We are sad to report that our ONCE ON THIS ISLAND JR production will not make it to the Pine View High stage for performances as previously slated. Due to many circumstances it is just not quite up to the performances standards and goals we have set for main stage productions. Consequently performances for tomorrow nights venue at 6:00 and 8:00 PM have been cancelled.
We have however turned this show into a "touring production" and have had great success taking it to local intermediate schools and libraries for performances! The show has been received by all of our audiences and we are happy to have the opportunity to share our talents and love of theatre with them.
Our last performance will take place tomorrow Wednesday May 8th at the St. George Library beginning at 10:00 if you would like to join us! Bring your kids and come on over for a free 1 hour theatrical performance! Hope to see you there!
Tuesday, May 7, 2013
Sunday, May 5, 2013
Dance Concert - Lighting Design
This past week I overcame yet another task that overwhelmed and scared me when I was first hired at PVHS. I knew that being a high school teacher meant that I needed to up my tech and lighting abilities... a lot. At the time I had never touched a light board nor understood how to design, hang or program a single light. Gratefully through the help of MANY friends and expert trainers, I finally had the opportunity to apply all that I had collectively learned this past 9 months into a live performance venue.
Although it was something that terrified me, I told Mrs. Reed I would run all the lights for her recently performed dance concert showcasing the talents and skills of her dance classes and advanced audition dance company. It was a commitment I had been dreading for a long time just because I didn't want to let Mrs. Reed or the dancing girls down. Yet if there is one thing I have learned this past year working in a job that completely pushes me out of my comfort zone on a daily basis it is this... the best way for me to learn how to do a new skill is to simply do it. Learning by doing has truly become my teaching motto.
Although I was still horrifically limited by the poor lighting equipment and old conditions of our current auditorium (to many stories to tell about this area in this post) and despite this job demanding a lot of extra time that was at times hard for me to give (40+ hours outside of school), I still feel really pleased with the end result. What an great "first place" for me to start with in my lighting design understanding and abilities. I enjoyed rubbing shoulders with all the dancers and observing Mrs. Reed teach and instruct them. What a talented group of passionate artists.
I wanted to document some of the cool lighting that was accomplished in the show so I quickly edited some pictures that were taken by Mrs. Monica Johanson. Special thanks to her for taking such GREAT shots! Go Pine View!!
Although it was something that terrified me, I told Mrs. Reed I would run all the lights for her recently performed dance concert showcasing the talents and skills of her dance classes and advanced audition dance company. It was a commitment I had been dreading for a long time just because I didn't want to let Mrs. Reed or the dancing girls down. Yet if there is one thing I have learned this past year working in a job that completely pushes me out of my comfort zone on a daily basis it is this... the best way for me to learn how to do a new skill is to simply do it. Learning by doing has truly become my teaching motto.
Although I was still horrifically limited by the poor lighting equipment and old conditions of our current auditorium (to many stories to tell about this area in this post) and despite this job demanding a lot of extra time that was at times hard for me to give (40+ hours outside of school), I still feel really pleased with the end result. What an great "first place" for me to start with in my lighting design understanding and abilities. I enjoyed rubbing shoulders with all the dancers and observing Mrs. Reed teach and instruct them. What a talented group of passionate artists.
I wanted to document some of the cool lighting that was accomplished in the show so I quickly edited some pictures that were taken by Mrs. Monica Johanson. Special thanks to her for taking such GREAT shots! Go Pine View!!
UHSMTA Adventure...
Wow... what an experience.
This past weekend I had the opportunity to go up north with the best parents and kids ever and participate in the Utah High School Musical Theatre Awards competition and showcase some of OUR great Pine View theatre talent! Scenes and selections from our fall production of The Sound of Music were showcased. It was a weekend none of us will forget anytime soon... in more ways then one :)
First - I decided to take a day off from work and head up north to participate in a costume sale taking place at Hale Center Theatre as they were selling their amazing costumes at a ridiculously low price. I was hoping to purchase some King and I costumes as we prepare to mount this production in just a few months. I will summarize by saying I didn't get there...
I was attacked by a man who apparently doesn't understand the rules of the road. He decided to make a left turn spontaneously in the middle of the road and turn into my lane to do it. He was cited and fined by the West Valley Police once they showed up on the scene 4 hours later... yes... 4 hours later for causing the accident. Despite the fact that this accident was confirmed to be this man's fault, our insurances are still fighting to get him to claim 100% liablity. It has been over a week... gratefully my mom has let me borrow her car. Not fun stuff... Special thanks to my big brother Clint for helping me get to my weekend commitments and for then helping me get my damaged car back home.
This past weekend I had the opportunity to go up north with the best parents and kids ever and participate in the Utah High School Musical Theatre Awards competition and showcase some of OUR great Pine View theatre talent! Scenes and selections from our fall production of The Sound of Music were showcased. It was a weekend none of us will forget anytime soon... in more ways then one :)
First - I decided to take a day off from work and head up north to participate in a costume sale taking place at Hale Center Theatre as they were selling their amazing costumes at a ridiculously low price. I was hoping to purchase some King and I costumes as we prepare to mount this production in just a few months. I will summarize by saying I didn't get there...
I was attacked by a man who apparently doesn't understand the rules of the road. He decided to make a left turn spontaneously in the middle of the road and turn into my lane to do it. He was cited and fined by the West Valley Police once they showed up on the scene 4 hours later... yes... 4 hours later for causing the accident. Despite the fact that this accident was confirmed to be this man's fault, our insurances are still fighting to get him to claim 100% liablity. It has been over a week... gratefully my mom has let me borrow her car. Not fun stuff... Special thanks to my big brother Clint for helping me get to my weekend commitments and for then helping me get my damaged car back home.
One rental car later I caught up with these guys on the Utah State campus and completed an afternoon of rehearsals and meetings before the big show began later that night. Most of us were able to sneak away and grab lunch together at Jimmy Johns before we returned and got into our costumes.
Before the show one of the students drew this little number on the whiteboard that made all of us laugh :) It really has been so fun to be a little family these past few months!
Showtime! Here we go! Because we were nominated for a bunch of categories, Pine View was able to participate in a bunch of events throughout the night. Our first performance was for "Best Musical" where Maria and the Von Trapp Kids performed "Do-Re-Mi." Then Christy Davis, Mariah Harris and Nathan Bennion were able to perform in a medley and sing a solo section of one of their Sound of Music numbers as they were nominated for Best Supporting Actress, Best Actress and Best Actor. Another great opportunity that came from this nomination was that each of these students was able to individually work with and be accompanied by the great musician, singer, piano player and teacher Michael Ballam.
Pictured below is Christy Davis singing "Climb Every Mountain" in her Mother Abbess costume. I know I am biased but I honestly believe that Christy was robbed... I know this competition isn't based on just what we saw the night of the UHSMTA awards but... if it was she would have won. None of these ladies held a candle up to Christy's voice, poise and professionalism - they were all very talented but Christy just rocked it! I also like to think that Michael was impressed too as he chose to have Christy sing her number at the very end of all the other actresses and finish the medley. The audience was so impressed with her performance!
Then Mariah had the chance to go up as a Best Actress nominee and perform her solo from "The Sound of Music." Having spent time with Mariah throughout the day I knew she had been very blown away by the talent of the other ladies competing in her category. They were all SO GOOD! But so is Mariah :) Before she went on the stage to perform we talked about a lot of things, some of those things included that this performance would be her last time to perform as a Pine View Panther etc... I encouraged Mariah to just leave it all on the stage floor so she would have no regrets as she walks away from a great theatrical experience here at PVHS.... she did just that in a way I did not anticipate.
As Mariah started out strong in her solo she got to the part where she sang the lyrics "... I go to the hills when my heart is lonely. I know I will hear what I heard before - my heart will be blessed with the sound of music, and I'll sing once more." As she sang this song for the last time... Mariah got emotional. Tears were glossing her eyes and her voice had a slight shake... but her performance had never been so strong, real and honest! I knew and understood what Mariah was saying and sharing with the audience as she sang this. The tears immediately came to my eyes and as I quickly glanced around at all the other people that I knew and didn't know I realized we were all wiping our eyes. What a moment - so proud of her.
Finally it was Mr. Nathan Bennion's turn to go up and face the stage. We had a little bit of a scary moment earlier in the day when Nathan opened his guitar case for his guitar that he needed to perform his "Edelweiss" number with. Open opening his case however he realized his guitar strap had not been packed and wasn't there. Gratefully Mariah had a bag that had a strap that we were able to adapt and use... whew! We were both freaking out for a moment but everything worked out.
What was so cool about Nathan's performance was that due to his talent and ability to play the guitar and sing his song, he was able to sing with his guitar without Michael Ballam playing on the piano before he joined in a couple measures later. As Nathan walked to the microphone and all music momentarily stopped - the entire audience just zoomed in and was so impressed with the face that THIS Captain Von Trapp could sing AND play! Just like Nathan did for all PVHS audiences - he won the audience yet again with this number! During his performance you could hear a pin drop! I had people coming up to me after the show that noticed my Sound of Music shirt and just raved at how good "The Captain" was! What a night....
Again... words just seem cheap when I try to explain what an experience working with these students and their families has been this past year as we've had the opportunity to produce such high quality material as The Sound of Music. This story, this play and its messages will always have a special place in my heart because of these students and this journey we've been able to have together. I am so blessed to be working with such amazing individuals - thank you for all those involved who made this trip possible, you know who you are :) Without you I could not do this!
To my little Von Trapp family: thank you...
Rainmaker - Closing Night Pictures
Was just cleaning off my camera the other day and found another handful of pictures that were taken closing night of our spring production of THE RAINMAKER. Another great PVHS Theatre experience to look back on... the poster alone still makes me so happy!
Friday, April 5, 2013
A Couple "Housekeeping" Projects :)
Good
Better
Best
Thank you to Trudy, Al and the PVHS Janitorial Staff for helping me with these projects!
Thursday, April 4, 2013
PVHS Auditorium Renovation Fundraiser
Earlier this week one amazing PVHS student named Jordynn Gardner made the following film the you can VIEW BY CLICKING HERE. Jordynn did this to create awareness about a renovation fundraiser we are having here at PVHS for our auditorium. To read about our efforts and to learn more about what you can do to help please CLICK HERE to be transfered to the PVHS webpage set up by PVHS teacher Mr. Zack Alvey explaining how you can help. Thank you so much everyone! We appreciate your support!
Keep the arts going strong!
Please help us
renovate and update our auditorium.
I saw that my own
high school auditorium was broken, damaged and in need of assistance. This was a
local issue; it impacted a lot of people. It affected me as an
individual.
Every year there is a decline in funding for the Arts. The large majority of funding for Pine View's fine art department comes from student fees. "...and most of my students are on fee waiver," Mrs. Alder an art teacher at Pine View High School says with a sad expression.
The auditorium at Pine View is a place where the students come together. Our auditorium is where we the students, take on a character, belt out a note we could never get right, create harmony, and display a piece. As students, as teenager, and as human beings we give a piece of ourselves on that stage.
The auditorium really isn't broken-it's loved. It's been used to its full advantage for the past 30 years. Pine View High School doesn't need a do-over it needs a continuation, and that's why I'm asking for a renovation-to build upon the love of Pine View. Make it for the future. Let them give a piece of themselves.
-Jordynn Gardner (Pine View Art Student)
Every year there is a decline in funding for the Arts. The large majority of funding for Pine View's fine art department comes from student fees. "...and most of my students are on fee waiver," Mrs. Alder an art teacher at Pine View High School says with a sad expression.
The auditorium at Pine View is a place where the students come together. Our auditorium is where we the students, take on a character, belt out a note we could never get right, create harmony, and display a piece. As students, as teenager, and as human beings we give a piece of ourselves on that stage.
The auditorium really isn't broken-it's loved. It's been used to its full advantage for the past 30 years. Pine View High School doesn't need a do-over it needs a continuation, and that's why I'm asking for a renovation-to build upon the love of Pine View. Make it for the future. Let them give a piece of themselves.
-Jordynn Gardner (Pine View Art Student)
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