Blog 14: Independent Component 1

• LITERAL

(a) I, Danielle Mariano, affirm that I completed my independent component which represents 30 hours of work.

(b) "The Lady of the House" By Jim Brochu 

      Joseph Hogan - Director

(c) Click here for digital spreadsheet!

(d) I basically played the role of Evelyn Sosnowski in "The Lady of the House". I had to attend all the rehearsals, memorize all my lines and learn all my cues, blocking, and costuming and props and perform with 24 others on our show week in December. 

• INTERPRETIVE

Defend my work? Unfortunately, I don't have my program anymore.... Hmm. Well, preparing for a play isn't easy nor is it fast. Only professionals can really pull off quality plays in a short time. Rehearsal time easily outweighs the amount of time we perform to people. I have put my highlighted script in my research binder, and it takes a while to memorize lines, cues of others then add it with other's pace and timing to make it seem natural. I tried to watch others while I wasn't onstage to see how others perform. I've never really done that before but it really makes a difference. This easily resulted in more than 30 hours of work. 

Since I forget to take pictures of the play since I'm on stage or preparing for another scene, most of these aren't mine.  

The very beginning when we first added blocking. (We all still had to have scripts in our hand)

Halfway through the play. All the wood to make the set is back there still. (We're total procrastinators. We didn't start the set until like two weeks before.)

Tech rehearsal with lights and sound during Hell Week. I think we finally had a play at that time. 

Sorry for the flattering unflattering picture Natalie but during the play, Elijah actually takes a picture of her during the play with my camera. 

• APPLIED

For the first time, I tried to watch others as they performed onstage. Normally, I didn't really care if it wasn't me. (Actors are selfish.) I even took some mental notes. Dean Nolan for instance is known for his "Batman" voice when things get serious. As I watched him do the phone scene with Natalie Najera, I realized he gets really close to her face to make her really uncomfortable. I never noticed that before and it wasn't something that Mr. Hogan told him to do. He just does it. It added the extra level of seriousness to the play. Little things. Things that aren't written but inferred. Maybe not even inferred. You just, do it. People say even I do things that I don't notice when I'm in a certain character. As Bert last year for "All My Sons" (Great play), I flapped my arms a lot more to resemble a small child. And it adds to the natural feel of the play. It gave the foundation of my First Answer.

Blog 13: Rough Draft of 30 minute presentation

Rough Draft

Blog 12: Third Interview Questions

• What is most important in creating a successful theatrical performance? 
• What would you consider a theatrical performance?
• In terms of plays and productions, what would you consider successful? 
• What is in your opinion, the most under appreciated role in the theatre business and why?
• What skills and techniques does one have to learn in order to be considered "talented" enough for theatre? 
• Why do you think it's better to be talented or hardworking in the theatre business? 
• What is the most effective way to learn skills and techniques in theatre? 
• Why did you get into the theatre business and why have you stayed? 
• Can you give me examples of an unsuccessful performance that you were either in or saw at another theatre?
• What is the hardest thing you have to overcome during shows and how do you overcome it? 
• How should one approach theatre? Is it the same as how you approached it at first? 
• Any advice for people wanting or starting out in the theatre business?

Blog 11: Mentorship 10 Hours Check

• Where are you doing your mentorship?

7th Street Chino Community Theatre

• Who is your contact?

Toni Lynd, the director of the show we're doing. 

• How many total hours have you done?

As of January 4th, I have a total of 44 hours.

• Summarize the 10+ of service you did.

Well, my role is technically a volunteer stage hand (Volunteer meaning I don't get paid.). Every rehearsal, I'm the actors' prompter and I sit next to the director and make changes in dialogue or blocking as we go along. When tech/hell week comes along, January 6th-10th, I am the stage manager's assistant. Since this play is probably the most prop heavy show I've ever seen, both of us are going to be really busy during hell week and shows. Other than that, the rest is miscellaneous stuff. I once spent three hours cutting out 20,000 business cards for a gag in the show. 20,000 cards. 

I don't know what's going to kill us first; knowing we open in a week or the amount of cards we need to clean after each show.   

• Email your house teacher the name of your contact and their phone number.

Yes sir.