The Birthday Boy, Miss Nelsen, Ronnie & Julie & those crazy Northerners

So I just watched part of Terri Garr and the kid from Dawson's Creek's "Ronnie and Julie", a 1997 adaptation of Romeo and Juliet. The story is about these two kids who are from rivaling political families, the "Cappells" and the "Monroes".
I was excited because it was pretty true to the story.... Until it was supposed to be Tybalt and Mercutio's death scene.. "Tim" beat up "Max" at a hockey game and "Ronnie" came over and beat up "Tim". I stopped watching it at that point for fear R & J would end up living happily ever after. It was a little like watching the disney version of Shakespeare. But hey, it was PG so I guess they couldn't put too much killing in. I did like how Paris was named "Paul Reese" and Rosalind was "Linda Rose", That was kinda cute.

Lets see, so today we're starting our "Danbury edition" of TJS. We've had an awesome response to the idea, so Kathy and I are super excited. We are going to meet at the Brookfield Library with some of our veterans and a whole lotta new kids. I hope they get as into Shakespeare as our other group. Then we'll have 2 fantastic groups!
We started our Oxford High Project. It's going to take place on June 7th at Oxford Days. We're performing original work, outside during the festivities. The teachers make the kids call us Miss Nelsen and Miss B.. That's kind of a trip, huh?
We've also been invited to celebrate Shakespeare's birthday with the Oxford Land Trust organization. They want to have an outdoor event with us providing the "Shakespeare experience". It'll give us a good chance to bring back some old classics- Dogberry and the watch interrogating the bad guys, Rosalind and Orlando's love letters hanging in trees from AYLI, etc.
We'll also get to do some new stuff from our current show to help us plug our upcoming performances. I'd like to get Mercutio and Tybalt to kill each other and maybe some romantic prose from Romeo and Juliet. I definitely think some fairy magic from "Dream" will have to be incorporated and maybe, just maybe, we can get our Bottom to wear his "Asses head".

Oh yeah, and the CT post called yesterday, they're trying to get our story in this weekend.

Thats all for now,
Love,
K

Shows, Scared Rabbits & My life as a musical

So this has been a busy week for me. We were asked to do 2 extra "things" this week; one is Oxford Day. We want to do a fundraiser and promo for our productions of "Romeo and Juliet" and "A Midsummer Night's Dream". They want us to look at producing a new play by Oxford students on the history of Oxford. I read the script this AM, its pretty cool to learn about all these people who were from Oxford who changed history! I wonder if I'll be the subject of a play someday?? It can be "The All Mighty Director- The Musical". (I always envisioned my life as a musical. =) )
Use your imagination:
"Learn your lines, learn your lines, learn your liiiineeess..."
"places, it's time for places, gotta be in places, we're going to our places.."

OK, maybe I'll stick to "straight theater".


The other new development is that our rehearsal space, The Plumb Memorial Library in Shelton wants us to put on a separate production for the youngins who frequent the kids department of their library.. Apparently they are very impressed by us and would like to share us with their patrons.

In the mean time, we're still searching for a home in the Northern territory. Someone adopt us!! We have kids that need a' learnin!

We had a really great practice yesterday; the CT post sent out a photographer to take pictures for our article. Tybalt is doing some really great work; he is so intimidating with his double blades (even though they're foam right now) and the way he towers over the other actors! Poor Benvolio looks like a scared rabbit when Tybalt comes up behind him (her) with the dagger to his throat! Then the Mercutio death scene...... Oh I can't tell you about that yet.. It's too good.

We did a lot of work on "Dream" too.. We found some funny stuff! Bottom is getting more pompous, Demetrius is getting more arrogant, Lysander more wussy, Helena more awkward and Hermia is getting extremely girlie. This show is going to be very funny!
OK, back to work.
K

Welcome!

Look, Mom! I'm a Blogger!


So here it is, the official (SAFE) TJS blog for students, crew, directors, fans, Shakespeare buffs, etc. Just no stalkers, please.. You'll have to blog on the official "stalkers" blog, although I'm afraid I don't have an address for it.
Anyway- check out the new link I put on our website: http://www.thejuniorshakespeareans.com/. Read the part that says "meet our crew". It was done in a moment of "Kelly's-brain-is-turning-into-cream-of-wheat." Funny stuff. Hopefully, I'll have a running head start when my crew finally reads it.
Today I was interviewed by the CT Post- They wanna do a story on us. Now I've gotta throw together a photo shoot because this guy has a deadline of tomorrow. Man I'm glad I set my own deadlines.
Also, we're starting our fundraiser! go to www.currentfun.com, click on "start shopping" and buy stuff to support our company.. The organization is: The Junior Shakespeareans. When it asks you for the participant #, we're using names instead of numbers so you can go ahead and put "website." I'll know what that means.
Til' next time..
K