Sunday, November 20, 2011

No drama classes or after school plays for now.  I was at ODCVI for about 2.5 weeks in early September, and since then, I've been a substitute teacher.  Since late September, I have covered two classes each afternoon for a person who is on sick leave.

I thought I'd include my drama bio here.

Bio for Marg Sawatsky

The first time I ever saw a play was “Anne of Green Gables” in Charlottetown, PEI, when I was twelve years old.  My Mom and Dad took our family to the East Coast for a holiday, and I had just finished reading the “Anne Books”.  To see a play made out of a book was really fascinating. A few years later, I got involved as a student in after school drama helping backstage with performances of Agatha Christie’s “Ten Little Indians” and Gilbert and Sullivan’s “H.M.S. Pinafore”.  There were other plays, but those are the ones I remember.

 More Drama:       After finishing high school, I studied fashion design at Ryerson U in downtown Toronto.  Some of my fellow students intended to work for theatre, and one actually made costumes for the Canadian Opera Company.  Another one got work at the Shaw Festival Theatre, making hats.  At Ryerson, I got to see the theatre department’s costume warehouse… and quite a few of their stage productions too.  Although I attended stage productions, I didn’t think I would get involved, but that all changed when I became a secondary teacher in 1998.

High School Drama:       My school, Parkside Collegiate in St. Thomas, ON, put on a musical stage production every other year, and although I didn’t teach drama, my friends were the drama and music teachers, and I always got involved in those plays.  We staged several original works written by our staff:  “RockShow ‘ 79” and “The Stork Club”.  Other things we did included:  “Suds”, “Godspell”, and “Jesus Christ, Superstar”.  We also staged Shakespeare’s  “Twelfth Night”.  At that time, I taught English to grades 9-12, and when I had a chance to do my Honours Specialist, I chose to do “Teaching Shakespeare in the Classroom” through the University of Windsor, on location in Stratford.  Just some more drama.  That was when I started to really use drama in my classroom, and things got to be rather fun.

MuchMore Drama:                  Two years ago, at an interview to teach English, the principal suggested that a drama job would be available in the fall of that year, and would I consider taking Drama Part I?  I registered for Part I, got the drama job, and have taught drama ever since:  grades 9, 10 and 11.  I also helped with some other stage productions:  “High School Musical 2”, and Woody Allen’s  “God”.  Here I am taking Drama Part IIIJ.

Post #26 September 22, 2011

ADA 3O -01
This week, grade 11 students performed / presented their chosen jobs in the field of theatre and drama. Performances included amazing costumes, music, a great instructional video and of course, plenty of useful information about pay, benefits, education, work schedules and networking. Thanks to everyone for jumping in with both feet, and getting the assignments prepared and done on time.  Good work!!

• Michayla, Shanya and Twyla demonstrated stage make-up; talking about the history as well as modern practices.
• Tram Pinney and Peter Webb demonstrated stage combat in an amazing video they posted on Youtube -- search:  Adealgoneterriblywrong.
• Will McHugh and Brandi Despins created an adorble skit about stage lighting.
• Emily Renkema, Karley Cooper and Tina Bennett really used the stage space well and performed a great skit.
• Bailey Booth prepared information on playwrights, but we didn't get to hear about it.
• Justin Morgan-Read, Hailee Clark and Jesse Hotte did a hot runway presentation of costume designers.
• Victoria Thompson-Goersch and Courtney Moloney demonstrated and taught a mini-dance workshop, where everyone had a good time.
• Lina Ceniccola, Tara Schell and our exchange students Melanie Ajac and Carolina Aroujo Sabel performed the role of a director.
• Michael Young, Chris Middlebrooks and Zach Taylor performed the role of  a producer, throwing money around the stage and audience.
• Hope Sutherland and Rachel Langdon will present in the next few days for their new teacher, Ms. Couvrette.

Grade Nine Students

ADA 1O1-02
** We read and performed the short dialogue "Loathe At First Sight", by Ellen Conford.  Stellar performances included Walter's amazing British accent, and Bronwyn's excellent work Walter as his alter ego.  Lucas and Evangeline really used the stage well, and made sure to "cheat" and face their audience.  Lauryn and Eli were brave and went first.  Thank you.  Holly and Lindsay did a somewhat funny version with Lindsey's excellent facial expressions and Holly's amazing clear reading/speaking.

I will miss all of you wonderful students at ODCVI, and hope to get back to visit you in the near future.
Mrs. S.

September 14, 2011 Post # 25

DRAMA  DRAMA

Here are the latest in chances to get involved:

one is about theatre workshops this fall

the other is for people wanting to do improv workshops in Barrie.

Theatre Ontario updates for September 2011

theatreontario.org

Funding youth theatre training

Theatre Ontario is now inviting applications for the October 17 deadline for the Youth Theatre Training Program (YTTP), funded by the Ontario Arts Council, an agency of the Government of Ontario.

The YTTP provides training dollars to fund theatre programs involving youth aged 14 to 21.  Read more about the Youth Theatre Training Program

Improv workshops available at TIFT Talk is Free Theatre, Barrie

Check out their website for more information.Cara McRae
Administrator
Talk Is Free Theatre
P.O. Box 247
Barrie, ON L4M 4T2
Phone 705-792-1949 ext. 21
Fax 705-792-6108
http://www.tift.ca/

Homework:

ADA 3O
We started researching "The Craft and Compay" assignment - due Monday, Sept 19th

ADA 1O
Students did a great  job of their writing in role for the short story, "The Party" by Nigel Grey.  Tomorrow we will work on the 10-tableau series assignment and talk about evaluation.

Drama at ODCVI for September 2011 to January 2012

This coming semester will be great.  Students have already asked about the improv team and the Sears Drama Festival Competition.  Both events will take place late in February, or sometime in March 2012. 

Stuff to Do:

• Lunchtime practices for improv will take place Thursdays in the Drama Room 246 at ODCVI starting October 06.  Bring your right brain:).
• Choir practice will be on Mondays in the music room, starting on Sept. 19.
• Sears Drama Auditions will be held after copywright permissions are returned to me.  Requests went out last week, so I will keep you posted.

Homework:

ADA 3O  - Research project - pairs - on "The Craft and the Company"  Jobs in the world of theatre.
               - Monday:  topics chosen
               - Tuesday: library for research using books, articles, plays -- hard copy
               -Wednesday: computer lab for research online
               -Thursday: plan 3-5 minute presentation - props, costumes?, sounds
               -Friday:  final preparations
               -Monday: presentations and reports submitted

ADA 1O - Theatre Terms Quiz -- Tuesday, Sept 13. - study only the highlighted terms.

Wednesday, June 15, 2011

Performance Tomorrow!!

We have had our Italian Run, worked hard to be off book and tested out our tech on the cafeteria stage, so we are ready for our performance tomorrow evening.

Come out and enjoy two performances of the social drama, 

Adults $5.00 and Students $3.00 admission

at 6:00   and 7:00 p.m.    Thursday, June 16, 2011   

A social drama performed by Banting’s Grade Nine Drama students

Thursday, June 16, 2011 at 6:00 and 7:00 p.m.

In the cafeteria

           Thank you for supporting

                       our students.

Character	6:00 p.m. Show Played by:	7:00 p.m. Show Played by:
Lyle  -Oldest child of Sharon	Jamieson  Aileck, Morgan Biss and Ryan Sun	Sarah MacKichan, Michael Zeldovich, and Ryan Sun
Susy -Younger sister of Lyle	Megan White, Emily McKee and Charlotte Driscoll	Mackenzie Dancey, Robyn Legacy and Kelsey Bolam
Sharon  -Mother of Lyle and Susy	Cassie Schnurr, Cassie Langdon and   Katie-Lynn Nieleszeruk	Emily Downey, Teagan North and Mackenzie Muir
Buddy  -Good friend of Lyle	Jake Morrison, Brianne Hager	Robyn MacKenzie, Holly Franke and Tristan Stewart
Bartender	Jessica Dash and Devin Hume	Trevor Foster and Spencer Del Tin
Teen One	Carter Bell	Christian Marchand
Teen Two	Stephanie Brackett and Grant Smith	Brian Servant and Jeremy Bonovento
Teen Three	Briana Hockey and Samantha Walsh	Angela Park
Teen Four	Kate Dockery and Megan Worley	Caylea Adair and Jenna MacNeil

Wrecked

June 07, 2011

EVENTS from Semester II, Feb. to June, 2011

* Park Street Collegiate's Improv Team made it past the first levels of competitions for the Canadian Improv Games at Burr Oak Secondary School in Markham to continue to the Regional Competitions in Toronto.  Contratulations to the team:  "All Tied Up".    I am so proud of all your great work.  Best of luck next year.  A special thanks to Leanna Young and Cara Gilewicz for taking over the roles of coaches for the final months.

* Banting's Grade Nine Students went on a trip to see "My Fair Lady" in Niagara - on - the - Lake's Shaw Festival Theatre on April 28, 2011.  The show was amazing, and we had a great time, despite the fact that we were there the same day a tornado went through the Niagara Penninsula, and the bus ride was extra long.  Grade Nine students, congratulations on being a wonderful audience during the performance, and good sports on the long bus ride.

* Bantings' Improv Team performed during the school's Fine Arts Night, May 18, 2011.  You rock!!

* Banting's Improv Team hosted a friendly evening of competition with the local Orangeville Improv group, "The Dependables", on Thursday, May26th.  We raised over $200.00 for the stage fund and for Shannen's Dream.  Great job, everyone.

* Bantings' Grade Nine students will perform on the cafeteria stage on Thursday, June 16th at 6:00 p.m. for our final year end performance:  "Wrecked". Come out and see our newest talent at Banting.  Tickets are $5.00 and all funds go toward the Stage Fund at Banting.  There will be two performances with snacks and drinks available between shows.  Come out and support our grade nine performers. 

February 09 2011

This is the first post from my new school, Banting Memorial High School.  The drama students here are amazing!   So that's  why I am really enjoying my new teaching job.


For my former Improv Team at Park Street:  please take time to meet with Leanna Neal.  She has the current schedule of competitions coming up in the Regional Zone  of the GTA:  GhostZone. 

Best of luck with your team work and competition.  I know you will do really well.