Thursday, July 23, 2009

The Ultimate in Make-Up Technique.

While we were at the ITS Festival, some of us (notably Mrs. Miura) went to a session or two on theatre make-up.



So I thought some might be interested in this feature, about creating through make-up the look of Fenrir Greyback, the werewolf, in the latest Harry Potter film, THE HALF-BLOOD PRINCE.




Nick Dudman is the make-up creator, and he has an impressive resume.




All photos (c) Warner Bros.

Sunday, July 5, 2009

More Festival Post-coverage

There were six confirmed cases of swine flu at the Thespian Festival 2009. None of these people got really sick and all are okay now, but it's important to be aware of the situation. The Educational Theatre Association (EdTA) and the International Thespian Society are conducting a survey to gather data as a background for these cases, and to locate any other cases. Read more about the situation and take the survey here.

On a side note, the people with swine flu came from Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Texas. I'm in Ohio now, and the state just saw its first death from the swine flu (in a neighboring county to where I'm staying). The symptons are NOT the same as allergy symptoms. (Yes, it's allergy season, and my sinuses know it. Fortunately, I'm staying in an air-conditioned condo.) Major flu swine symptoms include fever, cough, sore throat, diarrhea and vomiting. See a doctor if you're experiencing any of these.

On a completely different side note: Festival daily coverage photos are posted here. One of the photographers was in our Commedia workshop. His photo of the presenter, Kristin Kaufman:

Wednesday, July 1, 2009

Congratulations!

Congrats to Anastasia Schweiger for making the top 5 at NJFL in impromptu speech.


Congrats to Aisha Joyner and Akeiko Dela Cruz for making the top 6 at the International Thespian (ITS) Festival in duet acting.

Congrats to Sung Yul (Tommy) Baik and Moon Hyo Lee for making the top 9 at the ITS Festival in mime.

Congrats to Kyoung Min (Kay) Park for setting a new TWPI record by receiving 21 call backs from college recruiters at the ITS Festival!

And congrats to all of the students on the NFL, NJFL and ITS 2009 teams, for doing a great job representing the CNMI, demonstrating talent, learning and experience, and gaining greater skills at these summer competitions.

Festival News & Notes-#12 more photos

On Friday, I attended a workshop on Commedia D'ell Arte. After checking out some masks, we got a short lecture on the history of the artform and some of the more famous stock characters. Then the class had an interactive session learning how to move as the various characters, using stock mannerisms to bring out the established characteristics of the Commedia cast.




Pantalone-an old miser man holds is stomach.


The Capitano leads with his chest!


Um...I think this was "make your own character!"

A spontaneous sword fight improv proved very entertaining. (The workshop presenter is the woman in the aqua/green tee-shirt.)

Anna Rose joins another thespian in a commedia improv.

And it all ends in violence... (of Mr. "I speak Latin"...)

Sunday morning at the Pound cafeteria was a very lonely affair...the last-to-leave 2 TWPI thespians have their Festival meal.