Blog 21: Independent Component 2

LITERAL
“I, Danielle Mariano, affirm that I completed my independent component which represents 30 hours of work.”
(b) My source is Chino Community Theater, the program "QLab", The Great American Trailer Park: The Musical by David Nehls and Betsy Kelso

(c) Sound Tech for "The Great American Trailer Park: The Musical (I put it as part of my mentorship.)

(d) I got the technical side of theater to the max. I learned how to program lighting cues into the system to activate on the spot and program sound bits into a program called Qlab and figure out how to effectively use it. I also ran one of the three main spotlights for the show and got a 2 hour lesson on how to properly spot someone. It's the first time I've worked anything so technical in theater before. Even as a stage manager, I never really had to work with technology, just organizational skills. It's also my first actual "job" in theater. It's also my first musical.

INTERPRETIVE
This job was actually the most stressful part of my senior topic. I had absolutely NO IDEA what I was doing. I learned how to do sound and spotlight on the fly. The beauty of live theater. I got yelled at multiple times by the musical director, Josh Himes, for not getting the levels right, or not getting the timing right, or pressing the wrong button and activating the wrong cue, and holding the rehearsal back. I came two to three hours earlier every day to learn from Bruce on recording, Paul Larson on QLab, spotting from Alex Huie, and it was exhausting.

The creation of the set. I am currently in the lighting and sound booth as they worked. Julie, the house manager on the left and Bruce Hutchings on the ladder to the right. Bruce is the main artist and set design and he is CRAZY good at it. Like that trailer on the left. All painted. That wood wall on the right trailer? PAINTED. How does one art? 

Making all my marking on my cues when Gabriel B. pointed out I've been writing "que" instead of "cue." Joan Rivers sound what. It was a long day. 

The program for the show. Hey hey, if you ever want to see it. It's at Chino Community Theater. You guys should totally go and see it. 

Look look! There's my name under Sound Board Operator and Spotlight Operators. :D 

Applied

This play actually solidified my final answer being "Cohesive Vision". The play consists of a three man live band, seven cast members, one main director, one musical director, one choreographer, two costumers, and four stage crew members. We had to constantly talk to each other in order for this play to be successful. I had to talk to every single cast member so we were consistent on cue signals for the sounds. 

All of the crew had to sit down with the cast and make sure all of them knew their choreography so the spotlights could follow them. If not, the choreographer had to step in and teach them. One actor decided to do something different without telling anyone (That's actually my first answer in action) and she threw the sound cue off, which threw the actors off, which threw the lighting off. The domino effect. 

Blog 20: 3 Column Chart

3 column chart

Blog 19: ESLRs and Senior Project

1. What ESLR have you excelled the most in senior project?
Mostly Effective Learner

2. Please explain why you think you have excelled in this ESLR.
I've done a lot of different things about my senior topic that help me get a better understanding of my topic. I've performed in two plays, coaching one, Fullerton Festival entry, Improv, stage managing. I've assumed my own responsibility to learning all there is about Theatrical Performance and each of my entries have expressed my own personal creativity in a way.

3. Provide evidence from your senior project to support your claim.

The Set of the Nerd

Blog 18 Meeting answer 3

1.  What is your essential question?
What is most important in creating a successful theatrical performance? 2.  What is your third answer to your essential question (write your third answer in a complete sentence)?
Having a cohesive consensus between director, actors, stage crew and designers between all aspects of the production. 3.  What are three details to support or justify your third answer (details are examples or facts)?

• The Nerd. All of our actors and designers and actors have all been in plays before and had different visions on the play's outcome.
• Talk back with Cal Poly Shakespeare production, "The Tempest" - How they created the round stage set. 
• "Improv a play in one hour" By Micheal Baskis - Communication between all players in improv.

4.  What source helped you prove this answer is justified for your essential question?

• Watching the production meeting in Hogan's classroom. We all needed to agree on all 3 set designs and whatnot in order to make things as smooth as possible. 

5.  What do you plan to study next and why? 

• I plan to work with a musical at Chino Community Theater, "The Great American Trailer Park: The Musical". Musicals have more "players" working on this type of production. The musical numbers include choreographers and musical directors. There are more people you must communicate in order to get a cohesive, consistent play throughout.

Blog 17: Fourth Interview Questions

1. What is most important in creating a successful theatrical performance? 
2. What would you consider a successful theatrical performance? 
3. What do those performances have in common? 
4. How do feel about those who go against the director in the vision of the play to their judgement?
5. At what point do you think one develops this skill? 
6. What makes a person in theater valuable? 
7. What skills and traits do they have and why those specifically? 
8. Are some people more valuable in the same field and why? 
9. Do you think acting is a teachable skill or a talent skill? 
10. How do feel of the saying, "Anyone can act"?
11. From highest to lowest, who is most important in a production? 
12. What is your experience with successful performances? 
13. What is your experience with unsuccessful performances?
14. What do you think made them unsuccessful and what would've made them successful? 
15. What is your connection with your fellow cast and crew for productions? After? 
16. Do personalities interfere during a production and how would you fix it? 
17. What would one have to have in order to make a production successful? 
18. What would one GROUP have to have in order to make a production successful? 
19. How much would you need financially to be considered successful? 
20. In your opinion does money really matter in the performance value and why? 

Blog 16: 2-hour Meeting Answer #2

• What is your essential question?

What is most important in creating a successful theatrical performance?

• What is your second answer to your essential question?

"Most actors involved in the production can contribute a valuable skill other than acting."

• What are three details to support or justify your second answer?

"Play to the top of your intelligence. You need more than just meer acting to cut it. Make the character as real as you are. Stupidity doesn't create anything." -Second City Improvisation

This award winning play, [Nunsense] requires you to tap dance, sing, ballet, and learn ventriloquism.

"We require a resume for a reason. You must portray something real so you should be skillful in as many areas as possible. You should have something you're good at that can be shown on stage. Just acting doesn't cut it nowadays. It's alright though. The more plays you're in, the more random ass crap you learn. I learned how to do the splits for a show. I never used that skill again." -Toni Lynd Director and runs a casting workshop

• What source helped you prove your answer is justified for your essential question?

My source that solidly proved this statement was the actors in "The Nerd." Each one can contribute something else to the scene that isn't necessarily needed but makes the scene that much more lovable with these little quirks in it. Chris Dielh sang Happy Birthday beautifully, because he's an amazing musical theatre singer. Bruce Hutching is a professional digital artist and also did the color renderings needed for the play along with the flyer. Stephanie Grimley cooked all the food we used since she's a great cook. They all contributed a valuable skill and it made a big difference. 

• What do you plan to study next with your second answer and why?

I plan to study directing and famous actors and actresses and their other various talents. As of this moment in time I'm adequate in all aspects of the theatre world, except for directing while paying special attention to who brings what else to the table. 

Blog 15: Independent Component 2 Approval

• Write a description of what you plan on doing for your independent study component.

I'm helping Hogan with coaching the elective play, "New Kids at Vampire High". 

• Describe in detail how you think your plan will meet the 30 hours work requirement.

The rehearsals only take place in elective and will run until May. Assuming we rehearse EVERY elective period until May (we don't actually have a date set for opening), about 27-ish rehearsals. (I rounded.) With elective being an hour to an hour and a half long, 34 hours. Add the hell week tech and dress rehearsals which are about 4 hours long each, 42 hours. And then the 3 shows which run about an hour and a half, 46.5 hours. 

... Wow, I need a life.  

• How does your independent study component relate to your working EQ?

As of right now, I would like to say I'm pretty well trained in performing as well as stage crew. (ie lights, sound, stage manager, stage hand.) The only thing I've never done before is coaching/directing. Not only is it part of theatrical performance, it's probably one of the most important parts. I think it's essential that I get a good hands on experience to make a good decision on my answer for my EQ.