While there was no Drama Club meeting this week due to the school's minimum day schedule, we do need to congratulate our newest Drama Club officer: Ashley Buelna! She will be joining the officers in their meetings as the new Theatre 1-2 Representative. Congratulations on the job and we look forward to working with you.

Thespians, are you ready for Phantom? Auditions are right around the corner, and if you haven't spent the time to find a good audition song, make sure you find the perfect song to show off your vocal cords! If you know what you're auditioning with, please sign up in the back hallway of the theatre area on the call board. By leaving your name and audition song, you'll save yourself from coming to auditions singing the same song as someone else--yikes!

If you'd like to work with our accompanist before you audition, which is highly recommended (especially if your music is elaborate or otherwise odd), you should sign up in the back hallway to practice your song with Mrs. Harrell. Feel free to bring a recorder to keep a copy of her playing the music to practice at home and be fully prepared when you talk to her. Know where you want to start and stop, make sure the song is appropriate for you, and make sure the sheet music is in the right key!

Be sure you join us at the Halloween party on October 31st in the auditorium! Whether you join the costume contest or just sit down and have lunch, you'll have a screamin' good time!

The Theatre Program is always ready to lend a helping hand to the ring of performing arts programs in the department. We'd like to shine a spotlight on the choral program as they fight for one of 73 prizes in a nationwide contest sponsored by the hit Fox show, Glee. We encourage you to view their contest page and vote for their video, once per IP address per day. All of us in the theatre program will be closely following their progress and voting, so help our fellow performers and vote!

Glee Give a Note Video Submission: http://www.gleegiveanote.com/vote_details.php?id=263
Mira Mesa Choral Program: http://www.miramesachoirs.org/

Miss this week's meeting? Have no fear, the weekly update is here!
Continue signing up for the Halloween Party! We have a ton of people bringing devilishly good food, but there's always room for more! Check out the list in the drama room on the club bulletin board.

Speaking of Halloween--are you looking to get into the season? Join us on our group trip to Balboa Park to venture through the Haunted Trail! If we can get a group of 10 or more, we'll be able to receive a group discount for October 28th--sign up ASAP in the drama room or talk to Kevin or Sarah for more information.

We are currently looking for a Theatre 1-2 Representative! As a drama club officer, you will be a part of the organization and planning process of the club and all of its events. If you're interested in the job, talk to Kevin Phan. Officers meet at lunch every Monday, so be prepared to make that (and several other) responsibility!

If you pledged a donation at the beginning of the year in your syllabus, be sure to follow through with that pledge! You can donate online (check the link in the syllabus) or through the finance office by cash or check. Don't forget the benefits of donating at least $25: free access to the costume shop for shows, Halloween, etc.; lunch in the drama room on Tuesdays and Thursdays; and free admission to the end-of-the-year drama banquet!

Don't forget these important dates! Check out the one for Gala, especially--it's changed to Friday the 11th!

Musical Theatre Broadway Gala: Tribute to the Composers
***Friday, November 11th***

"Phantom of the Opera" Audition Dates
Monday, November 14th - Vocals
Tuesday, November 15th - Dance
Wednesday, November 16th - Vocals
Thursday, November 17th - Callbacks

Adv. Theatre Fall Plays: Plaza Suite & Metamorphoses
Thursday, December 1st
Friday, December 2nd

The main focus of the meeting was the audition process! Follow the following guidelines for auditions and you'll be a shoe-in for a good part in the coming musical!

The Vocal Audition
Pick a song that:
* showcases your range and ability
* is appropriate for the coming show (Phantom of the Opera) and appropriate for you

You should:
* learn the whole song, but only select about a minute to perform
* find and copy the sheet music OR find the karaoke [sheet music is always preferred, though!]
* practice, practice, practice!

The Slate
* Give your karaoke CD or flash drive with the instrumental part ONLY to the stage manager
OR
* Go on stage and give the sheet music to the accompanist. Introduce yourself, talk them through it, and thank them.
* Take a moment at the piano to compose yourself. Breathe!
* Slate. For example, "Hello, my name is Kevin Phan and I will be performing 'Empty Chairs at Empty Tables' from the musical Les Miserables.'
* Sing! When you've finished, wait for the director to say thank you before you get your sheet music from the accompanist. Thank the accompanist again and return to your seat.

Any audience members of an open audition should not applause or give praise until after the audition session.

The Dance Audition
You should:
* not prepare anything! No need to choreograph something; just be ready to learn
* dress appropriately--nothing too restrictive, nothing too revealing
* choose the dance level you're comfortable with (dance ensemble or the normal ensemble)
* challenge yourself
* stay hydrated

The Callback
* Check the list. If you're on there, congratulations!
* Pick up a script. Study your character, look over scenes featuring your character. Go over their songs.
* Understand your character. Watch videos, do more research, etc if you can. Practice and practice the scenes.
* Wait to be called into the audition room.
* When called, enter confidently and listen to the director give you a brief rundown of the scene you will be reading for.
* Work with your scene partners, play off of them but remember you are auditioning for yourself!
* Listen to the director say if you can leave or if you should stay! If you must stay, be prepared to be called back in.

Break a leg!

If you haven't already joined us on Facebook, make sure you do so ASAP! You'll get need-to-know information as it comes out, see references to good rehearsal and audition material, access to club and event pictures, receive handy reminders, and more. It is a no-spam, Drama Club news haven for all thespians! Click here to view the group and join!

At the last meeting, we discussed Drama Club Points! You'll definitely want to check out the new page on the website, constructed to make tracking your points easy-peasy! Make sure you pick up a Points Tracking Sheet from the drama room and start logging your points!

Here are the updates in case you missed 'em!

Improv Club and Team dates have changed to Fridays! If you'd like to participate in the Improv Club activities, join us in room 401 on Fridays at lunch for a series of fun improvisation games led by volunteer Chris Liang and captains Veronica Murray and Lauren Cernik-Price. Official Improv Team meetings have been changed to Fridays during 7th period as well. The first Friday meeting is on October 28th--the meeting on October 18th will remain unchanged!

Important Dates were also announced at the meeting to remind all thespians!

Musical Theatre Broadway Gala: Tribute to the Composers
Saturday, November 12th

"Phantom of the Opera" Audition Dates
Monday, November 14th - Vocals
Tuesday, November 15th - Dance
Wednesday, November 16th - Vocals
Thursday, November 17th - Callbacks

Adv. Theatre Fall Plays: Plaza Suite & Metamorphoses
Thursday, December 1st
Friday, December 2nd

The New York Trip is on! If you haven't picked up an informational packet, but would now like to join the trip, you can talk to Mr. Kriley and discuss your possibilities. The next deposit is due in December, so be sure to save up money, thespians!

Drama Club's Halloween Party is right around the corner. Make sure you sign up in room 401 to let us know what you plan on bringing. Officers are bringing main dishes, but we definitely need other donations to feed everyone. The costume contest will also be held during the party, so get to planning (sewing, buying, etc.) to win some awesome prizes!

Drama Points were announced this meeting as well. For everything you do related to theatre, you get Drama Club points that stay with you through your high school career at Mira Mesa. These points are used to reflect your dedication. Earning a certain amount of points in specific years of high school will get you special prizes: a letter, a pin, and a medallion! For more information, check out the Drama Club page in the coming days to see how many points you qualify for!

See you next Wednesday, thespians!

Can't wait to get your fix of theatre? Your wait will soon come to an end as the Fall Plays have been announced! This year, the advanced theatre classes will be performing Neil Simon's Plaza Suite in the black box as directed by Mr. Kriley as well as Mary Zimmerman's adaptation of Metamorphoses on the main stage directed by high school senior Tyler Hatch-Waters. That's right, thespians--there are two fall plays in the works!

Visit the shows' pages here on the website and get some insight on the plays, check up on the cast lists, and await the Buy Tickets link! The curtain goes up on the two productions on December 1st and 2nd, so be sure to mark your calendars.