This Newsletter has A LOT of information. We are including it all in one place for reference. Please review it all with your child(ren).
Below there is a great deal of information about the following. Please read.
Updated Schedule
Attendance
Costume Information
Stage MakeUp for All Cast Members
What Students Should and Shouldn’t Bring to Performances
Wellness Practices for Performers/Tech
Tickets
Caregiver Volunteer/Donation Requests
Deadline to Sign Up for Theatre Outings
Rehearsals This Week
This week our rehearsal schedule is small but mighty. We have a half day on Thursday and we will not have rehearsal on Saturday due to an excessive number of conflicts and for students who celebrate Halloween,
Attendance Policy Until Our Production
You will notice that most rehearsals from this point forward are primarily full cast and will soon include crew. We have tried to be very understanding about absences. It is showtime, we need everyone present. The only exceptions are illness (see below), academic need or a conflict tt has already been approved based on Participation Form.
Absence from rehearsal related to a medical condition will require a doctor’s note.
Absences to attend another club are not permitted.
If you have an injury that prohibits dancing, you can still attend and sing. If you have a sore throat, you can still attend and dance.
If your child has a fever, is vomiting or has diarrhea, they should stay home per school policy.
If your child does not attend school for part of the day, they are not allowed to come back for rehearsal or participate in a performance.
If a student is required to stay with a teacher for academic help, they will need a pass from that teacher to return to rehearsal for the remainder of the time.
There have been several upset or teary-eyed students who have missed rehearsal due to extra curricular activities, sports and/or other commitments, returning to rehearsal confused, wanting to know what to do at the moment. When rehearsal is starting, we cannot reteach 90 minutes of missed staging, choreography or vocal work to one person while everyone else waits.
Costume/Dressing Room Policies
All Cast members have had an initial fitting at this time. Costume pieces are still being added and altered.
Shoes: We have some to share. If your child has black or tan flat dress, dance, or character shoes they may wear those. A ballet flat would work. Saddle, oxford or low boots are also appropriate. If you need to borrow shoes, students should let us know ASAP. We can help if we know.
Socks: No show flesh colored socks or bobby socks.
Members of the Tech Crew should wear black pants and a black shirt.
Our students need to reflect Londoners in the 1940's. They would not have brightly colored tank tops and undergarments that may show through a white shirt. They would not have brightly colored socks or modern running sneakers. They would not be wearing an apple watch. They would not have plastic, rope or rubber friendship bracelets. They may have on a simple necklace, a ring or earring studs.
Dressing Room Policies at Walsh
Anyone who brings a camera or uses their phone to record or take a picture in the dressing room area will be immediately asked to call to be picked up only to return after a meeting between a member of the adult production team and the caregiver with the student present. Your child may have a phone in the dressing room if it is powered off and in a bag.
The dressing room needs to be a 100% safe space where everyone feels comfortable
We use the locker room for our dressing area. There are three sections: Male, Female and students who do not identify in one of those two categories. Our dressing area has many stalls curtained off for students to change into their costumes. Given the number of students in our cast, your child may be sharing a changing room with another cast member.
MakeUp should be done at home prior to a performance if a student feels confident doing it by themselves or in the Green Room (aka the theatre room) with the assistance of a member of the MakeUp Crew
Alumni, Friends and Family are not allowed backstage or in the dressing room unless you have been asked to assist by Mrs. Doucette, Mrs. D'Amato or an adult member of the Production Staff.
The Joy of Deodorant
If your pre-teen child has not yet started using deodorant as part of their daily hygiene routine, this is a good time to start. DEODORANT IS THE MOST IMPORTANT ACCESSORY TO ANY COSTUME!
Body Spray is not the same as deodorant. Please do not allow students to bring this into the school building. It is a school rule. We have many cast and crew members as well as adults with serious allergies to various body sprays. Please make sure your child knows not to use these while at rehearsal and during productions.
What Students Should and Should Not Bring to the Dressing Room/Backstage
Money: Cast and crew are not allowed in the lobby before and during a production to purchase concessions. They should not carry a lot of money into the back stage or dressing room area. If you want to allow your child to purchase concessions, please hold th
Stage MakeUp for Teen Actors
We request that all students of all genders wear a minimal amount of stage makeup. We have a makeup crew who will help cast members apply the makeup but we do not provide makeup as sharing is ill advised for health reasons. Please discourage your child from sharing their makeup with others.
Hair information and tutorials coming next week.
This is a great time of the year to get discounts on stage makeup.
You can click on the image or this LINK to see a good deal on a starter kit which is beneficial to any student who wants to continue in theatrical productions and has many skin tones included. It also has a quick delivery time.
Basics Makeup:
Lip Color: a shade darker than natural color, not too sticky or glossy
Cheek Color: A color to brighten the apple of the cheek
Eye Color: Eye liner and/or Mascara in a brown or black.
Combating Stage Lighting: Powerful stage lights wash out natural skin tones, flatten facial dimensions, and make features look blank or pasty.
Bridging the Distance: The gap between the stage and the audience, especially rows further back, makes subtle, everyday expressions invisible unless eyes, eyebrows, and lips are heavily defined.
Balancing Costumes and Sets: Elaborate or brightly colored costumes can visually overwhelm a bare face, making makeup necessary to keep the performer's facial presence strong.
Character Transformation and Storytelling: Contouring, shading, and specialized application help students morph into specific roles, ages (such as making a young student look older), fantasy creatures, or animal characters.
Boosting Performer Confidence: Stepping under bright lights with a polished, stage-ready look helps students feel prepared, focus on their acting or dancing, and project stronger energy.
Ensuring Durability Under Heat: Stage makeup formulations are designed with high-pigment, sweat-resistant, and non-comedogenic ingredients to endure movement and hot spotlights without melting or causing skin irritation
Wellness Practices for Performers
Vocal Wellness Prior to a Performance
Stay hydrated consistently. Chugging water before running on stage is not the same as drinking water throughout the day.
Do. Not. Yell. This is abusing your vocal cords. Once damaged, it is hard for them to recover. This is during school, at sporting events, parties, etc.
Avoid excessive dairy and other foods that can clog up your pipes right before going on stage. Sad to say, this includes chocolate.
Your voice is an instrument. Treat it like a rare, expensive, cherished violin.
Physical Wellness Prior to a Performance
We currently have multiple students wearing a boot or suffering from another sports related injury. Nobody plans to get hurt. Whenever possible, do not take risks that could result in physical harm.
Drink water! Your muscles need water to perform their best.
Eat well- your body is going to be exerting a lot of energy these next few weeks, give it the fuel it needs such as carbs, protein, fruits, and veggies.
Stretch and warm up a little each day and especially before rehearsals and shows. You do not want to be doing something physically demanding without properly warming your body up.
Do not share water bottles or makeup
Rest! Give your body a break when you can. Avoid running around or doing any extraneous activities.
Academic Wellness at Showtime
Advise them to keep up to date with their school work. Try to do anything in advance that they can on the upcoming days off like Nov. 3 and Nov. 11. The more school related stress they can prepare for in advance will make the show week much more manageable.
School work does not decrease because we have a show, nor should students use the production as an excuse not to do their assignments.
Post Show Mental Wellness
Many students experience a post-show slump. This is normal. Please remind your child that another production, another opportunity, another story is waiting to be told. For every sunset, there is a sunrise waiting to happen.
Tickets ON SALE NOW
Tickets are now on sale to the General Public.
Tickets are General Admission.
Price: $12 for Adults, $10 for Students
Please be advised the show does contain mature themes of grielf, war with loud sirens and dancing lobsters. It may not be appropriate for small children. Actually the dancing lobsters are appropriate for all ages.
We Need Your Help - Volunteers Needed
Concessions/Volunteers and Donations
Walsh Middle School Theatre Arts is getting ready to take audiences down the rabbit hole with three magical productions of Alice by Heart, and we need YOUR help to make the magic happen!
We're looking for volunteers to run our concession stand before and after each show, as well as donations of goodies to sell: snacks, drinks, baked treats, you name it! Whether you're a Mad Hatter in the kitchen or simply willing to lend a helping hand, there's a place for everyone in our Wonderland!
Your support makes a huge impact for our cast and crew. So don't be late for this very important date! Sign up today and be part of the magic!
Tech Rehearsal Pot Luck Lunch on Saturday, Nov. 14
T-shirt Sales at Tech Rehearsal on Saturday, Nov. 14
Cast/Crew Party on Saturday, Nov. 21 between shows.
Front of House Staff: Ticket Seller, Shout Out Table, Ushers
Program Assembly
Hanging cast letters/pictures in the lobby
Hanging posters around the area.
INFORMATION AND SIGN UP TO FOLLOW
Posters
We still posters to go up around the city. Please let us know if you can help. We are out of yart signs.
Thank you for your help with this. Your children have been working very hard and we want them to have an audience,
Please share ticketing info on social media. CUR8.com
Show Shirts
Shirts will be available for purchase and pick up on the Saturday Tech Rehearsal on November 14. The cost is $15. Parent volunteers would be appreciated to help sell at drop off, lunch and pick up.
Theatre Fieldtrips - Please Sign Up by Nov. 1
Please click on the blue button below to sign up for various theatre opportunities for students to attend.
Please be advised, this is not "Alice in Wonderland." Our musical uses the characters and some themes of the original story but it does have mature themes and may not be appropriate for younger audiences.
Communication
Communication is very important. If your child needs to be out due to illness or an unexpected appointment, please send a message via Parent Square. You can also call the main office at Walsh before 2:25.
Any changes to the schedule or last minute cancellations will be sent via Parent Square. Please be sure to allow notifications on your devices.
