Exceeds Expectations!

If there were a newspaper article written about last night's production I am sure that its title would be 

Crisafulli 5th Graders Exceed ALL Expectations! 

The students were truly phenomenal! I got glowing reviews from everyone I spoke to and the 4th graders even sent down cards about how much they enjoyed it. The children took a huge risk when they signed up for the play and they truly took ownership of the production. I love how each child was able to find their time to shine in the production. Every student took their moment and helped to make for a very entertaining performance. I am so proud of all of them and grateful to have been a part of it. Thank you for all your hard work as well. I know how challenging it is to juggle your children's schedule and I appreciate your making it possible for each of them to participate. I hope that they all give theater another shot in middle school. I can't wait to attend the Blanchard productions to see them up there. 

There have been some requests for videos of the production... I do not know of one specifically but I did see some recorders rolling. If you have one and you are willing to share please let folks know. Thanks!

Tech Week Schedule

PINOCCHIO SHOW WEEK SCHEDULE

(Tech Week)

Monday:

• After school rehearsal ends at 4:00 today. (Please be patient with pick up this week as it takes longer to get the full cast and chorus into cars safely)

Tuesday:

• After school rehearsal ends at 4:00.

Wednesday:

• After school rehearsal ends at 4:30.

Thursday: (Show Day!)

• Please have your child at school at the regular time. Students should come to school in regular school clothes. Their hair and makeup should be done at home before coming to school in the morning. (Makeup is NOT required. If your choose to put it on your child please keep it light. Hair must be pulled back out of your child's eyes. This is very important as it helps the audience see and hear your child better.)
• Shows during the day are at 9am and 10am. These performances are not attended by parents.
• Students will change back into school clothes before returning to their homeroom, their costumes will remain at school for the evening performances.

Evening performances:

•  Please have your children at school between 4:30 and 4:45.
• They will change when they get to school. (Makeup is NOT required. If your choose to put it on your child please keep it light. Hair must be pulled back out of your child's eyes. This is very important as it helps the audience see and hear your child better.)
•  First show starts at 5:45. There is NO cost for tickets. Doors will open for the audience at about 5:30. Seats are first come first serve. Please feel free to attend BOTH evening performances if you would like. It is hard to catch all of the little things only attending one show. Feel free to take pictures or video tape at both performances. 
•  At the end of the 1st show congratulate your child and then make sure they make their way to the gym for the Pizza Cast party at 6:45. It is a short cast party and I want to make sure everyone has time to eat. 
•  Second show starts at 7:30; After the show please help your child remember to return all props and borrowed costume pieces to the gym. There will be piles of props. If you loaned a prop to the play please take it home with you after the show. Pieces that are not picked up will be considered a donation and put up in the props closet.

Please remember to read email update as things will come up during the week :) 

Reminders

Hi Parents!

I was so glad to see so many cast members in attendance at today's early morning rehearsal. The music is sounding great! A reminder about the schedule this week:

1. Rehearsal tomorrow after school ends at 4pm.
2. Students are encouraged to bring an extra snack and water to have at the beginning of rehearsal.
3. All students should bring their costumes to school to be approved.

• Please continue to send in contributions to the cast party. 
• Remember to contact Missy MacKenzie if your child has food allergy concerns.

Please remember to check email and the blog over the next week and 1/2 as I will be adding reminders often.

Reminders

Hi Parents!

I can't believe it but there are only 5 more rehearsals after school and 1 morning rehearsal before we perform for the students and all of the families. The students are working very hard and these last
2 1/2 weeks are going to be all about getting repetition with their lines, working with their props and feeling confident about the performance we have crafted.

It is VERY important that we have all cast members in attendance during these final rehearsals. If your child is not going to be at a rehearsal please let me know as soon as possible. I need to find students to read the missing parts in order for the show to run smoothly. Attendance needs to be a priority at this point.

Now that the final rehearsals are full cast please be mindful that pick up time is very busy with over 50 students to dismiss at the same time. Remember to drive slowly around the building even after your child is in the car, and do not pass vehicles in the line. While I want to get everyone on their way as quick as possible safety has to be my number one priority.

Please let me know if you have any questions as we head into the final 2 weeks. I am looking forward to seeing costumes on the 27th.

Reminders

Hi Parents!

3 weeks from now the play will be over!!! Oh my goodness, so much fun to be had between now and then. Things are really starting to come together.

1. I have added the link to the CAST PARTY PERMISSION SLIP to the list of links in case your child has already misplaced it :) Please send them back as soon as you can so we can get an accurate count. This party is a real treat for the kids, it's a fun opportunity to "party" at school, and they have earned it.

2. All students need to bring their costumes to school on Wednesday May 27th.

3. Please consider how you can help with the cast party and props donations. Visit the volunteers tab at the top of the blog.

4. Please help your student prepare by running lines with them as often as possible. The more confident they feel in remembering their lines the more fun they will have on the stage and the more creative lists they will be able to take.

5. Please read the schedule carefully for the next three weeks. Times and days vary from the typical and it is important that all children know when and how long they will be required to be at rehearsal.

8  Scenes  1 - 7 Rehearsal ends at 3:30 Music auditions 7:30am Chorus room	19	20  Scenes  8 - 15 Rehearsal ends at 3:30	21	22	23
24	25  No Rehearsal Memorial Day	26  Full cast  at 7:30 am in the chorus room	27  Full Cast rehearsal  Ending at 4pm *Students may bring an extra snack to eat at rehearsal* Bring costume	28	29	30

~ June 2015 ~
Sun	Mon	Tue	Wed	Thu	Fri	Sat
	1  Full Cast  Ending at  4pm * Students may bring an extra snack to eat at rehearsal	2  Full Cast  Rehearsal  till 4pm * Students may bring an extra snack to eat at rehearsal	3  Full Cast  Rehearsal till 4:30pm * Students may bring an extra snack to eat at rehearsal	4  Morning performances at school.  Evening  * Students should arrive at school between 4:30 and 4:45 * Performances are at 5:45 and  7: 30 pm * Students will eat dinner at the Cast pizza party between shows	5

Costumes

On May 27th all cast members should BRING their costume to school. Please bring it in a bag labeled with your name on it.

Students will not be wearing the costume on this day, but they will be having it checked. It will remain at school till after the last performance. 

* If you would like me to preview your child's costume before this date please feel free to send it to school this week or next week for approval.

Schedule Updates

I have made the following updates to the rehearsal schedule.

Auditions for Solo work is scheduled for:

All auditions will be held in the fishbowl
Friday May 8th 7:30am
Friday May 15th 7:30am
Monday May 18th 7:30am

(All cast members are encouraged to audition if interested. See Mrs. Oliver to sign up for one of the  audition days, you do not need to attend all three days. If you are unable to do a morning audition slot speak to Mrs. Oliver)

A full cast rehearsal has been added to the calendar for Tuesday Morning May 26th at 7:30am it will be held in the school cafeteria. Please try to make this additional rehearsal.

Pinocchio Music

Hi Parents!

One of the best parts about the fifth grade play is the addition of choral music performed by the 5th grade chorus as well as the actors from the play. All students involved in the play participate in the music portion. Mrs. Oliver has already started working with the kids at several rehearsals. I have added a link to word sheets to help your child prepare for this portion of the show. Even if singing is not their favorite part it is important that they are all familiar with the words to each song.

All students in the play and chorus are also invited to audition for solos in this music. I have noted the solos in BOLD on the words sheets. Not all songs have solos but there are plenty of opportunities for those interested. Again you do not need to be in chorus to audition. Anyone interested should see Mrs. Oliver. Auditions will be held over the next two weeks during school hours.

Please let me know if you have any questions.

Volunteers Needed

Hi Parents!

The show is coming together very nicely and the students are starting to feel comfortable with their lines and stage directions. Hopefully you have started to think about costumes as well :) Let me know if you have any questions or would like to see pictures from our last Pinocchio performance.

I have several other areas that I will need assistance. If you are able to assist with a committee please email me.

Props: Most of the props are small pieces that need to be purchased or created for several members of the group. A list of the specific needs will be given out early in May.

Program: If you are good with technology this is the perfect job for you :) I provide all the information, so mostly it is just a matter of formatting. It is then copied at school.

Cast Pizza Party: The pizza party occurs in between the two evening performances. Usually each child donates a small amount towards the food and drink (we usually have cake too :). Parent's often send in beverages and fruit to go with the pizza and cake. It is helpful to have a few volunteers to help supervise at the party and hand out food.

Front Lobby display: In the past we have had head shots taken of each actor or group of actors and someone puts them together for display in the lobby (this is optional but a nice addition to the evening)

I am also in need of a parent volunteer to attend each of the rehearsals beginning on May 11th through the performance. The parent just has to follow along on the script and prompt the students when they forget a line. 

If you are able to assist that would be great! Every little bit helps. I will pass on names of volunteers to the members in charge of each committee.

Thank you!

North Shore Music Theater

Hi Parents,

The kids and I are having a great time putting the individual scenes together and I am looking forward to blocking the last couple of scenes so that we can start "putting it back together". In addition to directing I wanted to let you know that I will be performing at the North Shore music Theater the first weekend in May. It should be a fun performance for a great cause.  Click this LINK for more information.

With just about 2 months till our big performance I know some of you may be wondering what it will take to get us ready. The kids are taking a creative licence with the dialogue and I am beginning to make lists of the donations that we will need to make this story come to life. While I work on that list I thought I would give you a brief overview of the costume ideas that I have. Please read the list, find your child's character name and read carefully what they will need. Let me know if you have any questions. I have also created a new tab to keep this information separate.

Workshop toys, Cage, Boys and Girls in toy land, Fish, Whale, Jack and Jill, Lucky Star:

Any combination of the primary colors (red, blue and yellow). All clothes should be solid (without a design). These can be clothes you already have and/or something you buy that you would wear again. I would suggest shorts and short sleeved shirts as the stage can get pretty hot in June. Jeans are NOT allowed. For shoes: sneakers or flip-flops are fine.

Boys and Girls in Toyland: You will need a hat of some kind. A baseball cap would work great. It can be any color (logo is fine).  One you already own would be great!

Lampwick, Tom and Jerry: Any combination of Red, Yellow and black. You are supposed to look like a tough crew. Please coordinate between the three so that you have a “similar” look, but no need to be exactly identical.

Lorenzo, Hickory, Pinocchio, Blue Fairies, Puppets, Puppeteers:

These characters must have outfits that match the other characters playing the same part. I am flexible with the outfit itself. You will want to discuss this with the other parents who have children playing the same role. Feel free to watch Pinocchio as a jumping off spot, but I would love to see a modern twist. I want the kids to feel comfortable in their wardrobe choices. For instance Pinocchio may wear a baseball cap instead of the standard Pinocchio hat. The most important part is that they look the same as the other children playing the same role. 

Geppetto, Coachman, Fibber, Lefty:

Each of these characters are only played by one child so the outfit is up to you. I want you to be creative with the costume. Feel free to watch Pinocchio as a jumping off spot, but I would love to see a modern twist. I want the kids to feel comfortable in their wardrobe choices.

Performance Schedule Update

Attention

There has been a small but important change to our performance schedule. The school performances have been moved to 

Thursday June 4th. The school performances will be in the morning during the school day. 

Due to this change I have also changed the times for the evening performances on 

June 4th. The first evening performance will be at 5:45pm and the second with be at 7:30pm. This change should give students more time at home before the afternoon call. I am hoping this will give them energy to perform 4 shows on one day...

The changes are all reflected on the rehearsal schedule. 

Thank You!

Hi Parents!

Our first couple rehearsals are off to a good start. I wanted to thank you for your time and patience with pick up. It should go faster as we get into a routine. Thank you for waiting in line and not driving around other cars. This ensures the student's safety as they load into the cars.

In addition please remember that after school uses the playground and black top as you drive out of the building. It is very important that you remain at a SLOW speed all the way around the circle and down the driveway.

The office and I have had several questions regarding the rehearsal schedule. Please refer to the calendar on the website. Your child can also check the board outside my classroom. If I make any changes I will always make an announcement via the website and outside my classroom.

Thanks again!
Ms. Moores

Script

Well just a couple more days of vacation before we return to school and only a few more days till our first official rehearsal as a whole cast on Wednesday February 25th. The script is now posted under links on the left of this screen. Please print a copy of the entire script and bring it to rehearsal with you on Wednesday. Feel free to copy and paste it into a word document before printing that way you can highlight your lines before printing. If you have trouble printing please contact me.

A couple reminders.

• Please check the rehearsal schedule carefully, if you have already printed it please double check that there have been no changes. There is NO rehearsal this Monday or next Monday.
• Remember that pick up from all rehearsals (except for tech week) is at 3:30. It is very important that this pick up time is respected as the school office closes shortly there after.
• If your child is going to miss a rehearsal due to illness or another reason please email me. 

Have fun reading through the script!

Cast List Posted

The cast list is now posted on the "Cast List" tab. I know that you are all excited to learn your part and that there are some of you who may be disappointed with the outcome. Please know that the fifth grade play is not about featuring one actor. It is a team event and everyone in the production plays a very special part of the final product. I am very excited to get started, I know you will all bring a special flare to the production.

If you have any questions regarding the cast list please contact me. The script is still currently be worked on. When it is done (later this week) it will be posted as a link for you to print at home. Please be sure to check back here and print your script before next Wednesday's read through.

Wow! The talent at this year's auditions surpassed ALL of my expectations. Casting this production will be a huge challenge to say the least, however I know that I will be able to find an important place for all of our young actors. No matter the role, big or small, all of the children will have a special place to shine on stage.

My goal is to have the cast list posted on the evening of Tuesday 2/18. If there is a change to this timeline I will let you know. 

In addition I have posted the tentative rehearsal schedule. Students will only be required to attend rehearsals for the scenes they are part of. Once the cast list is posted that will be easier to understand. All rehearsals will end at 3:30 until we get to the week before the show. Thank you all for your prompt pick ups after the auditions.

It is now possible to follow this blog by email. Just put your email address in the box to the left. This is a great way to keep up with messages and changes to the rehearsal schedule without having to check the website.

Enjoy your vacation!

Just a reminder that in the case of a snow day play auditions will be rescheduled. The make up day for auditions is Thursday February 12th. In this case pick up would still be promptly at 3:30.

Welcome!

Welcome to the new webpage devoted to the Crisafulli Fifth grade play. 

As we prepare for the upcoming auditions please take a moment to fill out the required online audition form found here. 

Also take a minute to explore the website, pages will be updated with links in a timely manner. Under the audition tab you will find the list of characters as well as the scenes that should be memorized before auditions.