HAVE YOU SIGNED UP TO ATTEND INFORMANCE WEEK YET?                                                     

Don’t forget!  Come & see what’s happening in your child’s drama and music class.

Click on link below to get more information to sign up!

http://www.questacademy.org/page.cfm?p=632

Actors have a different  language ?!

Yes!  Actors have their own specific working language. When one learns this language, they are able to communicate more effectively & efficiently so that more time can be spent on developing believable characters and engaging performances.  Here are just some “vocabulary” words in the theatre world –

Blocking is the process of planning how and where the actors will move around the stage.  The stage is divided up into sections – based on the actors’ perspective to the audience.  So to cross Upstage the actor moves away from the audience.  To move Downstage one is moving toward the audience.  To move Stage Left, cross to the area of the stage to the actor’s left and Stage Right cross to the area of the stage to the actor’s right.  A Cross is the way an actor moves on stage.  The Wings are part of the stage but offstage, out of sight of the audience. The wing space is used for performers preparing to enter.  The House refers to any area which is not considered playing space; typically the house refers to where the audience is seated.   Our Quest kids are becoming familiar with this language.  The Apron is the part of the stage in a theatre that is in front of the curtain.  Off-book means performing from memory rather than reading from a script.  On-book means using the script because the actor is early in the process of memorization.  Cue/Cue line is a prearranged sign that indicates that it is time to proceed to the next line or action. Actors listen for cues in the text so that they know when it’s time to say or do something.

The 4th graders OWLS AND GECKOS are working on Monologues which they will present from memory in February. The focus of their work right now is creating a character that is authentic and believable.  Their assignment is to look for any information about their character that is given in their monologue and answer questions that build a life for their character.  If the information isn’t there, the students must imagine and create believable answers that would be “true” about their character.  They must create imaginary circumstances that are exciting and fun for themselves and for their audience.  They answer simple questions from “What’s your name?” to questions like – “Are you close to your family?” My favorite thing to do is…  I get angry when… What I fear most…  I admire…

 The 3^rd graders JAGUARS AND TREEFROGS are also preparing for Monologues.  A monologue is a speech delivered by one person.  The Greek root word monologos translates to “speaking alone” – one person doing all the talking.   A character might have an internal monologue where one talks to oneself to better understand some dilemma or in conversation, a character may speak extensively to another character to convince, to belittle, to persuade, to comfort (just a few examples) another character.  Like the 4^th graders, the 3^rd grade classes are creating a life for their character.  We will do character interviews in class.  This particular day, I ask the students to stay in character the entire class time.  One at a time, a student will sit before the class as his/her character and we will ask questions about them.  The student’s task is to stay in character and answer as if they were that person.  It’s fun and challenging at the same time.

BE LOOKING FOR 3^RD AND 4^TH GRADE monologues to be sent home so that you can encourage your child to work on memorization and creating an authentic and believable character.  Acting a monologue is not just standing on stage and giving a speech. In acting, the words are often provided; it is the actor’s job to fill in the thoughts, feelings and actions of the character so that his or her words become your own.

The 2^nd graders TIGERS AND BEARS are in final rehearsals for their Potlatch which will take place on Friday, January 15^th.  Each class has their own story to share.  The Tigers will present Rainbow Crow and the Bears will present The Winning of Daylight. The students have been working very hard and have still have moments of struggle, but they are quite excited and nervous to share their plays.

The Pre-School students OTTERS AND LEMURS began a new lesson called WALKING.  We have walked on different surfaces with shoes on and in our bare feet.  Of course, this is all done with our imaginations.

1st graders BELUGAS AND JELLYFISH focused their energy toward learning stage vocabulary and directions.  Many years ago, stages were raked, which means the back of the stage was higher than the front.  Since the audiences’ seats were usually on a flat level, the stage was raked so that everyone could see the actors more easily.  After grasping the actor’s perspective of moving around on the stage, the students are given different stage directions to perform.  This can be tricky thinking for adults.  One can hear the students’ brains working and discerning where they need to move.  If the director tells an actor to move upstage, which direction is that? Is upstage closer to the audience or farther away?  How can we remember downstage and upstage? Downstage is closer to the audience – who is often seated down lower from the stage.

The Kindergartens DOLPHINS AND MANATEES are also beginning to learn Stage Directions and some Theatre vocabulary.  Of course, this is not always easy to understand because some are still learning to know their right hand from their left.  One can hear the students’ brains working as they navigate their way around the stage.

We are asking parents to complete two surveys.  Go to the Quest Academy website to gain access to the surveys.

Thank you!   http://www.questacademy.org/page.cfm?p=638

Preparation, Presentation and Observation …continues

The 4th graders OWLS AND GECKOS did not meet this week  because Quest participated in an extended time of Service Learning called Immersion Day.

 The 3^rd graders JAGUARS AND TREEFROGS reviewed previous exercises that require them to think quickly and respond.  The actor not only learns the discipline of developing a character and understanding the value of rehearsal time, but they also must learn to respond in the moment with creative and believable impulses.  The students are given a relationship, but only one knows what the relationship is.  The person entering decides who she is and without saying who the other person is endows a relationship on her partner.  The partner listens/observes behavior and makes an educated guess on who she may be and responds truthfully.  They explored different relationships quickly and created improvisational scenes.  Below are some scenes shared –

The 2^nd graders TIGERS AND BEARS continue to work on vocal expression and physical ways to express their character.   In the creative process, one must remember that creativity is welcomed but it still must be expressed within the boundaries of the given circumstances of the play.  “Just anything” doesn’t go.  Thoughtful and purposeful creativity is encouraged.  An email was sent to each Tiger/Bear family with their child’s assigned part so that they can work on memorizing their lines and rehearsing them with vocal expression.  Please remind your child to spend 20 minutes each day practicing their lines.

The Pre-School students OTTERS AND LEMURS all have a strong desire to have a turn.  We will continue to stretch our imaginations to use objects in ways than what is actually used for.  Once one idea is shared, often the students like to copy one another.  I will remind them that we have seen that idea before, come up with a new idea!  You can see the wheels turning… and the pride flowing when they accomplish this task.

1st graders BELUGAS AND JELLYFISH have been working on flexing their observation muscle and then responding by joining in the action, coming up with a new idea that compliments the action or following the action that’s in place.  This is an extended concept of Give and Take that actors need to develop.  Quick thinking and responding believably are tools in the actor’s pocket.  Here are some quick warm-ups the 1^st grade may use to work together –

The Kindergartens DOLPHINS AND MANATEES will take descriptive words like, COLD or STICKY and vocally express what they mean.  They will also begin learning Stage vocabulary/language that helps them to navigate around the stage.  Lots of thinking and doing!

I am thankful for all the hard work in the drama classroom. 

And speaking of thankful, may you have a wonderful Thanksgiving break with your families!

What have we been doing in LOWER SCHOOL DRAMA?!  

If I have yet to meet you… I am Deanna Armentrout, the Lower School Drama Teacher. This is my 3rd year at Quest, and I am still exploring different ideas to introduce your child to the curious and wonderful world of the theatre! The first week of school is exciting for me – there is always great energy and curiosity in the classroom.  In all the lower school drama classes, we participated in an exercise called “YES LET’S!”  The drama concept introduced is making offers or sharing ideas and having the group accept the idea.  This “agreement” allows imaginative energy to flow and increases the groups’ ability to work together.  Plus… it’s fun!  I may say something like, “Let’s hop on one foot!”  They respond together, “Yes, let’s!” And then begin hopping on one foot.  Or I may say, “Let’s eat sticky pink taffy!”  This then advances to actions such as , “Let’s stop someone from cutting in line!  Let’s comfort the crying baby!  Let’s take care of the person who fell off the monkey bars!”  I can quickly observe who is participating and giving over to the imaginary circumstances, and which students are confidently sharing their creative energy and expressive potential!

I love teaching young learners about the theatre and seeing the lights bulbs go on when it connects with them. The best part of my day is sitting on the floor with the students watching and listening to them share – some with growing confidence, others with such exuberance!  Dramatic play is one way that children learn about the world around them.  My mission (in the drama classroom) is to raise each child’s creative and expressive potential so that he or she engages in the art of theatre.  My goal is to help your child to think, to imgaine, to create, to reveal and clarify ideas so that they may use these skills in others areas of school and life.  What a privilege it is for me to “play” alongside the delightful students at Quest.  

I teach at Quest on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays.  If you need to reach me, email me or come by during my office hours on Tuesday mornings from 9-10am.  My office is in the corner… backstage.

I had a great time meeting the new parents and seeing returning parents at Meet the Teacher Night.  Below is the handout I made available.  Find out the importance of using Theatre Arts in the classroom, an overview of what they will be learning, and how I assess the students.

   Meet the Teacher 2015-16