We right in the thick of tech week, compiled of days when we barely see the sunlight because we have dress rehearsal until past eight. Each day at three, our generous parents organize and provide plenty of food to give us energy to give the next five hours all that we can. The green room comes alive as frantic makeup and pincurls are mastered, and costumes are taken upstairs in preparation for quick changes. Hair and makeup crew makes sure that we are all looking our best from our wigs to our lipstick. Run crew reviews the scene changes that are extra challenging, to make sure they are well-prepared for this weekend. Our attentive prop crew ensures that our many props are set on their respective tables offstage. Sound crew checks mics and sound cues, and lights are ready to help us shine. The orchestra warms up in the pit, anticipating the overture and bracing for those songs that are a little more difficult than the rest. When places are called, the cast anxiously awaits their cue to start performing and crew is on their toes, ready to make magic. This is just a small glimpse into what happens behind the scenes before the music and lights come on. You'll have to be in the seats this weekend to really experience everything that has come to life during the past few months as McDrama has brought "Thoroughly Modern Millie" to our stage. Take some time out of your weekend, treat yourself to a trip to the theatre, and get to McAuley for our last McDrama production. Need some more convincing? Watch our promo video! -Ally Knizner Class of 2018
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Today at rehearsal, we learned choreography for the finale which was bittersweet. It is at this point in the process that we can jazz up every aspect of our performace, but knowing we have but a few weeks left is hard to fathom. Watching people take on new leadership roles, form new relationships, and grow in regards to their contribution to Thoroughly Modern Millie is beautiful. There's no business like show business! Towards the end of rehearsal, Miss Geckle gave us the change to run the opening number onstage before we all went home. Halfway through, something special clicked and the sound just exploded into a strong, unified voice. The dancers were ebullient and aware of their space on stage and their character choices. The individual elements of vocals, dance, and character that we have been working on since January, all of the sudden, melded together into a realistic sneak peek of our final production. It was exhilirating to experience that much, and then imagine it with the dazzling set and lights that will soon be added, in addition to the marvelous costumes, props, and sound. All the pieces for the perfect McDrama puzzle have been found and these final three weeks are fully dedicated to fitting them together to build our masterpiece. We can't wait for our audiences to see this and share in our creation! Theatre is never exactly the same from night to night or school to school, so make sure that you have a plan and a ticket to be at McAuley for Thoroughly Modern Millie.
-Ally Knizner Class of 2018 Hey McDramites! Wow, it's been a while. Almost half way in, I'm beginning to have a greater understanding of the people that make up McDrama, the challenges I'm going to face in the show, and the fun I'm going to have with my castmates! Last time I told you about all of the wonderful friends I had made that helped me form my first impressions of McDrama. Those same people continue to make my rehearsals filled with joy, but many new faces have emerged and helped add to my McDrama experience. One being Kylie Montgomery. Chatting with her makes it impossible to be sad! Her warm smile and positive attitude lifts the hearts of those around her. Another wonderful friend I've made recently is Raelynn Snodgrass. Her spontaneous and whimsical jokes are something truly intriguing. What really made me feel at home with McDrama however wasn't any particular person, but was going to the McAuley Vocal Ensemble Spaghetti Dinner. While there, I was able to bond with many of the cast and crew, as well as get to hear some amazing voices. Danielle Nissen and Jordan Zulli in particular blew me away by performing two of my favorite songs "Alto's Lament" and "My Way".
In regards to the show itself, Jimmy has proven to be challenging for me. Loving the 20s, adopting and growing a character has been so much fun, but trying to conquer Jimmy's songs has been difficult. Playing the role of a tenor as a baritone has given me my biggest challenge yet, but I intend to percervere! I have big hopes for this show and I think it could be one of my most rewarding performances to date. I'm extremely proud of the hard work everyone single person in the cast and crew has put forth. We've got less than a month left. I know we will rock it out till the end, because if I've learned one thing from McDrama so far it's that every day together is another day of sun! Until next time, this is Ben Mitchell signing off! Why We Love McDrama...Amidst the hustle and bustle of cast and crew as we strive to master act one, McDrama celebrated Valentine's Day. The love in our McDrama family is just one of the many things to celebrate today. There are people to love and people who love you! I asked a few members of Thoroughly Modern Millie what they especially love about McDrama, so enjoy a peaceful moment in your probably very busy day to glimpse into our hearts.
-Ally Knizner Class of 2018 Once again, Mr. Kent and the costume crew, headed by Amira Rowe, Amber Hafele, and Audre Frigge, are busy on the sewing machines. The twenties have a very distinct look with boxy dresses and shortened hems that can only be captured by the dedication and creativity of our crew. The stenographers were each fitted for their dresses in the first week of rehearsals. We each tried on a pattern that the costume crew had already prepared and they adjusted them as necessary to move ahead with the final designs (which are fabulous black dresses complete with a plaid design down the front). For all of the readers to have a tidbit of Jeopardy knowledge, stenographers are typists which ends up being a prevolent profession throughout Thoroughly Modern Millie. The crew is also producing two specific dresses for Millie, so she can be the best dressed modern in all of New York City in 1922. Word on the street is that a dress for each special dancer is also on the agenda! After the incredible feat of creating circle skirts for each cast member in last spring's All Shook Up, there is no doubt in my mind that our costumes will once again dazzle and shine as a strong point in our upcoming musical. It is never too early to mark your calendars and purchase tickets online at https://mcacin.booktix.com/.
-Ally Knizner Class of 2018 The lovely Shannon Burdett of publicity crew captured some moments of our first two weeks of rehearsal! The dedication, optimism, and glee of this group are already so discernable. Dances are coming together fabulously and songs are becoming harmony-bearing masterpieces. Props and costumes are sprouting about all over the theatre, each selected and created with precise attention to detail. While reading and pondering, I came to thinking that the word serendipity is a good descriptor for what goes on around here; I learned that it means, “Finding something nice while looking for something else.” Cast and crew signed up to simply put on a show, but all are quickly discovering friendships, making lasting memories, and putting together a live piece of art. While we are working on “Thoroughly Modern Millie” so adamantly, I think it is important to have a bit of background information on why exactly the twenties, when the show is set, were just so momentous. The more you know, the more you can enjoy the show!
The twenties were bustling with change as women deservedly earned their right to vote and systems of credit were introduced. Spending money on unnecessary items became the norm which left impacts on social life and fashion. This allowed more Americans to own radios, televisions, refrigerators, and other "luxury items" that previously were exclusive to the upper class. A growing number of women were taking charge and entering the workforce and embracing college leading to a new, modern woman. This modern, working woman with her radio in home, shortened her skirts and her haircut. Her evenings were dedicated to speakeasies, dancing, and mingling in the bustling downtown scene. This desire for independence quite literally invented a new type of woman, which is exactly what Millie Dillmount longs to become. Also contributing to the world of change was the Prohibition. This forced the moderns to take their party to underground and hidden venues called speakeasies, a place where Jimmy frequents quite a lot. They would come to life in these undercover worlds where the drinks and the music never seemed to cease. The combination of these factors, just to keep this brief, culminated with a society buzzing with life unlike anything else before. To see it all come back to life, get yourself to "Thoroughly Modern Millie" at McAuley. -Ally Knizner Class of 2018 With one week of McDrama in the history books, I take pleasure in knowing there will be many more to come and many more memories to accompany them. So far, as a fresh person, my experience of McDrama has been amazing. Andrew Neyer, known to most as “Jimmy” introduced me to a world like no other. The unfamiliar territory caused me to be very frigid at first, but right away from the first audition day warm faces like Madison Stone, Jordan Zulli and Amanda Schweder helped melt the unease from me and paint the picture of what my adventure in McDrama would be like. To compliment to that, Ms. Geckle, the fabulous director of "Throughly Modern Millie," helped show me how I would fit in to this new family by casting me as Jimmy. As rehearsals began for the show and our first week went on, I began to meet new faces that would help to form my first impressions of McDrama. One of them is the incredibly sweet Ally Knizner, the creator of the McDrama blog. While there are many many things I am still to learn about the inner-workings of McDrama and the people that make it up, I come out of this first week with new-found confidence in what I can now call my family. Until next week, this is Ben Mitchell signing off.
And just like that, another cast and crew has been carefully pieced together with fresh, optimistic promise of putting on another spectacular McDrama production. For our new readers, I am Ally Knizner and I am now a senior at McAuley (omg) and I will post on this blog weekly with any and all things that happen at McDrama as we work on "Thoroughly Modern Millie". I'll spotlight a little of everything; get ready for sneak peaks of costuming, sets, dancing, and just about everything in between. There are nearly one hundred cast and crew members who are all about to dive into two months of musical madness, so there will be plenty to write about. Some posts will explore what the twenties were like so our cast, crew, and audience members can catch a glimpse of what the context of "Millie" is like. Others will showcase some special people who make our shows the work of art that they always are. Throughout this upcoming blogging extravaganza, I will try to avoid being too heartbroken that this is my last McDrama show as I go on to college somewhere next year; however, that is all the more reason to be extra thankful for all that we have yet to create together and to be present in all of the enjoyable moments on their way. There is no time like the present to make the best of everything and cherish all that we have!!!
Any suggestions or specific things you want to see on the blog? Comment below! -Ally Knizner Class of 2018 The time has come! We have performances Friday and Saturday at 7:30 and Sunday at 2. If what you've seen in the past and what you already know about McDrama aren't enough, take a gander at these highly convincing reasons to spend some time with McDrama this weekend.
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March 2018
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