HST moves onto closure

My dear, deer 25th Year Families,
What a year we have journeyed! When Cynthia Alexander (SR Troupe Director) and I wondered why God led us to pick a tragedy for our 25th year (when we usually pick happy, funny, upbeat shows) we had no idea it was because we’d be living a tragedy. However, that is where we find ourselves – mourning the tragedy of a lost show season. For some – burnt out from the emotional roller coaster of the past 2 months – there will be relief that the decision is done.. For others – who were completely committed to making something happen – the grieving process has just started. For parents/directors/teachers – there will forever be a hole in our hearts for what never was. For all, there is the promise of God’s loving consolation as we strive to move forward with the next right thing.
What is the next right thing? CLOSURE
1. We want* all acting groups *to do a zoom audio recording of a line-read through of their show. *We would hope that everyone would participate since this can be done from the privacy of your home * (ideally this would include people who previously stepped out). It will only take two Zoom meetings to get this done (except for SR Troupe which Mrs. Alexander would like to do in one session).
– *ZOOM rehearsals today will work on vocal acting *(coloring of words), accents and timing. We’ll also do some test recording to figure out sound quality issues. *Next week’s Zoom sessions will then record show *(audio only) scene by scene. – Acting 9am to 11am – please reach out to those who previously opted out to ask them to join us – JR Troupe – 11am to 12:30pm – GB Troupe – 12:30pm to 2pm – SH Troupe – 2pm to 5pm – SR Troupe – THS will figure out a 3 hour block of time that works for everyone next week. You will practice/record in one session. Could be any afternoon or evening Monday – Thursday. – Tech & Make Up will do a Zoom recording about our tech program & your experiences for our website. Email will go out for those interested to select date/time.
2. We will offer all students who have songs (solos and group numbers) the opportunity to record them – *either in the privacy of your home *(you will need to get A Cappella App) *or by setting up a private recording session in my home during the first week of June.* For large group numbers the individual vocal tracks will be compiled into a single chorus song. For solos & small groups we strongly encourage recording at my house to get better quality.
– Whatever songs end up being recorded will get added to the audio recording of lines. – Note to SR Troupe – There is a legal loophole that enables us to offer this recording to you. You are allowed to make practice recordings for your cast. The CD that will be put together will be no more than a practice recording. It will not have any of the overture, underscore or dance music on it. It will just have singing & lines.
3. We will give all of our acting programs the opportunity to have a photo-shoot at Glenview Mansion. Costuming will be done in the cottage and parents will then be free to take pictures and videotape any scenes/songs/dances the students wish to do. This will not be a performance – but an evening for troupe members to hang out and have some fun in their costumes. It will be open to their families and possibly friends (depending on restrictions). We are scheduling these for late July to give every chance that there would not be any restrictions still in place.
– Directors will be at the photo-shoot evenings to hand out personal notes written to each student. We will also hand out the audio CD’s. – Those who do not attend the photo-shoot evenings will have their notes/CD’s mailed to them. – Students will need to commit in June if they plan to attend (to avoid prepping/transporting costumes not needed). We may also limit the # of costumes per student. – *Tentative schedule for photo shoots *(I obviously haven’t had time to book these dates but will send out a confirmation once I have contracts). – Acting – Wednesday, July 22 – 4 to 8pm – JR – Thursday, July 23 – 4 to 8pm – GB – Friday, July 24 – 4 to 8pm – Theatricals – Wed., July 29 – 4 to 8pm – Shakespeare – Thurs. July 30 – 4 to 8pm – Senior – Friday July 31 – 4 to 8pm – Tech students are welcome to attend the photo shoot of the program you were assigned to. Props will be available for you to take photos. If preferred, we will schedule your own evening at the mansion to hang out & take group photos. – Dance Only students – it would be too much to attempt to costume each dance class for photos. However, if your student was only involved in HST dance, you can request a time to come to my home so your student can get a picture in their costume.
When we look back on our 25th year – the memories will be very different than we’d hoped. The challenge is to choose how we will frame those memories. We can choose to focus on all the losses we experienced during this time, or we can choose to look at the creative resilience that we used to survive. We’ve all found ways to adapt, stay connected and survive the ultimate cabin fever. What’s more, this story is not finished. We control whether the last chapters of this book are ones of crippling fear or courageous trust, as we prudently take steps to renew our lives. I believe God will enable all of us to come through this with greater strength, renewed appreciation of life, and a deeper compassion for suffering. These are good things – things we can be grateful for – even if the means of achieving them has been painful. In sports they say, “No pain, no gain.” There is some truth to that statement for the spiritual life as well. God uses life’s challenges to prune us – so we can bear more fruit. I look forward to bringing forth that great fruit with all of you, as we put closure on this year and then move on to the next right thing. Blessings, Marilyn