TW15 Final Callbacks

REMINDER

All are called back tomorrow, except these three who have been excused: Ana, Gianna, Olivia

All others, callbacks will resume tomorrow, Friday 9/11 at 4:00p and go until 6:00p.

Landon, remember to join us! 

The process will be very similar to today. I will assign roles and scenes at the top and let you rehearse a bit with your partners before readings begin.

See you soon!

TW15 Callbacks

Thursday 9/10, 4:00p - 7:00p. 

The following actors are called back to continue the audition process.

Alex Quiggle

Ana Witteveen

Athena McLaughry

Audrey Radcliff

Danielle Prado

Desmond Eagle

Eia Puhvel

Gianna Clervi

Jane Hanson

Jasper Morris

Landon Meeks*

Max Eagle

Niko Fisque

Olivia Roach-Griffin

Phoenix Labron

Quincy Bell

Savanah Good

Violet Johnston

The callback auditions will consist of readings from the script.

*Landon cannot attend.

For those not called back, you are no longer being considered for casting. But please...be very proud of your work on the solo pieces today. You all have such potential and talent. Keep auditioning! And I hope you will consider being involved in crew or in other ways. I enjoyed spending time with you today.

A always, contact me at: teen.west.project@gmail.com if you have any questions.

TW15 - Auditions!

TEEN WEST PROJECT: YEAR FIFTEEN

Begin to End Again Again

by Sara Jean Accuardi

directed by Matthew B. Zrebski

AUDITIONS

Audition materials are available through Mr. Miller. Make sure you have an audition packet, that you have read it thoroughly, and that is it is filled out and signed by both you and your guardian prior to arriving to auditions.

The sign up for auditions is on the callboard.

GENERAL INFO

General Auditions: W 9/9 4:00p - 7:00p

Callback Auditions: TH 9/10 4:00p - 7:00p

Final Callback Auditions: F 9/11 4:00p - 7:00p

Always feel free to email with questions! It never hurts to ask! teen.west.project@gmail.com

Teen West: Year 15 - The Audition Draft

Auditions are quickly approaching for Teen West: Year 15.

Click HERE to read the "Audition Draft" of the script. Note that some changes will still occur during the process. 

If you are planning to audition, the #1 thing you must do is thoroughly read this play prior to auditioning. It's the only preparation you're asked to do!

Full audition information, sign ups, and packets will be coming within the next 24 hours.

Play Synopsis

In 1956 a girl vanishes into thin air leaving behind a town legend and a fractured family. Spanning seven decades of a high school, from the Cold War to the digital age, Begin to End Again Again explores how disaster, on a global and personal scale, shapes different generations of students. Maybe growing up has always felt a little like the end of the world.

Reminders for the 3 Final Shows!

Congrats on a terrific pick up rehearsal. And, you were all so professional during the photo shoot. You continue to impress me with your focus - and for how much you display care for this incredible project. I'll be out for Thursday's run. I look forward to seeing it on Friday with my family!

I wanted to offer a few reminders as you enter second weekend...

ONE

AI CHORUS - stay very vigilant about vocal consistency. All of you need to be at a similar, strong volume. And group lines need to be crisp and together. Your chorus work is STELLAR... but it's easy to get a bit loose if you're not always focused. 

TWO

ALL - Do you have the last line of a scene? If so, remember that in this play, most of the final lines act as "scene buttons" or "cliff hangers" that really land a moment and propel the action forward. In listening to the play during pick up... many of the last lines are being rushed...are swallowed with low volume...or not given enough weight... There needs to be that feeling of "last line...and...BLACK OUT!" - so that it really helps build suspense and maintain thematic resonance. 

THREE

ALL - First lines too.  If you (and scene partners) have the first few lines of a scene - those lines are critical for framing where we are and what's happening for the audience. 

FOUR

ALL - The biggest danger in second weekend is that you forget to truly drop back into the world and the story... You can start simply "performing it" rather than "living inside it". Remember, the trick of great acting is convincing the audience that this is happening for the first time... You must "play make believe" with full heart, mind, and soul...falling into the reality for these characters. Make sure, before the run...before whatever scene you are in...that you are taking that breath and dropping in. Always offer the audience the most full, complex, and rich authenticity you can!

FIVE

ALL - pacing was overall really great during pick up. Keep things tightening. Don't rush, of course...but don't over indulge in pauses. I must say, the split scene sequence in Act Two was fantastic during pick up...was giving me chills and had my heart racing...so well done... That was an example of keeping things moving and driving plot.

SIX

VARIOUS - Be aware of setting up "the shelter". There are lines about it that even cue lights and sound to go more ominous. (EX: "I could show you" OR "Show me?" etc...) - don't rush those line...set up the suspense and dread.

SEVEN

VARIOUS - don't forget underscoring... When you have music / sounds under you, your vocals have to be so full and consistent. Think about the ghost moments when Ronan and Robin walk through in Act One. Think about all the times Ronan is active in Act Two - virtually all of his monologues and scenes are underscored... Same with Robin. Tom's monologue moments are often underscored. Lotus. Etc.  In listening to the show, the vocal volume was decent in these moments - and the underscoring is quite subtle in sound level - but sometimes there is a diving off of the ends of sentences, and so we're losing final words... Keep that voice work elevated! 

EIGHT

MAX and ANA - the climax into Ronan collapsing is becoming rhythmically odd and tempo rushed. It's still very effective and well committed to - but here is a note to try and re-capture what we originally crafted...

To recap - at the bottom of p200 -  Ronan says "A stench" ... Jalen and Casey are released from their trance, breathing heavily... Ronan, exhausted, sits and Briar joins him. (Ana, be careful not to kick the body...that happened multiple times last week.) Once they both sit... Briar and Ronan must make eye contact and take each other in... Then...the initial lines on p201 are not fast... "You didn't mean to" through "it was an accident" are slow and steady....filled with great care and comfort and pain... It is on the next line that things begin to build and pace up as Ronan begins to panic, collapse and cry - starting with "I didn't think anything would happen." 

The reason it's a bit odd now is because there is this huge pause as they sit...and then suddenly, they are both talking super fast, rushed, barely understood - and Ronan just sort of falls. SO....once they both sit...it has to start slow for this to fully work... I'd suggest getting together and running this a few times... That said, don't overthink it...it's still beautiful, but I think if you can apply this note, it will be even more powerful. 

Some Notes for the Families of 'Shelter'!

Hi there, all -
Well, we are reaching the midpoint of our run here on Shelter...and the pride I feel (and that I know you share) in the talent, commitment, and sacrifice shown by your young artists is real! Our audiences have been solid, our performances rich...and it's time, finally, for a break!
A couple of things to share with y'all as we prepare for the final stretch:
1) The next two days (2/16 and 2/17) are what we in the theatre biz call 'dark': No calls, no onsite obligations. This is a great time to rest, to recover, and to reconnect. That said, we do have some sizable audience yet to share the power of Shelter...so it is asked that members of the team take a few minutes each day to review their lines/notes/tasks so we're not coming in cold for Wednesday's Archival/Pickup.
2) On that note, the schedule for Wednesday is 400p-930p. During that time we accomplish a lot of goals, including refreshing ourselves on the show for our second weekend audiences ('Pickup Rehearsal') and recording the show for the future, for our playwright, and for potential grant opportunities ('Archival Recording'). It is a day as vital to us as any performance.
3) Speaking of important days, we clear the show and reset the auditorium for other uses from 1000a to 300p on Sunday, 2/22. This is a mandatory call for ALL cast, crew, and management. Due to the calendar, IBW is hosting another event on Wednesday, 2/25, and we need all hands on deck to un-do in five hours what we spent nine weeks putting together. Every team member is expected on time and contributing Sunday morning.
4) Speaking of long calls, thank you to the six families who have so far contributed over $300 to help feed the 40 or so cast and crew members during our long, draining days representing IBWHS. I couldn't do this without you! If you have the means, please help me offset the over $800 (so far, and we need more food) it's cost to feed your young people throughout this process. Again, there are no school resources to help with this...this has come out of my personal bank account. Both PayPal and Venmo are options: @tragcom22
5) Speaking of resources, as many of you already know, this has been a tough year on the theatre company financially...and given the state of PPS finances, not likely to improve. If it isn't too much to ask, I'd like to invite anyone who can join us to a meeting here at IBW this Wednesday, February 2/18 at 830pm. It's a bit late in the day, but for anyone who has someone in the show, my goal is to end just in time for you to pick up your student from Pickup/Archival that night and go home together! We'll talk about ways that the community we've built around this amazing show can help us insure the present and future of theatre here at IBW!
6) Finally, the following is the response to our production from a very highly respected member of our regional theatre community, encouraging the world at large to take part in our story:


Shelter - Tony Sonera Audience Review -Social Media.png

Your folk are doing simply singular work here...again, I could not be more proud!
Thanks for all you've done and shared through your students. It means the world!
- jm

Opening Night Pre-Show Chat

Please be in 108 at 5:30p for a brief chat about last evening's run and for last minute questions you may have about the show.

Congrats on a marvelous preview. You did it!!! So proud... :)