March Play On! Materials
radamisto
For the month of March, we are focusing on the story of Radamisto. It is a story about family and the many challenges and relationships therein. We meet with Guest Artists Diane Lin, stage manager; Mariel Harris, dancer; and a mystery musician. We learn in this unit about the rehearsal process: keeping everything organized, creating dance phrases, and practicing the music.
GUEST ARTIST FEATURES
Video clip of dance from end of Act I
Check out flutist and session guest artist, Delandria Mills’ book, Demi’s Flute, a newly-released picture book for young readers!
ACTIVITIES
Stage Manager = Space Manager
Stage Managers write down everything that the performers do during a show in case the performers forget in rehearsal and so they can follow along during the show and know when to change the lights, or sound, or signal a set piece to move. We call these blocking notes. Here is an example. Can you act it out? Use the symbols to help decode the directions. Hint: P=Polissena, or in this case, you and Ti=Tigrane, a second performer.
You can also notate your own moves! Start with a short phrase. For example, you might enter, cross to the kitchen table, sit down, then pick up a book to read. Once you do it, write it down! You can use the symbols above or make up your own, as long as you can understand it.
Stage Manager = Time Manager
Stage Managers are responsible for creating a schedule for each rehearsal so that everyone knows where they are supposed to be, when to be there, and what to have prepared. Here is an example of a schedule created by Diane Lin for Radamisto rehearsal. Notice how she includes Who, What, When and Where.
Write out a schedule for your own day: you can add symbols or colors for different activities (that’s in the “what” section). Maybe you want an extra column for supplies, or notes. Do what works for you. Then see how closely you actually follow your schedule, or if anything comes up that makes things change!
Here is a great resource for anyone interested in learning more about Stage Management.
Build-a-Phrase
When a choreographer works with a company, they may invite each dancer to contribute to building a phrase of choreography, as Mariel shows us in class. In this game, you’ll be the choreographer. Pick a theme: something you want to dance about, could be from the story (family, greed, courage, peace...) or something of your own choosing. Now see if you can get the people in your household to contribute some moves to your phrase. Ask each person to make one or two gestures about that theme, and then you can string them together to make a phrase. You might collect moves from people little by little throughout the day, then you can perform it for them at the end! Pick a piece of music to dance to from Radamisto, or from your own music library.
Family Tree
Radamisto is a story about a family. Sometimes it helps to understand the story if we draw a family tree so we can see and remember how everyone is related. Our relationships mean a lot in terms of how we treat each other and what we expect of one another. Here are a couple examples of a family tree:
Now draw your own family tree. What relationships do you see? What kind of singer would you cast in each role (soprano, alto, bass, etc..) What would the characters sing about? What would their songs sound like? Sing some of the story of your family tree.
OPERA STARTS WITH OH! IS A VIRTUAL PROGRAM PART OF
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