Mary Poppins Midway Fine Arts Audition Information for Chorus. Auditions for Chorus will be held on Thursday, September 10 at 7:00 p.m. at the Middle School Choir Room at the PAC. Enter through the loading dock doors. You must read, complete, and prepare the following materials in order to audition for the chorus in Mary Poppins. 1. Complete a chorus audition form WITH a parent signature. 2. Prepare the musical selections. Please pay special attention to the calendar with specifics to chorus. Chorus will have their first rehearsal on Monday, September 21.
FINE ARTS PRODUCTION COMPANY HANDBOOK To achieve our goal of a professional production, we must practice the difficult art of self-discipline, which ranges from punctuality at all work assignments and rehearsals to putting equipment away and cleaning the work area before leaving. We emphasize the fact that the individual is part of the company and must therefore subordinate his or her personal desires to the good of the production. The following policies are for the duration of the rehearsal and performance periods. Each one implies a strong discipline essential for the effective functioning of the theatre production company. If you have the desire to succeed, the desire to create, the desire to excite an audience with a quality production, then we cannot help but find success, satisfaction, and pride in this endeavor. Policies of the Production Company 1. Check the Call Board Daily: All Members of the company must check the online calendar daily for changes or notes about the production. The location of the calendar is on the Fine Arts webpage. www.midwayisd.org/finearts. Mr. Umhoefer will be working to post the day s calls on the website for you or your parents to access. 2. Attend all Calls for Rehearsal and Crew: Rehearsals and crew calls are never missed without prior permission. Check the production calendar and clear all dates indicated. Any absence must be cleared in advance with the director. Absences due to illness or other serious emergencies will be excused BUT have your parent let us know ASAP. We worry if you are not here! Unexcused absences or tardiness will result in dismissal from the company. 3. Be on Time: Rehearsals and crew calls begin exactly at the time indicated on the callboard. A 7:00 p.m. rehearsal call means that when places are called at exactly 7:00, you are in the rehearsal area with a sharpened pencil in your hand and your script opened to the scene called. If you are late, you are not there. If you are not there, you are absent. If an emergency makes you late, notify the director as soon as possible. Mrs. Wilkinson s cell phone is 717-1799 call or send a text message if you are late or you are not able to make the rehearsal. 4. Paying Customers Only: Only people called on the daily callboard or invited by the director will be allowed to attend rehearsals. (The fewer observers the better the concentration, and therefore the greater the achievement.) 5. Academic Responsibilities: You are expected to maintain good grades while working on the production. If grades persist at unacceptable levels, you will be removed from the show. You must be eligible according to TEA rules to participate in this production. Try to study before you come to rehearsal. Bring your studies with you so that when you are not rehearsing you may make full use of your time. Plan ahead for any papers you need to write and for major test dates. Do not get behind in your schoolwork. If you are having trouble let the director know, and we will try to help you! Grade sheets MUST be turned in every week. 6. You and the Directors: Remember that the directors are on your side (I PROMISE ). Your success is the director s obligation. If you have problems or questions, ask the directors at an appropriate time. To help the directors function as effectively as possible, never approach or speak to the directors when they are working with, listening to, or watching a scene in progress. Never walk between the directors and the playing area. Once you have entered the rehearsal area, do not leave for any reason without permission from the directors. We are responsible for you when you are up here. Make sure you are where you are supposed to be. Do not leave the theatre until you are released at the end of rehearsal. 7. You and Others Every member of the company is equally important to the success of the production. There are not stars or Prima donnas. Cooperation is essential.
The production staff and crew heads are the director s assistants and are directly responsible to the directors. So long as the crew heads perform their assignments responsibly, there is no reason to argue with them. If problems cannot be resolved, both parties should see one of the directors immediately. There can be only one director working on the show at a time. Avoid offering unsolicited suggestions, chastising, arguing with, or prompting another actor. (WE DO CARE ABOUT YOUR OPINIONS, and often times you will see things as actors or tech that the director misses, however the appropriate time to discuss this with the director is after the rehearsal or at break! ) Conversation backstage, either in rehearsal or performance, should be restricted to matters concerning the production. Give your best at each rehearsal or performance and expect the best from those around you. 8. You and It: Pick up a prop only in the execution of your role. A prop out of place can ruin a performance. Always return your props to the prop table as soon as you leave the acting area. Never touch a piece of lighting, sound, or stage equipment except in the performance of your duty. Never go up on the catwalk, pin rail, or any other tech area unless you are a member of the appropriate crew performing your duty. Always treat your costumes with the utmost respect. Hang them up when you are finished. Notify the wardrobe crew head if your costume needs repair or cleaning. 9. Traditional Theatre Practices Never bring food, drinks, or gum into the theatre. Never create any offstage distractions or play tricks or jokes backstage or onstage. Never write on a piece of scenery, stage equipment, or the walls of the theatre. Never miss an entrance. Never speak to or approach an actor who is waiting for an entrance. Never question the authority of the stage manager or student director. Never leave the rehearsal space, crew area, or theatre until you have been released by the individual in charge. Never be seen by an audience member except in the execution of the show. o o Do not peek at the audience while on or off the stage. If you can see the audience, they can see you. Never enter the stage from the house and never enter the house from the stage before, during or after a performance while audience members are in the theatre. 10. Professional Attitude All cast and crew members will assist in the strike at the conclusion of the run. Once final decisions are made, do not deviate in any way from the director s production plan. Perform the play as it was rehearsed. The privileges and responsibilities of the production company require that you behave in a mature and responsible way. This is educational theatre. If you have questions, ASK! This is the best way to learn. Expectations If it is worth doing it is worth doing well. We must not be content with staging a production that is good for a high school, when we are capable of creating a polished professional caliber show. Midway High School has some of the most talented high school students in the state of Texas! There are several possible Sunday and Wednesday rehearsals on the calendar. The majority of those will be Principal Actors ONLY and will be for specific scenes and times. We will only use these dates if needed. The only time all cast and crew would need to be present during a Sunday rehearsal is the DRESS REHEARSAL on November 8, 2015. We will also have all cast and crew present for the dress rehearsal on Wednesday, November 11, 2015 Being a part of this production will be one of the best experiences of your high school career! DVD. Costume, t-shirt, photograph fee for each student is: $ TBA
As a Member of the company, you must be available for all dates indicated on the following Production Calendar. Any conflicts must be noted on the Production Assignment Form. (Excessive conflicts will make it impossible for you to be an active participant.) Rehearsals will normally be held Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays. Principals will work several weekends and closer to performance dates some Wednesdays and weekends will be required by all members. Crew sessions will meet the same time as rehearsals, or on weekday afternoons. Technical rehearsals and dress rehearsals may possibly extend beyond these times. Normally you will be called for an entire rehearsal or work session, but it is possible that you will be called for only half a session, or some days not at all. We value your time. We value your academics. Name Address Phone Student Pledge I have read the Production handbook and the audition information. I will be available at all times specified on the production calendar with the following exceptions: I understand and accept the regulations, duties, and responsibilities involved with mounting a quality production. If I am accepted into the company, I will work to the best of my ability, placing the good of the company above personal interests. I realize that failure to abide by the regulations or to carry out my responsibilities may result in my immediate dismissal from the company. I also realize that an unexcused absence from rehearsal or crew sessions may result in automatic dismissal from the company. Student Signature Parent Permission Statement I have read the Production handbook and the audition information including the production calendar and understand and agree to the responsibilities that my son/daughter will assume upon becoming a member of the production company. I also realize that he/she will consequently need my assistance, encouragement, and understanding. I will arrange for my son/daughter to arrive promptly at the times called for rehearsals, crew sessions, and performances and see that he/she has transportation home when his/her duties are completed. I certify that there are not conflicts with the production calendar except those listed above. I also understand that my son/daughter needs to be at the rehearsal for the entire time when they are called, and have noted the night practice times. I understand that my son/daughter can be removed from this Production if they miss rehearsals or break or abuse other Musical Policies. Students must be academically eligible to be in the Production. I hereby give consent for my son/daughter to participate in the production of Mary Poppins. Parent/Guardian s Signature Phone
Mary Poppins MIDWAY FINE ARTS PRODUCTION ASSIGNMENT FORM Chorus Name Address Home Phone Cell Phone Circle: Male Female Grade: 9 10 11 12 Please list any conflicts below:
PARENT SIGN UP SHEET Student Name: Grade: Parent(s) Name(s) Contact Phone (s) Email Address: We need your help and support. Do you have any special skills or talents? Are you willing to donate a little of your time? Please check the things you may be able to help the Fine Arts Department with: FA Booster Club Advertisements Program Sales Cast Party Construction Sewing (Costumes) Painting Own or have access to a truck (Full size, pickup, etc.) Own or manage, or know of a business that would like to sponsor the musical Contacting and organizing parents Ticket Booth Ushering and/or monitoring hallways and dressing rooms T-shirts Security (during rehearsals and the end of rehearsals, helping make sure students made it to their vehicles or their parents, etc.) Hair/Make-up Volunteer Coordinator