Morgan Reports: A Day in the Life of the Assistant Director

I am Morgan Gruber, the Assistant Director of this years fall play, Pride & Prejudice. The rehearsal process is still in the beginning phases, so what I currently do will change as the play gets pieced together more and more. As of now, the majority of my work is writing down everything that happens in each scene. I make note of who enters and exits where and when. I also write down all of the actors’ blocking and stage directions. Because I am a visual person and I like to be organized, I draw out a lot of the scenes. Along with my script, I keep a notebook that has pictures of all of the setups for each new scene. Once we begin blocking a scene, I sometimes give notes to the actors about a possible change they could make. Once the show is completely blocked and starts to develop its flow, I will be able to give more notes because the actors are becoming more and more comfortable with making strong choices. Although the actors’ lines aren’t completely memorized yet, they will be soon, which means my job is to be on book for them. If someone forgets a line or if the scene is skipping around, I will be following along in my own script and will shout out, if it is necessary, where they should actually be in the script. Although it is a lot of work, I thoroughly enjoy being the assistant director because it is so special to see something that you have put so much time and effort into, come to life. I love working side by side with the director, Jordan, and the whole cast and I have come to realize that directing is something I am really passionate about.

-- Morgan Gruber, '13

Sneak Peek: Behind the Scenes of Pride and Prejudice

Brought to you by Samantha and Samantha.

“Cuz you’re hot then you’re cold …”

 No, we’re not talking the Katy Perry song, but Christina’s 7th grade Drawing and Painting class (interestingly, all girls) did explore the relationship between hot and cold colors, or rather, warm and cool colors.  

The class has been working on realistic portraits and line drawing.  In a recent lesson, students learned the art of fracturing and the use of cool and warm colors.

Christina’s demonstration included highlighting the way cool colors recede into the background while the warm colors pop in the foreground.  The students were also introduced to the use of different mediums and artistic techniques including shading with colored pencils and color washing with water colors.

Students fractured their portraits, creating interesting geometric shapes -- one girl even implemented the use of the “squircle” to create her fracture patterns.

Christina assisted students with individual questions, including how to draw realistic looking hands.

See the finished portraits at the "Contour Portraits" exhibition in the gallery together with Studio 2/3's "Principles of Design" exhibit.  

-- Irene Zapata and Nicole Ramirez, CTL Interns

Play Production: Samantha Fleck reports on guest artist Lucas Papaelias

On October 2, Lucas Papaelias, an actor and musician in the hit musical Once, came to talk to the Advanced Theatre class and the Chromatics. We were given the opportunity to ask him questions all sorts of questions about the business and his career. He grew up in a musical household and loved acting from a very young age, but did not know he wanted to commit professionally until his senior year of college, believing that in order to be a well-rounded musician, you should have a well-rounded education. Lucas Papaelias took advantage of all the opportunities he could and found work right out of college. Everything about his role in Once seemed to work out amazingly as he was there from the inception of the idea. Working in that sort of creative environment is what he loves to do and the show has had incredible success on and off Broadway!

-- Samantha Fleck '13

Double Vision: Check Out Today's Twins

It's Spirit Week! Check out Tuesday's Twins.