Show Line Up and Needs

1) Okay, here is the line up as well as a list of what we need for each one:
Remember which costume, prop and music piece you are responsible for.

CLOWN LOVE with Ying and G
costume
pink dress
head gear for braces
pants, vest, bow tie
music
bass

RED CUP BREAKFAST with Mel
costume
black
props
red mug
blanket

WEAVING with Lorna, Aureen, Mel plus additional women
costume
jeans and hooded jacket
music
acoustic guitar

ONE CHAIR with Ava and G
mask characters

COLORS with Dianne, Ying, Gemma and Lorna
costume
simple colors responsibility of actors
props
lamps with colored bulbs cloth

PINK ELEPHANT with whole ensemble
costume
all black
pink elephant mask
music
gurgling sound effect

MASKS
mask characters
each character responsibility of actor


2) Next week: Saturday, December 6

12 noon at Bayanihan
rehearsal 12-3:30
break 3:30-4pm
open rehearsal 4-5pm

Bring food and drinks to snack on, your costumes, props and music pieces.
Bring people you think would be interested in participating or giving constructive feedback.

Sunday Rehearsal--at the Velascos

11/30/08

Hi Everyone,

Here's a list of the work we have done:

Red Cup Breakfast
Wrinkled Hands Weathered
Man Woman Mars Venus
Toy Box Building Blocks
Clown Love
Weaving
10 minute freewrites
Laban Chacracters (Mel/Thurst, Ava/Thrust, G/Slash, Gemma/Press, Lorna, Float)
Colors (Yellow, Twilight, Pink, Blue)
Pink Elephant
Leyte Landslide
Masks

living masks part 2

living masks part 1

our masks

Mask-making @ the Velascos

Hi all,

Here are some photos from our last mask-making venture a couple Saturdays ago. It shows our work with clay, tools, newspapers, etc. What beautiful masks!

Greg in full concentration mode

Gemma using her fingers to make the cheek bones

Christina's pink elephant ears *cue bubble sound*

Mel using asymmetry to guide the contour of her mask - skills!
We look like mask-making masters!
Tayo Tayo!

Sunday Rehearsal--Change of time

Hi Everyone,

This Sunday rehearsal is 9:30-12pm......we can't rehearse at a later time since the building will be closed.

Also next Sunday is Thanksgiving weekend......and we need another venue to rehearse in since the building will be closed for the holiday week...let me know if you have any other suggestions.....L

Rehearsals 2008

Here's the rest of the schedule ahead of time for everyone:
Thurs 11/20: 6:30-9pm Finish Mask at the Velascos
Sun 11/23 4:30-7pm Room 21 (make note of the later date)
Sun 11/30 9:30-12 Room 21 (usual morning time)
Sat 12/6 12pm-6pm Bayanihan (open rehearsal)

We only have a few more rehearsals left before we take a long break. Please make sure you make it to all.

aureen's brain farts

What do you want to watch on stage? (10 minutes)
I am primarily interested in stage work that is experimental and is thinking outside the box. Something that is innovative. I guess the question is what is innovative to me. I think I’ve seen a lot of theaterical works that are innovative in its concept and its presentation but there’s always a fall back pattern to what is comfortable. I have to also admit that I have not seen many experimental theater. Many of the shows I’ve seen are mostly from Bindlestiff or other ethnic based theater groups. I have also seen a few Broadway musicals. Perhaps this is not enough to truly judge the works I have seen. Maybe the question for me is not what I want to see on stage, but maybe why I don’t watch theater.
All I know is I am so annoyed of the same story being told. The immigration story, the identity story, the conflict between US and homeland, the heterosexual love story, all these stories have become redundant and traditional in the “community based theaters.” A more interesting stage play for me would revolve surrealism and dark comedy and no more melodramatic stuff. I cannot sit through sappy monologues. So what if your gay? What about it? So what if you suffered racism? What about it? I am more interested at how we internalize our oppressions and how it affects those around us. Since I am so tired of anything melodramatic, I gravitate towards more comedic plays. Or at least a balance of the two.
Things I really liked: Passing Strange

What can you bring to stage? (10 minutes)
I think I have a lot of good ideas that have yet to be harnessed. I think I have a lot of talents that I haven’t been able to tap into just yet. I think I am funny, I have comedic timing. I usually have some type of social commentary to be made with anything I do. Although I make fun of a lot of things, I am an extremely sensitive and serious with the things I do. I am so tired right now but I just want to get through this ten minutes thing. Anyway what I have to offer is my passion in artistic expression. I am so tired right now, this girl on bart is having a break up moment with her man. Wow, drama. She’s telling him how he owes her money. Women, why do we always suffer the financial burden? I think its all across the board, any women we see this type of thing happening. Is that why we get pimped? But some women do manipulate men to their advantage. Women of color and men of color have an interesting dynamic. There’s a lot more to deconstruct. The levels of oppression complicates the basic love story. Right? I think so. Anyway see, that’s what I have to offer. I think I have a way of translating real life to page and stage. I like to eavesdrop. That’s a skill right? I think I gravitate towards stories.


What is it that is holding you back? What you can do about it? (10 minutes)
A lot of whats holding me back is financial strains. I think when I first started going to the stiff, I was working and going to school. I’m at that same situation now and it hinders my art. I have never fully committed to art because of fear. Fear that it wouldn’t make mmoney or its not prestigious enough. Fear that the art I produce will be ridiculed or be criticized in some way. I think because I don’t have a car, and because I’m always broke has always delayed my artistic growth. I wish that I could just dive in to it. I think there is also a sense of obligation that constrains my art. For example, right now I feel an obligation to the greater Filipino community is much more urgent in affecting change. That’s why I chose to major in AAS. I feel like I want to help people directly as opposed to through art. You know the saying if you want to change the world you become a politician or an artist. I guess I’m conforming to the political side. Is that wrong? I don’t know. All I know is my passion in art will never die out. The fire will always burn. Sometimes I have this pressure to accomplish things while I’m young, but that’s not exactly true or realistic. What else are you supposed to do for the rest of your life if you already accomplished everything in your younger years. An artist always learns. An artist yearns to learn. An artist always wants growth. So anyway back to my schpeal, I want to commit to art after I finish my obligation, but then the question rises, how come I cant have that same sense of urgency in art. Or sharing that urgency through art as opposed to a thesis. I guess AAS provides me the tools to become a stronger artist.

melanie's freewrite

1.  what do you want to watch on stage?

i want to watch something inspiring.  something witha  message. what that message would be, i'm not sure.  i would like to watch a show that gives the audience something to leave with aesthetic-wise; something that causes the audience to say 'hmmm...' and sigh.  i'd like to see colors in the form of lighting and texture.   i am reminded of an OA show before... i can't recall the title of the production, but the movement was so inspiring (it was the one where tone and jasper were helped each other escape/fight against oppressive powers).  the message was clear - it related to pinoy culture.  i would like to see a show that incorporates philippine-based stories, but then again i would like to see something that can relay a message across cultures.

2.  what can you bring on stage?

my confidences decreases - or i am hesitant and unsure of how to answer this question.  i don't exactly know what i can bring on stage.  all i can say is that i am committed to gaining more experience and will bring a dedicated energy to stage.  i can bring music... i can bring drama.  comedy would be a challenge for me, i feel.  i love to laugh and make funny remarks, but when it's staged... it feel unnatural for me to execute it well.  i'd like to say , though, that i can bring anything i practice.  i can bring a playfulness to stage, and i can be serious if needed.  i'd love to bring shadows too.

3.  what is it that's holding you back? what can you do about it?

i have minimal experience/training in movement and theater - and that contributes to my low confidence / hesitations.  i do have a great interest in performance theater,  but i am used to being part of a large group on stage - where i can hide in the crowd.  i've been reading up on movement and theater and i can continue the tayotayo trainings, go to more shows, take time to create, take classes and partake in more productions... and just trust myself.

(sorry guys, obviously i don't use capital letters when i type ;P)

see you guys tomorrow!  i'll be present with all my vague ideas, so i'll really need your help in flushing some concrete work out :)

-me.

Christina's Freewrite and Past three ideas

What do I want to see on stage? I want to see great story telling onstage. I've been getting really frustrated with musicals and their disjointed storytelling and then all of a sudden there is Happy ending. i feel I've become too cynical for musicals, but i find a way to enjoy them. I enjoy things that are a little too tragic. I like to see things that are not by t the book. Thing that are different and challenges what i feel about a particular genre of a show. I like seeing performances that challenge my perspective and help me see things differently then I how i saw them before. A performer can be authentic yet different. I think people need to evolve as performers. I want to see some freaking pink elephants with blue tutus.

What can I contribute on stage and what is holding me back? In most performances I give 110% whether I am performing, producing, or directing. If I hated the show at least I gave my all. It wall authentically me each time therefore I have no regrets about any show that I've done. For most movement dance shows I feel my body responds well for most styles except for things that are extremely ridged such as ballet. I hate ballet, but if I am involved in something that I believe in my body responds well. As a dancer and as a performer that is what I count on the most. My insecurities probably hold me back the most. I tend to step back when I feel intimidated and unheard. I procrastinate and I don't explore new things as much as I should. The changes in my body freak me out. I wish I had the 16 year old skinny and limber body I used to have. I would feel more confident in my stage presence and with experimenting with movement. Its so silly to worry about these things. However, right now I have a perspective on thing so hopefully I will change. I feel a sense of Independence and freedom that I haven't felt in a really long time.

Well what can I do about it? I feel like I am already taking drastic measures. I am applying to three performing arts master programs. Two of them outside of the bay. I know I want to continue to be a part of the performing arts community, and as a leader of the subject in the whelm of academia. I wish I was dancing more, but there are only so many hours within a day. If my laziness and procrastination doesn't get to the best of me then i feel like I can achieve these goals. This past moth I was involved in an alumni performance with my high school color guard/ dance team. I found this new awakening in my body. I was able to do things that I was able to do as a teenager. As long as I continue to not limit myself in my possibilities and potential I'll be fine. I can't let self doubt get int the way of achieving full potential.

First idea. This is from the movement in 06. I wanted to do piece on the Leyte landslide. At first I wanted to make into a political piece when I heard the landslide was created by deforestation, but since those theories have been dis proven I want to make it into a more human piece. Where we start with people laying on the ground with brown cloth over them, and the events of what happened before that would rewind showing what these people were doing before the landslide happened. It would a glimpse of their happiest moments from their marriages, to their birth, and eventually when the trees in their village was planted.

Second idea: This is an idea for movement 07. I wanted to have a pregnant teenage girl who battles with an aswang. Playing on the myth that aswangs eat pregnant women's babies. I wanted the aswang to represent this young woman's struggle of being pregnant at such an early age. Having the aswang echo the doubts and hatred put upon her by her family and her self doubt.

Last idea: A one woman movement piece. Her birth, her childhood, to adulthood, to her death all developed through movement on stage.

The crazy Chinay is signing off! Love you guys.

Mask Making and Rehearsal

Hi Folks,

MASKS: Reminder, this Thursday 11/13 evening at the Velascos. Masks: putting layers and layers of paper mache. 7pm start and hopefully done by 9pm. Feel free to come early as well. I will be home. This is the second step. The third will be letting it dry and then painting. So we will need to meet a third time to finish.

MOVEMENT: Sunday 9:30-12 (tentative date, I'll confirm when we secure a room)
We won't have the masks ready for this Sunday so let's continue the vision workshop. We did mine, so I think Christina and Mel are next? So please post your freewrites before Sunday and we'll work on them both for this Sunday. After Sunday rehearsal, we can go back to the Velascos garage and finish the masks. So, if you can carve another hour and a half into doing this. Otherwise you can bring the masks home after Thursday to finish them yourself and I can give you verbal instructions.

Let me know if you have any questions...just add it onto the comment page....Lorna

Masks

Rehearsal 10:45 am-1:45pm

The Velascos Garage

Please bring your notes for your character and also character sketches.

We'll be working through lunch, so if you get hungry, bring something. I will provide snacks and drinks.