The Time We Have all Waited For

Here we are in the final week of our production.  Like many of you, I have been looking forward to this week for a long time.  We have worked hard, and we are ready!  We had some ups and downs last week, but it was fun to be in costume for the first time and I am sure we have worked out many if not all of the kinks and are ready to perform.   It was also good to watch everyone get so excited and have so much fun. 
I have had several questions over the last couple of weeks, so I want to clarify a few things.  This will be long, but please hand in there and read to the end.
1.  Please have your child (CAST AND CHOIR BOTH) in full makeup when you drop them off at the Junior High.  Moms, if you have a hard time getting makeup on your choir boy, just do the best you can.  All cast boys and girls need some kind of base (foundation or powder), blush, and mascara.  Girls, you should wear eye color and lipstick.  I don't have a particular color I want you to wear, but the darker the better on stage.  We will have a few people there to help do touch-ups, but with 100 kids it is a lot easier and more hygienic to do it at home. 
2.  I only have a few characters who have specific hairstyles (they should know who they are), otherwise please have your child's hair done (however they want) prior to coming to the Junior High.
3.  If you need to send a brush, hairspray, make up, etc. for touch-ups, please make sure your child has a small bag with their name on it to keep everything. 
4.  I should have ALL costume pieces at the Junior High.  If your child hasn't brought their pieces to me yet, please make sure they do, prior to our Tuesday rehearsal.  If they don't know what pieces they need please find those specifications here.  These pieces should stay at the Junior High and can be taken home on Saturday Evening. 
Here is the outline for this week
Monday, April 29th:  3:45-4:45  We will be having CHOIR ONLY at Hidden Hollow.  This will be the only day the cast has off this week.  Please send ALL choir kids to this rehearsal.
Tuesday, April 30th: School Day Assembly We will be performing a few of the numbers for the school during the school day.  The assembly will begin at 9:30.  For this assembly I need all cast kids, both A and B trackers to come to school at 8:00.  This will not be a common day for the musical kids.  Everyone will go home at their regular track time even though they are getting here at 8:00.  When they get here they need to let their teachers know they are here and then meet down in the gym.  Please have your child wear jeans and their musical t-shirts for this performance.  They can also wear makeup.  I don't need choir kids to come early, they just need to make their way to the gym after A track recess.  They also need to wear jeans and their musical t-shirts.  If you have an afternoon Kindergartener and they want to perform with us, please bring them by 9:15 and then you can take them home afterward. 
Tuesday, April 30th: 4:00-8:00  We will be having a blocking/choreography/tech rehearsal.  I need the entire cast and crew for this rehearsal.  The choir will not need to attend this rehearsal.  Since this will be our first rehearsal on a different stage, we need to take time to block and dance a little bit differently.  This rehearsal will go all the way until 8:00, so please send a snack.
Wednesday, May 1st 4:00-8:00 This will be our one and only dress rehearsal.  We need all cast, and crew there.  We will run through the show just like it was a show day.  The choir will need to be at Frontier at 5:00.  I do need all 3 choirs to come to this rehearsal.  I know it's a lot of driving if you have both cast and choir members in your family, but please don't drop your choir child off with your cast child.  We don't have enough supervision to watch the choir kids and it will be a really long night for them.  We appreciate your understanding regarding this particular matter.
Thursday, May 2nd 4:30-8:00ish  Opening Night!!!  Cast and crew need to be there at 4:30 and the choir **A and C will need to be there at 5:00.  Please feed your child prior to coming to the theater.  You will be able to take your child home after each show as soon as the show is over and they have changed out of their costumes. 
Friday, May 3rd 4:30-8:00ish  Show night!!  Cast and crew need to be there at 4:30 and choir B and C will need to be there at 5:00.  Please feed your child prior to coming to the theater.
Saturday, May 4th  1:00-8:00ish  Matinee and Night Performance.  Cast and crew will need to be there at 1:00.  **Choir A and C will need to be there at 1:30.  After the matinee performance, we will be having our cast party with a dinner provided by Chick-Fil-A.  This party will be around 4:00, so please plan on having your choir A kids stay for the party.  Because the party will be at around 4:00 please plan on bringing your Choir B kids at 4:00 so they can enjoy the party as well.   Choir B and C will need to stay for the final performance.

**I know there has been some confusion as to which choir was performing in each show.  As per my last email, if your child is in Choir A or B, please send them to the 2 performances that you were originally planning on.  If your child is in Choir C, they should plan on performing in all 4 shows. 
   
     Please have your child wear extra deodorant to the shows.  The dressing rooms are small and get rather stinky.
   
     Because we will be at the Junior High past dinner time each night, please try and have them eat something before coming to the junior high and send snacks for them to eat during their break times.  Please send the snacks in some sort of disposable lunch sack with their name on it so that we can throw it away and we don't have to worry about lunch boxes getting lost or not making their way back home.

   We are doing tickets online this year, which makes it convenient for you to purchase your tickets anytime and from anywhere.  If you are planning on purchasing tickets at the door, there are 2 ways to do this. 
1.  You can just plan to pay cash or check at the door.
2.  We will have a couple of chrome books at the door that you can go online and use your card.  This is the ONLY way for us to take cards.  There will be no card reader for anything else (act-o-grams or concessions).
Please tell your family and friends the easiest way to purchase tickets will be to do it online prior to coming to the show. 

We will be selling concessions and act-o-grams at each show.  Act-o-grams will consist of either a flower or a Quench-it Sugar cookie.  The prices are $3.00 each or both a flower and cookie for $5.  These items will be CASH ONLY.

A Few New Announcments

This week will pretty much follow the outline I sent last week, with one adjustment.  After slowly running through the show last week, I feel like there are some things we could use a little extra time with.  Because of this, I am going to add a Thursday rehearsal for Room 1.  This rehearsal will be a shorter one from 3:45-5:00.  The schedule will be as follows
Monday, April 22nd
3:45-4:45- Read Through/Sing Through
4:45-6:30- Dress Rehearsal:  Please bring all costume pieces from the Costume list on Monday.  Don't wear them, but bring them in a bag so that we can keep them at the school until the end of the show.  If you didn't receive the list or haven't had a chance to look at it, you will find it here.
Choirs A & C need to come to this rehearsal from 4:45-6:30.
Wednesday, April 24th
3:45-5:45- Dress Rehearsal: I need the entire cast at this rehearsal.
I need choirs B & C at this rehearsal for the entire time. 
I know there has been some confusion regarding the different choirs.  This confusion is totally my fault.  When I sent out the original emails I indicated that Choir A would perform on Friday and Saturday Evenings and that choir B would perform on Thursday evening and Saturday matinee.  Then last week the email was flip-flopped.  Please accept my apology.  Please plan on what I said in the original email with Choir A performing on Friday and Saturday and Choir B performing on Thursday Evening and Saturday Matinee.  If this causes a problem with any of you and you have purchased tickets for opposite days, please let me know.  It really won't be a problem to move things around. 
Thursday, April 25th
3:45-5:00- I really hate to call an extra rehearsal for these room 1 kids, but I think with one less day at the Junior High, it will be better for us than adding a Saturday or Monday rehearsal during show week.  Please let me know if there is a conflict with this added rehearsal and we can work it out. 

Please refer to the email sent last week for the show week schedule.  If you have any questions, please feel free to email or text me.
Thanks

We're Almost There

I hope you all had a great Spring Break.  We were able to get a lot done over the break and we are ready to hit the ground running this week.  Before I give you the schedule for this week, I wanted to let you know a couple of things.  I have created a sign up genius for parent helpers needed during the week of the show. Please take a minute to look over the sign up and see where you can help.    You can find the sign up here.   Also, each year we hire a professional videographer to video tape the show.  These DVDs are a fun memento of the show.  The DVD contains a recording of the show as well as behind the scenes footage (which the kids love to watch).  If you would like to order a DVD the cost is $20 and you can place your order on a google form.  You can find the form here.  If you have trouble accessing the form, please send me an email and I will send it to you directly. 

So the next few weeks are vital.  We are so lucky to have time to run the show with sets and props in its entirety several times before we get to the junior high.  I ask that if you have conflicts with rehearsals for the next couple of weeks that you make it your priority to have your child here.
Monday, April 8th: 
3:45-4:45- Vocal Rehearsal- Entire Cast
4:45-6:30- We need the entire cast and choir at rehearsal.  We also need the crew here.  We will be learning the closing number as well as bows.
Wednesday, April 10th:
3:45-5:45- Again, I need the entire cast and choir at rehearsal.  We also need crew here.  We will be finishing up the closing number as well as the bows. 

Next week we will start running through the entire show with all props/sets.  These run-throughs require that all cast members be there.  Please make every effort to make sure your child is at rehearsal. 

From Now Until Spring Break

I thought I would do just one email to let you know what is happening from now until Spring Break.  I will post all the information here, but I will continue to send reminder texts just in case you loose the email or forget.
Monday, March 18th:
3:45-4:45- Vocal Rehearsal- Entire Cast
4:45-5:30- Dance Run through with the entire cast.  Classrooms 3 & 4, as well as adults, can go home at 5:30. 
4:45-6:30- Mom, Dad, Junie- When Life Gives You Lemons and Shoobees will work on their dances.  I also need Room 2 and Ensemble Dancers (popins) to run through You Can Be My Friend. 
Wednesday, March 20th:
3:45-5:45- Entire Cast for Kickball Tournament Reprise
Monday, March 25th:
3:45-4:45- Vocal Rehearsal-Entire Cast
4:45-6:30- Entire Cast for finishing up Kickball Tournament Reprise

WE WILL NOT BE HAVING REHEARSAL ON WEDNESDAY, MARCH 27TH OR THURSDAY, MARCH 28TH!!!  There is a ballroom/ choir dress rehearsal, and performance on those nights so we will not meet on those days.  We also do not have rehearsals during Spring Break.  There will be a few work days during Spring Break where we will work on finishing up sets, costumes, and props that are not finished.

If you have any questions, please feel free to text or email me.

Starting the Second Half

This week we will be starting to work on the second half of the show.  It was fun last week to go through all that we have learned so far.  The kids are doing a great job.  Because we are starting to work on the second half of the show, we won't be working on the first half as much.  Please make sure your kiddos are working on their vocals, lines, and dances from the first half of the show.
This is the plan for this week.
Monday, March 11th:
3:45-4:45- Vocal Rehearsal
  I need all of Room one for vocal rehearsal
4:45-6:30- Choreography
  We will be learning Kick Ball Tournament.  I need all of Room 1 and Mrs. Scary at this rehearsal.   I also need Shoobees to come and work through their dance numbers. 
Wednesday, March 13th:
3:45-4:30- Choreography
  We will be working on Sheldon's half time show.  The cast members in this number will be the ensemble dancers (pop-in's) and  Sheldon.  I will also need the Shoobees to come again on Wednesday to work on their numbers.
  If you have any questions, please feel free to call or text me!

The First Week of March

I can't believe we are into the first week of March already.  Last week was a lot of fun.  It was good to see all the kids at rehearsals and I was impressed at how well they all remembered the dances.  This week will also be an exciting one as we finish up all the blocking 'and are able to run through the first half of the show.  Here is the plan for this week.
Monday, March 4th:
3:45-4:45- Room One for vocal rehearsal
4:45-6:30- Room One will run through blocking that has already been done as well as finish up blocking for the first half of the show.  I also need Mom and Dad to come to finish up their blocking.
4:45-6:30-Shoobee Dancers will be running their numbers for the first half as well as learn a few more.
Wednesday, March 6th:
3:45-5:30- I will need the entire cast to come to rehearsal on Wednesday.  We will be running through the first half of the show!
3:45-4:45- The choir will have rehearsal on Wednesday this week since we didn't have it on Monday.

Also, I am going to make one last plea to get your donations in.  I still haven't collected quite a few donations.  Please send a check with your child made out to Hidden Hollow or you can come into the office (the office is closed on Monday of this week) to pay.  Once I have received your donation, or word that you are unable to pay the donation, I will give your child their shirt.
Thanks again for your support. 

Tickets Sales

I wanted to let you know a couple of things before tickets go on sale this Friday.  First of all, you should have received 2 complimentary tickets for your family.  These came home with the oldest child in your family who is in the show.  These tickets are general admission and can be used for any show and are good for a child or adult ticket.
Secondly, tickets go on sale this Friday.  We are doing all ticket sales online this year.  The online tickets will also be general admission so all you need to do is go online and order the number of tickets you need for each show.  Please don't include your complimentary tickets in the ones you purchase online.  These are totally separate.  The nice thing about online tickets is that you can share the link with your friends and family and they can purchase their own tickets.  I have included in this post an image that you can share via text, email, facebook, Instagram, etc.  In addition to posting the image, please include the following link so they can go right to the page to buy tickets.

https://www.showtix4u.com/events/16063

The Next Couple of Weeks

We are sooooo close to finishing up the first half, but we are not quite ready to do our first half stumble through on Monday.  I know I have said this before, but this email is going to have a lot of information in it, so please read through to the end. 
Monday, February 25th:
3:45-4:45- Vocal Rehearsal
We will be learning the vocals for Mrs. Gutzman.  I need the entire cast for vocals.
4:45-5:45- Mrs. Gutzman
We are so close to finishing up the choreography for Gutzman so I need the entire cast to work through the rest of this number.  At 5:45, Rooms 2, 3, & 4, Adults, Pop-ins and Shoobees may go home
5:45-6:30- Beeswax Reprise
I need room one to stay and work through the Beeswax Reprise
Wednesday, February 27th:
3:45-5:30- Dance Run through and clean up
I need the entire cast to go through all the numbers in the show.  We will clean them up.

Originally when I sent the rehearsal calendar out there was a possible rehearsal on Monday, March 4th even though there isn't school that day.  We have decided to have a rehearsal for Shoobees and Room one.  Room One will need to be there from 3:45-6:30, and Shoobees will need to be there from 3:45-5:45.  This is actually a pretty important rehearsal, especially for Room one.  There are several scenes we have worked through briefly, but haven't had a chance to run through them in the gym.  We are going to take the time to go through each scene in the first half.  Please make sure your child has their lines memorized for each of these scenes.  It is easier to run through without books. 

February 20th & 21st

This week is a big week for us.  We will be working on Gladys Gutzman which is a whole cast number.  I have been looking forward to this one for a long time.
Wednesday, February 20th:
3:45-5:30- Gladys Gutzman; I need the whole cast there the entire time.
Thursday, February 21st:
3:45-5:30- We will be finishing up Gladys Gutzman and starting on Boss of Lunch.  I need the whole cast there the entire time.  I know we don't normally have rehearsal on Thursdays, but please remember on weeks where we don't have school on Monday, we have added Thursday rehearsals.  I know that some of you have weekly obligations that happen on Thursdays, but I ask that since we only have a few rehearsals on Thursday that you make every effort to be at practice.  It is really hard to choreograph with a lot of missing bodies.
Thanks again for all of your support.

February 11th & 13th Rehearsals

I have quite a few announcements this week, so hold on and please read through to the end.
First of all, I have delivered complimentary tickets to your child's teachers on Friday.  Some students may have come home with them on Friday, if they didn't, they should be bringing them home on Monday.  Each family receives 2 complimentary tickets.  They are distributed to the oldest child in the family.  These tickets are good for either an Adult or Student and can be used for any show.  You can get additional tickets online on Showtix4u.com.  These tickets will be general admission and they are available beginning on March 1st.
Secondly, musical t-shirts have been ordered and delivered.  I have them all sorted and ready to give to the kiddos.  I will be giving shirts to all cast and choir members on Monday who have paid their donations.  If you still need to pay your donation, you can send cash or a check to rehearsal, or pay with a card at the front office.  If you are unable to pay the donation, please let me know.
Next, I have shared the Junie B. Jones online script through Production Pro with all of you.  The program is now available on all devices, laptops, desktops, kindles, phones, etc.  You should have received an email on how to install the app/program.  You should be able to log on using your email.  Please let me know if you have any problems logging on. 
Lastly, here is the plan for this week
Monday, February 11th
3:45-4:45- Vocal Rehearsal- I need Rooms 1, 2, Shoobees and Popins.  Popins are free to leave after vocal rehearsal. 
4:45-5:45- I need stage crew to work through You Can Be My Friend.  Stage Crew is free to leave at 5:45.
4:45-6:30- I need Shoobees to run through their Shoobee numbers
4:45-6:30- Room 1 and Mom and Dad to learn Show and Tell
Wednesday, February 12th
3:45-5:30- I need Mom, Dad, Junie, Rooms 3 & 4 and Popins.We will be working on Lunch Box.
3:45-5:30- I need Room 1 to block the Show and Tell Scene as well as the Lunch Room Scene.  Please try to memorize or be familiar with your lines before rehearsal.  It is much easier to block without your books. 

February 4th Rehearsal

I can't believe we are in February already.  Things are going so well and I am so proud of these kids.  This week we will only be having rehearsal on Monday since parent-teacher conferences will be on Wednesday. 
Monday, February 4th:
3:45-4:45: Vocal Rehearsal- I need ALL CAST members for vocal rehearsal.
3:45-4:45: It will be our first choir rehearsal in Mrs. Coombs' classroom.
4:45-5:45- I need Classroom 2 and Pop-ins to work on You Can Be My Friend.   We will be adding our stage crew to this number.
4:45-6:30- I need Classroom 1 and Pop-ins to work on You Need Glasses.  I know that pop-ins can't be in 2 places at once so they will be with Classroom 2 for the 2nd hour and with Room 1, the last 45 minutes. 
I know there's a lot of sickness going around right now, so I want to just remind you that if your child is sick and will miss a rehearsal, please email me and let me know.

January 28th & 30th

This week's rehearsals are going to be a little bit different, so please read carefully!
Monday, January 28th:
3:45-4:45- ALL CAST MEMBERS are needed for vocal rehearsal
4:45-5:30- Adults, Rooms 2, 3, & 4 are needed to run through Opening Number and work on blocking for Top Secret Playoff.  We will not need these students for the entire time.  They will be done at 5:30
4:45-6:30- Room One (Including Mrs. Scary), Ensemble Dancers & Shoobee Dancers.  We will be finishing up Lucille, Camille, Chenille as well as Shoobee playoff.  These students WILL need to be at the entire rehearsal.
Wednesday, January 30th:
3:45-5:30- We will be working on You Can Be My Friend and I will need Junie B., Herb, Bobbi Jean, Grace, Mr. Woo, Ensemble Dancers and Room 2.
We will also be working on Time to Make a Drawing and I need Room 1 (Including Mrs. Scary) for this one.

Wowie, Wow, Wow

I am so impressed with this group of kids.  We got sooooo much done last week with our opening number and it's looking great.  We will need to learn just a little bit more of the number and then we can run it a bunch to get it solid. 
Wednesday, January 23rd:
3:45-5:30- Choreography and clean up on Top Secret Personal Beeswax.  I need the entire cast here on Wednesday for this. 
Thursday, January 24th: (Remember that because we didn't have school on Monday; a Thursday rehearsal was added this week)
3:45-5:30- Choreography on Lucille, Camille, Chenille.  This number does NOT require the entire cast.  I only need Room 1 (including Mrs. Scary), Shoobee Girls, and Ensemble Dancers.

Also, if you haven't had a chance to fill out the costume form for your child, please do so as soon as possible.  Our costume ladies are ready to go and just need a few sizes in order to start putting costumes together.  You can find the link for the form here.

Opening Number

Last weeks rehearsals were FANTASTIC!  I could definitely tell that many cast members have been listening to the music A LOT (I'm sorry if you're sick of the music already, but it's good for the show!)

I know I've said this before and it is honestly the part that I hate the most, and that is collecting donations.  If you haven't had a chance to bring your donation yet, please do so as soon as possible.  If there is a reason that you are unable to pay the donation, please send me a message and let me know.  

This week we will be starting the opening number.  This is a huge undertaking and involves all cast members.  We have already worked for hours and hours trying to create a part and space for 99 kids during this number.  It is important that your child is at rehearsal this week so that we can see if the blocking will work.  When we have missing kids it's hard to tell.  

Monday Rehearsal:  

3:45-4:45- Vocal Rehearsal- All Cast Members

4:45-6:30- Choreography for Top Personal Beezwax- All Cast Members 

Wednesday Rehearsal:

3:45-5:30- Choreography for Top Personal Beezwax- All Cast Members

Thank you again for all of your support!

Let the Fun Begin

It's the week we have all been waiting for; the official start to rehearsals.  Each week I will send an email that has a few announcements as well as an outline for the week's rehearsals.  There will be times when I don't need all of the students at every rehearsal, so make sure you check your email so that you know if your child will be needed at one or both days of rehearsal for that week.  Also, just a reminder for Monday rehearsals;  Since Mondays are early out days and rehearsal doesn't start until 3:45, we ask that all students both A and B trackers go home after school prior to rehearsal.  Also, if you haven't had a chance to pay your donation, you can do that by either sending a check with your child to rehearsal (made out to Hidden Hollow), or you can come into the office and pay by card to Mrs. Cameron.  

I will need ALL CAST MEMBERS at both rehearsals this week.

Monday, January 7th rehearsal: 

3:45-4:45- We will be working on vocals for the opening number.  

4:45-6:30- We will be doing a read through of the entire show.  

Please make sure your child brings their script (if they have one) and their decorated composition book to rehearsal on Monday.  These will be kept at the school for note taking during the rehearsal process.

Wednesday- January 9th rehearsal-

3:45-5:30

This will be a vocal rehearsal. 

Also, here is a copy of the rehearsal calendar if you have misplaced it.  Also, if you want a hard copy, I will have some at rehearsal on Monday.