Intro
Black History month celebrates a remembrance of the important black people and events throughout history.
Some examples:
1773 Phills Wheatleys publishing of books and poems making her the first African-American women to do so.
This gives me inspiration to create my own poem about the struggles and successes in black history.
Martin Luther King
Martin Luther king was the first black man to make a stand for the rights of black people all over the world. in 1954 he became pastor for a baptist church in Alabama where Rosa Parks was arrested for refusing to give up her seat to a white man.
After Rosa's arrest King came to a national prominence in the us. He was a leading figure for the African-Americans in a Boycott organisation.
King then went on to write one of the most famous speeches in the world 'I Have A Dream' he talks about dreaming about peace between black and white people and how we are the people of the world, and how he wishes for a world where his children can hold hands with their white friends without being prosecuted.
King has inspired me to write a heart-renching speech about slaves. I thought this would be a good idea for the variety performance because variety is very accepting of different acts and i think this would be a powerful way of representing black history.
Black History Learners Log 2
For Black History Month I have decided to do a poem called The Caged Bird by Maya Angeluo with Holly and Luke. We want to show the seriousness for slavery but also the success of freedom. This is the poem;
A free bird leaps
on the back of the wind
and floats downstream
till the current ends
and dips his wing
in the orange sun rays
and dares to claim the sky.
But a bird that stalks
down his narrow cage
can seldom see through
his bars of rage
his wings are clipped and
his feet are tied
so he opens his throat to sing.
The caged bird sings
with a fearful trill
of things unknown
but longed for still
and his tune is heard
on the distant hill
for the caged bird
sings of freedom.
The free bird thinks of another breeze
and the trade winds soft through the sighing trees
and the fat worms waiting on a dawn bright lawn
and he names the sky his own
But a caged bird stands on the grave of dreams
his shadow shouts on a nightmare scream
his wings are clipped and his feet are tied
so he opens his throat to sing.
The caged bird sings
with a fearful trill
of things unknown
but longed for still
and his tune is heard
on the distant hill
for the caged bird
sings of freedom.
We feel that it is a very powerful piece of poetry because it shows the power black people were rule by; white slave traders( in the poem it is portrayed as the cage), yet it shows the freedom they always dream of and undoubtedly deserve, (this is portrayed by the bird).
We are going to perform this in a very dramatic way with , dramatic pauses , powerful physical theater and strong projection.
Also we have looked into the lighting of our piece . For the performance we want a spot light on 100% capacity to show the isolation and control the bird is kept in, furthermore this will metaphorically show the isolation and control black people where imprisoned in. We also want a back wash of red light to flash on our most powerful lines to give great impact on our audience and to send a memorable message.
However we don't want to look back on all the negatives , the positives are that thankfully black people have the same rights and our treated equal today . So for memorable impact and to end on what is most important ( the movement and honorable achievement black people have made in history) we want to end on a warm faded colour of yellow, to show a rising sun that symbolizes a new beginnin
Variety Report Starts Here.
Variety Performance Quick Back Ground Info
Facts!
- Variety Performance is made up of different acts, singing, dancing,acting,comedy,magic ,and even ventriloquism and acrobatics.
- Variety Performance developed from the stage in the Victorian period to radio and the onto TV. e.g. Britain's Got Talent and The Royal Variety.
- Its popular in the USA.
- Variety in the UK started in music halls and theaters.
- It was aimed at the working class and 'common status' people.
- It was very popular during WW1!
- Women would sing songs and dance for the soldiers.
- In the USA performers such as the Marx Brothers would be proud of the skills they picked up in the 'borscht belt'(summer resorts) in upstate New York.-Before moving to variety TV shows! The skills they learnt at the Borscht Belt where fantastic to us in variety because of there family friendly and appealing for all nature ! Also because you would have to take part in random acts such as 'party tricks'.
- In the UK-The Good Old Days: 1953-1983; modern artists would perform dressed in Victorian /Edwardian costumes doing they're own acts, performer as a music hall artistic of that period. - Entirety inspired this !
Sections 1 and 2 Vaudeville and Music Halls
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vaudeville
Vaudeville is a genre of variety entertainment.It was extremely popular in the United States,from the 18th century and developed right through to the 1930's. A vaudeville performance consisted of all different performance acts in one big show. The acts could range from singers singing character songs to a freak show act . Vaudeville developed from lots of different performances for example concert saloons , freak shows, dime museums and American Burlesque. A vaudeville performer is referred to as a "Vaudevillian".
Vaudeville show's were one of the most popular types of entertainment in North America for decades. It was aimed at a male audience and its intensions where to entertain and delight
those who came to watch the unique acts . Vaudeville evolved mainly from drinking houses and saloons into its's more popular forms of concert halls and onto stages in the 1870's and 1880's.
In 1881 families where encouraged to attend. When mangers realised making their shows more families appropriate brought in more money. 18th century acts involved performances from the work of Shakespeare , acrobats ,singers ,comedians, actors put on shows, families would perform, child stars would sing and magicians would wow . Soon Vaudeville became part of American culture however Vaudeville did cross racial and class boundaries . Educating and exposing cultures of people living in the same area as a working class and high class people.It also featured in recruiting men into the army.
Acts would also educate people on other cultures that performers would bring from their home town to these shows in hope of making a name for themselves.
Some acts became so popular that they would just perform the same act every night . These where known as signature acts they would be a known family name that would be broadcasted over the radio to home all over America . Eventually the variety shows where cut down into only specialised skills . Performers lost out on a lot of lime light, money and opportunities.
However variety and Vaudeville was found again and brought to tv making some vaudevillians movie stars .
Vaudeville is still running today for example at the Sarasota Opera House Vaudeville shows are still selling.The show is roughly 90-minutes and will feature 15 different acts in 19 scenes, from pop singer Jody Katz and opera singer Sean Anderson to hip-hop dancer Robert Muraine, clown Pepe Jardim and pianist John F. Spencer IV. vaudevillesrq.com
Vaudeville has developed from saloons and drinking houses to modern day television , for example there are now variety shows on tv for example britains got talent. Every one around the world now has a chance to perform any acts from sword eating to pole dancing in front of a live audience . They have a chance to audition in front of judges and if they win they could perform at the royal variety show at the Royal Albert Hall.
http://www.pbs.org/wnet/americanmasters/episodes/vaudeville/about-vaudeville/721/
Music Hall
Music halls started off in the 18th century as taverns and coffee houses in the heart of London where men meet to eat, drink and do business. Performers would sing songs to the men whilst they drank. In the 1830's taverns had specialist rooms for this type of entertainment 'music clubs'. They were designed for the working class and or business men.
Music clubs became popular the middle class and they would provide hot food till the early hours of the morning .
Chairman
A Chairman would introduce all the singers, dancers and specialty acts (magicians, etc.) to the stage in the 'chairman's script' (his preferred order of performance).
The Borough Music Hall
The borough Music Hall was built in Union street 1850's. In this venue the audience could be very close to the performers and chairman. It helped maintain a certain amount of intimacy and focus between the audience and performers. At this particular venue there where chairs and tables instead of seats where the audience could have hot meals,drink
and smoke whilst watching the show.
The Eagle, on City Road, London, was an East End tavern. The nursery rhyme Pop goes the Weasel has the Eagle in the rhyme. It is about a working class father spending his weekly wage in the music halls and then having to ‘pop’ or sell his ‘weasel’ to get money. The ‘weasel’ is a piece of equipment they would use in the tailoring industry at the time.
Marie Lloyd performed at the Eagle in 1885 .She became one of the biggest music hall stars there has ever been in 1885, at only just the age of 14.
WW1
Music halls had a massive role in WW1. They helped literally recruit men into the army. This was mainly aimed at the 'common' working class citizens, as they wanted to save the well educated business men. However all classes would attended variety shows at the music halls. Like Vaudeville this was a break for people , especially the working class. It was something to look forward to . It was somewhere to escape to . A good night out away from poverty and everyday life.However the dark truth is that these men looking for a good night out when the outbreak of WW1 occurred where subjected to the recruitment into war. Women would dress up as soldiers dance and sing for their audience singing song of war hero's.
For example Vesta Tilley was a male impersonator since the age of 5 . She would dress up as a solider and perform on stage. A women Kitty Moter qoutes that 'Tilly change her life forever in the year of 1941 when she recruited her husband to the war. He sadly died in battle and never got to meet his son'.
those who came to watch the unique acts . Vaudeville evolved mainly from drinking houses and saloons into its's more popular forms of concert halls and onto stages in the 1870's and 1880's.
In 1881 families where encouraged to attend. When mangers realised making their shows more families appropriate brought in more money. 18th century acts involved performances from the work of Shakespeare , acrobats ,singers ,comedians, actors put on shows, families would perform, child stars would sing and magicians would wow . Soon Vaudeville became part of American culture however Vaudeville did cross racial and class boundaries . Educating and exposing cultures of people living in the same area as a working class and high class people.It also featured in recruiting men into the army.
Acts would also educate people on other cultures that performers would bring from their home town to these shows in hope of making a name for themselves.
Some acts became so popular that they would just perform the same act every night . These where known as signature acts they would be a known family name that would be broadcasted over the radio to home all over America . Eventually the variety shows where cut down into only specialised skills . Performers lost out on a lot of lime light, money and opportunities.
However variety and Vaudeville was found again and brought to tv making some vaudevillians movie stars .
Vaudeville is still running today for example at the Sarasota Opera House Vaudeville shows are still selling.The show is roughly 90-minutes and will feature 15 different acts in 19 scenes, from pop singer Jody Katz and opera singer Sean Anderson to hip-hop dancer Robert Muraine, clown Pepe Jardim and pianist John F. Spencer IV. vaudevillesrq.com
Vaudeville has developed from saloons and drinking houses to modern day television , for example there are now variety shows on tv for example britains got talent. Every one around the world now has a chance to perform any acts from sword eating to pole dancing in front of a live audience . They have a chance to audition in front of judges and if they win they could perform at the royal variety show at the Royal Albert Hall.
http://www.pbs.org/wnet/americanmasters/episodes/vaudeville/about-vaudeville/721/
Music Hall
Music halls started off in the 18th century as taverns and coffee houses in the heart of London where men meet to eat, drink and do business. Performers would sing songs to the men whilst they drank. In the 1830's taverns had specialist rooms for this type of entertainment 'music clubs'. They were designed for the working class and or business men.
Music clubs became popular the middle class and they would provide hot food till the early hours of the morning .
Chairman
A Chairman would introduce all the singers, dancers and specialty acts (magicians, etc.) to the stage in the 'chairman's script' (his preferred order of performance).
The Borough Music Hall
The borough Music Hall was built in Union street 1850's. In this venue the audience could be very close to the performers and chairman. It helped maintain a certain amount of intimacy and focus between the audience and performers. At this particular venue there where chairs and tables instead of seats where the audience could have hot meals,drink
and smoke whilst watching the show.
The Eagle
Below is a poster advertising equestrian entertainment at The Eagle Music Hall
The Eagle, on City Road, London, was an East End tavern. The nursery rhyme Pop goes the Weasel has the Eagle in the rhyme. It is about a working class father spending his weekly wage in the music halls and then having to ‘pop’ or sell his ‘weasel’ to get money. The ‘weasel’ is a piece of equipment they would use in the tailoring industry at the time.
Marie Lloyd performed at the Eagle in 1885 .She became one of the biggest music hall stars there has ever been in 1885, at only just the age of 14.
WW1
Music halls had a massive role in WW1. They helped literally recruit men into the army. This was mainly aimed at the 'common' working class citizens, as they wanted to save the well educated business men. However all classes would attended variety shows at the music halls. Like Vaudeville this was a break for people , especially the working class. It was something to look forward to . It was somewhere to escape to . A good night out away from poverty and everyday life.However the dark truth is that these men looking for a good night out when the outbreak of WW1 occurred where subjected to the recruitment into war. Women would dress up as soldiers dance and sing for their audience singing song of war hero's.
For example Vesta Tilley was a male impersonator since the age of 5 . She would dress up as a solider and perform on stage. A women Kitty Moter qoutes that 'Tilly change her life forever in the year of 1941 when she recruited her husband to the war. He sadly died in battle and never got to meet his son'.
Section 3 Acts
Music hall acts
Cyclists
Cyclist acts became popular in the 19th century when bikes started to become fashionable. The act would consist of women doing acrobacts whilst riding bikes.
Magic acts
Magicians and illusionists were also popular acts. J.N. Maskelyne and his son Nevil Maskelyne performed at the Egyptian Hall in Piccadilly which specialised in magic and illusion. The farther and son developed acts that still amaze audiences today, such as sawing a woman in half.
Electric
Electricity also made an appearance in the halls. Volta would electrify himself and light gas jets with the tips of his fingers or set fire to handkerchiefs by touch.
Troupe
Character song
Character songs where songs that performers portrayed an individual or a character type. This was hardly improvised and would become signature acts.The songs where mainly focused on the working class and where about every day life in London. Actors became successful with only one or two songs . They only needed one or two songs that they could build a character and story from if they were successful. There were no recordings or radio or television at this time so people could only come to hear the character songs if they went to the variety show at the local music hall. Over the years character songs have really developed and influenced acts. For example Laurel and Hardy and charlie Chaplin. Even in modern day we can recognize character songs as musical numbers from well known musicals. These where great acts as they where known to the audience and often became the most popular acts that where well known through out most Music Halls in London. They where something people could relate to and great fun to watch.
Burlesque
Burlesque shows became popular in the 1860's and evolved to feature crude comedy (lewd jokes) and female striptease. Women would dress up in lace and silk, skimpy outfits and strip behind big featured fans or props. The idea was not to show the audience a pure nude body but to leave it to the 'imagination' of the audience creating a buzz and a heated atmosphere ! Burlesque has developed through the years creating a lot of controversy but also bringing stars like the well known Dita Von Tease to our stages her breakthrough December 2002 Playboy cover . People have interpreted their own from of dance from burlesque for example pole dancing and lap dances !
Section 4 Some Ideas Learners LOG
Character song
In the summer variety show I would quite like to do an old fashion character song.It would link in perfectly with old fashion Music hall entertainment and apply to the family friendly audience that would be seated in the Sealight Theater.I could incorporate the character i played in my college production Into The Woods . I played the Witch who had a rap about the greens in her garden. This could appeal well to a modern day audience but also link in with Music Hall character songs.I still have the long black cape that I used for the Witch in my production.Also i could have a long sick and fake nose to show the stereotypical witch persona to the audience so they they have some idea what to expect. The costume will also help me get into character.I could also have green lighting whilst performing to set the atmosphere within the theater. This idea could work well as a solo performance as most character songs where performed solo. For this my projection and pronunciation will need to be clear and strong and i must maintain this throughout my whole performance to insure i never corps the character of the Witch.
Ventriloquism
In the 19th century ventriloquism became popular entertainment to watch and perform. At first it was treated as a conjuring trick (magic trick) people paid to see the ability of the performer being able to seemingly speak without moving there mouth. Instead of talking to dolls, early ventriloquists had conversations with people such as chimney sweeps up chimneys, or somebody in another room the Victorian period introduced this.
I think this would be a fantastic idea for myself and Jess to perform in the summer variety show. It could link in with the idea of character songs. We could choose a well known musical song and perform it as a ventriloquism act. For example Jess could play the part of the 'dummy' and myself the ventriloquist. We then could take it in turns to sing verses of the song. It would be entertaining for the family orientated audience and we could be really creative with our set. The lighting could be bright whites and blues and reds to symbolism the circus and the stage could be made to look like an old tavern or circus tent. We could have matching suits and the dummy could have their face painted like a clown. To make this act work we would need to focus on characterization , timing , pace and co-ordination with each other. With some planning and rehearsals i think i could make a great variety act.
This musical number from Chicago gave me some inspiration. http://youtu.be/C9dFKRZ8EbU
Leaners Blog 9th variety lesson
Today me and Jess discussed what act we would like to do in the variety show. We have looked at some videos on youtube of Charlie Chaplin and we got a folder of comedy dialogues . We want to do some kind of comedy act .
Leaners Blog 23rd
Myself and Jess have discussed that we want to do a comedy sketch or duolgoue together. So for insparation we are going to look at some famous duo's like Laurel and Hardy , and brilliant comedians like Monty Python. Also i thought it would be a good idea to look into some play's like One man Two govners. Anything involving two people in a comdey sketch would be great research and help to give us our own original ideas. We thought that doing a comdey act would be in our favour as myself and Jess feel we are confident and passionate actors. However do a comdey will be a challenge. Pace and timing is very important in comdey and we would have to exicute these skills perfectly for out act to be affective.
BTEC MUSICAL THEATRE 2014-15
EVALUATION OF PERFORMANCE
BLACK HISTORY MONTH
the number ofREHEARSALS and how effective your target-setting was
|
effectiveness
We had 5 rehearsals altogether in the practice rooms and theatre.Every opportunity we had to rehearse was worth it because we would evaluate the strengths and weaknesses in our performance. For emample what went well; our phyisical theatre, what didn't go so well; our projection of the humming.
|
how you would improve for NEXT TIME
So next rehearsal we ask if Jennifer could watch our piece over and see what we had to improve on and what ideas worked . |
your STAGINGincluding movement around stage
|
effectiveness
For impact we decided to stage our position end-on downstage , centre stage. We thought this would give our piece a dramatic atmoshpher. |
how you would improve for NEXT TIME
However even though this did work i would of liked to of started at different parts of the stage to create dramatic energy and depth to our piece. And then correlated at the font of the stage. |
your LIGHTING
|
effectiveness
I think the lighting was extremely effective because it gave our epic a very serious ellement. The spot light metaphoricaly symbolised a cage. |
how you would improve for NEXT TIME
Next time to add more atomsher to the piece i would of had a yellow wash in on of the verses about early mornings to give the audience more to look at and to give the effect of the sun rising. |
your SOUNDincluding your technical use of mics/instruments etc.
|
effectiveness
For sound we decided to go acapella to set a powerful impact. Our projection was impressive becuase of the amount of practise we put into making our voices sound strong and clear. |
how you would improve for NEXT TIME
To improve next time , i would suggest that we could use some atmospheric music or even blues music to set the scene of a slaves working enviroment. |
PERFORMANCE SKILLS
MOVEMENT and VOCAL DELIVERY
|
effectiveness
I think my voices had excellent projection and volume. |
how you would improve for NEXT TIME
However i think my tone was quite nutural and i think we could of used a dramatic tone to make it more interesting. |
EXPRESSIVENESS
(facial and physical)
|
effectiveness
I think my facil epression was very dramatic and serious to fit the breif and my physicality was clear and imposing. For example when i was a tree i had my hands in a strong outwards position and my finger bent to represent branches. |
how you would improve for NEXT TIME
Next time i would like to explore some more phyisical ideas to make the piece more engaging and interesting to watch. For example i would of like to use shadows to tell the poems story. |
COMMUNICATION TO THE AUDIENCE and how your performance was received
|
effectiveness
My performance went very well. I feel the audience understood the message behind what my self and my peers staged. We had many congratulations from other peers and there was an emotional pause before our applord. |
how you would improve for NEXT TIME
Next time i would like to deliver a much more dramatic and emotional piece. |
CONSISTENCY OF COMMUNICATION
(how well you maintained your chosen persona)
|
effectiveness
I maintained my persona through out the whole performance ; never corpsing. This was effective because the emotion was never intrupted. |
how you would improve for NEXT TIME
Next time i would love to develop more phyisicalty to feel like my persona was representing a stronger message.
|
Black history rehearsal evaluation
Variety Vaudeville
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From Lena: Complete the last two boxes of your evaluation and continue to build on your good use of specialist vocabulary using the Drama Dictionary.
ReplyDeleteIzzy, you describe very well your stimulus for your presentation, explaining well its relevance to Black History Month.
ReplyDeleteYou devise and develop your material steadily and your rehearsal diary shows how you refine various aspects independently, after initially having guidance. Your evaluation is thoughtful and considered and examines how aspects of your rehearsing and performing could be improved. Your performance was strong and you maintained your persona well.