Dear 25th Year HST Families,
The deadline to commit to participating in HST’s 25th Show Season is actually APRIL 30th (this Thursday) by 9am. We need the month of May to reassign parts & redo costumes if a student is not participating.
Sorry for the confusion. Blessings, Marilyn
Author: Marilyn Mullan
HST is going to finish this year!
Dear 25th Year HST Families,
It has been a long season of waiting, praying, adjusting, waiting, praying, adjusting…..but we have gotten to a conclusion:
*HST is going to finish it’s 25th Year Shows! * *Mini-Movie Viewings*: *June 27th – June 30th* (See attached viewing schedule for specifric dates/times)
*I feel 100% confident that God is going to allow us to accomplish this*. What is not clear, is which one of the 2 paths we’ll take to reach this goal. So, we are making thorough plans for both possibilites so we will be ready to go when the time comes.
What do we need from you to accomplish this goal? *Please read the time commitments that will be required* and *reply to let us know if your student(s) will participate by 9am Thursday, May 30th.* Of course we’d love to have every talented student participate but we fully respect each family needs to do what is best for them.
*SHOWCASE -* Filmed week of June 8th (See Attached Schedule)
– DANCE theater time commitment will be 1.5 for level 1 & 2 dances, 2 hours for levels 3 & 4 dances. (Most will have all hours on same date: 6/2, 6/3 or 6/4). – Teacher may assign video homework to be posted to google drive and reviewed with student during mutually agreed on Zoom time. . – ACTING theater time commitment will be 1.5 hours on Monday, June 1 – Two to four Zoom sessions (on Friday mornings) during May. – CHOIRS: Broadway & A Cappella theater time commitment will be 6 hours. Two rehearsal classes (June 1 & 8) and then a 2 hour session (6/12) for filming. – Zoom sessions on Friday mornings (between 9am and Noon) May 8th – May 29th. Session times for choir groupings sent out each week. – Safety Percautions: HST will film one song/dance/scene to keep number of students in building to minimum. Masks & gloves will be worn until we actually film. Immediately after filming everyone will wash hands/use hand sanitizer and put masks/gloves back on.
*TROUPES* – Filmed week of June 1st (Possible recording time for songs during week of May 24th. Will be arranged with vocalists.)
– All troupes will have two to four Zoom sessions (on Friday afternoons) during May. – Directors may assign video homework to be posted to google drive – JR & GB Troupes: Total theater time commitment will be between 10 and 15 hours (actors will only be called in if they will be in the scenes being filmed) – JR slots: Mon., June 1 (rehearsal) 11am to 4pm ALL , (Tues. & Wed.) June 2,3 (filming) between 11am and 4pm as scheduled – GB slots: Wed., June 3 (rehearsal) 11am to 4pm ALL, (Thurs. & Fri.) June 4,5 (filming) between 11am and 4pm as scheduled – SR & SH Troupes: Total theater time commitment will be 10 to 20 hours (actors will only be called in if they will be in the scenes being filmed) – SH: Sun., May 31 (rehearsal) 6pm to 10pm ALL, (Mon. & Tues.) June 1 & 2 (filming) between 6pm and 11pm as scheduled, Leads: (6/12) 6pm-? if needed – SR: Mon. & Tues. 6/1 & 2: 6 to 11pm ALL (rehearsals ), (Wed. & Thurs.) June 3 & 4 (filming) between 6 and 11pm as scheduled, Leads: (6/12) 6-? if needed
*THEATRICALS*
– Rehearsal: Fri. June 19th 1pm to 4pm – PLAN A – Perform with audience – Total theater time commitment will be 11 hours: Fri. June 26th – 6pm to 10pm (rehearsal), Sat. June 27th – Noon, 2pm, 4pm Performances – PLAN B – Film – Total theater time commitment will be 8 hours: Fri. June 26th – 6pm to 10pm (rehearsal), Sat. June 27th – Noon to 4pm (film)
Now – if all this wasn’t exciting enough….look for another email with info about next year’s dance classes and our Zoom assessments!!
I am SUPER grateful to God that things are finally coming together. PLEASE join me in prayer to first THANK GOD for the opportunity to complete our 25th year, and then continue to ask for His merciful guidance and provision as we all learn how to make movies!!
Oh, one more thing. I’ve been asked about whether or not these will end up being quality productions up to HST’s standard. My answer: *they will be up to God’s quality standards!! * *This will be a once-in-a-lifetime HST experience where we make mini-movies. * These will *not* be video recordings of live productions. They will be filmed and edited to be as much like a movie as possible. We’ll be using a green screen for filming and dropping in backgrounds. We will have professional cameramen and editors. There will be cut-away shots and close-ups and establishment shots. If we film outside the theater – we’ll pre-record the singing so that we have good sound quality for songs. Combine all that with the wonderful costumes, make-up, wigs, props, and sets that our parents, tech and make-up teams always put together…..and I feel confident that anyone who comes to a viewing will get their money’s worth. Of course, if people want a refund – we will give them one, but I’ll send more about that later. For now….we just need to focus on finishing our 25th Season!!
Blessings, Marilyn
HST-25th-Show-Season.docxAudition Note for today
Dear Acting Families,
Being a non-techie person, I just found out that it will work better for your student if you can let them use your phone to play the audition music. Apparently there is a delay if we play the music on our end.
SO – I will resend the email that has the music files (they are also posted to the website).
Also, here is the link to get into the Zoom meeting: Marilyn Mullan is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.
Topic: Acting Student Auditions Time: Apr 24, 2020 09:00 AM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Join Zoom Meeting us02web.zoom.us/j/227964385?pwd=SzZQMkdBRUsycTRlNkg4Q0pySnFiZz09
Meeting ID: 227 964 385 Password: Auditions
The audition schedule is attached in case you can’t remember what time you signed up for. Please have your student sign in on-time so that we don’t get backed up. Blessings, Marilyn
Fwd: Music Audition Files for Acting Students
Here are the music files for the audition today. Please plan to use a phone or a 2nd device (notepad, ipad, laptop) to play the music for your child when they sing for their audition.
The files are also on our website if that is easier for you to access. Blessings, Marilyn
Our adventure continues….(response needed)
Dear 25th Year HST Families,
As a child, I loved the adventure books that asked the reader to make decisions throughout the story. The final outcome was determined by the decisions the reader made. Well, you are now living in a real-life adventure where your decisions will impact the outcome! (Who said we can’t have fun during a pandemic!?)
I am currently waiting on a response from Rockville’s Mayor and Council (my email to them is attached). *With the mandate to shelter in place still in affect, our theater contracts for May are in jeopardy.* *While the City works out it’s criteria *for* re-opening the theater, **we are going to figure out what page to turn to next in our adventure. *
Our current “choice” to make concerns the new possibility of the 1st and/or 2nd weeks of June opening up at the FSF Theater. If the majority of HST families are able to put one (or both) of these weeks on “hold”, I will immediately book them if our May dates are canceled. * To determine whether or not this is a realistic plot twist in our adventure*, I need every HST family to answer the following survey by midnight tomorrow (Wed., Aprill 22nd). forms.gle/C8i3xQQdRtLB9SCF6
I trust that every family will prayerfully discern what is best for their student(s)/family. There is no “right” or “wrong” answer, because *if something is not right for you, it is not right for us. *
– You *will* be required to give your family name but that will not be public information. *Only HST will have access to the names so that we can determine the best plan for each of our six productions. *
Of course, I will keep you posted on whatever decisions are made by the City, and HST’s response to those decisions. I trust that God will eventually guide us to a plan that we actually get to implement. Until then, *remember that worry never changes anything. **Peace comes when we, “Let go, and let God.” *
Blessings, Marilyn
Prayers instead of Zoom this week
Dear 25th Year HST Families,
First, I hope everyone enjoyed Easter despite the burden of shelter in place. There are SO many things that we will appreciate when we get to the other side of this challenge. I’ve actually started making a list of the things I miss because I know that for the first few months I will relish every gathering, every hug, every mask-free moment, but with time – I might forget. What a shame that would be, to lose this insight into what really matters. That is why I think it is a good idea for all of us to write down our observations and insights into ourselves and our families. Tough times bring out the best – and the worst – in us. What a blessing to have the opportunity to maximize the best and minimize the worst. With God’s help, we’ll all end up being better versions of ourselves because of this pandemic experience.
Second, *we are going to hold off on Zoom rehearsals this week. I believe that we will get word by early next week whether or not we’ll be allowed into the theater in May*. I know the City of Rockville is hoping it’s a go because they have had me redo all our contracts for the May dates. We are just waiting to see if the shelter in place will be lifted and the 10 person limit increased. While some would say this isn’t likely, I say – *never* limit God. I’ve seen too many miracles in my life to pre-determine any outcome…. but I also don’t take miracles for granted. So, what I’d like to ask is that instead of zoom rehearsals this week, we all commit to some extra time praying for God’s provision for HST. *I know He has a plan* -* which may not look like anything we’ve currently figured out *- *but He will reveal it in His time and it WILL bring good.* I know this is His promise for all who love Him.
So, we’ll pray hard this week and deal with the next chapter in this adventure – next week. God’s peace and blessings, Marilyn
Acting Audition Clarification
Dear 25th Year Acting A & B Students,
I need to clarify that ONLY students who will be HST age 10 to HST 13 (your age on Dec. 31st, 2020) next year, are auditioning. Anyone who will be HST age 14 or older next year will be going into Theatricals and do NOT need to audition. Blessings, Mrs. Mullan
Music Audition Files for Acting Students
Dear Acting Students,
Below are the instructions for your audition. The audio files are also attached. They will be placed on HST’s website as well. Go to hstonline.org. Click on “HST Families”. Scroll down to see “Acting” on left. Click on that and enter the password: HST25
Please remember that everyone will be accepted into either JR or GB Troupe. The purpose of the audition is for the directors to see how well your follow directions and prepare (your work ethic) and to see where what your strengths are. This will enable them to pick a show for next year that is well suited for the students in their troupes. Blessings, Mrs. Mullan
Here are practice directions. Pick one song (either Bare Necessities or Edelweiss) to audition on. There are three keys to choose from (low, alto-middle, or soprano-high) for each song. You DO NOT have to sing the song in multiple keys.* Please pick the key that fits your voice best.* Ladies- if you can sing high, please choose the high key (we’d like to here your beautiful soprano voices!). Practice with the sing-along tracks (marked FINAL on the attachment). Once you feel comfortable, go ahead and practice with the piano track. Your audition must be memorized. Just to be clear- you *will be auditioning with the piano track. *The sing-along tracks are for practice only. Lyrics are below. Reply to this email if you have any questions!
“Look for the bare necessities The simple bare necessities Forget about your worries and your strife I mean the bare necessities Old Mother Nature’s recipes That brings the bare necessities of life”
“Edelweiss, edelweiss Every morning you greet me Small and white Clean and bright You look happy to meet me!”
Sign-Up Genius for Audition Slots – 4/24
Dear 25th Year Acting Students,
Here is the link to the Sign-Up Genius for auction:
www.signupgenius.com/go/20f0549aea72ca1fa7-acting
On April 24th use the following info to sign into Zoom 2 minutes before your scheduled time. You will be muted when you enter the meeting.
Marilyn Mullan is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.
Topic: Acting Student Auditions Time: Apr 24, 2020 09:00 AM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Join Zoom Meeting us02web.zoom.us/j/227964385?pwd=SzZQMkdBRUsycTRlNkg4Q0pySnFiZz09
Meeting ID: 227 964 385 Password: Auditions
If you have any questions, reply to this email or call me (240) 997-5796. Blessings, Mrs. Mullan
Audition Monologues for Acting students
Dear 25th Year Acting Students,
Attached are the 4 monologues. You may pick any one of the four to memorize (it doesn’t matter that there is a girl or guy name in the title).
Your music files will take a few more days because we want to give you multiple vocal ranges for each song. Blessings, Mrs. Mullan