Treasure Island Newsletter #10

Dear Parents,

We are on the last leg before performances next week. There will be four performances, the three first are for the students, the last one is for parents and general public. We have created an Evite and you are welcome to use it to invite your family and friends: http://www.evite.com/event/00194VOCJO5GFYA7CEPDSLVOW4GKK4

Performance dates

• Wednesday 3/5 - 8:45am
• Wednesday 3/5 - 10:45am
• Thursday 3/6 - 8:45am
• Thursday 3/6 - 7pm, call time 6pm

Rehearsal this week has been a challenge.  After a nine-day long vacation the children have forgotten many of their lines, when to be on stage, and which props to bring along. 

Since they are hesitant to say their lines and they get on stage behind their time, the musical is running much longer than it should.  

Per school constrains, performances during school time shall not exceed 50 minutes. In order to comply to this we may need to cut part or entire scenes. 
I am offering a daily rehearsal at lunchtime for extra practice in hope we can tighten up the show. The condition to stay in rehearsal is to focus and listen to my instructions.

We have not made final decision on cuts but if cuts there are, they will only affect the morning shows. At the evening performance we will run the entire script. 

Another challenge we met was students talking when they are not on stage, even when a parent or staff member has just asked them to be quiet.  

Please support us by discussing with your child.  Today many missed coming on stage when it was their turn to act, and they missed coming on stage to bow at the end.  If they had paid attention instead of talking, none of that would have happened. 

The microphones pickup noise offstage as well, so when the children talk they create background noise that is difficult for the audience to follow the story, and they cause distraction to the children on stage.

I only have five more school days with your children. Please teach them how to make the most of my time. Tell them to watch and learn how I teach them to act, to express, or to hold themselves. Talking with me on logistics, asking me to tie their skirt, giving me opinions are all waisting the little time that I could spend to teach them valuable things they can use on stage and off, for this show and all the futur ones.  Children who can focus and listen are those who can learn the most.  

If you feel your child has a hard time to focus or needs attention, the best support for your child is to be there to help at lunch rehearsals or at performances.  

HELP

That being said, I need lots of help for the next four performances - please sign up here.  
Some children need help to tie skirt, tie head band, put on headdress

And if you have time, please come help at lunch time. 56 performers are a lot to handle for me alone: when I focus on the children on stage, I need someone else to focus on those off stage.

COSTUMES

Please send the children in costumes on Wednesday and Thursday: 

- Tech crew: black top, bottom and socks. 

- Sailors and Island Natives: white top, bottom and socks. Girls legging or skirt. Boys white pants, if they don't have we can provide. 
- Native girls: bring own bobby pins to keep headdress tight on head

- Jims: red T-shirt, white pants, red socks, red baseball cap. Remove all jackets before getting on stage.

- All others: have checked with me and I've seen they look OK, I think I don't need to repeat.
- All: no jewelries, no nail polish. 
- Any girl who come with hair untied must bring hair brush, hair elastic & bobby pins
- I assume that all girls have white legging, if your child doesn't please shoot me an email. (Vienna is to use one of the white pants that we provide)

HAIR

- Native girls: low bun or 1 low braid to allow wearing headdress.

- Sailor girls: one ponytail or braid, medium low to allow tying headband.

- All: no hair obstruct the eyes, no loose hair.

PROPS

Performer must be responsible of her/his own props: coins, plate, bottle... They must have their props in hand 5 minutes before enter the stage. Please read through the script with your child and help him/her gather the props they need. 

Long Johns may bring a cane (if you found yourself without a cane on stage, you should try to bring one). Moms bring plates. Pew and pirate remember black spots and coins.

PERFORMANCE DAYS

The children go to their classroom to drop their bag, have their teacher check attendance and order lunch then bring their costumes, props and snack to the GLC. They will not go back to their classroom until after the 2nd show. 

Before performance days: good amount of sleep, liquid, physical activity, and quiet time. 
Parents' duty: come to the performance with a bouquet for your child ;-)  It doesn't need to be expensive and it may come from the garden.  

LAST BUT NOT LEAST

I invite parents to come watch the show with the heart open.  If you watch the show from the heart, you will naturally react from the heart, the performers will feel, and will respond... Performance is also a dialog between the performers and the audience...

Thank you for giving me the wonderful opportunity to work with your child,

Hao

Hao Bach-Thai Lueckhoff

Expressive Coach & Artistic Director

HaoExpression || www.HaoExpression.org

Summer Camp || http://www.haoexpression.org/summer-camp.html

Treasure Island Newsletter #9

Parents, please have your children read the newsletters or read it with them. Some children didn't know they got new parts because they didn't read the newsletter. Thank you!

Paragraphs are in alphabetical order

1. Assistants & Parents
2. Costume crew
3. Performers
4. Props & Sets crew
5. Tech crew
6. Wish list 

1. Assistants & Parents

At this stage of the rehearsals, the children will be dispatched in different parts of the GLC, either because they work in groups, or because they wait on the side and in the back waiting for their turn to get on stage. It will be difficult for me to have an eye on them all, so I could use more parents' help!
Please sign up using this Google Doc https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0AiiVjI99J01ddEpCUEdOdjdaaTZiQkRHRHVSTlRPdEE&usp=sharing
I need 2 parents on each side of the stage, and one to handle the wireless microphones). 
If you can commit to being there regularly, it would be even better, but any help will be appreciated. 

I am offering an optional meeting with parents in the GLC to roughly explain what's going on, how you can support, and give room to Q&A: Wednesday 2/12, 4:30pm-5pm in the GLC.

2. Costume Crew

There are some more work and we need to see you back one or two more time. Please come to the GLC at lunch time on Monday and maybe Tuesday. Thanks!

3. Performers

Only two weeks of rehearsals before the performances. 
In light of the last rehearsal, below are the roles that need an understudy: 

	Role	Cast	Understudy
1	Billy Bones	Rajiv	Noy, learn all
2	Crew/Pirate: Dancing Dan	Ben	Noa, learn all
3	Crew/Pirate: Tattoo Carla	Keerti	Tanvi, learn all
4	Doctor Livesey	Aviv	Samina, page 22-end
5	Long John Silver 2	Deep	Saivee, page 38-end
6	Native: Junkanoo	Iha	Shreya, learn all
7	Parrot	Sanjana page 36-end	Zain page 22-30
8	Squire Trelawney	Heera	Linsey, page 22-end
9	Storyteller: Black Dog	Yael	Paris, page 46-end
10	Storyteller: Hurricane Hattie	Victoria	Ronak, page 30-end
11	Storyteller: One Eyed Tom	Vedant	Thivya, page 46-end
12	Storyteller: Scurvy Pat	Rylie	Arnav, page 30-end
13	Storyteller: See Leg Sam	Vienna	Aniket, page 46-end

Understudies please focus on learning the end of the part, main cast please know well the beginning until as far as you can learn. 
Understudy may play alongside the main cast, or share the part, or share the performances. 

Sailors: please learn Pirates songs and Sailors songs by heart!

I'll be in the GLC at lunch time, Monday through Thursday for questions or extra coaching. You are welcome to meet me there!

If you did not have your entire costume ready on Thursday (loose headdress, missing parts, etc), please go to the GLC to meet Costume Mistress Mrs Jain to make sure your costumes are ready this week. 

4. Props & Sets

Please come to the GLC at lunch time on Monday through Thursday. 
We still need: 
- 2 black spots (black)
- 1 plate w. tofu patie & bean sprout (use crumbled paper)
- prepare a box with swords, 1 box with mugs

5. Tech crew

Rehearsals starts this week, Wednesday Thursday 3:15-4:30pm. 

1. light, 8: 2 right, 2 back, 2 left, 2 central 
2. sound, 2
3. curtain, 2
4. stage hands, 4
5. stage managers, 4: 2 right, 2 left
6. photo, 3
7. video, 2

Please be prepared to wear all black on performances days. Thanks!

6. Wish list

• Clean tin cans (paper removed) to use as mugs
• Drums for loan until March 6
• Empty plastic bottles of Coke (for bottles of rhum)
• 4 Red baseball caps for Jims

Last but not least

A sneak peek into our rehearsals: http://www.pinterest.com/haoexpression/treasure-island-sneak-peek/
I am offering Summer Camps! Check out: http://www.haoexpression.org/summer-camp.html

Hao Bach-Thai Lueckhoff

Expressive Coach & Artistic Director

HaoExpression || www.HaoExpression.org

Follow us on Facebook || www.facebook.com/HaoExpression

Treasure Island Newsletter #8

Parents, please have your children read the newsletters or read it with them. Reading only the paragraph addressing their group and this would be enough. Thank you!

Paragraphs are in alphabetical order

1. Assistants & Parents
2. Costume crew
3. Performers
4. Props & Sets crew
5. Tech crew
6. Wish list 

1. Assistants & Parents

5th grade Assistants and Parents: Please sit with the children on both sides of the wings, help them focus, follow with their script, and know when to get ready to go on stage. You may help them recite their lines or practice their dance moves, quietly. 
I'd need 2 stage managers per wing to make sure the performers take stage in a timely manner. You'd do this until a Tech crew member is ready to take over this function. 

8th grade Assistants: please shadow me this week so that next week you'll run the rehearsals while I'll be with Tech crew. 

Thank you all for your help!

2. Costume Crew

All the skirts and accessories are cut and sowed. Parents helpers will now take over to finish the headdresses. Thank you for the great work! It has been a pleasure working with you for the past three weeks. 

3. Performers

We are only 3 weeks shy from the performances, and it has been two weeks that I asked you to know your parts by heart, because acting is not just about reciting the text, it is knowing it so well that you can express it with your entire body. 
This week is the last I can fully focus on you: starting next week I will run the tech rehearsal with the Tech crew, and you will rehearse without my constant supervision. 

From my observation last week that most of you did not know your lines, I am now setting up plan B: I am offering to all performers who wish to have more lines, to be understudies of performers whom I saw didn't know their lines, or were hesitant about when to say them, or were absent. 

I know that 4th graders can learn lines in no time if they set their heart and mind into it. Please check the Reference Document to see if you are offered an understudy part, or if you have an understudy. (The list has changed from what you saw last week).

On Wednesday and Thursday, anyone who does not master her/his part will see her/his role given to or shared with an understudy. 

Sailors and Natives: you do have lines here and there in the script. Please browse it, underline your lines and the lines before so you are ready to say them. Please also learn the  songs by heart.

Natives who still need a headdress, please come to the GLC at lunch time and meet with Mrs Jain.

This week, please wear the costume you will use at the performances. We'll take pictures for advertisement purpose. 

If you have any question or concern, please don't hesitate to contact me. 

4. Props & Sets

Props and Sets crew will come to the GLC at lunch time on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday to work with Mrs Harvey and parents. 

We also still need: 
- 4 eyeglasses from pipe cleaners for Jims (red white)
- an old map (off white)
- mugs (brown, red)
- 2 black spots (black)
- 1 spyglass (black)
- 1 plate w. tofu patie & bean sprout 
- finish wrapping boxes for sailors to carry (brown) 
- prepare a box with swords, 1 box with mugs
- saw a cane for Blind Pew (white)
- add leaves to the palm trees
- cut 3 clouds (white)
- make hut (brown)

5. Tech crew

Rehearsals start 2nd week of February, Wednesday Thursday 3:15-4:30pm. 

1. light, 8
2. sound, 2
3. curtain, 2
4. stage hands, 4
5. stage managers, 4
6. photo, 3
7. video, 2

6. Wish list

• Drums for loan until March 6
• Empty plastic bottles of Coke (for bottles of rhum)
• Toy crowns & jewels
• Black, white, red clothing that you don't use at home.

Hao Bach-Thai Lueckhoff

Expressive Coach & Artistic Director

HaoExpression || www.HaoExpression.org

Follow us on Facebook || www.facebook.com/HaoExpression

Treasure Island Newsletter #7

At this stage of the project, I'd like to address the children directly. Parents, would you please show the newsletters to your children? They/you can just read the paragraph addressing their group and this would be enough. Thank you!

Paragraphs are in alphabetical order

1. Costume crew
2. Parents
3. Performers
4. Props & Sets crew
5. Tech crew
6. Wish list 

1. Costume Crew

This week: 

- natives skirts: need to cut 1 more and sew 4 more
- native headdress: start learning how to make them: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TVkDFTd-un4&list=PLzyCEo0rLic_sM3PM1G8VAdgH6JAz9Udd
- cut and glue dog's ear
- cut parrot's costume 

2. Props & Sets

This week: 
- make 5 eyeglasses from pipe cleaners for 5 Jims, an old map, mugs, 2 black spots, 1 spyglass, 1 plate w. tofu patie & bean sprout. 
- prepare boxes and baskets for sailors to carry. 1 box has swords, 1 box has mugs. 
- saw a cane for Blind Pew
- set up & fix the palm trees
- cut 3 clouds
- make a hut

Next week: 
- make posters to advertise for the show, stick them around the school

3. Performers

Each of you have a Zip lock bag where to store your costumes. Each time you come to rehearsal, look for your bag, put your costumes on. At the end of the day, fold your costumes neatly, put back in the bag, and put the bag in the appropriate box. You are responsible for your costumes until the end of all performances. 
If you use something from home that could stay in the GLC, put that in the bag too. 

As of now, rehearsals on stage will be OFF BOOK. You are allowed to hold in the palm of your hand little note cards, in which you may write, one color for each of the following, one card per entrance:  

1. cue when you should get to the stage
2. cue when you should move forward to a microphone
3. cue when you would start talking
4. key words from your lines 

And you still need to bring your scripts to all rehearsal. Whenever you are not on stage, you can work on your parts, or can be prompters to your peers who are on stage. 

Remember the notions we learned last week: 

• downstage, upstage, stage left, stage right, ...
• full front, full back, profile left, profile right, one-quarter left, three-quarter left, ...

And apply at the next rehearsals: 

• Never walk on stage as if you walk on the street. Walk with an attitude!
• When you are not speaking, find a pose (level 1, 2 or 3) and stay like a beautiful statue, follow the conversation with your eyes, face, neck, chest, like a moving statue. 
• Speak full front when you have a long sentence, one-quarter in other cases. Never speak in profile, three-quarter or full back. 
• Open your chest, take a deep breath, on exhale speak from the belly. (Next week we'll work more with eyes and face, and add a few steps)
• Sailors: always walk to the music (listen to the music and try to spot the rhythm!), deep bend of knees (demi-plie'), arms swing to the rhythm, opposite arms & legs. 
• Natives: always clear the space in front of Ben Gun. When bow, bow in profile to center-stage. (Changed from previous instruction which was three-quarter)
• Drummers: slower: listen to the soloists! Soloist singers: listen to the drum! Sing from the belly, open eyes, open chest.

Some of you have asked about the music pieces. You may purchase them from iTune or Amazon: 

Dances: 

• Storytellers: Compilations/Adventures At Sea/ What shall we do with a drunken sailor.
• Sailors: Rudy Sunde/ Chants de Marins Sea shanties/ Hornpipes
• Island natives: Lyannaj/ Neve Bretagne Guadeloupe/ Sinanaye (Kaladja) or http://www.amazon.fr/Neve-Bretagne-Guadeloupe-Lyannaj/dp/B00B0U4HX0
• Finale: Lyannaj/ Neve Bretagne Guadeloupe/ An pa kay (Padjanbel)

Songs: 

• Across the line, sailors' song: Rudy Sunde/ Chants de Marins Sea shanties/ Across the Line

Parents

To help at lunch time, 12:30-1:30pm, please sign up through this Doodle link. 

I would love to loan 3 more drums for practice and performances, if you have ...

Wish list

• Drums for loan until March 6
• Empty plastic bottles of Coke (for bottles of rhum)
• Toy crowns & jewels
• Black, white, red clothing that you don't use at home.
• Orange leggings, orange socks for parrot.
• Cane for Long John Silver

One picture (or two) a day in Treasure Island in the Making 

Hao Bach-Thai Lueckhoff

Expressive Coach & Artistic Director

HaoExpression || www.HaoExpression.org

Follow us on Facebook || www.facebook.com/HaoExpression

Treasure Island Newsletter #6

Performers

We've started blocking up to Crew's entrance. The children were coached to better use their body and voice for a more expressive acting. I noticed several children still glued their eyes on the script, which prevented them from acting full out. I am now requesting all actors to know their lines by heart, and also the lines before, so that I can effectively coach them to act. 

As of Wednesday rehearsal on stage will be off book. All children must nevertheless bring their scripts so they can follow what's going on and know when they need to get ready to take the stage. 

Performers are responsible for their own props. Example: if the script says Mom1 gives Jim1 a book, Mom1 must have brought a book and be get on stage with the book in hand.  

Parents please look in  Treasure Island Reference Document, sheet "Cast" to see what I wish your child to wear for the performance, and check if they have those items. If they don't, please don't rush to the store yet, I'll first try to find alternatives. 

For crew members who have speaking roles, please scroll down my Treasure Island Pinterest board for inspirations on "pirates'' costumes. 
Gather what ever you have at home that's black, red and white and that can make a pirate costume, put in a bag, and have your child bring to the GLC at lunchtime for me to check: 

• Tuesday: Storytellers, Jims, Moms, Dog, Parrot, Teacher. I'd like Storytellers to wear some striped costumes if possible.
• Wednesday: Crew, including those having speaking lines. I'd like crew who have speaking lines to wear some striped costumes if they have.
• Thursday: Natives & Ben Gun

Costumes

Costume makers have cut fabric to prepare accessories for sailors and island natives. They have started sewing skirts for natives. This coming week they will continue with cutting fabric, sew more skirts, and help fitting wherever needed. Hopefully we'll have time to work on the parrot's costume and the dog's ears. 

I am missing a few children who signed up for costume but never showed up. A kindly reminder that children who miss more than 5 shifts may not see their name appear on the show program. 

We are thankful for Ms Sapna Jain, Saanvi's mom, for being the Costume Mistress for the production. 

Props & Sets

Props & Sets crew are making food trays by crumbling color papers. This coming week they will finish the food trays, paint the boat, and help Mrs Harvey build the ship wherever needed. 

5th and 8th grade Helpers

I want to express my deep appreciation for your help! I know it is not always an easy job to supervise kids who are just a few years younger than you, but you have been fantastic! Without your help, the rehearsal would not have progressed that steadily. 

This week, your job will be to help each of the performers know their line by heart, and act their part by heart. Anyone who doesn't have anything to do should be learning their lines, and you can help them by sitting with them and ask them to recite their lines to you. 

Wednesday I'll give a 20 minutes individual group work, this time in 3 groups: 

1. Natives: finish learning choreography with Serena
2. Sailors: finish learning choreography with me
3. All others: recite lines with Michelle and 5th grade helpers. 

After that, I'll conduct blocking in the format of a master class. Everyone's focus will be on the stage: what ever I'll coach will be a lesson for everyone, while paying attention in order to be ready to take the stage at a timely manner. 

I want you helpers to watch me coach and remember my suggestions to the performers, so that you can later coach them individually. 
We only have two more weeks when I can give performers my undivided attention. In February Tech crew will come in and I will have to give them attention and instructions as well, then I will rely on you to help keep the rehearsal going on.

Again, thank you for being there, and keep up with the good work! I love having you with me!

Chaperone

I'd need two to three chaperones for this Thursday's rehearsal. If you can help 3:05pm-4:35pm, please sign up here: http://doodle.com/uqxi5gkd99b4pn6k 

If you can chaperone the children at lunch time, 12:30-1:30pm, please sign up through this Doodle link. 

Wish list

• 2 large palm leaves to make 2 fans for Ben Gun
• Empty plastic bottles of Coke 
• Toy crowns & jewels
• Black, white, red clothing that you don't use at home.
• Long & thick pole for ship

Sneak peak

You may take a sneak peek on your child's adventure in Treasure Island in the Making on HaoExpression Facebook page. Faces are blurred on the pictures to protect the children's privacy. 

Warmly,
Hao

Hao Bach-Thai Lueckhoff

Expressive Coach & Artistic Director

HaoExpression || www.HaoExpression.org

Follow us on Facebook || www.facebook.com/HaoExpression

Treasure Island Newsletter #5

Performers

Some children signed up for several tasks. Due the high number participants, the school is asking performers to not additionally participate in other activities such as costume, scenery & props or tech crew, to leave enough "job" for everyone to do.  :)
Please look at sheet Costume of file Treasure Island Reference Document, columns "1st layer: self provided". Most children are asked to wear white top and bottom. If the children have them at home, I'd love to see them wear on Thursday, so that I can try out the 2nd layer on them. 

Children who have speaking roles, please look for inspirations on my Treasure Island Pinterest board (scroll down for pirate's costumes) and gather what ever you have at home that's black, red and white and that can make a pirate costume, and show me this week. 

5th grade & teen helpers

Children who have worked with me in last year's musical and know my routines are welcome to chaperone the 4th graders. This also include children who were in props, sets and costume crews. If your child would like to help, please sign her/him up through the helpers's signup form.  Per the school's request, all helpers must be registered to participate. 

Lunch time chaperone

I'd need parents to chaperone activities in the GLC, Monday through Friday 12:30-1:30pm, any day that you can. Children will gather there to make costumes, scenery and props. Please sign up through this Doodle link to chaperone. 

Costume crew

I've pinned my wish for costumes on Treasure Island Pinterest board. Please take a look!
We will start making costumes this week. Children may bring their lunch to the GLC Tuesday through Friday this week. 

Props

Props crew will make trays of food for the natives. Children may bring their lunch to the GLC Tuesday through Friday. 
We'd love to get donation of 2 large palm leaves to make 2 fans for Ben Gun. 

Scenery

Mrs Harvey will be directing the Scenery crew and will announce when she'll need the students and parents to come in. 

Sneak peak

Want a sneak peak into your child's time on Treasure Island musical?  See album Treasure Island in the Making on HaoExpression Facebook page.

Warmly,
Hao

Hao Bach-Thai Lueckhoff

Artistic Director

HaoExpression || www.HaoExpression.org

Follow us on Facebook || www.facebook.com/HaoExpression

Treasure Island Newsletter #4

May the new year of 2014 bring you happiness and satisfaction in all areas!

The cast list can be viewed by clicking on link #4 at http://www.haoexpression.org/musical.html
We have carefully casted in a way that each child is challenged to his/her next level of technique and artistry. We reviewed the list several times, under different lights. Casting is not mathematic and having more lines does not mean having a bigger role: some parts with less lines are more difficult to play and I give it to a more expressive performer. Crew and Native from the Skeleton Island will have the most fun part with lots of singing and dancing. 
I read through the script and gave the children the parts that helps them best grow from where they are at right now. I hope this is a springboard that will help them take a step up at a next performing opportunity. 

All performers must bring their script to all rehearsals.

We are well into the season and I no longer accept observers. All parents who stay in session will be given a duty and are asked to follow the same routine as the children, so that we keep a harmonious energy level. When the children hear the bell, they stop and breathe. I invite parents to do the same. 
Parents are welcome to do the warmup routine if they feel like. When the children work in groups, parents are asked to sit with one of the groups and help them stay focus. 
No children is allowed to leave the school without my permission. If circumstance arises, parent helpers need to talk to me before releasing any child, as the children are under my sole responsibility.  

Important note: I still need Erika and Rajiv's parent's email address, and I need Sakshi's parents to register her: she is nowhere on my lists. 

Mark your calendar: 
- Performance for parents and larger audience:Thursday, March 6th, 7pm.
- Scenery and costume crews will meet in January. Tech crew meets in February. 

If you have any question or concern, please don't hesitate to contact me (my email address and telephone number are on my website). If you prefer to see me in person, please do at the end of rehearsals, NOT at the beginning. I have 60 enthusiast performers and want to give them 120% of my focus, from the time they come in at 3:05pm until the time I release them at 4:30pm.

Have a great finishing vacation, and I am looking forward to seeing all of the children soon!

Warmly,
Hao

Hao Bach-Thai Lueckhoff

Artistic Director

HaoExpression.org