27th Nov rachel

Today we focused on separate songs that we needed to work on and improve. Me, Bryleah and Paige practised 'Take Me Or Leave Me'. There are a few notes that I am concerned about and how I need to belt more confidently. We also needed to block and choreograph some movement to fit with the scene, including tense body language and an uptight posture coming from Joanne, whereas Maureen will be really expressive, explosive.

Paige peer supported me and Bryleah in improving our belting for a fuller sound, stronger projection and a wider vocal range

27th Nov kat

Working with Kat, me, Luke and Bryleah worked on the choreography for 'Tango Maureen'. This part was for the instrumental section in the middle of the song, which refers to the part in the movie. This is where Joanne throws off her coat, and prepares to outdance Mark, who also challenges her. Although the dynamics in tango dancing are sharp and strong anyway, this was especially important for this scene as they are mentally fighting each other out.

We managed to finish the choreography, we just now need to work on keeping within the pace of the music and the timing. We also have to focus on singing whilst dancing, which can be hard if you're performing fast spins and lifts. I also need to work on making my moves more steady and solid to make the dance look cleaner.

26th Nov - rach

Today we looked at our progress so far, self evaluating where we are at:

Vocal

• Dialogue: I am very comfortable picking up dialogue and using simple strategies such as reading the lines over and over, but I still need to learn all the line in Act 2
• Sung performance: The songs I find most challenging are 'Take Me Or Leave Me', because it involves majority belting, and 'Tango Maureen' as it is very fast paced and loud whilst you are having to dance . Songs I'm most comfortable with are 'We're Okay', as I've learnt all the lines and rhythm and melody, so I only need to work on the last note. Another song I'm comfortable with is 'Happy New Year' as it involves a lot of characters and my vocals stay within my comfort zone

Acting

• Characterisation: I need to improve my body expression and face characterisation, remembering that it's fine to exaggerate sometimes as it's musical theatre. I do however have a much better understanding of the vocals and how they different each song. I've also developed my accent and the style of it

Movement

• Character: I've worked on my body language especially in Take Me Or Leave Me and Tango Maureen
• Dance performance: I need to work creating choreography for the dance in Tango Maureen

Today we also gave feedback to others on what we liked about their performances and how they could develop. 

'Without You' is the scene in which Angel dies, surrounded by loved ones and other characters around the edge e.g Joanne and Maureen. Although Joanne and Maureen aren't in the hospital room with Angel, we are still present and can feel the pain as we are sat together at the back of the stage. The emotion is always portrayed really well in this scene as the situation of a loved one passing away can relate to most people, so we end up bringing ourselves through our characters.

Small scale theatre tour - venues 23rd

Today's lesson involved us phoning up different venues, to discuss the rental prices for our production and any additional costs or benefits.

We used a short opening sentence: "Hi there, my name is Amber Cameron and as part of my Performing Arts Business course I am researching information about (venues/lights/costume), would you be able to help me with a few enquiries about your venue?

We had a small selection of questions to collect our basic data:

• How many seats does this venue hold and what are your prices?
• What's your policy on selling merchandise?
• What are your prices for hiring? Deals?

Information collected:

Connaught in Worthing - 4 venues

• Connaught theatre - 520 seats
• Connaught studio - 242 seats = £555 for afternoon (2-6)
• Assembly Hall - 940 seats
• Pavillion - 800 seats
• technician available for hire

Hawth Theatre in Crawley

• Main venue - 815 seats = £2000
• Studio - 146 seats = £347 (7 hours)
• 20% commission
• technician available for hire

Steyning Grammar School:

• Drama Hall - 300 seats = £35/hr 
• +Foye £15/hr
• no commission
• Technician available for hire

I later did more extensive research on the company websites where they supply more information on the exact costing including technician prices and any staff hiring. 

20th nov - rach

Today we focused on taking photos, head-shots and filming shots for Rent. While the photos and head-shots went towards designing of the programmes and posters, we filmed bits for the promo video and for the film that is shown in the last scene; in the Rent movie, a film clip displays all the main characters as well as clips of the life support group, the homeless etc. In the last scene, we are going to project the film on a screen at the back of the stage as they do in the actual film, reminiscing on the past events.

They filmed me and Sophie as Joanne and Maureen, interacting with eachother such as hugging and laughing with each other. The films would be silent as well as the song 'Seasons Of Love' will be played over the top. This meant we had to be clear with our actions and gestures so the viewers would understand our relationship (that we are partners)

Everyone was also filmed walking into the woods, and on the floor in on line, laughing and smiling with each other. As everyone was involved in this it showed the friendship group's bond and unity, which cancels out all the issues and fights by reminiscing their happy moments.

Shots of specific scenes

1. Roger playing guitar against wall ~ Roger & Mark
2. Homeless shot ~ 1 shot for both casts ~ by smoking area in woods
3. Mimi between Roger's legs ~ on industrial steps
4. Angel & Collins on top of steps
5. Benny/Betty by principals car
6. Joanne at sounddesk
7. Life support - in classroom
8. Mimi dancing ~ dance studio
9. Group shot ~ mucking around as bunch of friends (summer time)
10. Homeless shot
11. Maureen & Joanne getting ready for show
12. Cafe shot
13. Mark avoiding camera ~ Maureen stealing camera
14. Angel in a frame by tree
15. Solo shots in order 
16. All characters in line 
17. Walking away in distance - all characters

20th Nov - Kat

In this lesson, we used a music stimuli to create a dance piece. The music my group was 'Brother' by 'Matt Corby'. As seen in the title, our dance was about sibling relationships, between brothers and sisters etc.
We wanted to show the highs and lows of the relationships, the rivalries and also the bonds/connections. The song starts very upbeat and fast paced, in which I had the idea of running around the space through each other, dodging and spinning around one another. I was attempting to show the chaotic and manic environment of siblings playfighting, and simply just a bunch of children having fun.
We then go into pairs, performing slow contact movement to reflect the loving times shared between them. Me and Danni used an action of wrapping arms around the other to signify the care and protective nature of brothers and sisters.
In the middle section, we created 2 lines parallel to each other, and pass through the gaps, mirroring the person opposite's actions. This portrays how siblings often imitate the others behaviour.
In one part of the piece, we are in a tight formation, in which we perform actions in unison. This symbolises the strength and power of a connection, an unbreakable bond.

I think we interpreted the music stimulus well and applied appropriate movement to it. We considered effective ideas and delivered the context of the piece well. To improve, we could of worked on the timing of the last section and emphasised our movement a bit more. 

19th Nov - Rach

Today in the 1st half of the lesson, we discussed career roles and choices. We explored a wide range of different job opportunities available in the performing arts industry.

• Sales - Skills we could take from our musical theatre course are our confidence and good communication and social skills, to be able to persuade and promote. Our enthusiasm as well as our professional attitude could also contribute
• Holiday rep - Skills for this job would be maintaining a high energy and being very approachable as well as having good leadership skills

In the 2nd half, we focused on a selection of songs in Act 2 we hadn't gone over properly yet.

I'll Cover You Reprise
 I prepared by the lines for the songs in addition to watching videos of the songs, to understand the melody for 'I'll Cover You Reprise'. This song is dedicated to Angel, following his death from AIDS. It is a memorial scene in which characters closest to Angel share some heartfelt words about her, which then leads into Collins' song. It seems that in this scene the whole Act, the whole musical has come to a standstill. Time slows down and really gives the attention this scene deserves. After Angel dies of the AIDS, it draws everything and everyone back to understanding the horror of living with the disease in the early 1990s, and the devastating effects.
The choice to make a reprise for 'I'll Cover You' is really effective as Collins is revisiting his happiest memory he had with his loved one when they arrived in Santa Fe, however now the lyrics appear to be deeper and have more significance, supported by the change of tone and accompaniment. The first 'I'll Cover You' was more of an introduction to their blossoming relationship, whereas the reprise is the tragic ending to their relationship.

My character Joanne sings the verse "With a thousand sweet kisses, I'll cover you" about 4 times with off cast Maureen (Paige), while Collins sings separately and the rest of the cast sings a verse from 'Seasons Of Love'. The fact that 'Seasons Of Love' is intertwined with the reprise links back to how the song, which opened Act 2, foreshadowed these oncoming events. What I need to improve on is my projection, as there are many others singing different verses which means I need to reach their volume level to be heard even though I am singing with Paige. I also need to continue practising my breath control so I'm able to hold the notes for longer.

Goodbye Love

'Goodbye Love' follows the previous song, in which the sad empty atmosphere gradually erupts into a full blown argument between the characters (Joanne, Maureen, Benny/Betty, Roger and Mimi). My argument is with Maureen, as I snap at her and bring up our relationship problems. This triggers Mimi to go for Roger and Benny and vice versa. The emotion in our voices as we sing needs to really give the impression we are all arguing and fighting, so it requires a lot of power and characterisation. We need strong exaggerative facial expressions as well as vigorous body language. Another analysis of this scene, it is the first time Mimi and Joanne show some sort of bond and come together, as what they have in common is a partner who doesn't put in the equal effort to their relationship e.g "I'd be happy to die for a taste of what Angel had, someone to live for unafraid to say I love you". We learnt our harmonies which sound really good together. I feel Joanne's emotion slightly adjusts to being more upset and disappointed than angry when she says the previous line, unlike her earlier line "We used to have this fight each night, she never admit I existed". I need to work on being more aggressive when singing to make my lines more purposeful, and also need to practice the belting high note "Never gave an inch when I gave a mile", which is very explosive. When I start to get more anger in my voice and when we practice it in the space with some movement, it will boost me and I will find it easier to jump to the high note.

Take Me Or Leave Me

This scene depicts the ultimate break up between Maureen and Joanne, in which Joanne reached boiling point and finally hits back. This is my favourite song as I like how punchy and belty it is, and I imagine if this wasn't a song it would be both characters basically screaming at each other as they stomp around. Maureen starts off which isn't surprising as she is seen as more dominant in some aspects (Joanne does everything for her, and is always trying to make the relationship work). She dominates the song as she expresses her need to be free e.g "a tiger in a cage can never see the sun". However Joanne finally snaps and takes control. Although Maureen believes she is in the right, she has wanted Joanne to stand up for herself and let herself go, which is exactly what happens. I like playing Joanne in this state as she becomes fierce and shows off her potential.

For today, me Kim and Sophie practised our harmonies. Because mine are a lowered harmony I need to work on this as I find it harder than if I had a higher harmony. I also need to project more and work on belting, which Sophie has said she can help me as well as Paige. This song is definitely a challenge for me but I am determined to really deliver this duet performance as I do enjoy the song and scene in general.

Costumes (First thoughts)

• Joanne: Me and Bryleah have two ideas on what to wear for Tango Maureen. In the film, Joanne wears black trousers, a white shirt, a tie, braces and a blazer. However later on in the dance she wears a dress. From searching up videos of the performance some of the Joannes wear a dress and others wear the smart outfit. As I have an idea of a dress I have and Bry has the smart outfit items, we are going to bring them in and discuss it
• For the homeless, we are going to wear winter clothes including hats, gloves, scarves etc.
• For Mrs Jefferson, I was thinking of a blouse and a skirt, on a simple long sleeve top and skirt. I think Mr and Mrs Jefferson's clothing will be fairly plain as their lifestyle and the career they encouraged her daughter to pursue (lawyer), I think they would be smart looking.