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I got nominated for an award; BRAGGING
Topic Started: Apr 30 2008, 02:37 PM (332 Views)
DivaDeb
HOLY CARP!!!
There's a big theatre in KC called Starlight. They have program for Kansas and Missouri high schools called "Blue Star" that is an Academy Awards style thing for high school musicals. Our show had five nominations, one for Best Musical Direction. That's me. :-) I won't win it because we didn't have a live orchestra. But the adjudicator's comments make me pretty happy. There were anonymous committee members in attendance at different times to assess our show. Some of their comments follow:

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A knockout of a production.  Strong in every way.  I was particularly impressed that the vocals were strong from top to bottom in the cast.  The acting was also very strong from the largest role to the smallest.  And the scene in Bedlam might the thing that will hang with me forever. Well cast, well directed.  I don't see how it could have been better. A wonderful eye for detail, even down to the smallest role.  There seemed to be a spirit among the cast that spoke to the challenge of doing difficult material that many high schools wouldn't attempt. 

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This is a once in a generation piece and a must-do and must-see when the elements are available to any theatre company.  To pull it off with a high school cast, with any degree of success, is a coup.  This was a good deal more than that and credit must go to the creative and directorial team for motivating students under what must always be trying circumstances.


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I was knocked out by the vocal performances in this show.  It's not an easy score to do and yet I don't recall a single moment where something vocally pulled the audience out of the show.  Strong work by the leads, and by the supporting males and females, and strong work down into the featured roles as well.  There wasn't a weak singer in the cast, and the acting moments were all strong as well, so it wasn't "just' a cast of singers.  I have no criticisms at all of the musical direction. 


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The singing was of a high quality.  A few students were not up to the demands of the score, but they compensated well enough.  The majority made a good deal of the text and their projection was more than adequate.


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Excellent vocal work in this production!  Other than the "tinny" sound of the sound system.  The voices were on pitch throughout and in rhythm.  Not only that but the characters behind their singing were energized, clear, and very consistent throughout the ensemble!  Of particular note was the use of the tracked orchestration.  The execution was impressive. Excellent, excelllent work!


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AN excellent production. I admire the fct that the decision was made to tackle this piece.  It's a difficult score to sing at times, but the cast did very, very well, even down to the smallest roles.  The combination of staging, scenis design, lighting design and acting made for many memorable moments.  The Bedlam/asylum scene is one that will stay in my head as long as I have brain cells.


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A quality production of Sondheim's best work.  Singing was first-rate and the clarity of the diction sold the text.  Production values were sound.  I hope the principals get more opportunities at these same roles since they don't come more demanding than, nor as reqarding as these. 


My leading and supporting players got raves for their singing and acting. The chorus was lauded for their sound and their dramatic intensity.


I DID A GOOD JOB

:D
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Mikhailoh
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If you want trouble, find yourself a redhead
Dang! That is fan-tastic!!!!!

Take it home, girl. And make your acceptance speech long and memorable. Make 'em remember you.
Once in his life, every man is entitled to fall madly in love with a gorgeous redhead - Lucille Ball
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DivaDeb
HOLY CARP!!!
Several of them mentioned the Bedlam scene in a fashion that makes it clear they didn't see it coming. It's very often done at the very back of the stage, with silhouetted pantomime behind a scrim. In our show, it was at the very front of the stage with the lunatics inside the 'cages' of the scaffolding. When they broke out of the asylum, they ran amok, and when the cops came on, they ran into the orchestra pit (with ME) like scurrying bugs. Their last run was through the audience and out the back doors of the theatre. Suffice to say, they were SCARY CRAZY GIBBERING NUTS!!!

:lol:

I guess it worked!
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apple
one of the angels
one came right at me..
scared me to death!
it behooves me to behold
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DivaDeb
HOLY CARP!!!
hee hee!!!!

:lol:
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kenny
HOLY CARP!!!
You da Bomb, Girl! :thumb:
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DivaDeb
HOLY CARP!!!
well...at least I'm nominated to be da bomb. :lol: As I say, I won't (and shouldn't) win, because we didn't have a live pit.

What's really cool is that my kids will get to sing at the Award's program. That's a big danged deal and I'm most tickled about that.
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RosemaryTwo
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HOLY CARP!!!
Congratulations, Deb.

Just like PJ's award recently for his paper -- you worked hard and others noticed. That's a great feeling.

Well deserved.
"Perhaps the thing to do is just to let stupid run its course." Aqua
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Luke's Dad
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Emperor Pengin
:clap: :clap: :clap: BRAVISSIMO!!!!

The problem with having an open mind is that people keep trying to put things in it.
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George K
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Finally
Wonderful! You have every reason to be proud. You deserved it!

Congratulations, Diva!
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schindler
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Fulla-Carp
Rah, rah, Deborah!

:D
We're all mad here!
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Horace
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HOLY CARP!!!
That's awesome. Well done Deb!! Those kids are very lucky.
As a good person, I implore you to do as I, a good person, do. Be good. Do NOT be bad. If you see bad, end bad. End it in yourself, and end it in others. By any means necessary, the good must conquer the bad. Good people know this. Do you know this? Are you good?
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Axtremus
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HOLY CARP!!!
Congratulations! :thumb:
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Free Rider
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Fulla-Carp
Awesome Deb!

You earned this praise. Enjoy it...savor the moment.

I am impressed by the challenges you must have faced with a production of this scope, (what were you thinking? ) :lol:

I would be proud, too, if I were you. There's a big difference between bragging and being proud of yourself. Good for you!

:thumb:
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CTPianotech
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Fulla-Carp
Posted Image
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sue
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HOLY CARP!!!
:clap: Wowsers! Congrats, Deb! Boy, that's quite the feather in the ol' cap, eh?! ^_^
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DivaDeb
HOLY CARP!!!
Free Rider
Apr 30 2008, 08:50 PM


I am impressed by the challenges you must have faced with a production of this scope, (what were you thinking? ) :lol:


It happened like this...the fall musical at this school was Guys and Dolls. (I am not involved in the fall production) I went to the fall auditions to see what I'd have to work with come springtime. I heard one guy sing and thought...holy cow...that one could sing freakin' Sweeney Todd. And then there was this girl, and I immediately heard her as Lovett. And then I had four legitimate tenors....Anthony, Tobias, Pirelli, and the Beadle. And a lovely angel voiced soprano, Johanna. And the chorus voices...so many outstanding voices. By the end of the Guys and Dolls auditions, I had cast the Sondheim, then had to wait several months while we argued with MTI about whether we could have the performance rights (the tour came through KC in January, and we almost didn't get to do the show because of that).

As one of our adjudicators implied...I couldn't see having a cast for this show and not doing it. My goodness, the *talent* I had to work with this year was nothing short of spectacular. Freakish even, given that this is just your basic B-flat public high school, not an Arts magnet or anything like that. I am not interested in doing easy shows. I'm not actually very interested in doing reasonably difficult shows. I prefer to do things people say are impossible and I'm kind of a pain about it. If they can't do a tough show, I make them get someone else. Last year, they had a no-budget, last minute kind of year and decided to do (barf) Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. I told them I loved them and would see them next year. I'd rather stick toothpicks in my eardrums than spend weeks on something they could probably direct themselves and do just as well. I like setting the barre over the kid's heads by about a foot and a half. I like challenging them to do something they really aren't sure they can do (but I am). Then they have to jump to reach it and hang on for dear life. They have to learn and improve to do a good show...instead of just trot out and do something they can already do the day the show is cast. I think that's the way you get stuff out of teenagers that they don't know they can do, and no one else believes they can do. You just...give them a very good opportunity, teach them quality skills, and convince them they are capable. It works every time.

I love it. It wears me out, but I love it so much. There is nothing more satisfying to me than seeing their pride in their accomplishment. It's YUMMY
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