Tuesday, November 30, 2010

A Writing Opportunity (12th Graders and Parents)

An Introduction to Playwriting
at
Southwest Shakespeare Company

Saturdays 9:30am-11:30am February 5, 12, 19, 26 and March 5
Learn how to turn your idea, story or premise into a stage worthy play!
In this interactive course, creative writers will explore dramatic writing techniques and the fundamentals of structure, arc, plot and character, and the new play development process. Class time is divided between discussions, writing exercises, and presentation and analysis of student work. Each writer will have the opportunity to develop a short play over the five week course through in-class guidance and dramaturgy, and peer feedback.


Dates: Saturdays 9:30am-11:30am February 5, 12, 19, 26 and March 5
Fee: $140 ($125 if you sign up before January 8, 2011). Contact Dawn Tucker, Director of Education, to secure your spot today: education@swshakespeare.org.
Location: 55 East Main St, Mesa AZ
Instructor: Neil Haven

Neil Haven is the author of Stuck, Who Killed Santa?, The Playdaters, Get a Life, and Pink Champagne, among others. His work has been seen at various theatres and universities across the U.S. and Canada, including In Tandem Theatre in Milwaukee, Nevada Conservatory Theatre, The Chicago Fringe Festival, American Theatre Company in Chicago, with puppets at Carte Blanche Studios and the Bayview Brew Haus in Milwaukee, Denver’s Dangerous Theatre, Hectic Theatre in Regina, Saskatchewan, The University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, and The University of Nevada, Las Vegas. He received a new play commission from The Milwaukee Gay Arts Center in 2007 which will culminate in the professional premiere of Pink Champagne by Uprooted Theatre in May 2011.
Haven teaches adult playwriting for The Milwaukee Repertory Theatre and has taught dramatic structure and literature, introductory theatre, and acting courses at The University of Nevada, Las Vegas. He holds an M.F.A. in Playwriting from UNLV and a B.A. in Theatre Performance from the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater. He also works as an actor and musician. This winter, he will be appearing in Southwest Shakespeare’s productions of A Midsummer’s Night Dream and The Importance of Being Earnest.

Tuesday, November 30, 2010

HOMEWORK

Seniors:


Go over your lines OUT LOUD every day-
At least once (even if you rehearsed in class)!!!

Go over costume list. Have your costumes at school
By NEXT Monday, December 6
*(See Ms. Pitman by Friday, December 3 if you don't have/
can't get what you need).

*Bring your lavender reservation/dress rehearsal form back
Sooner than later...but definitely by this
Friday, December 3

6th Graders:

No homework. Enjoy!

Monday, November 29, 2010

Monday, November 29, 2010

HOMEWORK

Seniors:

Go over your lines OUT LOUD every day-
At least once (even if you rehearsed in class)!!!

Go over costume list. Have your costumes at school
By NEXT Monday, December 6
*(See Ms. Pitman by Friday, December 3 if you don't have/
can't get what you need).

*Bring your lavender reservation/dress rehearsal form back
Sooner than later...but definitely by this
Friday, December 3

6th Graders:

No homework. Enjoy!

Saturday, November 27, 2010

Animal Masquerades

The Sixth Graders are currently exploring masks. Here are a few photos showing the animal masks the students made at home and used in drama class last week.








Wednesday, November 24, 2010

Wednesday, November 24, 2010


HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

Enjoy your R & R Weekend!

*Seniors: please go over your lines/cues out loud
once a day!

Tuesday, November 23, 2010

Tuesday, November 23, 2010

REMINDER:

Early Release tomorrow,
Wednesday, November 24
12:15 PM

No School Thursday/Friday
R & R Weekend (No Homework)

HAPPY THANKSGIVING! : )

HOMEWORK

Seniors:

Go over your lines OUT LOUD every day!!!!
Yes: even over Thanksgiving break!

*Bring your lavender reservation/dress rehearsal form back
Sooner than later...but definitely by
Friday, December 3

6th Graders:

No homework. Enjoy!

Monday, November 22, 2010

Monday, November 22, 2010

HOMEWORK

Seniors:

Be off-book
By tomorrow, Tuesday, November 23

*Bring your lavender reservation/dress rehearsal form back
Sooner than later...but definitely by
Friday, December 3

6th Graders:

Revise your mask, if necessary
Come up with animal movements and gestures
as well as a sound (if your animal makes one)
For tomorrow *(bring your mask to class too, of course!)
Tuesday, November 23

Friday, November 19, 2010

Friday, November 19, 2010

HOMEWORK

Seniors:

Read hand-out on "Subtext/Small Talk"
By Monday, November 22

*Make sure your parents received the
letter sent home Monday (lavender paper)
and that you return the form for reservations
and dress rehearsal dinner no later than
Friday, December 3

CONTINUE TO MEMORIZE YOUR HEADS OFF!
DO NOT WAIT UNTIL THE LAST MINUTE!!!
Be off-book by next Tuesday, November 23

6th Graders:

COMPLETE animal mask
Bring it to school,with you
Monday, November 22

Thursday, November 18, 2010

Thursday, November 18, 2010

HOMEWORK

Seniors:

Read hand-out on "Pace/Rhythm"
By Tomorrow, Friday, November 19

*Make sure your parents received the
letter sent home Monday (lavender paper)
and that you return the form for reservations
and dress rehearsal dinner no later than
Friday, December 3

CONTINUE TO MEMORIZE YOUR HEADS OFF!
Be off-book by next Tuesday, November 23

If you have any outstanding assignments: get 'em in...
The quarter ends on Friday, November 19

6th Graders:

Gather materials to create animal mask
Bring them to school, along with preliminary sketch
Tomorrow, Friday, November 19

Wednesday, November 17, 2010

Wednesday, November 17, 2010

HOMEWORK

Seniors:

Read hand-out on "Loud Enough/Dropping the End of the Line"
By Tomorrow, Thursday, November 18

*Make sure your parents received the
letter sent home Monday (lavender paper)
and that you return the form for reservations
and dress rehearsal dinner no later than
Friday, December 3

CONTINUE TO MEMORIZE YOUR HEADS OFF!
Be off-book by next Tuesday, November 23

If you have any outstanding assignments: get 'em in...
The quarter ends on Friday, November 19

6th Graders:

Finish preliminary drawing for mask
(if you did not do so in class today)
Due: Tomorrow, Thursday, November 18

Begin gathering materials to create animal mask
Bring them to school by Friday, November 19

Tuesday, November 16, 2010

Tuesday, November 16, 2010

HOMEWORK

Seniors:

*Make sure your parents received the
letter sent home yesterday (lavender paper)
and that you return the form for reservations
and dress rehearsal dinner no later than
Friday, December 3

MEMORIZE YOUR HEADS OFF!
Be off-book by next Tuesday, November 23

If you have any outstanding assignments: get 'em in...
The quarter ends on Friday, November 19

6th Graders:

Memorize Mother T., phrase 6
By tomorrow, Wednesday, November 17

Bring in one or more images of an animal face
Tomorrow, Wednesday, November 17

Sunday, November 14, 2010

Monday, November 15, 2010

ANNOUNCEMENTS:

Third Quarter ends Friday, November 19
Progress Reports should be available to access by
Monday, November 22

12th Grade Parents:
Special drama letter is being sent home with your student today.
Please read carefully. Contact Ms. Pitman should you
have any questions.

HOMEWORK

Seniors:

Bring home letter to your parents.
Make sure form is filled out and brought back
no later than December 3.

If you missed class on Friday, be sure to complete
Assignment #3, Reflection
By tomorrow, Tuesday, November 16

MEMORIZE! MEMORIZE! Be off-book completely
By NEXT Tuesday, November 23

6th Graders:

Go over Mother T., phrases 1-5
Memorize phrase 6 by Wednesday, November 17

Look for and find one or more pictures/photos of
an animal face to use to create your first mask.
Due: Wednesday, November 17

Wednesday, November 10, 2010

Wednesday-Friday, November 10-12

Reminders:
No school tomorrow, Thursday, November 11
Veteran's Day

*Ms. Pitman will not be at school on Friday, November 12

HOMEWORK

Seniors:

Memorize lines!!!
Be off-book COMPLETELY by
Tuesday, November 23

Assignment #3, Reflection *(You will receive this on Friday)
Due: Monday, November 15

6th Graders:

No homework tonight, Wednesday

Complete Mask packet *(You will receive this on Friday)
Due: Monday, November 15

Tuesday, November 9, 2010

Tuesday, November 9. 2010

Reminder: No school this Thursday -
Veteran's Day, November 11

HOMEWORK

Seniors:

MEMORIZE! MEMORIZE!
Deadline to be off-book is quickly approaching...
Tuesday, November 23 (that's two weeks from today!)

6th Graders:

Be sure to get test grading sheet signed
and bring it back to school by
Tomorrow, Wednesday, November 10
*Remember: each day the grade sheet is late, two
points will be deducted from your test (uh, oh)!

Monday, November 8, 2010

Monday, November 8, 2010

HOMEWORK

Seniors:

Work on lines!!!!
Must be off-book COMPLETELY
by Tuesday, November 23

*Check schedule for outside of school rehearsals

6th Graders:

If you have not completely memorized Hamlet,
please make sure you do so by tomorrow,
Tuesday, November 9

Please get test grading sheets signed
and return them to school NO LATER than
Wednesday, November 10
*For every day the sheet is late, two points will
be deducted from your test

Friday, November 5, 2010

Friday, November 5, 2010

My apologies for the lack of posts the past two days: I was out sick.
May you all have a happy (and healthy) weekend!

HOMEWORK

Seniors:

Work on lines, work on lines, work on lines!
Remember: You must be COMPLETELY off-book
by Tuesday, November 23

6th Graders:

Learn Hamlet, line #9
Have the WHOLE monologue COMPLETELY memorized
by Monday, November 8

Tuesday, November 2, 2010

Tuesday, November 2, 2010

HOMEWORK

Seniors:

Continue working on...
- lines
-production jobs
Character background work due tomorrow,
Wednesday, November 3 by the end of class.

6th Graders:

Memorize Hamlet, line #8
By Thursday, November 4

Monday, November 1, 2010

Monday, November 1, 2010

Happy November 1!

HOMEWORK

Seniors:

Work on lines...
Work on production jobs...
Background work due:
Wednesday, after class, November 3

6th Graders:

Begin memorizing Hamlet, line #8
Know it by Thursday, November 4