Musical SnipITS Preview

Have you ever wanted to see a Pres musical or play, but been intimidated by the length of a show, or thought it would get boring? There is a solution that allows students to watch their classmates and friends on stage in a short show full of entertainment from start to finish.

Presentation’s International Thespian Society (ITS) puts on Musical SnipITS, an entirely student-run musical revue, each year. SnipITS is directed, stage managed, choreographed, sung, and acted by students who are members of ITS, and has performances on Feb. 7 and 8. ITS officer Emily Griffith said, “Normally, people just care about the songs in musicals. SnipITS lets the audience see a variety of songs from different shows, making it a really entertaining show.”

This is Pres’ fourth year putting on the show, which originated as a way for theater lovers to perform numbers from productions that Pres cannot produce either because the rights are not available or because the show requires logistical boy-girl ratios that Pres lacks. This year’s show does not have a theme, but past SnipITS have been themed “Forbidden Pres,” “Decades” and “Dark Edition.”

The ITS officers run these shows, with seniors Katcy Stephan and Amanda Camillo as directors, Rachel Whelan as stage manager, Emily Griffith as vocal director and Mandy Heiser (with Auti Kamal and Katarina Klask) as choreographers.  The officers got together with a list of song suggestions— after considering difficulty level, the number of people the song required and the style of music, the officers selected twelve songs for the show, not fitting them around any specific theme.

SnipITS provides opportunities for ITS members to see their own work on stage and direct their peers to produce a show. Emily Griffith said, “Working on SnipITS is really fun, but challenging. It’s hard to be a director-peer because we have to find the balance between authority and chill.”

The officers could create their own blocking and choreography, combining both older musicals like South Pacific to new shows like Legally Blonde. The show features a mixture of duets, trios, and group numbers, allowing more individuals to be featured. Students who have never been leads before can have the experience of being a lead in one of the numbers without doing the full show.

Club officer Mandy Heiser said, “It’s a very enjoyable, yet very complicated experience. Thankfully, the other ITS officers and I work together very smoothly and collaboratively. We’re all friends who know each other’s strengths and appreciate each other’s creativity.”

The wide variety of songs in this musical will appeal to all audiences, from first-time theatergoers to veterans. For those who do not know much about musicals, the show includes the songs “Bend and Snap” from Legally Blonde, “She’s in Love” from The Little Mermaid and Greenday’s “21 Guns” from the musical (yes, it is also a musical) American Idiot.

For those who like to watch dancing, “Buenos Aires” from Evita is being choreographed with salsa moves, while “At the Ballet” from Chorus Line is being danced en pointe by three Pres seniors. Other popular songs in this show are “In His Eyes” from Jekyll & Hyde and “Heart Full of Love” from Les Misérables.

This show, just a bit over an hour, will be fast-paced and entertaining from start to finish. The broad spectrum of songs provides something for all kinds of audience members. Musical SnipITS will be performed on Feb. 7 and Feb. 8 at 7 p.m. in the Valenzuela Theater. Ticket prices are $5 and can be bought at the door or from any ITS member.

Techie Profile: Rachel Whelan

Senior Rachel Whelan can almost always be found in the theater after school. No, she’s not an actor: she’s a techie. To learn more about her life as a stage technician and her role in The Phantom of the Opera, The Voice sat down to chat with her.

When did you begin doing theater tech?

I began teching freshman year for Into the Woods. Once I got involved, I just couldn’t stop.

For how many shows have you been on the tech crew, and what have some of your roles been?

I have teched for 20 shows to date. I have done everything from run crew to spotlight operation to stage managing.

What is a ‘run crew?’

The run crew consists of the people backstage who move the sets, as well as do rigging and special effects.

What do the other members of the tech crew do specifically?

There are light board operators, soundboard operators, spotlight operators, a costume crew, and a hair and makeup crew.

What is your role in Presentation’s current production, The Phantom of the Opera?

I am the Assistant Stage Manager and I am in charge of special effects. Since day one of auditions, I have been in the theater overseeing the rehearsal process. I collaborate with my fellow stage managers and Mr. Houle on how to pull off all the technical challenges in the show. I usually stay at the theater until about 8 or 9 p.m. every night.

What kind of special effects are in the show?

There is a chandelier crash, a boat on a lake, fog and air cannon effects, a trap door, and many more. The Phantom of the Opera is by far the most challenging show technically that Pres has ever done. In addition to the special effects, there are countless set pieces, costumes and backdrops that all have to change simultaneously. We have never needed a bigger crew for a production here than we need for this show.

What is a typical rehearsal like for you?

I make sure all the actors arrive on time. I also take notes on blocking, choreography, and vocals. I look through the script for props and any special technical effects. I maintain order and keep the rehearsal on schedule.

Do you tech for productions other than the fall musical and spring play?

Yes, I have teched for summer shows and I am also an International Thespian Society (ITS) Officer, therefore I am involved with all ITS productions. In addition, I have been involved with the TADA! productions of Little Shop of Horrors and You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown.

Why do you do theater tech?

I tech because I love it. Ever since my first show, I have loved to be a part of the fantastic productions we put on at Pres. As strange as it sounds, I live for the stress and intensity of the rehearsal process because, in the end, it is amazing to see all of your hard work come together into an amazing production.

Why do you do theater tech as opposed to acting on stage?

I used to act, but once I did tech for the first time, I realized how much fun it was being a part of making the show come together. Even though the audience only sees the actors, all the technical aspects of the show are equally important in making it a success.

What do you love most about theater tech?

What I love most is the reaction from the audience after a great show. I really enjoy being able to hear my friends say how great the show was, and I love knowing that I was a part of it.

What is your favorite memory from theater tech?

My favorite memory would be opening night of Always and Forever, Kate. It was an original show and I felt very connected to it because we had so much opportunity to create something new and unique. It was so exciting to see all of our hard work pay off at opening night.

Will you participate in theater tech in college?

Probably. Although I am not pursuing a theater major, I know I will not be able to stay away from the theater. I will participate in as many productions as I can.

What will you miss most about Pres theater tech after you graduate?

I will miss my theater friends the most. The friends I have made are the best kind: they are supportive, funny, unique, thoughtful and are just great people overall. I have enjoyed working with them so much for the past three and a half years. They’re my family.

Phantom Comes to Pres

It’s the biggest musical ever— around 150 costumes, a fog machine, trap doors, romance, mystery— and it’s coming to Pres. Presentation High School will be the first high school in Northern California to perform The Phantom of the Opera.

Mr. Houle, head of the Performing Arts department at Presentation and director of the musical said, “There will never be a bigger show here. There is no bigger show.”

The Phantom of the Opera has been available for high schools to purchase the rights for a while now, but “high schools rarely choose to do a show that is so difficult,” said Mr. Houle. “It’s a once-in-a-lifetime thing.”

The show demands an incredibly high standard of technical requirements and special effects as well as singing, dancing, and acting talent. All members of the cast and crew are working extremely hard to pull off this difficult show, rehearsing for several hours a week.

Senior Mary Anderson, who plays the lead role of Christine, said what separates Phantom from other shows performed at Pres is that “the concept is kind of difficult to understand. The score is really demanding too because we have to sing opera. It’s the hardest music I’ve ever had to learn.”

Though the amount of work going into the production is intense, the members of the cast are still enjoying their experiences as part of this amazing show. “The cast is really fun—all the [vocal and dance] directors are really nice,” said Anderson.

The cast works together nearly every weekday rehearsing scenes, songs and choreography for the show. There is a lot of work put it into the show to incorporate the various new elements Phantom brings to Pres theater such as new special effects, opera singing and choreography more centered on ballet technique.

“We hope that if we build the show, everyone will come watch it. We are going to try to give the audience all the romance and magic, everything they imagine,” said Mr. Houle.

The tech crew of Phantom is working especially hard in order to create the visual effects of the show. When asked what we sets and special effects we will see in this show, assistant stage manager Rachel Whelan said, “Where do I even start? We have a falling chandelier, an elephant, a body falling from the ceiling, and tons of fog effects.”

Set pieces like the Phantom’s lair, a gondola that will travel across the stage, a grand staircase and a trap door on stage are all being constructed for this show.

“Other Pres shows are baby shows if you compare the technical demands to this show— there are so many special effects,” Whelan said. “The sets are huge— Phantom has the most individual set pieces we have had in any show.”

Costumes are another huge part of bringing the show together. Costume mistress Kate Pashby said,

“In the actual Broadway production, there are around 200 costumes, but they only use around 150. We have a larger cast here but much less money, but we are still going to use 100-150 costumes.”

These costumes range from period costumes from the Enlightenment Era to tribal wear to elaborate Halloween-ish costumes for the masquerade scene. “The costumes are extravagant—there are layers of trim, lace, sequins, and beads on every costume,” said Pashby.

The number of costumes and costume changes for the actors required some creativity on the part of the costume designers, who have made the costumes with the quick costume changes in mind. Pashby said, “Last year when I was costume mistress for Little Women, there were eight ‘quick-changes’ per show. However, in Phantom, Christine’s character alone will probably have eight quick-changes.”

Presentation’s performing arts department has put an immense amount of effort into The Phantom of the Opera. The show, which opens on November 5 and performs through November 20, is a must-see to support the endeavors of the cast and crew. Tickets are $15 and are available on the Pres website.

 

Improvisation Sensation

On Dec. 2, Presentation’s resident improvisational team, Spontaneous Combustion, held their fall show. The team is a member of the ComedySportz San Jose league, which is dedicated to delivering comedy that the whole family can enjoy. ComedySportz sent a referee, Brandon Arnold, to moderate the match, which pitted the team against each other in two smaller teams.

The red team, led by Spontaneous Combustion’s co-captain, senior Tanya Padgaonkar, consisted of junior Athena Santos, sophomores Kate Pashby and Nura Kawa and freshman Haleigh Boss. Junior and co-captain Amanda Camillo led the green team, with members including sophomore Isabelle Polito, freshmen Angelina Maciel and Caitlin Gonzalez and Bellarmine senior Drew Antes

After a brief introduction by Ms. Rodriguez, the team’s moderator, the 10 players ‘rolled’ on stage while the song “Proud Mary” echoed throughout the theater. The referee explained the rules for the night, including punishments for any use of profanity or inappropriate jokes.

The games were kicked off with a riveting round of “What Are You Doing?”, in which one member performed an action, but claimed to be doing another. The other player acted out what the other person said they were doing. The red team won, scoring five points and the choice of their next game: “Replay.”

In this game, the red team performed a scene once normally, and then in different styles as chosen by the audience: Gothic, Western and in distinctive character voices. “The red team did a great job with ‘Replay!’ It really showed how well they worked together, and how creative their team could be,” stated green team captain Amanda Camillo, who chose “Blind Line” as her team’s next game.

In this round, the green team left the room while the audience was asked for famous lines from popular culture. These lines were written on scraps of paper, and the green team picked up a random line and incorporated it into their scene. The audience was asked to vote, by applauding, on which scene they preferred. The green team’s game was the winner, giving them five points.

Next, the red team picked the green team’s scene: “The Dating Game.” In this round, the ‘bachelor’ left the room, while three ‘bachelorettes’ were assigned characters by the audience—Betty Boop, Lady Gaga and President Obama. When the bachelor returned, it was his job to discover the identities of the bachelorettes by asking them questions.

Next, the red team was challenged to play “Slideshow,” in which three team members posed, while two players described what was happening on their vacation, based on the positions of the other players. Red team member Athena Santos stated, “My favorite game was ‘Slideshow!’ I got to use my facial expressions a lot, and it was fun to make funny poses and see how my teammates would react!”

After another audience vote, the green team was again victorious. However, there was a catch-up round, in order to give the team with less points an extra chance. The red team was asked to play “Chain Murder,” where the audience was asked to choose a murderer’s occupation, the murder weapon and the scene of the crime. Each player was asked to convey the three details to the next, but without using words, and keeping within the overall 4-minute time limit. The players were asked to guess the details of the crime, and were awarded points accordingly.

With the score tied, both teams were called to play in the next game, “Continuation Story.” In this game, the players formed a straight line across the stage. They referee pointed to a member, who would begin to tell a story. As soon as the referee pointed to another player, the first speaker was required to stop mid-word, as the next player was required to continue the story from the previous word. The story’s title, as chosen by the audience, was “Charlie the Caterpillar who Defeated the Bears.” The last player standing, Amanda Camillo, won points for her team.

The final game of the night was called “World’s Worst.” In this game, the audience was asked to choose a profession. The players were then asked to act out the ‘world’s worst’ version of that occupation. Each depiction earned the player’s team one point. The game’s final score was 25-24 in favor of the red team. Both teams exited the stage while fighting each other in slow-motion, and greeted the audience in the lobby, giving high fives to all attendees.

Overall, Spontaneous Combustion’s fall performance was hilarious–the team members worked well together, and there were very few slow moments. Co-captain Camillo said of the team, “Every year, the team dynamic changes. It brings new challenges and we work together differently. The mood of the team is different every year!” The show was undoubtedly a success, as the team delivered plenty of clever one-liners and side-splitting scenes.

The show was also an achievement in the sense that it provided dozens of riotous moments, without resorting to inappropriate jokes or profanity. If the team continues to deliver such entertaining shows, Spontaneous Combustion’s future looks quite promising.

All are welcome to attend the team’s rehearsals and provide scene suggestions on Fridays from 2:45-3:45 in the Valenzuela Theater.

Operation: College Art Supplements

Stanford wants students to write an essay describing themselves for their roommates, while NYU is asking this year for applicants to write about a famous New Yorker they’d like to spend the day with. Students can often spend weeks perfecting a perfect response for the college admission officers to read. It will be, after all, one of the few ways a student can stand out of the thousands of prospective applicants. Every year, however, there are some in the senior class who take on an even more daunting additional task: the art supplement.

The art supplement portion of the college application often requires compositions that involve months of work. The compositions cover a wide range of topics – the visual arts of drawing, painting, photography, and computer graphics as well as the performing arts of music, dance, and theater.

For visual arts, colleges typically require another essay and an art portfolio consisting of at least 10 – 15 pieces of the student’s work. The conditions of the portfolios are as varied as the supplementary essay prompts. Some colleges will give their prospective students free reign, while others have very specific instructions. For example, UCLA requires a self-portrait while the Rhode Island School of Design in the past has asked that all portfolios include a drawing of a bicycle. This year, several Presentation students have become very familiar with the work involved in creating such supplements.

For those who know senior Corinne DiTullio, it comes as no surprise that she has been preparing her art portfolio for four years. The signs were everywhere – the quilt she made for her APUSH project of the events leading up to the Civil War and the dedication she shows collaborating with the Valenzuela Theater to produce the costumes for the school’s productions. For the last seven months, however, she has devoted herself specifically to perfecting her best work for her portfolio.

“My [UCLA] self portrait took over thirty hours,” DiTullio says of her endeavor’s time commitment. “I had a table set up in my room with all my collage pieces and there were some days I would work for eight hours or more on it and stayed up until midnight trying to make progress.”

The time commitment to do the art supplement for the performing arts is just as consuming. To do the music supplement for her colleges, senior Emily Nguyen was required to send in a CD with a professional recording of her work. With piano songs lasting eight minutes each, she practiced for four to six hours a day for a week to make her recording.

“Everyone who submits this supplement is extremely advanced and plays their songs impeccably,” she says as she recalls the experience. “I was so troubled about making it perfect that I had to restart the machine every single time I made a slip or teeny mistake. This meant I spent a lot of time playing and replaying my songs.”

She adds, “You can never procrastinate in music. I definitely put more priority in my college essays, but I regret that I could not completely showcase my abilities.”

The nerve racking demands and the need for perfection also affected DiTullio. Her advice to future seniors considering an artistic future in college?

“My advice would be to start early,” DiTullio says. “I worked over the summer on my portfolio, which really helped me get ahead. If I could change anything, I would have finished even more done in the summer. ”

Nguyen offers further advice for the musical inclined. “If you have an idea of what colleges you want to apply to, research them and see if they accept music supplements,” she says. “Start recording now so you can have plenty of time to perfect your playing. Most importantly, pick pieces you love! If you drudge through a song, the music department heads who will be listening will be able to tell.”

College counselor Mary Connolly says that a dramatic arts portfolio can also give some students an edge in such a competitive admissions environment. While most colleges do not require an audition, it is a way for those interested in a theatrical future to stand out. The National Association for College Admission Counseling knows that many students are unable to easily travel to individual colleges for auditions and so it holds national fairs in exchange. During these one-day events, such as the one held annually in San Francisco in October, prospective students can audition for the attending 120 schools.

While some students say they would much rather draw or play music than write an essay, Mrs. Connolly points to the grueling process of spending time alone for hours on end. As she says, “It’s not like going to art therapy.” Still, despite the extra time and effort above and beyond Pres’ already grueling requirements, these students all say that they hope their work will pay off with an acceptance letter this spring.

[audio:http://www.presentationvoice.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/bach031.mp3]
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music clips from Emily Nguyen’s music portfolio

Actress Profile: Grace Farley

Grace Farley, sophomore, transferred to Presentation this year from Saint Francis. An active member of the theater program at her former school, Farley auditioned for the 2009 fall musical “Crazy for You” and landed the lead role. The show opened Saturday Nov. 7

The Voice: When did you first become interested in acting?

GF: “My first show was in sixth grade. I had wanted to do it for a while, and we lived next to a family who was into it too. The dad was the musical director for CMT. So I started trying out and now I’ve done seven CMT shows. It’s addicting! 

The Voice: Did you discover your talent for singing or acting first? If you had to chose, which would you say you enjoy more?

GF: “I discovered my talent for acting first. I wasn’t really very confident in singing at first. But I eventually learned during the production of “Oklahoma”, which was my second show. Then I realized how much I love to sing, and now they are equally important to me.”

The Voice: Have you ever received any formal training in acting or did you just sort of learn as you went along?

GF: “I just sort of learned from the other actors I have worked with as I went along. I’ve also tried to learn from my favorite film actors as well. Some of the big-name actors I especially admire are Anna Hathaway and Julie Andrews, because she can also sing along with acting. Jack Black I have also always found inspiring because he is so bold.”

The Voice: What’s your favorite genre to perform in? (Comedy, drama, etc.)

GF: “I have never really done straight drama or straight up comedy; I’ve always done CMT before. But I love musicals because I can express myself in so many ways. It’s fun to have the chance to sing and act at the same time. So musicals are my favorite.”

The Voice: What is the most challenging role you ever had to play?

GF: “The most challenging role I’ve ever been cast in was probably the play called “Babes in Arms”. I played this crazy woman reporter, and I totally just had to put it all out there. That was the first time I’ve ever had a role like that, and it really helped get me out of my shell a little bit and made me more comfortable onstage. It was one of my favorite shows.

The Voice: What was your favorite play you’ve done so far?

GF: “I would have to say that my favorite show was the third one I did for CMT called Annie Warbucks. It was the sequel to “Annie”.

The Voice: Have you ever thought about Broadway?

GF: “Yeah, definitely. I mean, I think that’s every young actor’s dream. So I’ve definitely thought about it, but I also know that it’s a big risk; very few people make it. And there also isn’t a whole lot of publicity around plays, but I’d love to be in movies because people like that can use their fame to make a difference.”

The Voice: What career path would you chose if you do not pursue acting?

GF: “I’m not sure. I’ve thought about teaching or maybe getting into politics. It would also be fun to be a teacher for drama, or maybe come back and direct plays one day.

The Voice: What are the most challenging parts of being an actress? The most rewarding?

GF: “The best experience is just being up there and seeing the audience. It’s great having people clap for you and having friends come to see you with flowers. There’s so much work put into it that when the audience claps for you it feels like all that work has paid off.”

The Voice: How did you master singing and dancing at the same time?

GF:  “I’ve never really danced a lot in a show until now, but it’s just mainly learning the steps and putting all the pieces together as you go.”

The Voice: Can you give us a head’s up about what “Crazy for You” is about?

GF: “It’s about a mother who sends her son to a town called Dead Rock Nevada so that he can foreclose his father’s theater. But he winds up falling in love with my character, who finds out that he’s about to close their theater. It’s a pretty complicated plotline! But it’s going to be a cool experience because it will be my first time in a lead role.”

The Voice: What’s it like to be in the lead for the first time?

GF: “I’ve never had this kind of part, and I’ve never had the lead before either. There are a lot of lines to memorize, but it’s so fun. I get to do an accent for the first time, which is interesting. My character’s just really fun. She’s sort of tom-boyish and country.”

The Voice: “How does the theater program at Presentation compare to the one at Saint Francis?”

GF: “I only performed in the gym at Saint Francis, so I never really was in the theater. So it wasn’t as nice as this one! I also think I have more fun doing theater here. But at Saint Francis there are an equal number of boys and girls. But here at Pres we’re always looking for boys! And Mr. Houle is really different, but totally cool! And everyone’s really nice here.”