November 22, 2010

LIKE the Utah State Fair Facebook Page

If you're looking for an easy way to share information about our upcoming performances and the Dickens Festival in general, LIKE the Utah State Fair Facebook Page.

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Utah-State-Fair/233944945214?ref=ts

November 20, 2010

In The Spirit of Thanksgiving

What a GREAT week of rehearsals!

I just want to express my gratitude to my fellow directors Andrea and Rebecca, our producer JJ, and especially to our AWESOME CAST for a wonderful week of hard work. I really appreciate everyone's patience and professionalism, I really couldn't have asked for a better cast. Seriously, a very, very fun cast to work with, everyone teachable and malleable. I've been so happy with the progress of everything. Still a few kinks to work out, but I really think we're exactly where we want to be. Great work everyone!

Just some things to consider over the next week:

DRINK LOTS OF WATER, it won't necessarily keep you from getting sick, but it's one of the ways I know to stay healthy.

WASH YOUR HANDS too. We don't want people to be dropping from colds or flu the week we get back.

DRIVE SAFELY, I hear it's gonna be cold this week. Stay safe!

Lastly...

Enjoy Thanksgiving, be with your families. I am definitely thankful for the chance to have worked with each and every one of you and I am excited to put on a great show in a few weeks.

ALOHA,

Thomas

November 19, 2010

Due Tomorrow

The wristband form and the picture/dvd order form are due at rehearsal tomorrow (Saturday, 11/20/10).

Other important dates & info:

11/30/10 - COUPONS
$1.00 off coupons will be available for your friends and family

12/6/10 - COSTUME NIGHT
Please arrive at your scheduled time to receive your costume.  If you have lost your costume schedule, please speak to Jacqueline Vuki at rehearsal.

12/7/10 - CAST PARTY
Cast party will be on December 7th from 5:00 pm to 5:45 pm.  This will be a pot luck snack fest with some awards and other fun things.  Sign up on 11/20/10.

12/7/10 - FIRST DRESS REHEARSAL
This is a Tuesday night, so mark your calendars now.  After the cast party, you will get dressed and we'll rehearse from 6 to 10.

12/8/10 - FINAL REHEARSAL
Call time is at 5:00 pm - arrange your schedules accordingly.  We will be taking our cast pictures on this night, so every one needs to be there on time!  Plan to rehearse until 10 pm.

12/11/10 - PIZZA
Pizza, water, and clear soda will be provided for dinner on this day.  You will be responsible to bring your own lunch.

Check the rehearsal schedule tab for all other rehearsals and show times.

READ ON FOR INFORMATION FOR THE ORPHANS & URCHINS!!!

Saturday's Rehearsal - Orphans/Urchins

If you are the parent of an orphan/urchin who is only in Food Glorious Food, Oliver Oliver, and Father Christmas, here is what to expect tomorrow.

9:00 am - Run all the way through Oliver (kids will be expected to sit and watch the show once they are off stage)
10:00 am - Run the scene with "Father Christmas" a few times, then dismiss the little ones.

The rest of the cast will then run Scrooge as many times as possible until 1pm.  If your little one can/wants to stay to do the run through he/she may, but they will be required to sit and quietly watch the show.

After the Thanksgiving break, please plan to have your little one attend all rehearsals as scheduled.  They will need to be in the concluding numbers / curtain call for both shows, so we will need them there for both the beginning and the end of the run.

Please talk to me on Saturday if you have any questions or concerns.

November 11, 2010

In Preparation for Saturday

This Saturday will be the last choreography rehearsal where the focus will be primarily on the dancing, and where I can stop and start and be picky to my heart's content.  It will be an important and difficult rehearsal, and I will need every cast member at his or her personal best.

The only way to get to this level is to also have the "audience" at its best as well.  In an ideal world, we'd have a segmented rehearsal space where some members of the cast could go to chat and enjoy each other's company when not on stage.  We don't have that luxury, so I will need to ask that cast members be prepared to do one of the following options when not on stage:

1) Sit in the audience section.  I will designate an audience section near the "stage" where cast members can sit and silently watch the action.

2) Sit in the silent activity area.  The corner behind the pillar will be designated as an area for cast members who have brought personal, silent activities (books, coloring books, game systems with headphones, etc.).

3) Hang out in the kitchen.  I have noticed that when talking quietly in the kitchen, there is enough of a sound barrier that I don't seem to hear it.  A few cast members can take advantage of this area, although it is small.

4) Play outside in the grassy area.  If your child has to stay beyond his or her rehearsal time, you may want to bring a warm coat and send them outside to play.  Unfortunately, I cannot guarantee supervision for those cast members, so this is probably only an option for those children who are old enough to supervise themselves.

Please prepare your children/teenagers/selves that no one will be allowed to be walking, running, or wandering aimlessly around in the building.  Cast members who are doing so will be asked to wait outside.

Please read the schedule carefully and attend all required times and don't attend when you don't need to!  (Not really possible for the families, I know - sorry.)  Plan ahead for the times you won't be on stage.

I am looking forward to a productive rehearsal on Saturday where I only have to be "mean" about the dancing!

November 10, 2010

List of Props

We don't need anything pretty or realistic looking, but if you have any of the following and could bring (and leave ) them, it will help us piece together the show.  I will keep this list updated, so please check back!

Plastic mugs with handles - need 9 more
Box sturdy enough to stand on (for Tom Jenkins in Thank You Very Much)
Props for knife grinders (Who Will Buy)
Pocket watch (think outside the box... could be keys on a lanyard, toy on yarn)
Top hats - a whole bunch

November 09, 2010

No Street Theater fror Sat 11/13

I can not be there this Saturday and so no street theater. I would like to see everyone next week 11/20. I would like to hear all the sellers (apple, knife, flower, little match girl, newspaper boys) ascents at 9:00am for 5 minutes. I would like to see the suffragettes song at 9:30am for 10 minutes. The gossipers and Charles dickens I want to hear your ascent and your info on your character at 9:45am for 5 minutes each. All character (Bette, Nancy, bob c, tiny Tim, Fagin, charlie, dodger, Oliver) I want to hear your cry and your accent at 9:15am. Mary Poppins if you can come at 10 am that would be great! :) Thanks for being flexible with the schedule I really appreciate all the hard work you are doing.
JJ

November 03, 2010

Street Theater For Sat 11/06

Just a reminder that the street theater schedule will be a little different for this Sat. I would like to see all performers between 9:30am and 10:30am. If you are not already scheduled to be there plan on coming at 9:30am and working your stuff and then you will be done. If you are scheduled to be there I will try to work around the other stuff going on so that all actors will get a chance to practice.
Thanks Everyone
JJ

November 01, 2010

Orphan/Urchin Lyrics

Father Christmas:
Father Christmas; Father Christmas; He’s the meanest man
In the whole wide world, in the whole wide world you can feel it

He’s a miser; He’s a skinflint; He’s a stingy lout,
Leaving your stocking out for your Christmas gift and he’ll steal it.

It’s a shame; He’s a villain; What a game for a villain to play on Christmas day

After Christmas Father Christmas will be just as mean as he’s ever been
And I’m here to say we should all send Father Christmas
On his merry Christmas way

Interlude

Father Christmas; Father Christmas; He’s the rott’nest man
In the universe and there’s no one worse; I can feel it.

He’s a rascal; He’s a bandit. He’s a crafty one,
Leave it all undone; He’ll come in your house and he’ll sell it.
  
It’s a crime; It’s a scandal; What a game for a vandal to play on Christmas day

If you distrust Father Christmas; It’s as well to know
That there’s hope to sow cause I mean so say
We should all send Father Christmas

Interlude

Father Christmas; Father Christmas; Father Christmas; Father Christmas
On his merry Christmas way

Food Glorious Food:
Is it worth the waiting for if we live till eighty-four, all we ever get is gruel.
Every day we say our prayer; will they change the bill of fare, still we get the same old gruel.
There's not a crust,  not a crumb can we find,
Can we beg, can we borrow or catch
But there's nothing to stop us from getting a thrill
When we all close our eyes and imagine:

Food, glorious food: hot sausage and mustard
While we're in the mood, cold jelly and custard
What is it we dream about?  What brings on a sigh?
Piled peaches and cream about six feet high!

Food, glorious food - don't care what it looks like.
Burnt, underdone, crude - don't care what the cook's like.
Why should we be fated to do nothing but brood on
Food, magical food, wonderful food, marvelous food,
Fabulous food, glorious food!