January 20-22 is being renamed Theater Week here at Helena as we showcase the talent and work of the students in the Theater classes with 4 productions. Theater I classes will be doing a production of Check Please by Johnathon Rand. A funny play full of awful first dates in search of true love. The Theater II/III class will be presenting 6 new short plays written by Helena creative writing students. All plays are directed and acted by Helena students. Refreshments will be available. Look forward to seeing you at the Theater! Click a flyer below for more details.

Husky One

checkpleaseflyer theaterI

For the week of December 8-12, the Theater Tech students of Helena High have been presenting and teaching students new skills. Topics included how to build a fake hand, how to create realistic rain fall on a stage, correct techniques for makeup, how to warp wood in a controlled fashion, how to make sugar glass, and different techniques for fake snow. Each project, students had to ask 3 questions that proved the class learned their skill and they had to have a visual aid and an activity for the class to do. Above are pictures of an activity where students had to create snow and then we had a snow ball battle in the parking lot. It was a week of exciting new discoveries of techniques and skills that the students and teacher are looking forward to using in future productions!

On December 11 & 12, my students had the pleasure of performing a professional style audition in front of professionals to gain feedback. Meg Deusner of Acting Out Academy and Mike Jones of Mike Jones Entertainment spent both days critiquing and providing feedback to students interested in pursuing a potential career in the arts. For this, students had to create a Headshot (taken by the photography class), a resume, and learn 2 monologues that they rehearsed and broke down over the course of the previous month. Most students learned a classical and a modern monologue and had the choice of which they would rather perform. The judges were highly impressed and the students had the feel of an actual audition complete with nervous waiting and anticipation.

December 5th and 6th Helena attended its first Alabama State Trumbauer. 19 contestants participated in the events. We saw multiple plays and scenes and enjoyed local foods. When all was said and done, we walked away with 3 Excellent ratings, 10 superior ratings, and one 3rd place award in Duet Acting Contemporary Dramatic. Below is a few pictures to help chronicle our trip and the great time we all had followed by a list of the awards.

Above is the group of people taking a last photo before leaving.

Here is the gym where they set up the awards for the award ceremony.

Above are all of the awards with a closeup of the trophy below.

Helena Awardees

Gillian A – Superior Rating – Solo Female Dramatic Contemporary Novice
Jordan C – Superior Rating – Solo Male Dramatic Contemporary Novice
Ashli F – Superior Rating – Solo Female Dramatic Contemporary Novice
Andrea A – Superior Rating – Solo Female Dramatic Contemporary Varsity
Alexa K – Superior Rating – Makeup Design Novice
Houston B & Jarrett M – Superior Rating – Duet Reader’s Theater Comedic Novice
Isaiah D – Superior Rating – Solo Male Dramatic Contemporary Novice
Rebecca R – Superior Rating – Costume Design Novice
Ivy M – Superior Rating – Solo Classical Female Dramatic Novice
Jacob W – Excellent Rating – Solo Male Contemporary Comedic Novice
Katie G & Reed D – Excellent Rating – Duet Acting Contemporary Dramatic Novice
Ashli F & Andrew B – 3rd Place – Duet Acting Contemporary Dramatic Novice

Yesterday, Helena Drama had a strong showing at the District 6 Trumbauer Festival. 25 students were approved to go to State level in their respective categories. And more than that made excellent ratings! Below is a list of those approved to compete at the state level.

Duet pantomime-Austin M & Kyra C
Duet readers theater comedic- Jarrett M & Houston B
Solo fem contemporary dramatic- Gillian A
Ashli F
Andrea A
Solo male dramatic contemporary- Isaiah D
Jordan C
Solo male comedic contemporary- Jacob W
Duet dramatic contemporary-
Ashli F and Andrew B
Reed D and Katie G
Kelsey P and Serena
Eshaun W and Shelby B
Jonah S and Hunter G
Solo classic drama- Ivy M
Duet classical comedic- Lily R and Noah Y
Makeup Design- Alexa K, Taylor O
Costume Design- Rebecca R

Last Friday, my theater classes had the chance to sit down and learn some stage makeup basics from Lydia Casey who has been practicing and honing her craft since high school in various productions across America. She came and demonstrated in each theater class the correct process for putting on stage makeup, the reasons for each step, how to set it, and how to remove it. In each class she also had a student volunteer for her demonstration. Below is the advanced class watching as she discusses how to apply shadows and highlights.

If you were unable to attend the parent meeting last Tuesday afternoon or if you just want to help out the theater department (for which we are eternally grateful), attached is every sheet that was handed out last during the meeting.

Most of it is self-explanatory. However, the Helena Parent Setup is where you signup if you are willing to support us in one of the following areas (just be sure to email me to let me know):
1. On Nov. 1 many of the theater students are going to district Trumbauer at Pelham High School and we need people willing to help transport them that morning and pick them back up that night.
2. The AOL Cast support is where you could sign up to bring food for the cast one of those rehearsal days since those will probably be the longest rehearsal days.
3. After that, is a listing of bake sale dates. During the intermission of the show, we are hoping to run a bake sale in the lobby. If you would be willing to bring any baked goods to donate for us to sell, just let us know what items and what day.

If you have any other concerns or questions on anything, please feel free to ask.

The following is the current status of who has signed up for what.
Trumbauer Drivers

Leslie D – 7 students
Shanna S – 4 students
Kisha G – 6 students
Jeanne G – 3 students
Jeremiah G – 3 students
Stephanie B – 7 students
Brenda R – 3 students
Charlotte G – 6 students
Debbie D – 6 students
Stephanie L – ? students

Need 1 to 2 more drivers

AOL Cast Support
10/29/2014 Leslie D bringing 4 pizzas
10/30/2014 NO ONE YET
11/3/2014 Jeanne and Jeremiah G bringing Wings and salad and drinks
11/4/2014 Jill B ?
11/5/2014 Jill B ?

Bake Sale Nov 6
Leslie D Brownies
Jill B ?

Bake Sale Nov 7
Kisha G cupcakes
Joe W cookies & drinks
Alisha M pies
Wendy H chips and brownies

Bake Sale Nov 8
Jeanne & Jeremiah G rice krispy treats, drinks, solocups, chocolate muffins
Jill B ?

Bake Sale Nov 9
Alisha M pies
Jennifer W ?

NEEDS: I am looking for two more people to donate goods for Sunday, Saturday, and Thursday.

PARENT MEETING DOCUMENTS
Prop list

Helena Parent Setup

Drama Ticket Order Form check please

Drama Program Ads Form AOL

Arsenic and Old Lace Final Schedule

The following people are needed for the following rehearsal days. You can check which position you have below the rehearsal dates. If you cannot be there or need to make special arrangements, be sure to speak with Mr. Casey beforehand and arrange an alternative. For most people in Mr. Casey’s class, this is a test grade participating in this production.

Makeup and Hair people Oct. 27, 29, 30 / Nov. 3-9
Costume Manager Oct. 27, 29, 30 / Nov. 3-9
Costume Designer As much as possible leading up to Nov 3
House Manager Oct. 29,30 / Nov. 3-9
Publicity every T, Th morning at 7:40
FOH Crew Oct. 29,30 / Nov. 3-9
Usher Oct. 30 / Nov. 3-9
Prop Crew Every T, Th morning at 7:40
Light Op Oct. 27,29,30 / Nov. 3-9
Sound Op Oct. 27,29,30 / Nov. 3-9
Light/Sound Managers Oct.27,29,30 / Nov. 3-9
Tech Crew Oct. 30 / Nov. 3-9

Backstage Crew
Cast A Crew
Jenna G SM
James J Asst SM
Sieara L SOund Op
Ryan W Light Op
Brooklyn D Props M
Christina S Prop C
Ethan D Prop C
Shelby B Costume D
Caroline A Costume C
Mary Beth O Costume C
Gillian A Makeup Manager
Lizzie M Makeup and hair
Hunter V Old age makeup
Ivy M Scary makeup
Katie G Costume Manager
Shelby B Costume Designer
Eshaun W House M
Juli T Publicity
Sydney D Publicity
Matthew Y Publicity
Tyan Publicity
Karsten Publicity
Shyanne Publicity
Alex Publicity
Julian Publicity
Logan S FOH Crew
Shaylin FOH Crew
Kali FOH Crew
Jacob FOH Crew
Meghan N FOH Crew
Cameron J Usher
Noah Y Usher
Payne H Usher

Cast B Crew
Janeka S SM
Morgan N Asst SM
Sieara L Sound Op
Ryan W Light Op
Brooklyn D Props M
Christina S Prop C
Ethan D Prop C
Kelsey P Costume D
Amelia B Costume C
Lily R Costume C
Gillian A Makeup Manager
Lizzy M Makeup and hair
Alexandria K Old age makeup
Mariah H Scary makeup
Katie W Costume Manager
Kelsey P Costume Designer
Eshaun W House M
Juli T Publicity
Sydney D Publicity
Matthew Y Publicity
Tyan Publicity
Karsten Publicity
Shyanne Publicity
Alex Publicity
Julian Publicity
Logan S FoH Crew
Grant FoH Crew
Hannah FoH Crew
Trevor FoH Crew
Alexis M Usher
Kristen Usher

Starting next week, October the 6th, both casts will be meeting everyday to work on lines and blocking. Also,

PARENTS:
There will be a meeting Tuesday from 5:30-6:30 to discuss upcoming events such as dress rehearsals, Trumbauer, performances, etc. It will be Oct. 7 in the Auditorium. I will try to be as quick as I can. I look forward to seeing you there. Please notify me if you can or can’t come.