This is a message from Tom Grissom to Mamma Mia parents about the cast party tonight-

Cast party parents-I am Lucy Grissom’s Dad. The cast/crew party is at our house.  If you have questions please call me. Parents are invited to come over after the show to check out where the party is. I will be making food until midnight. Bring something to share if you want. Pick up your child in the morning or later this evening.
Tom Grissom
503-539-8983

6014 SW Shattuck Rd
Portland, OR 97221

Music Notes from 10/31

Money Money 

Ensemble, don’t forget the SCOOP on "it’s a Rich man’s world"

Mamma Mia

need more tenor power!

Chiquitita 

featured ensemble, have a bigger, unified presence for your “you and I know how all the heartaches..” etc.

Dancing Queen

8: Solomon I can’t understand anything you sing in this song

Lay All Your Love

Where’s the bottom harmony? Seems like everyone is singing the top or middle harmony.

Review those words, everyone!

Super Trouper

thank you tenors and baritones for getting your faces in those mics ! More if possible :)

Ensemble: Crescendo your final note: “blind meeeEEEEEEEE"

Gimme Gimme

Need more middles! I’ve been saying this for weeks!!

Name of the Game 

Ensemble: “Wanna know" should be HUGE, each time.

One of Us

Ensemble: bump up the dynamic level of “Oo”s in the beginning to a mezzo forte, please

Does Your Mother Know

featured ensemble, please tighten it up and enunciate

Peppers “take it easy” can be in HEAD voice! Take it easy.

Our Last Summer

Ensemble: “AHr” last summer not “Ow-urr” —keep it open!

Winner Takes It All

featured ensemble, quieter during exposed sections (Ah’s)

Dancing Queen hymn

don’t rush, sopranos. 

Thank you for the nice open “Ah”s —can’t have enough of that!

I Do I Do I Do

featured ensemble: louder for your “solo"

Notes from 10/31 Run

Continuation from our discussion last night:

ALL: remember you are acting so as much as you may have in common with these characters, they are also not you. Find the things that aren't you and ground in them so you have a distinct and precise character.

REMAINDER ACT ONE:

• TANYA/ROSIE - take 3 steps to your left when you go down to the look for the Dad's "on the beach". Lighting is better in a little further
• TANYA/ROSIE - Do the head banger move and then look at Donna so we get that that's a question - you're asking her "you don't mean head banger do you???"
• TANYA/ROSIE - Stay open - back to platform, when you're going up to Donna as she sits on the edge of it. Don't face her.
• DONNA/TANYA/ROSIE - leave later for Dancing Queen, and walk slower - Donna resist going, make them drag/push you - so you arrive up on the platform in place just in time to sing/dance.
• SPOTS - Dancing Queen - change, Anna on Tanya / Helen on Rosie
• SOPHIE - Stay in your body and smooth out your energy for Lay All Your Love - you're really engaged and then you're not and then you are again. Move through taffy the whole song - ask me if that doesn't make sense.
• SKY - even more response to her hugging you. You LOVE this girl. How do you feel when she's close to you??
• SKY - move downstage, make room for flippers - the 3 groomsmen circle you, but the other still have to go behind them so be sure there's room for 2 rows of people behind you
• EDDIE - stay open in Lay All Your Love, tell us the story
• PEPPER - slow down "oh we'll being doing that too" or whatever that line is, and speak up!
• NIKOS - LOUDER
• SOPHIE - Lay all your love - crook your finger to get Sky to walk to you when you're seated on the platform
• FEATURED ENSEMBLE - close the balcony doors behind you when you enter for Lay All Your Love so they are closed through the end of the act
• DONNA/TANYA/ROSIE - careful of "muting" mics in your costume change into Super Trooper. Do you have dressers/helpers? If not just double check for each other that the mic lights are green as you zip up your clothes.

• DONNA/TANYA/ROSIE - remember that Super Trooper is for Sophie - direct much of it to her. Also remember that each time you get to a new chorus where you do the decades choreography sections that you're making it up together, deciding in the moment which one to do, be more engaged as a trio. And stay tight to each other. 
• TANYA - stay tight to the group, you are drifting Right. 
• SPOTS - SUPER TROOPER stay up on the trio in the balcony through Rosie's line - "Hen Night, women only" then go off
• TENOR/BARITONES OFFSTAGE: for Super Trooper please stand right in front of the offstage mics and ALTOS/SOPRANOS stay behind them so the TENOR/BARI part is louder in the mix. Make sense?
• SOPHIE - remember it is always you leaving the conversations with the Dad's in Gimme. So when you're line is over, hop away and just join in the "snapping" that everyone else is doing so Dad gets a moment to be flustered. Then they leave you in Voulez.
• ALL - "woo!" at end of Gimmie - just so there's a button
• SPOTS - stay up on Bill and Sophie after their dialogue for Gimmie so they don't go out between Gimmie and Name of the Game - just stay up and with them.
• SOPHIE - step up on stage as you say you're growing rather than before. You can step back down for - will you give me away.
• SPOTS - stay up after Name of the Game - through the end of the dialogue and go out on Sophie and Bill when Sophie runs up to dance
• HARRY - even more precise with your physical choices. Keep the dynamic nature, just continue to clean so even less fidgety. Get specific about each move.
• ALL - end of Act 1 GET OFFSTAGE. No walking, everybody bolt. Fewer people exit E/Stairs - it's a bottleneck, so some go out D.

ACT 2: 

• SPOTS - One of us - ANNA on Sam/Jackson, HELEN on Molly/Jan (in shutters)
• JAN/SAM/DONNA/ROSIE - still more energy/attack on one of us, go get what you want, energy in your faces - be active
• SPOTS - ANNA stay up on Jackson for the scene that follows One of Us through SOS. HELEN go out on Jan as she closes the window and pick up Donna as soon as you can there after.
• DONNA/SAM - SOS - open on platform, for scene and when returning to it to sing
• PEPPER - DYMK - LOUDER in scene - take focus, get the girl!
• TANYA - DYMK - come out with the towel draped (rather than folded) over your arm
• JAN/ELLE - DYMK - stay on the ground but at the corner of the platform, until Jan finishes "we're guests now" then cross all the way up to the bar. Really challenge Pepper.
• ROSIE - DYMK wear the hat on the entrance
• ROSIE - pepper my snapper - exit/cross DS of Tanya NOT upstage
• FEATURED ENSEMBLE - Please add a blue apron to your costume - Burton/Zoe have them. For all scenes. Thanks!
• JAN - DYMK - I love it when your hair is involved in the mocking of the competition section - be sure and shake your head while mocking Pepper's shaking 
• TANYA - DYMK - "you're so cute" (carefully) pinch Eddie's cheek
• TANYA - DYMK - remember to flirt with specific people in the audience
• TANYA - VOLUME you have one of the two biggest voices in the show and you're too quiet often. SING OUT!
• SOPHIE - wait one more second before running in for scene with SKY after DYMK - I want one more second before you go on so more folks can exit
• SOPHIE - slow down, really let SKY hear - 3 possible dads - that's new information
• SKY - ground yourself - don't get angry and plant your feet!
• SAM - speaking volume and energy before KMKY
• SAM/SOPHIE - open out. Sophie - don't check out, you are torn between chasing Sky and listening to your dad. Both powerful engaging needs.
• SPOTS - KNOWING ME KNOWING YOU - ANNA on SAM, HELEN on SOPHIE
• SAM - yes, they live with their mother - that is intense for you. It means your children, who are the only people on the planet that you love as much as Donna, don't live with you. Breaks your heart.
• DONNA - Our Last Summer - be sure you look at the check before you freak out about it
• SPOTS - be extra tight/small circles on Our Last Summer because we're lighting the grid. We can't help it but we want to minimize it. Thanks!
• SOPHIE - Slipping - you don't have to be moving the whole time, even though you don't "hear" the song, you are feeling your mom, excited and nervous to be getting married, it is really beautiful to just get to appreciate you and feel what you're feeling. So some business and then look at yourself for a while and then business, make sense?
• DONNA - much bigger nod yes you will walk her down the aisle - actually nod
• SPOTS - Slipping into Winner - ANNA stay up on Donna and HELEN on Sophie then pick up Jackson and stay up through dialogue and through Winner
• DONNA - open out in Winner and VOLUME in the quiet parts or we have to pull back your belt. Can't have that much difference between the two. SUPPORT.
• DONNA - Winner - hold your words longer - Fence, Home, Sense, Cards, Too. We've talked about this before, not so clipped off on every line.
• DONNA - Winner - tell me does she kiss - this is a sweet part, be loving, pour all your love out, show him you're vulnerable. She is NOT angry EVER in this song. She is honest with him and with herself and she is surrendering and letting go. Feeling for the first time since he got here, everything she feels for him. You got this. Go there.
• SPOTS - Take a Chance - ANNA on Rosie, HELEN on Bill.
• FEATURED ENSEMBLE - close the balcony doors behind you when you enter for TAKE A CHANCE so they are closed through the end of the act. 
• FELIX - Take a Chance - arms UP in the snap walks
• FATHER A - Ground your voice/pitch it down a little - try being serious when performing the wedding and then goofy with asides.
• DONNA - energy up after hug Sophie mid scene talking to Dad's - shoulders back!
• SAM - Stay open
• FATHER A - Wait to throw to the bouquet until Donna 
• DADS - remember your angle/triangles for last scene 
• FATHER A - let the couple hug a second longer and then send the couple off to walk the aisle sooner
• ALL - through petals really up in the air rather than just at the couple so we get to see them shower down
• SOPHIE - don't slump in the wedding or through end of song and really smile through I have a dream - it's an AMAZING dream
• ALL - when you join in for I have a dream, look out and really see your dream then focus back to Sophie on your ooooo's. 

Notes from Yesterday + Line Note Review

Notes

Sky -

Good facial expressions during “I Have a Dream”

Make “I love you” (91) bigger, very energized

Sophie -

Make “I Have a Dream” more about Sky; ‘I have a dream with you’

Open up your stance and slow down your lines, especially on “I know you never wanted all this” (91)

Make a bigger deal of “get at the world” (91)

Manage space during fight with Donna (56); open up; cheat out

Donna -

Good take on “I haven’t got a clue what’s going on!” (91)

Huff to start off “SOS” was too soft - needs to be precise

Cheat out

Manage space during fight with Sophie (56); open up; again, cheat out

Pay attention to posture - maintain tension

Sam -

Huff to start off “SOS” was too soft - needs to be precise

Maintain tension with Donna, physicalize it

Harry -

Don’t fidget so much, especially during “all kinds of families” (90); focus movements

Groomsmen (Eddie, Pepper, Nikos) -

Move to Platform 3 for “I Have a Dream”

Dynamos -

Hug corner of Platform 3 during “I Have a Dream” to make space for groomsmen

Ensemble -

Maintain a high level of energy while onstage; be excited about/engaged with everything; you always have a firm point of view

Everyone -

Visualize personal dream during “I Have a Dream”

Make Voulez Vous exciting - strong finish to Act 1

Make full, precise choices; specificity of words and actions is extremely important - provides a clean, clear message

Give purpose to every song, make strength of emotions clear

Cheat out! Open up!

(Music) Review “Name of the Game”

(Music) Pay attention to cut-offs in “I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do”

(Music) Agree on cut-offs in “Chiquitita”; listen to each other; work together

(Music) Keep up vocal support during dance-heavy numbers

(Music) Practice and review all music

Line Notes

I spent yesterday’s run taking notes on line accuracy and want to make sure that everyone is clear on the process we will use to review these notes.

On Sunday there will be a script on the piano in room 108. The script will be filled with a (very large) number of different colored sticky notes. Each color corresponds to a group of people who tend to be in the same scenes (There will be a key so you can figure out which color you are). Each note is placed on a line that was mistaken during yesterday’s run. I have marked any time a line was skipped, stumbled over, said incorrectly, or an actor called ‘line’. During whatever downtime you may have at rehearsal, speaking characters need to go to the script, flip to your color, find your mistake, make some sort of note to yourself to practice that line, and initial at the bottom of every page on the script where a mistake of yours was noted. These initials let me know that you have actually gone through and done your part to improve your knowledge of your lines. I will check to make sure this is done.

*Everyone with lines should check for line notes. There is at least one on every page with dialogue after scene one*

In the future, this script will be left on the piano during the school day so you can check for line notes before rehearsal, at lunch, or during tutor time.

Q: What kind of train is always eating?

A: ¡uᴉɐɹʇ ʍǝɥɔ ʍǝɥɔ ∀

-Raven

Notes from Today + Rehearsal Updates for Tomorrow

Notes

Bill -

Now SR of Sophie in “Name of the Game”

Finish the “Gimme Gimme” dance and then go to the dock

Go back to “Name of the Game” music; sing

Sophie -

Now SL of Bill in “Name of the Game”

Finish the “Gimme Gimme” dance and then go to the dock

Go all the way downstage for “Voulez Vous” dialogue

Sam -

Go all the way downstage for “Voulez Vous” dialogue

Slow down dialogue and shorten your pauses

Harry -

Go all the way downstage for “Voulez Vous” dialogue

Slow down dialogue and shorten your pauses

Eddie -

Keep the push in the beginning of “Voulez Vous”

Featured Ensemble -

Ad libbing is good but don’t make actual noise

Groom’s Party (Flipper “men”) -

Except for Jimmy and Kyle, go around the table during your “Voulez Vous” entrance

Everyone -

Cheat out; face the audience more, even during conversation

Go upstage instead of diagonal on the second “Voulez Vous” chorus

The SR dancing group has the space to go further right during “Voulez Vous” dance; use it

When exiting, stay in character until completely offstage

Slow down dialogue and shorten your pauses

Support your voice when singing and speaking so we can hear you

Tomorrow’s Call

Donna, Sam, Sophie, Sky, Rosie, and Bill are called to the choir room at 3:30

Everyone else needs to be in the auditorium and ready to go at 3:45, when we will complete our stumble through with Act 2. Rehearsal is still expected to last until 6:30

*Please bring your completed bio forms and give them to me!*

Q: Why does the giraffe have such a long neck?

A: ¡pɐq ʎllɐǝɹ llǝɯs ʇǝǝɟ sʇᴉ ǝsnɐɔǝq

-Raven

Remaining Calendar/Schedule ***Please Review and Share***

-10/19: All Choreography...330p-630p (All Actors, Mgmt)
-10/20: Scenic/Costume/Sound Call…100p-500p
    (Available Actors, Appropriate Crew/Leads/Apps., Appropriate Designers)

-10/21: Dark (No Call)
-10/22: Rehearsal…Tech Orientation/Costume Parade/Stumble Through...330p-630p
    (All Actors, All Mgmt, All Student Leads/Apprentices/Crew)
    -Lighting Call…700p-930p (All Light Crew/Leads/Apps)
-10/23: Rehearsal…Work Notes from Monday Stumble Through...330p-630p
    (All Actors, All Mgmt, Selected Leads/Apps/Crew)
    -Lighting Call…700p-930p (All Light Crew/Leads/Apps)
-10/24: Rehearsal…Work Notes from Monday Stumble Through...330p-630p
     (All Actors, All Mgmt, Selected Leads/Apps/Crew)
    -Lighting Call…700p-930p (All Light Crew/Leads/Apps)
-10/25: Sitzprobe…330p-730p (All Actors, All Mgmt, All Instrumentalists, Sound Crew)
-10/26: Run of Show/Notes…330p-700p (All Actors, Mgmt, Instrumentalists?, All Crews)
-10/27: Show Cuing…945a-100p (Director, Lighting Designer, Producer)

-10/28: Show Cuing (pt. 2)…900a-100p
    Show Readiness Day…200p-600p
        (All Actors, Mgmt, Crews, Instrumentalists as per Caldwell)
-10/29: Tech Day…1000a-600p (All Actors, Mgmt, Crews, Instrumentalists Call Time TBD)
-10/30: Dress 1…330p-800p (All Called…Instrumentalists Call Time TBD)
-10/31: Dress 2…330p-800p, but earlier out if we can (All Called…Instrumentalists Call Time TBD)
-11/1: Preview…500p-1030p, but earlier out if we can (All Called…Instrumentalists at 630p)
-11/2: Performance 1…530p-1030p (All Called…Instrumentalists at 630p)
-11/3: Performance 2…530p-1030p (All Called…Instrumentalists at 630p)

-11/4: Performance 3…1200p-500p (All Called…Instrumentalists at 100p)
-11/5: Dark (No Call)
-11/6: Dark (No Call)
-11/7: Pick Up Rehearsal…330p-700p
    (All Called, Rehearsal Format: Full Run w/o Costumes or Makeup…otherwise, full tech)
-11/8: Performance 4…530p-1030p (All Called…Instrumentalists at 630p)
-11/9: Performance 5…530p-1030p (All Called…Instrumentalists at 630p)
-11/10: Performance 6…530p-1030p (All Called…Instrumentalists at 630p)

-11/11: Strike…1000am-500pm, but earlier out if we can (All Called)

Attn: All Mamma Mia Cast, Crew, and Management!

Monday begins your all-calls for the run of the show! Please be in the Auditorium no later than 330pm to orient into tech week and run of show schedules and responsibilities.

Let’s do this!  It. Is. Time!

j. miller