Auditions for “Return to The Forbidden Planet” have just kicked off.
I was a little taken aback with the Shakespearian language used to write the entire script of this show but it’s sort of exciting because it is so completely different, although I’ll have no idea how to memorize them when the time comes.
Right now I’m sort of hoping to be cast as Captain Tempest, he’s a self-centered sexist captain of the ship and he seems like he’d be fun to play. He also sings “Young Girl” which might be a lot of fun. I’m also turbo excited for the costumes, like seriously, all this futuristic stuff is gonna be awesome.
Anyway, there’s not much more to talk about. Have a dancing on audition on Sunday! We’ll see how that goes! Until next time, when things are really starting off!
We thought it’d be a good idea to kick off this year’s My High School Musical blog by asking our three student bloggers why they like to do theater. Here are their thoughts:
Marisa Urgo, Harrison: The question is always posed: What was the highlight of your high-school career? For me, it was the high school musical. There is nothing like standing on a stage before your peers, the spotlight on you, just doing what you love to do. It is something so beautiful to see all the hard work you dedicate yourself to for months become a living, breathing performance on the stage that blows the audience away. I do the musical because theatre is how I express myself, and to see the end result is an amazing experience.
Doug Daniels, Stepinac: I am the current holder of “The Magic” in my school’s theater. This title represents how I am basically the president of the drama club and gives me a leadership quality in the theater. The theater acts like a second home to me. I see the stage as a place where a person can leave behind all their troubles of the day and take on a new personality. Acting is one of my favorite things to do. I enjoy entertaining people and being around others who enjoy the stage as much as I do. For me, with every new play comes a new adventure. I am able to play a different character or take on a new personality. The road from auditions to final bows is long and tough but the excitement is in the journey. Practicing at home in your spare time or just running through a scene quickly before your entrance makes a person stronger in their understanding of the character and in understanding themselves. The drama club has helped me to become a better and more outgoing person. Through this blog I would like to inspire others to feel the same way I do about the theater. I hope this blog helps others to see the enjoyment of the theater.
Tim Bidon, Rockland Country Day: Why do I do theater? Well, first and foremost it’s a whole lot of fun. I love coming out of school after hours of studying and note-taking and being able to step out “Timothy Bidon” and step into a different role to play. Rehearsal always consists of laughter and when you’re in a production you make really close friends with the rest of the cast. Musical theater is so special because it’s so unlike real life. Subconsciously, we all wish that the world would randomly break out into song. I mean, come on, how many of our problems would be solved if we sang? But in all seriousness both singing and acting are great forms of expressing yourself so if you do both at the same time you’re like a tidal wave of expression! Acting is what you make it and what I love most is that the same role is never played the same way twice. Every role you get assigned gets your own personal flavor and it either works or it doesn’t, but the risk is what makes the theater such an exhilarating experience.
Pete Kramer: OK, so why do YOU do theater? Leave your answer in a comment below. If you have a question for our bloggers, post it in a comment…
Three high-school seniors will take us along for the ride as they prepare to appear in their final high-school musicals.
Harrison High School’s Marisa Urgo: Marisa is President of Harrison High School’s Footlight Players and has been a member since her freshmen year. She has played roles from a Nubian slave (“Aida”) to a golden, sparkly fork (“Beauty and the Beast”). She has participated in theater in and outside of school, and will direct her own student-directed play in the spring.
Archbishop Stepinac’s Doug Daniels: This is Doug Daniels’ fourth year with the Stepinac Drama Club. The White Plains native has performed in “The Manchurian Candidate,” “Thoroughly Modern Millie,” “The Crucible,” “Singin’ in the Rain,” “One Flew over the Cuckoo’s Nest.” In last year’s “Curtains,” he played Daryl Grady.
Rockland Country Day School’s Tim Bidon: Tim, of New City, started his theater career when he joined the RCDS musical production of “Grease” in the 8th grade. He was in “Once Upon A Mattress” in 9th grade and “Oklahoma!” in 10th grade. Last year, he expanded his horizons and did the fall drama, “It’s A Wonderful Life,” and the musical “She Loves Me.” Last fall, he appeared in “One-Act Plays By David Ives” and he’s preparing to audition for his final high-school musical: “Return To The Forbidden Planet.”
So, yesterday was the last performance of She Loves Me. it turned out better than I expected. Not only did the cast a crew do a great job, but the audience loved the show. Truthfully, a lot of us were a little unsure whether it was going to turn out, but it did! ah the magic of theater. The stage was so hot, though, that when I took off my costume, there was a band of sweat where my belt had been on my dress. it was H-O-T hot. The poor audience.
This is also my last show. I loved being Ilona and I’ll miss her. It was a bit emotional for all the seniors and for our director, but I’m excited to be able to come back in years to come and see what other shows Marsha and Dennis do and how they do them.
I don’t know what else to really say except that theater is such a magical thing. It can transform shy kids into loud, wise-cracking characters. It can turn badly behaved kids into dedicated members of the cast. There are no words to describe what theater has done for me or what it will continue to do for other kids.
HEY! So we have been teching it up until about 11:00 at night. So, I am mundo tired. But there’s a dress rehearsal today and then the SHOW! So come and check out all of our hard work. The times are:
Friday, April 24 @ 7pm
Saturday, April 25 @ 2pm and 7pm
Sunday, April 26 @ 7pm
P.S. I’m sorry I haven’t been writing. We have been working too late, and I have been getting up too early to even check my e-mail. Thanks, tech rehearsals.
Also known as hell week is about to begin. It’s going to start in approximately two hours and nineteen minutes. I am excited about being with my friends until 10 o’clock and getting costumes and lighting and what not, but I am scared for my sanity.
Dear God, it’s me, Hailey. Please oh please, let me survive this week and get out of it alive, and with the knowledge that I did a good job. K, thanks.
Hey guys. So we’ve been rehearsing it. UP. And it’s going to get even more intense with the set and costumes and what have you. I’m a little off because I got into a pretty major car accident and totaled my car, so that shook me and my friend Jason (who’s George in the play) up.
Other than that, everything’s pretty good. I am just not getting my lyrics down. It’s kind of an awkward show in that there’s a lot of action going on that you might not be involved in, but you have to randomly say a line- which is hard for me. Plus I have a lot on my mind, which is kind of screwing me up mentally. Anyway, we’re starting spring break on Wednesday and I’m leaving for Los Angeles on Tuesday, so you guys won’t be hearing from me in a weak or so. So adios, muchachos!
So we had our first run through yesterday (Sunday). It was pretty aggravating- you know, one of those rehearsals where everyone looses the script for the first time and has to call “line” every other word. I have no clue how to show looks yet, but I never quite know until tech week.
I don’t know how I’m doing. My songs are getting better- meaning I can consistantly belt each one, which is more than I could do before.
I’m getting worried that I just won’t do well. I always freak out, but I feel that I’m just…not funny, which is the worst thing I could imagine. I also have a lot of school work…yadda yadda yadda, I’m sure you’d all love to hear me complain.
We’re starting to rehearse later each day, which means tech week is coming soon. I’m just nervous that we don’t have enough time. Next week we have spring vacation for a week and then the next week we have tech week, which is kind of stinky. I just want everything to turn out well for my final show. Everyone’s doing really well, and I’m really proud of all the effort we’re all putting in, I just hope all that effort shows in the final product
One month to go until the show. Holy schmigoly oly! I’ve been practicing my songs and they’re getting better. That’s good. The seniors had senior skip day yesterday, so we couldn’t go to dance rehearsal. But I think everything will be good (fingers crossed). I really need to memorize those lines, though. Until something exciting happens,
Every year, more than 60 high schools across the Lower Hudson Valley present musicals. Some are all-school plays; others are for seniors only. This blog takes you along for the ride with a few student actors, sharing their after-school-theater lives on the way to Opening Night.
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Harrison High School’s Marisa Urgo: Marisa is President of Harrison High School’s Footlight Players and has been a member since her freshmen year. She has played roles from a Nubian slave (“Aida”) to a golden, sparkly fork (“Beauty and the Beast”). She has participated in theater in and outside of school, and will direct her own student-directed play in the spring.
Archbishop Stepinac’s Doug Daniels: This is Doug Daniels’ fourth year with the Stepinac Drama Club. The White Plains native has performed in “The Manchurian Candidate,” “Thoroughly Modern Millie,” “The Crucible,” “Singin’ in the Rain,” “One Flew over the Cuckoo’s Nest.” In last year’s “Curtains,” he played Daryl Grady.
Rockland Country Day School’s Tim Bidon: Tim, of New City, started his theater career when he joined the RCDS musical production of “Grease” in the 8th grade. He was in “Once Upon A Mattress” in 9th grade and “Oklahoma!” in 10th grade. Last year, he expanded his horizons and did the fall drama, “It’s A Wonderful Life,” and the musical “She Loves Me.” Last fall, he appeared in “One-Act Plays By David Ives” and he’s preparing to audition for his final high-school musical: “Return To The Forbidden Planet.”
