Instrumental Tracks

Here are the instrumental tracks for the music.  I just included all the songs.  The kids should know which numbers they are in and need to practice.  You can just click on the link and it will take you to the music file.  You can then download it to your devise.  Please let me know if you have any questions or problems with downloading the files.
Showtime
Wild and Free
Best Friends
Relax, Be Cool, Chill Out
Grand Central
Penguins' Sea Shanty
Welcome to Me
I Like to Move It
Steak
Penguins' Sea Shanty (Reprise)
Living In Paradise
Foosa Hungry
Best Friends (Reprise)
The King of Madagascar
Together Forever
I Like to Move It (Reprise)

A Few things before Spring Break

I wanted to let you know just a few things before we go on break.  First of all, we are not having any rehearsals for the entire week of Spring Break.  We will, however, have a couple of work days.  On Monday and Wednesday, April 2nd & 4th.  We will be at the school from 9:00am-2:00pm working on sets, props, costumes, etc.  If you can come and help, you are not expected to commit to the entire time period, but we would love to have you come and do what you can.  I would love for both parents and students to come and help, however, please don't plan on dropping your kids off to help without parent supervision.   We only have these 2 days planned but Mrs. Patin and I will probably be there more time than this.  I will send text messages out if I am going to work on other days and times. 
Second, I will be posting the minus tracks here on the blog over the next day or so (music minus vocals).  Please take a minute to download the music or have a time when your child can listen to the tracks and practice their vocals in order to keep fresh.
Next, I have created an online order form for professional video DVD's of the show.  If you are interested in purchasing a video recording of the show, please check your email for the order form and fill it out.  Unfortunately I can't take payment online, but you can come into the office and pay for the DVD by card, cash or check.  The purchase price is $20.00 each.  I can take payment at the show, but it might be easier if you come in and pay prior to show week. 
Lastly, I have prepared a sign up genius for show week help needs.  Over the last couple of weeks I have had many of you ask what I need help with.  Show week is the time I will need the most help.  Please take a minute to look through and sign up for anything you are willing and able to help with.  You can access the sign up here
Thanks again for all that you do.  We are getting so close and I can feel the excitement every time we come to rehearsal.

Week of March 26th-30th

Well it's our last week before Spring Break.  We have just a few things left to learn before we go on break.  I just want to remind you that we will not be having rehearsals during Spring Break.  We will, however, have a few work days during the week.  I am not positive yet what days we will be there, but I will let you know very soon.  During the work days we will be finishing up sets, props and costumes.  This is the plan for this week.
Monday, March 26th:  We will be blocking the rest of the scenes of the show with the leads.  I need Penguins, Zoosters, King Julien, Maurice, and Mort.  We will also be starting the choreography for Together Forever.  I will need Ensemble 1, Phil and Mason.  Ensemble 2 will not need to be at rehearsal on Monday.
Wednesday, March 28th:  We will be finishing up the choreography for Together Forever.  I need the entire cast at rehearsal on Wednesday.  Ensemble 1 will be cleaning up what they learned on Monday, and we will be adding the leads and Ensemble 2 into the number.
Thursday, March 29th:  We will be going through the bows and Move it reprise for the end of the show.  I need the entire cast at rehearsal on Thursday.

Costume Needs

Earlier this week I sent out some emails letting individual parents some things that their child will need to provide for their costumes for the first half of the show.  Each child has two or more roles in the show, one for the first half (New York) part of the show and a different role for the second half (Madagascar) part of the show.  We have been working hard making all Madagascar costumes for the cast.  I do need your help in gathering up items for the New York portion of the show.  These are things you should have at home already.  Also, please be aware that each cast member will need a pair of spankies or bike shorts and a cami to wear under their costume pieces.   I thought I would include a comprehensive list for all cast members.  If you don't have the things that you need please let me know.
Vendors:
Cassidy, Aiden, Stephanie, Parker
Khaki/Tan shorts, leggings or pants
Tennis Shoes
Maintenance Workers:
Detmer, Kahu, Marin, Dylan, Matt, Gabe
Black short sleeved undershirt, black pants or leggings to wear under their coveralls (they are a little bit thin)
Black/Dark Shoes
Zookeepers
Abi, Abby, Carter, Haley, Henry, Sophie
White short sleeved undershirt
Hiking/hightop type shoes
(We have white shorts for the kids to wear under their coveralls)
Veterinary Assistants
Brooklyn, Deirdre, Arika, Joelle
Black long sleeved undershirt
Black pants or leggings
Black/Dark Shoes
Fan Clubs
Holly, Aspen, Kezlie, Ellie, Rachel, Garrett, Julia J.
Black pants or leggings
Black or dark shoes
Black long sleeved shirt
Old Man
Kevin Bjornberg
Khaki or dark dress pants
Suspenders
Collared shirt
Old Lady
Collared shirt
Long Sleeved sweater (pullover preferred)
Skirt
Family Groups
Linkin, Bella B. Ella S. Kaleb, Halle, Alisha, Spencer, MaeAnn, Gunnar, Lizzie, Tukar, Madison T. Sasha, Trevor, Sage, Mady B. Madison P. Tayvree
Casual attire for visiting the zoo
Ball Caps
Comfortable Shoes
If you have New York shirts or ball caps that would be great
Field Trip Group
Erin, Camlin, Ashley, Austin, MeMe, Julia C. Makayla, Ella C. Sammy, Kaylin
Hidden Hollow Shirts
Shorts, pants, leggings
Tennis Shoes
Cameraman
Trevor
Pants
Collared shirt (polo shirt is fine)
Reporter
Spencer
Sports coat
Collared shirt
Khaki or dark dress pants
Newspaper Person
Sammy
Collard shirt
Suspenders
Police Officers
Kaleb, Gunnar, Easton
Dark Blue pants
Dark Shoes
Ship's Captain
Linkin
Blue Pants Pants
Dark Shoes

If you are in ensemble 2 in the beginning and you are walking on the streets of New York City, and in the subway, please bring the items you need for your "character" for example newspaper, gym bag, shopping bags, phone, etc.  Again, if you have any problems getting any of these items, please let me know sooner rather than later and I will do the best I can to find them for you. 
Thank you!!

Only a Couple of Weeks before Spring Break

I can't believe there are only a couple of weeks before Spring Break.  Our hope is to have the entire show choreographed and blocked prior to spring break and then to stumble through the show making necessary changes and cleaning up all the numbers in those two weeks after Spring Break.  We are on our way, and I believe we can do it.  On the original calendar we were supposed to start working on Paradise at last Thursday's rehearsal.  We had to make some adjustments and the number now needs to be choreographed in 2 days instead of 1.  This is a big number that requires most of the cast, so I am asking that you make every effort to make sure your child is at rehearsal on both Monday and Wednesday of this week for the entire 2 hour block.  It is really hard to place a child and teach them after all of the blocking has taken place. 
Monday, March 19th and Wednesday, March 21st:  We will be choreographing Paradise.  This number requires the entire cast, minus the penguins and the Foosa.  The penguins and the Foosa do not need to be at rehearsal on Monday or Wednesday.
Thursday, March 22nd:  Zoosters, Julien, Mort, Maurice, Foosa, Mason, Phil, Ensemble 1 and Penguins.  Thursday's practice will be a little different due to the fact that our first graders are performing their program for their parents.  This program starts at 6:00, so we will end rehearsal at 5:30 and ask the kids to stay a couple of extra minutes to help us set chairs up.  Due to the fact that I am a first grade teacher and have to attend to my class as they start showing up at 5:30, I will need all the help I can get setting up chairs and cleaning up so that we are ready for a program. 

Alos, please be watching for another email I will be sending out in the next couple of days.  There are a few things that the cast will need to provide costume wise for the beginning of the show when they are zoo guests and New York citizens.  These are basic things that you should have at home.  Each group has specific clothing items that they will need so I will send these emails out individually.  Please be aware that each cast member will need to have a pair of spankys (bike shorts) and a cami to wear under their clothing.  Most of our costume changes are quick and need to be done in the dressing room in front of other cast members.  It is better that they have something on to keep them modest as they are changing in front of others.
Finally, I will also be sending out a link, (probably in the next week) for a sign up genius.  This will include all of the sign ups I will need for show week.  For example, ticket sales, concessions, green room helpers, choir supervision, etc.  Please be looking for that and sign up for whatever you can help with. 
Thanks for all of your help and support.  These kids are WONDERFUL, and it has been so much fun working with them and getting to know each of them.  They are definitely a talented group of kids.

March 12th-15th

This past week was probably one of the most productive ones that we have had.  It was fun to watch the kids get so excited to learn the big number iconically associated with Madagascar.  Every year around this time I see an increased level of commitment and excitement for the show.  We are getting so close and the kids are starting to catch the vision.
Monday, March 12th:  I will need the entire cast to be at rehearsal.  We are going to clean up the big numbers of the show.  We have rehearsed the vocals and choreography for each number, but it is traditionally a difficult thing for the kids to put the two together.  We will be running these numbers over and over getting them "show ready".  I need Alex, Melman and King Julien to come to rehearsal at 3:30 instead of 4:30 so they can work with Mrs. Hickenlooper on vocals before everyone else gets there.  
Wednesday, March 14th:  We will be learning Steak.  For steak I need Alex, Maurice and Ensemble 1.  There have been several questions over the last couple of weeks regarding which ensemble certain characters are in.  I want to clarify this.  In the first half of the show, the Zookeepers have their specific parts in the zoo/New York scenes.  These same characters are part of ensemble 1 in the second half of the show.  
Thursday, March 15th:  I need the Zoosters, penguins, King Julien, Maurice, Mason, Phil and Ensemble 1.  Ensemble 1 will learn the rest of Steak, penguins will work on their Sea Shanty and the Zoosters, King Julien and Maurice will be working on their scenes.

On to Madagascar

Last week was amazing.  The kids did such a good job.  I am excited about the first half of the show, and I am even more excited to move on to the Madagascar portion.  We have 12 rehearsals between now and Spring Break and we need to learn the second half of the show in that time.  We will be using all 3 days this week to learn I Like to Move it. 
Monday, March 5th:  I know there is no school, but we still have rehearsal.  Rehearsal will be from 4:30-6:30 since the teachers are at the school all day for meetings, and Ballroom will still be having practice at their regular time.  On Monday I need King Julien, Maurice, Mort, Zoosters and all of Ensemble 1
Wednesday, March 7th:  I need King Julien, Maurice, Mort, Zoosters and all of Ensemble 2
Thursday, March 8th: We will be putting it all together with everyone!  I need the whole cast there on Thursday.