Exec Council/Thespian Meeting

Thank you for your understanding in postponing today's meeting. Mrs. Gaudet is feeling much better now after a rough bout of heat exhaustion this afternoon.

I want to meet with the Exec Council AND any interested Thespians about a few things.

SAM, BRITNEY, KATRINA - can you please discuss and pick another day? Any is fine for me as long as works for you three.

The Comedy Show

• titles? moods? vobes?

• we have 3 classes this year, so we'll have three shows

• that means each show can be a little LONGER than the hard 30 minutes we've usually used

• two casts will be a size of 18-20 (Periods 4 & 5) and 9-10 (Period 6) with split casts

• I wrote a One Act over the summer. I'd love for you to check it out.

• We only have FOUR days in the theater instead of FIVE from now on

• We will practice stagehand drills and scene changes in Room 229 to prep for our lost day

• We will lay out prop tables, garment racks, makeup stations in easy-to-unpack containers in Room 229 to prep for our last day.

• GOAL: We walk into the theater on our Tech Day with everybody knowing exactly what they’re doing. TEAM-PROFESSIONAL

• Hold those two TECH/DRESS days during school hours, 7:00a-1:30p. No after school.

District Festival RULES CHANGE

• - Oh man I just got an e-mail at 4:58pm today that upends what I wanted to talk about.

• - We can no longer pick any play. Publishing houses and playwright estates are flexing copywrite laws

• - I saw a "Green List" and "Red List" of plays we can and can't definitely choose from

• - It's still developing

• - There is now a SHORT FILM category! That's our jam!

• - More info at the Troupe Directors' Meeting on Sat. Sep 9 at OUR SCHOOL - 10am-2pm

• - I will need 2 Exec Council members to come. If all 3 of you want to, that's cool, too.

PROPOSED - Bring back Drama Club (last existed 1999-2002)

• open to all students

• meets once a month

• improv games

• big end year goal - Drama Club movie at the Film Festival? group musical?

• meeting after school 1x/month for an hour

T-Shirts (Change)

• WCHS Drama (Blue) - $20 free entry to all WCHS Drama events

• WCHS Thespian (Black) - $20 free entry to all WCHS Drama events

• Title logo / super clean design - will encourage students to put in regular rotation = advertisement

• Personalized names on back

• Allow parents to buy? Mom/Dad, etc? Not sure if possible

Districts 2023 (Dec 9) (New strategy)

• We’re hosting

• All Acting class students can enter Districts whether they are Thespians are not

• Drama Club students can enter Districts

• All Thespians expected to set up and enter at least one event (unless spec. circumstance)

• Class time for months to work on events

• Will be expected to be use class time to prepare an event(s) you WANT to enter

• Mr. G will do mini-lessons on the tech events because they are cool & are kind of unclear

• Auditions for the 5 slots/event type

• Feel free to use Drama Club time to rehearse Musical events

• BONUS: No more after-school workshops; can do all during class or at Drama Club mtg

Winter Film Festival

• Expanding film length to 6:00 to 9:30 minutes (our original film length requirement)

• Still at night; no show during school day

• Will get parent signatures on everything ahead of time

• We COULD add Drama Club performances or a Drama Club movie as a special feature BEFORE the Film Festival begins

Spring Production

• DISADVANTAGE: You have 60% of a Drama teacher this year. Spring is also when I’m supposed to be grinding test prep for English 2 Honors students. And I don’t know what that is. I’m going to be spending after-school time with the English team.

• BIG PROBLEM: I can’t run a full-length Spring production with less than ½ the time I usually have.

• PROPOSED SOLUTION: Student-written One Acts, like we did back from 2004-2014(?). Can use Play Writing entries for Districts as well as other individuals and friends getting together who want to write a piece. It could TOTALLY BE WRITTEN BY US.

• CHALLENGES: Everybody in every class who wants a part needs to get a part. Total amount of time for One Act show can’t exceed 2 hours.

• OPPORTUNITY: Could allow Drama Club members to play as extras/villagers, etc. Or to be writers.

• OPPORTUNITY: Would allow short-form plays to be performed. 5 minutes? 10 minutes?

• OPPORTUNITY: Students who have wanted to be Directors or Playwrights would finally get their shot

• FUTURE: If we get our numbers high enough we will def. go back to full-length production for 2024-25. This is intended to be a one-year “Let’s Deal With This Now Plan”

Okay those are all the things I wanted to talk about.

I want you to know that I am super psyched for this year, ready to tackle our setbacks, take advantage of our new opportunities, and to have the best year.

LET'S DO THIS

-Mr. Gaudet