State Conference Update!

This is the week!  Lots to be done!  We are loading up 2 school busses, a 26-foot rental truck, lots of boxes with props, costumes, make up and equipment… and 56 students + 4 chaperones! We have spent over 10 weeks preparing for our mainstage performance, and have paid almost $10,000 in fees related to going on this trip… PLEASE take this seriously and BE PREPARED!

1 – There are still a few students who have not submitted their final registration forms – some needed tetanus shot dates, teacher signatures, etc…

2- There are still some outstanding payments for the conference costs.  If you have not made your second payment, please turn it in on Tuesday to Mrs. Mintzer.  If you sold extra apple dumplings, you qualify for a discount, and received a note with the balance due.

3- SHOW UP on Tuesday – to finish packing, make sure that ALL pieces of your costume are ready to go (shoes, black socks, pantyhose, belts, etc), and to have a rehearsal to make sure that you remember all of your lines!  Tuesday evening  – 6:00-8:30.   We will also run through lines on Wednesday evening from 6:00-8:00.

4 – Pack lightly – we have A LOT to take with us that we NEED… please don’t pack a large suitcase – it’s only 2 nights away from home.   Plan to wear your “Drama Junkie” t-shirt on Thursday (if you don’t have one & want one, they are $8 – see Mrs. Mintzer) – we’ll wear our Dracula shirts on Friday since that’s the day we perform, and then we’ll be given a conference t-shirt that they ask everyone to wear on Saturday.  If you are performing an IE, or have an audition/interview – bring a nice outfit to wear for those events.

The model for our costume building event should have a black shirt and black pants/skirt as a base. (We need to gather the necessary items for this event on Tuesday also!)

5-What else to bring:  a little bit of spending money if you want to purchase any Thespian Gear from “Marlene’s House of Style”  (the state board spirit wear)… there will also be some other vendors there with pins, jewelry, scripts, etc.

6-Meals are all included!  You’ll eat A lunch on Thursday (grab and go, maybe) to load the bus and travel.  Thursday through Saturday: lunch & dinner will be at the North Penn Cafeteria (cost was included in the registration fee – no $ needed).  Breakfast is included at our hotel on Friday and Saturday morning.

7-You may want to bring a tote bag or backpack for your items throughout the day…

8- NO CELL PHONES or electronics may be used in the auditorium – if the house lights are down, you are to be paying attention and watching the performances!  Any music/texting/etc will result in your electronics being confiscated, and Penn Manor will not be allowed to attend conference next year! (They are REALLY serious about this!!!)

9-   Mrs. Shellenberger & Mrs. Telesco will be in charge of the 2 busses on Thursday morning, and Mr. Dennis will be in charge of the truck.  You will need to check in to your block one class on Thursday for attendance, and then report to the auditorium to get everything loaded.

10-Katie Irwin and Mrs. Mintzer will be heading down to North Penn on Wednesday evening to finalize preparations with the rest of the State Board.

11-IE performers – please make sure that you have a CD ready for your song – and then a spare.  Test it on several different computers.  If it’s on your own ipod, you may want to also bring speakers. (Check the volume too!)    Tech IE – make sure that your portfolio and presentation is done!  You should also stop by to see Mrs. Mintzer to go over your presentation – for the extra practice and some critiques – I’ve sat in on several sessions in Lincoln, and we can go over the rubric to make sure that you’ve got it covered!

12-Performance scholarship entrants – you will have a specific scheduled time.  I will share that info with you in school on Monday & put a copy of the times in your mailbox.

13-Workshops!  There are about 25 different colleges attending the conference and will have displays set up in an area near the auditorium… many of the college reps are offering a workshop.   Since that’s my responsibility – I can post a draft of the workshop topics that I have compiled so far… I still expect a few to come in as we wrap up loose ends. You’ll get to attend one workshop on Friday, and one on Saturday. (We can’t send more than 4-5 to any one session – we always give upperclassmen first dibs)  But start looking it over to make some preliminary decisions!

14- If anyone wants to come to see our performance at the conference, they are permitted to enter – but they need to arrive at North Penn by 9:30, since our curtain time is 10 am.  School is in session that day, so they’ll have to register as a visitor, and be escorted up to the balcony to be seated.  The PA Thespians may ask for a small donation(~$5) – but that has not yet been finalized.

15- Get some rest now – you won’t have much time to rest while we’re there!  Check out a copy of the weekend schedule online:  www.pathespians.org  – right at the top of the page!