Notes from Thursday Tech

First, here are your notes from Mrs Debbie:

CAST MUSIC NOTES

I've said it before and I say it again now.....I'm SO incredibly proud of you all! As I said last night, I was just a little scared at the beginning of the week. After our final rehearsals, though, I'm ready for the egg to hatch!! WE HAVE A SHOW!!!!!

Since I was only able to be there for the second act tonight, my notes aren't complete. Mr. Josh and others listened well, though, and took notes. I heard excellent reports about the first act, and experienced great things for myself in Act 2. What I have is nit-picky, because you've all grown and worked and become the singers/actors/dancers we've known were inside each of you. Reach just a little deeper each night, folks, and the ride will be beautiful!

Our Story Resumes - Cat, your entrance was late, which nearly interfered with Horton's lines. JoJo, you didn't start your lines until it was time for Cat to speak again. Your lines begin immediately after Cat stops speaking "...and their whole town was scrapped." Your lines happen over the music playing "Oh, the Thinks". Bird Girls, nice "ah's" and "la-la's"!!

Egg, Nest, and Tree - Sour Kangaroo and Young Kangaroo, you two are just OUT OF THIS WORLD! Right on the money! Everyone, any men singing are requested to get as close to mics as possible. You simply aren't coming through loud enough. We need your cool lines: "egg, nest, and tree!" Ladies, let the men get close to those mics as much as possible.

Circus McGurkus - Cat, WOW! You can really spit the words out, girl! Work on those last lines being just a little faster so you're ready to sing on the downbeat of Part 2. Everyone, be sure you come in on Part 2 (review notes if you don't know them) to support Cat. On "Come see the show!", give a really hard "K"; otherwise, it sounds like "Gum see the show!" :-) Cat (again), so much better on that virtually impossible section "And now, all you folks..." You got through it! AND you were finished and ready to sing on time! Again, everyone, support Cat on those "oh's" and "ah's" at the end of Part 2. Great, solid Part 3!

Circus on Tour - Horton, you're nailing it! Who said you couldn't do this? Pish posh!! Even when you're sick, you're amazing!

Alone in the Universe/Solla Sollew - Horton, very nice timing! Thank you for working to smooth this out. Keep it up. Just remember to keep it tender and caring. The emotion is more important than how perfect the notes are. Everyone, again, but especially men, your voices are needed, even on the tender songs like this. The more parts on this song, the better. Mrs Mayor and JoJo, after you sing unison on "On the day I do," you switch to harmony on "...be through". You two bring out the harmony. We'll huddle on it tomorrow before the show.

Butter Battle/Saving Private JoJo - JoJo, nice pacing on your lines "And not only that, sir..." General, think of something to do to use those few seconds waiting for the music to change. It just makes more sense musically when your lines are delivered over the new music in Saving Private JoJo.

Whos Christmas Pageant/Roast Beast - Whos, again, solid entrance. We need to run the notes for the 2nd set of "Fa-la-la's", though. You're close. We'll get there! Grinch, nice pacing! You were RIGHT THERE for your sung lines! Thank you!

A Message from the Front - General, you were awesome! Thank you for that great entrance on your spoken lines! M/M Mayor, the tenderness was there tonight.....very nice! Sometimes, though, when we lighten up our tone to achieve that tenderness, the diction goes soft, which it did. Work really hard to keep the consonants crisp even when it's soft and tender.

Havin' a Hunch - Everyone, great job on those scary voices and echoes! Keep up the great work! Cat, you MUST slow the pace after JoJo's lines: "...and you won't go away!" It creates an anxiousness in you and JoJo anticipating the music start for Part 3. When you slowed those lines last night, IT WORKED BEAUTIFULLY going into Part 3! You simply CAN'T begin Part 3 before the music, though. Everyone, again, we need good, solid lower parts on Part 4. The upper notes are coming through beautifully; let's get the bottom notes balanced out a little better. Cat and Everyone, the ending MUST GO FASTER! Your entrance on your final "Anything's possible!" was WAY too far behind the beat. Keep the same beat going with your final phrase and DON'T let it slow! Cat, be confident and lead this in a strong way.

All for You - Gertrude, I can't say it enough.......you're unbelievable! Mmmuuuaaahhh! Bird Girls, same for you!! Love the pause before "...sailed on a junk..." Glad we could make it happen! Bird Girls, as Gertrude is holding on "...and I haven't gone through!", put a tiny space after the final "ah" note, then come right back in on "I...La-la-la...", which was much crisper tonight. Thank you! The final "ah's" and "ooh's" are nearly there. Thank you for all your hard work and diligence on such a tough song!

The Whos Return - Horton, be sure you put a slight pause after you say, "Oh, JoJo! Hello!" Once the music starts, you can then finish your spoken lines and I don't believe there will be as much wait time before you begin singing. M/M Mayor, JoJo, Horton, Gertrude, we almost have that awkward wait gone at the end. Try slowing slightly on "...no matter how..."

The People vs. Horton the Elephant - Wickershams, NICE timing on your "Ha!", "Ha!" to begin this song! Thank you! When you sing and hold, "You're gonna be, gonna be, gonna be...", cut off and let the Kangaroos sing "gonna be put..." alone. You then join again speaking "on trial!" Cat, be careful on your diction. By now, you're probably exhausted, girl! Your body has remained energized for stage presence, but your jaw, teeth, and tongue need to come along for the final push. Work it, girl! Everyone, when you sing "Horton...", be sure the "t" doesn't get swallowed and become "Hordn". Keep it crisp and clean. Wickershams, we'll work the "sittin' on an egg" bit...you're SO close. Horton, the transition into "You can throw me in jail..." is much better. Just keep working on a natural feel there. Yertle, great timing....thanks! JoJo, GREAT "YOPP!!!!!" Kangaroos, excellent tenderness and compassion on "And the young kangaroo..." Simply awesome! Nice timing on the "An Elephant Bird!" Horton/Gertrude, thank you for those oh-so important lines after the Elephant Bird appears!! Great pacing, too, on the spoken and sung lines! Cat, MUCH better pacing enjoying the sweetness of that moment! Thank you!!

Finale 2 - Everyone, great timing as the music starts to accelerate!!! You are all FANTASTIC!!! Keep those parts coming, too!! Again, Elephant Bird, YOU'RE JUST FABULOUS!

Bows - "By George, I think we've got it!!!" Great job, everyone! We'll run it again tomorrow for good "measure" (ha-ha!), but it sounds and looks wonderful! Keep those consonants going to the very last word so everyone understands the bows, especially since they haven't heard this anywhere else in the show. Superb!

Eat your Wheaties, sleep well, rest voices, drink LOTS of water, and remember............ I LOVE YOU ALL!!!!! BREAK A LEG!!!



Now here are all of my notes:
First off, I am so proud of all of you. This is a truly amazing show. You have done such a great job. I can't imagine being any prouder is a cast. I love you all. Thank you so much for all your hard work. It has truly paid off.

Make sure you are center stage if you are supposed to be.

Bring action down onto the apron.

Make sure you don't hit your microphone when doing your choreography

Cat - GREAT facial expressions during "Oh the Thinks you can think"

Thing 1 and 2 - ABSOLUTELY AMAZING!

Thing 1 and Thing 2 - Make sure you have your flashlights for "think a glimmer of light". We have them, you'll have to get them duing "Think of something Horrible and Harry" or, we could have them preset on stage somewhere.

We need to get rid of Horton's trunk.

At the end of oh the thinks you can think, several people's hands went down too soon. Primarily, it was the people on downstage left at the end of the song.

Make lots of jungle noises as you exit after Oh the thinks you can think.

Jungle Creatures, make lots of animal noises when you come onstage before the "Who Who wah dah's"

Thing 1 and 2 - To the best of your ability, try to drum to the beat

JoJo - You missed your line "Horton the elephant" in horton hears a who

Horton, when you first hear the clover, react bigger, look like you are actually hearing someone.

Horton, great reactions when you say that they may blow in the pool because they are alone in the universe. Perfect!

Cat and the Hat and JoJo in the background during Horton hears a who was great. Love your facial expressions.

Horton, I love your facial expressions when you put the speck on the clover

Young Kangaroo - You ROCK!

Sour Kangaroo - Absolutely AMAZING! You own that stage!

Young Kangaroo - So cute

Wickershams, more monkey noise after "Ha Ha Ha it's the wickersham brothers"

Cat, when you do the reporter bit, you need to be center stage between horton and gertrude so that you can actually hold the microphone to the clover?

Horton, durring biggest blame fool, do less listening to the speck, and more pretending to talk to the speck

Wickershams, be careful, you almost pushed horton off the front of the stage

Biggest Blame fool was AMAZING! Great job everyone!

After biggest blame fool, start laughing and making animal noises, and slowly start walking off-stage before the "Who, who Wah dah's"

When Gertrude is singing about horton after biggest blame fool. It is so sweet. I love it.

Also, JoJo's face in the background watching was so perfect. Great Job Natalie!

I love the cat miming, "Help", but make it bigger.

after "over and over", Mayor, you need to actually say help. This one is not in the music. It's all you. Also, this way you will already be in place for Here on who.

During here on who, it was stage right heavy. If Mr And Mrs Mayor come down onto the apron, everyone can take a few steps stage left. Everyone just spread out a lil.

Grinch, more green on your face. I will do it tonight.

Horton, when you say "no smaller town than yours" with your smile and laugh, it's so funny. I love it.

Thing 1 and 2, we need to work on the marching band part.

Levels around grinch during "Mr Grinch presents his Christmas tale" are perfect

Grinch, your voice is perfect!

There may not be a lot of movement at some places in here on who, but there needs to be animated faces, and you need to react to what's going on.

If you have to yawn on stage, Find a way to hide it

Here on who choreography looks great! the best it's ever been. So proud of you. Way to go!!

Leslie is the Prefect Mrs Mayor. Outstanding!

Shamus is an amazing Mr Mayor.

Mr and Mrs Mayor have great chemistry and play off each other really well.

The McDaniels all have great facial expressions in Here on who.

Evan, Shaun, and DJ all had great facial expressions

The general is perfect!

The cat lights up the stage whenever she comes on stage.

The Cats reactions are amazing!

Great cover Raegan when the music messed up. Perfect!

Tub needs to come about three more feet towards center stage

I'm amazed! The music messed up, but Raegan and Natalie stayed in character and Raegan covered it perfectly. So impressed.

Natalie, work on your lines for It's possible. But you didn't let it throw you. You never dropped character. Good job.

Raegan, great job covering and helping JoJo

The Fish look really good.

The Fish are AMAZING!

Things 1 and 2 need to hold their nets either above their heads or out in front of them because the nets are blending in with their hair

WHen Jojo starts singing "Oh the sea is so full of a number of fish", be center stage, not downstage right

I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE the way shamus walks in after it's possible, pretending that the tub has overflowed. It's the funniest thing ever.

Raegan, great job scrubbing your self with the pink bath sponge. SO Funny.

End of it's possible is AMAZING!

Mr and Mrs Mayor are AMAZING! They messed up your music but you never skipped a beat. You stayed in character and covered it beautifully. So impressed by both of you.

Everytime the Cat is on stage, it's so funny.

I love when Shamus and Leslie are reading the brochure together. So Good.

Love The General!!!

The spray tan bit doesn't work, so, just can it. It is too fast, and it doesn't play from the audience. So forget about the spray tan

Your swords need to either all be open or all be closed. and the need to be on the same side of your body.

Military Academy, GREAT JOB! Best that you've ever done it

After you pull out your swords out, keep your swords in your hand.

Jojo, act like the sword is heavy

I love the way that the Cat and thing 1 and thing 2 interact with each other. It's AMAZING!

I love the Cat marching off with the sword.

JoJo walking over and sitting on the platform looked great

JoJo needs to look sadder at beginning of alone in the universe

Horton, come down stage as soon as you come on stage for alone in the universe

JoJo should look like she's crying.

I love Horton's ears!!!

I love the Clover! Looks great!

WHen Horton sings, "I have wings and I can fly" it is so touching. Perfect job Nick.

Natalie, look a little more hopeful during alone in the universe

JoJo, look more suprised when you first hear horton

Horton you had a great reaction when you first heard JoJo

Great chemistry between Horton and JoJo

End of alone in the universe was perfect

Natalie has such amazing facial expressions!

Natalie Rocks!

At the end of alone in the universe, JoJo needs to start to exit downstage left. and the Cat needs to come in from upstage left to surprise JoJo, rather than having JoJo just wait center stage

Both Things need to bring out Gertrude, not just one of them

I LOVE GERTRUDE!! SO GOOD!!!

I love mayzie seaking through the trees.

The contrast between Gertrude and mayzie is perfect!

Janessa, when you smack chaney on the butt, make it more obvious what you are doing, right now you are so close to her that it doesn't play.

During AMAZING MAYZIE taylor rocked it! I was blown away! Taylor Hall Great Job. You were by far the most animated and were without a doubt my favorite bird girl to watch the entire show. Way to step it up.

Amazing Mayzie was..... AMAZING!!! Great Job everyone!

I love the cat as the doctor. So funny.

After gertrude eats the pillsberrys, I need to see more eager anticipation from everyone before they pull her feathers out.

Make sure you don't pull gertrudes feathers completely out. But, everyone stayed in character and covered it beautifully

I love gertrude walking over to mayzie! It was perfect. Keep it.

Cat had a great cover when JoJo forgot her lines after amazing Gertrude

Wickershams entrance for monkey around was great. But you all need to make more noise on your entrance.

On "scared to death from head to tail" wickershams need to creep towards horton bigger and slower

Horton, look more frantic when they take your clover

Horton, Great interacting with the audience. Perfect! Exactly what I wanted.

Cat - Use better diction for the helicopter reporter, I couldn't understand a single word

Horton needs to look more earnest in trying to get the clover back.

The wickershams need to do a better job of tempting Horton with the clover. The way you play keep away is to almost let the person get what they want and at the last second, pass it away.

Vlad is AWESOME!!!

Horton, The slow motion running was great.

Wickershams, don't grab horton's tail

I love the Cat and JoJo sitting on the box! AMAZING Facial expressions!

Horton, I love the panting like you are out of breath

The slow motion moving from everyone was great.

The cat's face when she takes the clover is perfect!

I loved thing one moving the frozen people to get the clovers on. In fact, you can move more people out of your way.

Way to not drop character Will. AWESOME JOB!

Vlad and Horton need to freeze downstage Left so they can bring the clovers on right in front of you.

Tayor Hall, OUTSTANDING!!! You were on tonight!

Caroline, Alejandro, and Sam Hackett, great facial expressions when frozen.

Morgan is AMAZING!!! You were phenomenal every time you were on stage. Great Job! Keep it up.

Everyone needs to be more disgusted when the cat sneezes on the clover. especially the who's. And, everyone needs to exit quicker after the sneeze.

Horton you did a great job looking for the the clover. You really brought it tonight! AMAZING!

Horton, Your third "Are you there" before the song starts, pick up the Huge Clover

Gertrude, You ROCK!!!

Great chemistry! Notice me Horton was my favorite number so far!

Mayzie, make sure you don't hit the jungle drop with your leaves

Cat, your facial expressions are perfect!

Thing 1 and 2 make sure your hold your instruments properly

Mayzie, you are perfect!!! Phenomenal

I love hortons reaction when Mayzie asks him to sit on the tree

I love mayzie's makeup.

I Love Horton's "oooohhhhh" before he climbs the tree

Horton, when you climb the tree, it was perfect! Funniest thing I've ever seen

Taylor Hall... So animated! So good. Looks and acts like a bird. Keep it up.

All the Bird Girls, Outstanding!!! Love the switching of the umbrellas.

I love the way you interact with each other. You are SOOOOO GOOD!

The Bird Girls are AMAZING!

Horton freak out more when you find out mayzie is in palm beach

Animals, run on faster and closer together. You need to come on before the hunters

Mayzie, when you are on stage frozen, for act one finale, your facial expression was perfect. The best out of everyone!

Gertrude, I love you getting tangled up in your tail.

JoJo, remember to fall on "when you land with a thud"

Act 1 Finale was AMAZING!!!! Definitely ended act 1 on a high point.

In Monkey around, alejandro and wyatt need to be next to each other for "It's bigger than a bread box", so that alejandro can be picked up on wyatt's mike.

Raegan, when you are doing Miranda Sings, make it a little more obvious that you are singing that way on purpose. Be a little louder and more intentional

I love the echoing that the cat does at the start of act 2

Thing 1 and 2 opening the curtain looks great!

General and JoJo were way late for the start of act 2 after the grand opens

I could see Gertrude's mic belt

Horton needs to look more worried on top of the tree

Young kangaroo and Sour Kangaroo ROCK IT!

Thing one and two, we need to work on the rocking of the boat.

the reaction when horton throws up need to be bigger.

Things, make sure you don't turn the back of the box to the audience, and make sure the door is locked before you move it.

I love the cat's Seusseby announcer voice. You brought it tonight! You were spot on! Keep it up.

Kathleen, the leaves will be on the back of the tree. At intermission, you can preset them in front of the tree. But, great cover when you couldn't find them. AMAZING JOB KATHLEEN!

Circus people look great

Great facial expressions from Kelsey, Abby, Alex

DJ and Ally, great job with the balloons. Try to be faster.

DJ, make sure the handle of the balloon sword comes out the bottom, not the side.

After and before your tumbling runs, do not just stand there. My circus performers should never stand still. fill up the stage.

Shaun is Brilliant. GREAT JOB!

Great facial expressions from Emma, Emily, Jessica, Sarah Caster, Caroline.

Caroline and will, take off your green shirts before circus if you have time

Circus animals, make lots of noise and exit in character after circus mcgurkus

Horton, I loved your "Help" before mayzie in palm beach, but make it bigger and even more desperate

Raegan, I love the big hoop earrings.

Cat, great job! SO Funny.

Mayzie, you were on tonight! You rocked it! Unbelievable!

Mayzie, after you decide to go to the circus, move upstage faster so that the tumbling runs can happen in front of you.

I love the way Mayzie acts and sings during Amazing Horton.

Horton, bigger reactions

Horton, when Mayzie says the egg is all yours, make a much bigger reaction also, when she leaves before solla Sollew.

Nick, Solla Sollew was truly Beautiful. I can't imagine a better horton

At the beginning of solla Sollew try cradeling the egg a lil.

circus people come on slower

Natalie and Nick, Solla Sollew was perfect!

Solla Sollew gave me goosebumps

Horton, I love the crying after solla Sollew. Try to continue it until the tree is offstage.

Cadets, you are not all mic'd so be extra loud.

Cadets, after JoJo is blown up, cry as you go offstage

Grinch, you are amazing!!

Courtney, be next to Hannah in the Christmas scene.

Jordan, is SOOOO CUUTE!

Dana, AMAZING JOB when Mr and Mrs mayor find out JoJo is dead

Leslie, be more heartbroken when you find out JoJo is dead.

Cat - Great Job. Keep it up. So good.

JoJo - after the reenactment, don't come out on stage until the "pop" in the explosion

JoJo, come more down stage for your solo before Hunch song

Hunches were AMAZING!

Hunches, make sure your palms are facing the audience

During the Hunch Song, Morgan is PERFECT!!!! So proud of you. Keep it up. YOU ROCK!

Morgan is always doing EXACTLY what I want her to do in every single scene.

Raegan, love your reactions

Hunches, interact with the audience more, spread out through the audience and not just on one side. Stay in the audience until "ANYTHING's POSSIBLE"

Horton, love your snoring.

CHaney, you are SOOO AMAZING!!

Bird Girls were AMAZING!

Thing 1, after the dog part and you get hit on the head, move off stage faster

CHaney is Brilliant

Birdgirls are AMAZING!

Great facial expressions Alex.

Mayzie, PERFECT!!!

Wickershams, AMAZING! PERFECT!!!

Thing 1 and 2, Outstanding

Anna Conover, GREAT

Cat, we need to make sure your badge is facing out, or get rid of it

Bird girls and Sour Kangaroo, Perfect.

Horton's "STOP" need to be more frantic.

I love the Jungle noises in People versus Horton the elephant.

The freeze in Boil it looked Great!

ELISHA, AMAZING!

The "JoJo, think of someting" needs to be louder and clearer

ELephant Bird is SOOOOOO Cute

As soon as Gracie stands up, we need everyone to say "An Elephant Bird". Don't worry about the "Awwww"

So touching at the end of the show.

Elephant bird, hug gertrude and Horton.

Bows looked great!

Bow in character. Most of you are anyway.

Make lots of animal noises as you are getting ready for bows.

Between singing parts in bows. show me the most energy you've had in the entire show. Rock it! Dance, and groove in character. Tons of energy! Try to engage the audience. This needs to have more energy than anything in the show.

We have a show! Great Job!

So proud of all of you! I will be at the Berry Center at 5:00. Break a leg tonight!