The Scarlet Pimpernel - Update!

Hey everyone!
I just realized that I haven't updated in a while... Sorry about that! Rehearsals have been going really well! We have blocked all of Act 1 and the first scene of Act 2.
One particularly difficult scene to block was the final scene of Act 1. This is the ballroom party scene, which means almost the entire cast is on stage during this. The director placed the party-goers on opposite sides of the stage to sort of frame the center, where most of the main dialogue took place. Once everyone was placed, we proceeded with the scene and figured out how to maneuver around everyone while acting. About half way through the scene, most of the cast left the stage to listen to the opera singer. I (Marguerite) was left on stage with Chauveline and had a scene on stage with him. Once he left, Sir Andrew appeared onstage. He had a secret note that he read while I was "resting" in a chair. Once he had read it, he is supposed to start to burn the note and I snatch it from him before it is completely disintegrated. We have not run this bit completely. We went through the motions, but did not use the flame. I think we will be working this bit out at our 3 hour rehearsal on Friday.
Today, we worked on the first scene of Act 2. This was a very long scene - 23 pages long! I was impressed that we made it through the whole thing and even had time to go back and re-work the beginning. It was a very important and intense scene. My character, Marguerite, begins to figure out who the Scarlet Pimpernel is in this scene. She also has a very intense with her husband, Lord Percy Blakeney. Kevin and I ran this for the first time today and did pretty well (in my opinion). Rehearsal today was very productive!
This play is going to be amazing!

Scarlet Pimpernel Rehearsal - 2/4/11

Here is an update on The Scarlet Pimpernel! We had a 3 hour rehearsal on Friday, February 4th at my house (since my mom is the assistant director). We began by doing some drama warm ups, such as word assosiation and group story. After we were all loosened up, we began rehearsal. We started at Act 1 Scene 3 and worked through the end of Scene 5. We then took a cookie break before continuing with practice. We started with Scene 6 and worked through untill the end of Act 1. After Act 1, we practiced our French chanting! During the crowd scenes, the villagers have to shout and chant many phrases, so we practiced saying them at the correct volume and speed. Then we began working on Act 2, but only got through the first scene before rehearsal ended. We made a lot of progress though!

The Scarlet Pimpernel: The First Read Through

On Friday, January 21st, the cast of The Scarlet Pimpernel had our first read through! It was really great to be able to sit down with everyone and read through the entire show. It gave me a much clearer image of what the play was about and how Mrs. Bielicki envisions the play. There are also many french phrases in the play, so we had Bill Knabe help us with the pronounciations. This play has a lot of action and a lot of drama, but it does have it's funny moments!

Blakeney: 'Tis an interesting rhyme... Hell...PimperNELL

Blakeney: I said to my wife...

I said to her...

I said to my wife...

Oh, now I've forgotten!

Blakeney: What an interesting chest!


Blakeney: In the name of the Father... the Son... *PUNCH* and the Holy Ghost!!!!!!!

Blakeney: 'Tis beastly stuff, soup... A friend of mine died, choking on soup, just like you...

This is going to be a great show! The cast is already having fun with the script!

The Scarlet Pimpernel has been cast!

Hey everyone!

This morning at drama class, we all recieved the cast list and our scripts! I have been cast as... drum roll please.... *drum roll*

Lady Marguerite Blakeny!

This is the largest role I have ever played! I am so excited to have been given this wonderful oppertunity! We have a read through on Friday that I am very excited about! I can't wait to tackle this great script!

CAST LIST

The Prince of Wales: Jonah Hunter

Lord Antony Dewhurst: John Perry

Lord Grenville: Josh Mach

Lady Grenville: Abigail Paschen

Sir Percy Blakeney: Kevin Zorena

Lady Marguerite Blakeney: Miranda Joebgen

Sir Andrew Ffoulkes: John Hopman

Mistress Jellyband, landlady of The Fisherman's Rest: Kaylyn Walters

Sally Jellyband: Mackenzie Paschen

Courtiers: Tori Hunter, Hannah Marks, Elizabeth Mitchell, Mackenzie Paschen, Samantha Polsky, Chelsea Terry, Stefka Terry, Kaylyn Walters, Juliette Warren, Marissa Vander Ploeg

League Members: John Hopman, Jonah Hunter, Nick Joebgen, John Perry, Josh Mach

Comte de Tournay: Josh Mach

Comte de Fayence (Victim of la Guillotine): John Perry

Comtesse de Villefranche (Victim of la Guillotine): Kaylyn Walters

Comtesse de Tournay: Esther Sullivan

Victome de Tournay: Blake Toman

Suzanne de Tournay: Hannah Bielicki

Abbe of Mountbazon (Victim of la Guillotine): Jonah Hunter

Duchesse Danielle de Grignon: Marissa Vander Ploeg

Robespierre: Nick Joebgen

Chauvelin: John Heidedrueger

Armand St. Just: Nick Joebgen

Lambert: Ben Marks

Brogard, lanlord of the Lion d'Or: Jonah Hunter

Guillotine Sergeant: Josh Mach

Captain: Jonathan Walters

Soldier: Tom O'Connor

Executioner: Ben Marks

Henriette Bavay: Elizabeth Mitchell

Citizens: Tori Hunter, Hannah Marks, Mackenzie Paschen, Samantha Polsky, Chelsea Terry, Stefka Terry, Juliette Warren, Marissa Vander Ploeg


This is going to be a great play... I can tell already!

The Scarlet Pimpernel

Yesterday, I auditioned for "The Scarlet Pimpernel". This play is being done with Midwest Homeschool Fine Arts Classic Players. The play is set during the French Revolution. I auditioned for one of the leads (Marguerite) several times. Here are some photos from auditions:Our director, Mrs. Bielicki!

Kevin, auditioning for The Scarlet Pimpernel (who is disguised as a Hag) and Nick auditioning for a Guard.Shoo Hag, shoo!!

What are we looking at?

Hannah, Abby, and Esther auditioning in one of the large group scenes.

Kevin, auditioning for Lord Percy, and me auditioning for Marguerite (his wife).

Another group scene

The cast list will be posted on January 12th. I can't wait!

2011

Hey everyone!!

Well, it's 2011, and I'm back! It was nice to have the month of December to rest up from all of my plays, but I'm ready to start again! I have 3 plays that I am either already cast in or plan on auditioning for:

The Scarlet Pimpernel - This play will be with MHFA. I auditioned yesterday (January 7th) and the cast list will be posted on January 12th.

Charlotte's Web - I have already been cast in this play as Charlotte! This will be with The Drama Group, which is a community theatre in Chicago Heights. This show is one of their Daytime Children's shows, which offers theatre to school groups and young children.

The King and I - I plan on auditioning for this play in February. I will audition for a part in the ensemble. This is also being done by The Drama Group, but it is one of their Main Stage productions.

I am looking forward to another semester full of theatre!!

Well, it's over now! K-M-A-S Radio had our first and final performance tonight! It went very well! Better than I thought it would! Mom, Nick, and I got there at 3:30 to help with a few last minute details. Around 5:15, I started working with my hair. I was wearing the Rosie the Riveter hairstyle, but I was adding a few curls and some bangs to it. Then, I ate my dinner and got into my costume and put on make up. The show started right at 7:00 pm. After Concert Choral sang, it was time! Everybody took their places and began. It was fantastic! There were a couple minor problems, but we fixed them all and the show was a success! Here are some pictures I managed to take.

Nick (Arthur Kensington - Station Manager) and Jon (A Classic Players graduate that made a cameo appearance)

Marissa (Katie) and myself (Brenda)!

Sam and Sam and our Director - Mrs. Bielicki

Esther (Charlene) and Me (Brenda) at the awesome 40's microphone! Louie Armstrong actually sang into this mic! ^_^

Nick (Arthur) and Kevin (John)

40s Mic!

Josh (Pastor Sherman) and Me (Brenda)

Mrs. Bielicki and Me!



The play was a ton of fun! I had a great time playing an adult. Brenda the Barter Queen was a character I could really get into! I am sad that we could only do one show though... Oh well!

Coming up next with Classic Players is the Scarlet Pimpernel! This will be our spring production (which will have TWO showings!). We will audition and begin rehearsing in January. I don't have any plays going on in the entire month of December, so, I bid you farewell and I will blog to you in the new year!

Have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!