Activities

Dear Parents and Students ,

Welcome to PLMS Theater Arts Club and Mary Poppins, Jr! Performing in a musical is an experience that young people will remember for the rest of their lives, and it is truly my pleasure to work with them on this exciting project. It is important for everyone involved to understand both the benefits and responsibilities of being in a musical, so here are some details for you on the basics.

There are a number of great benefits to being in a musical, including:

• Active Participation in the Arts: Participating in the arts provides young people with a chance to explore their creativity and imagination in a structured and safe environment. Musical theatre is specifically remarkable because it is the only art form that combines all areas of the fine arts: acting, singing, dancing, music, and visual arts.
• Improving Literacy Skills: From reading scripts to memorizing lines to learning to tell a story, young people continually improve their literacy skills while rehearsing and performing in a musical.
• Becoming a Confident Public Speaker: It takes a lot of courage to stand up and sing or dance in front of your family, peers, and what may seem like the entire community. Experience with public speaking at a young age gives students confidence that will be important to them for the rest of their lives.
• Gaining Critical Thinking & Problem-Solving Skills: Putting on a musical is a group effort, and every member of the team must work together to make it happen. Throughout the rehearsal process, the students will learn to solve challenges as they arise. Students will learn to trust and depend on themselves and their castmates.

As with any group activity, every participant has responsibilities. Please look over the following items to make sure you and your child feel you can honor the commitment to being a part of a show.

• Attendance: You have all received and returned the basic rehearsal schedule for the show (attached with audition/crew forms). If there are any new/unexpected and unavoidable conflicts, please let me know as soon as possible. Students are expected to attend all rehearsals unless prior approval has been given. Failure to do so can result in dismissal from the show.
• Rehearsals: Rehearsals will last from 2:40-4:15pm until May 1st, then later through the run of the show, as indicated on the calendars included. Students should bring their scripts, a pencil, a snack, and they should wear appropriate shoes and clothes for movement. Please make sure you have arranged for your child to be picked up on time from each rehearsal. Students are not permitted to remain at school after school hours unless it is during participation of a scheduled activity.
• Homework: Students will have some homework for the show, including memorizing lines and songs, rehearsing their dances, researching their character, set, prop, and costume crafting, etc. Pa rents, please work with your child to create a schedule so they have time to finish both their school homework and their homework from the musical.
• Attitude: The rehearsal room and theater are safe spaces where young people can take positive risks and be themselves without the fear of being laughed at or alienated. This principle is essential to artistic growth and exploration. Participants are expected to respect these ideas and are encouraged to remember it themselves when trying new things.
• Volunteering: The most important thing you can do to help us with the musical is to support your child with their commitment to everything listed in this letter. That being said, it really does take a team to produce a musical! We always have an amazing crew of wonderful students, but we need support from parents, too. We have a few parents who are heading up volunteer coordination for us this year and they will be in touch with you in the coming weeks. Please plan to help support a successful experience for your child by signing up to help in some capacity this year: volunteer time, skills, resources to the production, backstage support, or food during Tech Week (everyone asked to help with potluck for Tech Week), every little bit makes a difference.

Finally, please remember that a musical is a living, breathing entity. Things don't always go exactly as planned, so changes to the plan will may be made throughout the rehearsal process. I promise to give you as much advance notice as possible on all changes that arise and appreciate your patience and flexibility.

NEXT STEPS:

1. Please carefully review the attached calendar (students and parents together) and fill in any pre­-existing conflicts that cannot be Be prepared to block out our rehearsal time and refrain from adding any additional plans or activities that would conflict with rehearsals. *ALL rehearsals for Tech Week and ALL performances are mandatory! Please consider your ability to be available for all dates before committing to be part of Crew or accepting a role in the Cast.
2. Fill out the CAST AUDITION FORM or CREW REGISTRATION FORM and return to Young along with your completed conflict calendars by JANUARY 26, 2023.
3. Participation Fee: $60 (plus ASB Membership), which can be paid online. 
   There are several expenses associated with producing a show. We need to pay for the licensing/rights to perform the show, scripts, materials for the set and props, tech equipment (mics, lights, etc.), and costumes. There also will be some costume pieces and make up that students will need to purchase or provide for themselves as well. *IF the participation fee causes a financial strain or is a hardship for your family, please simply be in touch with myself or Ms. Rapoza (school bookkeeper). This will not prohibit participation for any student.

Auditions will be held on Monday, January 30 from 2:45pm-5:00pm and Wednesday February 1 from 3:45pm-7:00pm. Sign-ups for audition slots will be out on Tuesday January 26. FORMS MUST BE COMPLETED AND RETURNED PRIOR TO SIGN UP!

Rehearsals will begin on Tuesday, February 7.

CREW will be receiving additional information from Mrs. Danelle after auditions are completed.

You will be receiving emails with important information for the show and rehearsal preparation. Please your email regularly AND be sure to check your SPAM or Junk folders and sometimes the emails land there. Please make a note of my email/contact information as well if you need to correspond with any questions or concerns along the way: tac.plms@gmail.com or 8O2-349-8233. lf you have questions or concerns at any time throughout the process, please feel free to contact me I will be happy to help you.

Sincerely,

Alyson Young