are going to blow the audience away!  Ensemble, you ROCKED it. It is SO exciting to watch and your acting/singing is fantastic.

 Two notes:

1. “The only thing that will save the boys life is to send him back to his world”While you are doing a GREAT job acting here, you must be looking for your cue. A lot of you missed it. This means, be looking up as mama is speaking “And if he lives oh how angry the gods will be.”
2. The first ending is “And a girl who placed herself in their way” The second ending is “And the girl will have the Gods to repay”  I’m still hearing a lot of mumbling here.  This should have been memorized weeks ago. MEMORIZE IT.

“We Tell the Story”

This is wonderful!  Two notes:

1. Those last “we tell the story”s .... DO NOT SLOW DOWN until the very last one where you squat down while raising your hands (the one you sing a cappella).
2. About that very last move, a large number of you forgot to squat! WOOPS.  I know you’ll fix it :)

GENERAL ENSEMBLE NOTE: As a whole, please be careful of your singing voices.  It’s easy to get carried away with the excitement and I hear some belting voices bordering on yelling which I haven’t heard before.  Please don’t get too carried away in the heat of the moment and forget all about your beautiful choral sound!!!! This means BE LISTENING to those around you as you are singing and blend together!  The audience should not hear one voice above the others.  Specifically, I hear this during “Pray” and the beginning of “We Dance.” 

CHARACTER/ SONG NOTES:

“Ti Moune” (The song)

• Christy, thank you for taking such good direction and fixing the beginning melody right on the spot...it’s the same melody the second time. You got it girl! :) Sounds beautiful.
• Alex, “what I am you made me” ... look to the audience during this whole segment, we want to hear your words and see your beautiful face the whole time so we can sympathize with Ti Moune.  It’s such a powerful moment!  Turn to them after “but if i look back, i’ll never go."  Alex, also slow down your dialogue a little in the interludes. 

“Mama Will Provide”

• Ally, wow. I get chills every time you sing this...especially the “whoa whoa whoa” part. ...(you know what I mean!).  It’s fantastic.  
• Ensemble: you bring down the house here!!! What a great closer to the first act! 
• Nick: Great job listening for that cue. We will make sure to wait for the applause to die down a bit before the music is started, but keep up the good listening!

“SOME SAY”

• Graham, Matt, Dena, Jen, Ciara, and Nick - every one of guys are so great in this! Your solos/duets...so well done! I am so proud of you- I hope you are too! 
• Nick, don’t forget your spoken line! 
• Alli Brophy - beautiful.  You are so entertaining to watch and listen to! Remember the note I gave you before on “was her love too strong” and “story and our song”.  :) 

Alex Keane - your singing is beautiful and your acting is so mature.  It’s so exciting to watch you.  :)

EVERYONE - WHAT TALENT GVMS HAS! 

It is so fun and rewarding to work with you all!  KEEP IT UP! 

MUST READ: Notes from last night

Notes for the Cast

• Mrs. Darling: smile during The Darlings!!
• Michael: loved the bits you're doing with the teddy bear!
• Mrs. Darling & Wendy: for both of you, make sure when you get up from the rocking chair at any point in the show, do it slowly to avoid making the chair rock like crazy when you leap from it 
• Lost Boys: during the dance break in "Come Away," make sure you're making noise, chattering with each other, calling out each other's names, etc.
• ALL IN COME AWAY: At the end of the song, stay ENGAGED and EXCITED! You looked like you were waiting for your cue for "and straight on 'til morning" from Ms. Z... even though you are waiting, don't make it look like you are!
• Lost Boys: as soon as you are ALL onstage (right before lights come up), start playing and making noise!! You look AWESOME. I love all the games you all have going on!!
• RICH DAMPPPPPPPP CAKE
• Lennon: loved the timing with "What's up captain?"
• Lennon: make sure when you hold the clock that the face is facing the audience, or else they won't know it's a clock!
• ALL in Mermaids' Lagoon: pick up the pace! Especially at the beginning w/ Smee & Starkey
• ALL in Braves to War: sounds great!! Give MORE ATTITUDE, MORE ANGER throughout the whole song! Every step you take is with angry, fierce, war-driven purpose!
• Tinkerbell: You look fab after you drink the poison! Well done :)
• Wendy: for the new bit in front of the curtain before the Jolly Roger scene, you MUST have your cloak. If it's not at the prop table, it might be pre-set off stage right
• Peter & Hook: if, for any reason, timing is off, you must STOP the sword fight at the end of the fight music
• Liza & Nana: during curtain call, you will set the pace for the rest of the bows. Starting with you two, in order to make sure timing is right, you can take your time with bows.
• Those who are last to bow: keep in mind that you should not get to the gestures to light/sound/directors UNTIL the music slows to the waltz (the part where the Indians come out in Act I); make sure you adjust the timing of bows accordingly

ALL CAST MEMBERS WITH DIALOGUE: If someone drops a line, rather than looking to us down in the audience, try to make up for the line. Last night when Peter missed his cue to come on after shooting Wendy, you did a good job of covering up... "what do we doooo?!" The same applies for ANY scene where ANY character is late or drops a line. You can cover for them. Don't be afraid, just stay in character!!

Notes about costumes, etc.

• No white socks
• No nail polish
• No jewelry, watches, etc.
• No gum
• Stay in character AT ALL TIMES when you are ONSTAGE!

Thanks everyone! We're going to have an amazing run of Peter Pan! 

....  ready? ....  set? ....

Great job last night!

Hey everyone! How do you feel?

Hope you're resting up and staying HEALTHY! 

You all did a fantastic job last night! Thank you for really developing your characters and having FUN with your fellow scene-mates and friends. The show has really come together and we're more than ready for tomorrow's opening night!

I will be posting notes later today, but I wanted to shoot out a few reminders:

• WEAR YOUR GREEN PETER PAN T-SHIRTS TO SCHOOL TOMORROW!! :D
• Indians come to GW tomorrow night with your hair braided
• Remember to come tomorrow night with the appropriate make-up
• Bring a water bottle tomorrow!!!
• Stay out of the kindergarten classrooms
• Remain in your hallway/room when you are not onstage, parents will call you for your cues
• NO TALKING BACKSTAGE. Practice being QUIET at home :)
• No peeking from behind curtains!!!

To those in the Jolly Roger scene and the final scene in the Darlings' house -- practice your lines and tighten up the pace!! The scenes look great, we just need to be SOLID with lines and pacing.

Stay tuned for notes! Rest up! See you soon!

Notes from Monday night

Notes for the Cast

• All in The Darlings: during "The Darlings," be tighter on the risers!
• Tink: "Are you sure, Wendy?" is your cue to bang at the window
• Wendy: don't put the acorn necklace on right away, set it down on the nightstand and be sure to retrieve it before you enter Neverland
• Hook: make sure your head is closest to Smee when you're on the sedan chair -- it was facing the wrong way!!
• Smee: you let Hook upstage you during your giggle... make sure you and Starkey move over so you can be seen for that bit!
• Skylights: awesome job during Rich Damp Cake!!
• All in Rich Damp Cake: REMEMBER THE P IN DAMP!!!
• All in Mermaids' Lagoon scene: pick up the pace
• Peter: take your sword with you after Mermaids' Lagoon
• Indian dancers: be more careful with Tiger Lily at the beginning of Braves... you're getting careless and when you pick her up and bring her back down it looks sloppy and she might fall
• All in Braves to War: you look so fierce and angry and scary at the end, it's awesome! Keep that energy going the WHOLE time!! This is WAR!!!
• Tiger Lily: don't forget your tom-tom for the capture scene
• Hook: after the capture scene, start saying your line as you walk down the steps ("Medicine...")
• Cecco & Calico Jack: awesome job with your lines! Make sure, since you don't have microphones, to project your voices! Otherwise, you sounds great!

Notes for Stage Crew

• With the exception of during scene changes, you CANNOT be seen. For every person you can see in the audience when you are peeking from behind the curtains, 5 people can see you. There is absolutely NO watching the show from backstage.
• Wendy's acorn necklace: She will not be putting it on right away, but instead will be setting it down on the nightstand. Make sure someone from SR retrieves it and keeps it SR so Wendy can slip it over her head before she enters for the Wendy bird scene
• Rich Damp Cake: I want the passing of the cakes to be more obvious. This is the only time I WANT to see more of you. Make sure your full arm is in view as you pass the cakes.

Notes for Sound

• Theresa: play music for the window change (#33) after Emma crosses back to center after saying the line, "We need soap!"
• Make sure Hook's mic is on after the scene change after Come Away is complete... we need to hear him sing his "yo ho!"
• The last scene: Michael, John, and Wendy need to have their mics up as they are entering through the window. They could not be heard.

For everyone: it is absolutely CRUCIAL that you are ALL quiet backstage and that you LISTEN to the parents. We must work TOGETHER for this show to be a success!!

** Starting tonight, parents will be carrying around a tally sheet of your names. You will receive a strike for being repeatedly told to quiet down, or if you are inconsiderate to any of our backstage parents. If you get three strikes, you will not be permitted to attend the cast party. We will go over this tonight.