Sawatskys Drama: 2012

Monday, December 10, 2012

Monday, Dec. 10, 2012

ADA 2O

Comedy Unit quiz Wednesday, Dec. 12.

here's the review:

Comedy Unit Review

Part A:

Comedy Terms.

Define the following terms:

1. plot

2. subplot

3. joke

4. set-up

5. punchline

6. serious comedy

7. sitcom

8. comedian

9. imitate / impersonation

10. sidekick

11. audience

12. risk

13. questionable

14. subconscious

15. profound

16. contrary

17. perch

18. juxtaposition

19. exaggeration

20. parody

21. pun

22. wit

23. slapstick

24. sarcasm

25. ridiculous picture

26. twisted logic

27. mock

28. hyperbole

29. understatement

Explain the importance of:

A) Abbot and Costello’s classic comedy sketch: “Who’s on First?”

B) The character of Bart Simpson

C) The motivation behind Jim Carrey’s comedy style: sources – “Liar, Liar” and the documentary, ‘Bridging the Comedy Chasm, with Jim Carrey”

D) Comedy as a vehicle to change our society

These answers will be written in proper paragraph form, with three or more pieces of evidence to support your main idea.

Opinion Writing.

What makes a show funny?

a)Does a show have to highlight a famous comic actor? Ie. Will Smith; Lucille Ball; Rick Mercer; Steve Carrell; Tina Faye; Ann Hathaway; Adam Sandler

b) Does a show need some special slapstick scenes performed by stunt artists? Ie. Jim Carrey’s scenes from “Ace Ventura, Pet Detective”, “Rowan Atkinson’s “Mr. Bean”, or Mike Meyers’ “ Austen Powers”; John Candy in “Spaceballs”.

c) Should a show have a deeper social meaning behind the funny bits? Ie. Jim Carrey’s “Liar, Liar”, which shows

i) the problems with lying and how it is better to tell the truth

ii) the importance of spending time with your kids when you are a parent

d) Should a show make fun of social expectations in our culture? Ie. “Fresh Prince of bel Aire” shows the difference between upper and lower social groups by a focus on clothing, speech style, priorities, and lifestyles

e) Does a show need a specific number of jokes? Ie. Some sitcoms, such as “Malcolm in the Middle” would include an opening sequence to introduce a problem; include two or three jokes, along with at least one or more subplots, and end with a final scene.

f) Should a show include humour for all age groups? Ie. “Fresh Prince” is mostly teen humour; but in contrast, “Mr. Bean” includes humour for all ages.

g) Does a show have to be on the edge of ‘what is appropriate’? ie. Robin Williams and Chris Rock’s stand up routines, which include inappropriate language and subject material.

Tuesday, December 4, 2012

Tuesday, Dec. 04, 2012 CB cast

"You're a Good Man Charlie Brown" Cast:

tomorrow's practice after school will look something like this:

Wed. after school rehearsal:
3:00 - 5:00

3:00 - 4:00Mrs. Watson: will work with Sally, Lucy, Snoopy and Chorus to practice their parts of No. 2 "You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown", and No. 5 "Snoopy".

for No. 5, "Snoopy" Sally, Lucy and Chorus will be on stage ( changed from stage directions in script) together with Chorus, and they will do a nasty annoying choreographed dance to pester Snoopy during   "Little birds come to cheer me, -- Rats!" They will react to Snoopy's animal like "I feel ev'ry now and then THat I gotta bite someone -- A fierce jungle animal crouched on the limb of a tree." by singing the 'la la la ' sequence in a sarcastic answer. After that line, they will retreat, as if in a dream.

Mrs. Pearsall:  will work with Linus and Schroeder for their harmony parts in No. 2 'You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown" and also with Linus on No. 6 "My Blanket and Me". Schroeder can read the sarcastic dialogue inbetween the song for this practice to give Linus the timing for his singing lines.

Mrs. Sawatsky: I'll work with Charlie Brown on his parts for No. 2 "You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown" and No. 2b "Before Lunch Hour'. If there is time, we will work on No. 5a "Quick Change - Moon and No. 8 'The Kite".

4:00 -5:00
everyone run
No. 2 "You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown'
No. 2a, 2b, 2c "After Lunch Hour"
No. 3 "Schroeder"
No. 4 Quck Changes - Spaghetti
No. 5 'Snoopy'

ADA 2O

thanks for all of your flexibility and hard work in completing your final performance of "The Real Inspector Hound"

Great Job, everyone!
Excellent use of space -- Cassi and Tia
Great radio voice --Jessica Shaw-P.
Wonderful silly bits: Jaslyn and Tabbie and also Cassidy
Second -Best Dead Body-- Abby ( with only slight movement)
Funny criticism -- Jesse and Brayden
Excellent line memorization: Cassidy
Brayden - way to go with your professional handling of a sticky spot.

we missed you Sage, Jojo, Reily and Austin

Monday, December 3, 2012

Monday, December 03, 2012

ODCVI COFFEE HOUSE
Thursday, Dec. 06.

come out and impress your audience with your best performance!

ADA 2O

We are looking forward to a final presentation of "The Real Inspector Hound" this morning from Cassidy, Tabbie, Jesse B, Cassi, Sage, Abby, Jojo, Jessica and Tia. Brayden, Jaslyn and Riley will also present their play.

ADA 1O

Today we have some final time to polish our presentations. I am really looking forward to your presentations on Kabuki Theatre, Masques, Epic Theatre, Broadway Musicals, Shakespeare, Julie Taymor, Dance and Storytelling tomorrow.

Thursday, November 29, 2012

Thurs. Nov.29 2012

ADA 1O

here's a sample of what we did in class today:

<a href=http://www.wordle.net/show/wrdl/6080574/2012_Darma

Wordle

and

Prezi

are the software programs we worked with today to prepare for our presentations this coming Tuesday.

Thurs. Nov. 29 2012

ADA 2O

Comedy ? :

Day 1: Risk - what is it? who takes risks?
What does risk have to do with comedy?

Movie Review Notes

Screenplay

Title:________________________________________________________

Genre:_________________________________________________

Audience:________________________________________________

Interest:_____________________________________________

Length:___________________________________________________

Production:

Producer:_________________________________

Director:__________________________________________

Actors: (how well they portrayed the characters they were playing)

Lead Male(s):_________________________________________

Lead female(s):_______________________________________

Supporting male:_______________________________________

Supporting female:____________________________________________________

Camera Work:

Shots:________________________________

Angles:_____________________________________________________________

Movement:__________________________________________________________

Editing:

Transitions between scenes:_________________________________________________

How passage of time was handled:_______early morning scenes / late night scenes _____

Sound:

Sound Effects:________________________________________________________________

Music:_______________________________________________________

Other technical aspects:_________________________________________

review film "Liar Liar" with Jim Carey, a great Canadian comic artist.

watch for: types of comedy embedded in this film

think about: what jobs would you like to do if you could help create this kind of entertainment?

Thursday, November 29, 2012

ADA 1O

mini research assignment:

research in library: Wed. and Fri November 28 and 30
learn to use 'wordle' and 'prezi' : Thursday November 29

presentations are due: Tuesday, Dec. 04

here's the assignment:

ADA 1O1

UNIT six: Theatre History

Mini Research Assignment

To complete this assignment, you will choose one topic from the list provided and spend two days in the library collecting information. Then you will talk about your topic to the class for about 2-4 minutes.

Your marks will be earned with the way you use your time, the research you do, and your

splendid brief presentation.

Work Schedule:

Friday: *choose a topic ( one topic will be covered by no more than three people)

* pairs/groups of people who like to work together will get individual marks

Tuesday: Prepare for Research: complete green sheet telling what you already

know about your topic

Wednesday: * use book and internet resources in the school library to find out more about your topic.

· record your sources of information on the yellow sheet.

· You must have a minimum of four different sources ( at least one must be from a book or encyclopoedia)

· You are welcome to begin with an encyclopedia and then move on to Wikipedia

· Your topic may be changed if you are unable to find enough sources, but you must check with me. This is the final day that you can change your topic for this assignment.

Friday: * use the school library for any other research that you require

· complete a brief one-page summary of information about your topic covering:

· Who / What / When / Where / Why / and How

· IF you require a light projector to present your work on Monday, please let me know about that on Friday, so that I can make sure to have it set up in our classroom, or book the SmartBoard in the library.

· Anyone creating a powerpoint presentation must bring in their project on a memory stick or save it in their student drive at school.

Tuesday: presentationsJ!!

Evaluation: pre-research complete (knowledge) /8

List of sources (thinking) /6

Use of time (application) /6

Presentation (communication) /10

Total /30

Topics

Shamanism 45. Neil Simon
Dance 46. Hispanic American Theatre
Ritual 47. Ntozke Shange
The Storytelling Tradition 48. August Wilson
Origin of Greek Theatre 49. Caryl Churchill
Golden Age of Greek Theatre 50. Kenneth Branagh
Roman Theatre 51. Julie Taymor
Sanskrit Drama 52. Wendy Wasserstein
Theatre in China
Peking Opera
Hroswitha and Hildegard
Origin and types of Medieval Theatre
Noh Drama
Renaissance Set Design
Rise of English Drama
Shakespeare
Commedia dell’arte / Goldini vs. Gozzi
Kabuki
French Neoclassical Theatre
Moliere
Spain’s Golden Age of Theatre
Masques
Restoration Drama
Theatre in America 1752 – 1800
Bernard Shaw
Ballad Opera
Laughing Comedy 1770’s
Melodrama
German Romantic Drama / Georg Buchner / The Meiningen Troupe
Hendrik Ibsen
Sarah Bernhardt
Emile Zola
Edmond Rostand
History of Special Effects in Theatre 1700 to today
Anton Chekhov / Moskow Art Theatre
the Arrival of Cinema
Constructivism in Russia / Expressionism in the early 1900’s
Rabindranath Tagore
The Abbey Theatre and Gordon Craig
Laurence Olivier
Epic Theatre
Samuel Beckett / Tennessee Williams / Arthur Miller / Thornton Wilder
Broadway Musicals

Monday, November 26, 2012

ADA 1O:

" A Midsummer Night's Dream" --great work with your performances on Friday and today. Congratulations on a fine job with a challenging script.

ADA 2O:

I'm looking forward to your performances tomorrow of " The Real Inspector Hound" complete with sound effects, costumes, props and memorized lines.

People wrote in their recent journals about the importance of memorization.

Why memorize?

better eye contact
better facial expressions
you can put a lot more emotion into it
you can focus
you say your lines accurately
you can remember your actions too
it makes the production believeable
it makes the production run smoothly
it holds the scene together
you don't look like an idiot

Wednesday, November 14, 2012

The Real Inspector Hound

ADA 20 grade 10 Drama students at ODCVI – this is your next mission –

Check out these youtube versions of the murder mystery parody:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BCdoYFF8idg

This version uses set pieces and props, along with full costumes to create a mood of British mystery. Note the dead body laying partially concealed by the chesterfield/couch.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZZvKp5ZZwj0&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=endscreen&v=GxRKYF90BmM&NR=1

Check this article: a theatre critic’s review of a stage production of “The Real Inspector Hound” http://www.inkpot.com/theatre/05reviews/0721,realinsphoun,fl.html

A fact-filled report about the play, and the playwright, Tom Stoppard.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Real_Inspector_Hound

Wednesday, November 14, 2012

ADA 1O

get ready for your performance of 'A Midsummer Night's Dream' - Pyramus and Thisbe. Performances will take place Wed. and Thurs. Nov. 14 and 15 --

ADA 2O

Congratulations on your excellent performance of our school Remembrance Day Assembly. Good job, Bonnie, Tia and (Brayden) singing along with Jesse playing guitar. Great job, Ashton and Sunny for getting the questions out there. Thanks to Sage, Chris, Robert, Cassidy, Jon, Jojo, Tabbie for doing a wonderful job with their speaking parts. Special thanks to Austin, Robert and Riley for standing solemnly at attention during the entire assembly. And thanks to Justine, Jaslyn and Holly for finishing up really well. Outstanding singing by Abby and Cassi along with the vocal ensemble. Good job everybody.

Today we begin work on scenes from "The Real Inspector Hound.

Thursday, November 8, 2012

Thursday, November 08, 2012

ADA 2O: Grade 10 Drama

Remembrance Day Assembly tomorrow morning at ODCVI during period 1 and 2. Come wearing black and meet in the large gym. Do not go to your home room classes. Be prepared to focus and present a respectful assembly .

Mrs. S.

Tuesday, October 30, 2012

ADA 2O:

Thanks to everyone who contributed to the cost of going to the haunted house. Money goes to Save the Children Fund. We need everyone to wear a costume tomorrow to win the best- dressed- class prize!

Good work today on the Remembrance Day Assembly. Please take time to read over your parts at home and begin to work on memorization. Performance date for assembly: Friday, November 09, 2012, large gym at ODCVI.

ADA 1O:

Today's work on A Midsummer Night's Dream was a good use of time. Congratulations to everyone for organizing your parts. Tomorrow we will do one complete read-through for each group.

You're A Good Man, Charlie Brown

Auditions are in two days. If you are interested, please check out the sign-up sheet in the Drama Hall or talk to Mrs. Sawatsky - room 246. For your audition, please be prepared to do a monologue of your choice and to sing a song of your choice. The monologue should show your ability to memorize and the song should show your vocal range. Good luck, everyone!

Here is the first part of a recent performance of the play from Stratford Festival Theatre .

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1uUJ7UqpxtU

Monday, October 29, 2012

ADA 2O:

your Fractured Fairy Tale unit preformances were amazing and really funny. Like the lines that Jon, Ashton and Austin said to the Big Bad Ninja: "Not by the hair of my backy back back." That Cinderfella" complete with a Spanish mean older sister and an unusual fairy godmother. Add to that, "Sleeping Beauty" with an especially frightening witch and the extra comedy of the "Three Little Pigs", done by Jessica Saw, Holly Hawkins and Justine Bayne. Their show included realistic pig snout masks hand made by the performers, and some good walking tunes, technically arranged by Tabbie James. Other fractured fairy tales included "Hansel and Hansel", and the memorable "The Jerk, the Peasant and the Witch."

Thanks to everyone for being there to perform on the right day... even those of you who just walked onto the stage and did your parts without a run through ahead of time - - you know who you are. The show wouldn't be the same without all performers. Although we were missing our main make-up artist, we did a little bit of stage make-up for the performances. It would have been nice to have our make-up expert in too. Hopefully, we will have her here the next time.

This coming two weeks mark the preparation for our school Remembrance Day sembly on Friday, November 09 2012 at 10:15 a.m. in the large gym. I am really looking forward to your poems. We will be joined by the ODCVI vocal class ;the direction of Mrs. Pearsall.

ADA 1O:

Congratulations on your excellent storytelling performances last week. We have a very fine imaginative group of creative drama students here at school, who told stories about magic feathers the story told by Alex and Sarah about "Alfie and Lala". James and Conor told about the keys to a werewolf's heart; Claudia and Carlie's tale was about a killer bunny on Halloween, and Austin and Jeneva used a birthday hat for their prop. Caylee and Hilary told about trick - or treaters who got lost; Jessica and Laura used a Safari hat to tell their story, and Courtney and Tasha used a steering wheel to tell about a magic car. Cassie and Sam's story took place at the Candy Shoppe, and that just added more creativity to our storytelling unit. Great work, everyone!

The next two weeks, we will work on the play within a play from William Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream, the story of Pyramus and Thisbe.

Thursday, October 25, 2012

Great News!!

Auditions for the ODCVI musical stage production, "You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown" will take place next week during lunch and after school on Thursday, Nov. 01. Sign up for your audition time in the Drama Hall and check out details about characters such as:

Charlie Brown, Snoopy, Schroeder, Lucy, Sally, Peppermint Patty plus a dancing chorus.

Songs like "My New Philosophy" and the classic, "Supper Time" will be part of the funny show to be staged next spring in April. Check out a broadway version of one of the songs:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TSHB0ai4878&feature=related

or "Suppertime"
animated version:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JEBFdHJIl-Y

"Suppertime"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FDn0VOhVao8

Thursday, October 18, 2012

Thursday,October 18, 2012

ADA 1O grade 9 Drama
Storytelling Unit

ADA 101 Drama

Storytelling Assignment

For this assignment, you will be telling a story. Your story must be accompanied by any 4 of the following:

· Facial expressions

· Dramatic pauses

· Sound effects created by you

· Body language

· Repetition

· A variety of ‘voices’ for different characters

· Audience participation ( just a bit)

· Introductory music ( max 30 – 60 seconds)

· Singing

· Use of another language besides English

· A background ‘chorus’ of sound provided by assistant storytellers

· A single prop

· A storyteller ‘costume’ of your own design

· Telling the story ‘in role’ as if you are acting one character’s part

DUE DATE: ______Monday Oct 22 _________________

LENGTH:

Your story will take between 3 and 4 minutes to be told. You must clearly introduce and conclude your story for your audience’s benefit.

Story Topics:

Here are some “possiblities” that you may use as a jumping-off point to create your story. If you already know a great story that you would like to tell that isn’t mentioned here, check with Mrs. Sawatsky for permission to tell YOUR own story.

Storytelling is all about creativity and making your listeners travel with you into an imaginary world.

1. tell how Lake Coucheching got it’s name

2. tell a creation myth about a moose

3. tell why the Severn River has so many waterfalls

4. tell about the ancient connection between Lakes Simcoe and Coucheching

5. tell a haunting story about the HRC property

6. tell a myth about the Orillia Opera House

7. tell about a utopian society “What a Wonderful World”

8. tell a war story about one of your relatives

9. tell about an early settler in our area

10. tell how Orillia got it’s name

11. create a story in Orillia’s future ( be creative)

12. tell about the first time you drove a vehicle

13. tell about an accident / catastrophe that you survived

Voting on the best story will take place at the end of the storytelling unit with a prize for the winner of the best story. Each participant will be allowed one vote. May the best storyteller WIN!!

Wednesday, October 17, 2012

Wed. October 17, 2012

Hey OD!

interested in auditioning for our spring musical stage production?

https://www.stratfordfestival.ca/OnStage/productions.aspx?id=16137&prodid=41232

check out this site for the current production of the show taking place in nearby Stratford, ON

ADA 2O grade 10 Drama
Fractured Fairy Tale Unit:

Today we got so much work done during our group production meetings. Tomorrow be prepared to list all props, costumes and sound effects needed to create your fractured fairy tale. We will try to pool our resources for all groups.

Needed:
a Princely Cape and Squire's Hat

* Please be sure to bring in your permission forms and $ for next week's field trip to Stratford ON.

ADA 1O grade 9 Drama
Storytelling Unit:

Today we reviewed 8 steps to becoming a better storyteller, and heard Rudyard Kiplings' "How the Elephant Got His Trunk", told by Mrs. Sawatsky.

For tomorrow:
* bring in your favourite story
* bring in your permission forms and $ for the field trip to Stratford next Wednesday.

Tuesday, October 16, 2012

Big News!!

Get ready for a funny, supremely entertaining drama with comic characters.
The spring musical stage production at ODCVI will be "You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown", based on the comic series created by Charles M. Schultz.

You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown
1999 revival Logo
Music	Clark Gesner
Lyrics	Clark Gesner
Book	John Gordon
Basis	Charles M. Schulz's comic strip Peanuts
Productions	1967 Off-Broadway 1968 West End 1971 Broadway 1999 Broadway revival

Students who are interested should check out the mp3s on the Student Common file at school, and look for Sawatsky-- Drama---Charlie Brown.

Auditons to be announced.

Grade 10 ADA 2O:
Fractured Fairy Tale Unit:

Work has been completed for group organization and choice of basic fairy tales. Groups have brainstormed and chosen some adaptations to integrate into the originals, and now are putting the finishing touches on their scripts. (Some people have already finished !!) Tomorrow we will list the final needs for each group's preparations and begin rehearsals. One week to show time.

Fractured Fairy Tale Assignment

Final Preparation List:

Group Members:________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Presentation Date:

Costumes required:

Props required:

Sound effects / music to be used:

Lighting to be used:

Thursday, October 4, 2012

Thursday, Oct. 04, 2012 Part B

Some pics from the grade 10 drama students at ODCVI performing `The Terry Fox Story`