Bad News, Good News

[PlacentiaSoccerMom]

Maddie did not get a callback for "Seussical" today. The only Freshman girl who got a callback was Maddie's friend Nicole and Maddie told me last night that if only one Freshman girl got a callback, it should be Nicole, so she isn't upset at all. The cast list will be posted tomorrow morning and it's possible that Maddie will be part of the chorus, which is fine with her because she just likes being part of the show.

Maddie had Mock Trial this evening and wrote her own opening argument for the first time. She was competing against experienced Seniors and Juniors as an Attorney for the Defense and after she was finished the Advisor told her that she "Fricken Rocked." She won the "Best Attorney" award for the night and the Advisor pulled her aside afterwards and told her that she wants Maddie to go out for Academic Decathalon because she is so good at Public Speaking.

[Ritterskoop]

There's a lot of good news in there, including not having a major role as a freshman. She has a great attitude about not making a major part, and maybe being in the chorus.

A caveat: if she doesn't make the chorus, tell her it may be because of the distinctive singing voice you've described, which will be great in a lead role someday but they might think it would not blend as well in a group. Not a bad thing. Just a thing.

[TheCalvinator24]

Congrats to Maddie on the Mock Trial & Academic Decathlon stuff.

On the voice thing, I know you've already said you are planning to get her into voice lessons. Let me encourage you not to let that drop. I don't want Maddie to ever hear what I did last year at an audition. The Director was asking the Music Director if he could use me in the Chorus because "it's not a great, trained voice."

Thankfully, the Music Director responded, "Oh, heck yes!"

[MarleysGh0st]

Maddie had Mock Trial this evening and wrote her own opening argument for the first time. She was competing against experienced Seniors and Juniors as an Attorney for the Defense and after she was finished the Advisor told her that she "Fricken Rocked."

Now here's a phrase of legalese that I really like!

[kayrharris]

I hope she's planning on going to law school. If I ever need an attorney, I'm sure I wouldn't hesitate to hire her.

I echo the others sentiments as far as being in the chorus and the voice lessons goes. Both will be beneficial to her. Good luck! Maddie does" fricken rock", if I may borrow the expression!!

[PlacentiaSoccerMom]

Congrats to Maddie on the Mock Trial & Academic Decathlon stuff.

On the voice thing, I know you've already said you are planning to get her into voice lessons. Let me encourage you not to let that drop. I don't want Maddie to ever hear what I did last year at an audition. The Director was asking the Music Director if he could use me in the Chorus because "it's not a great, trained voice."

Thankfully, the Music Director responded, "Oh, heck yes!"

Once her piano lessons end in June, we will start on voice. She just doesn't have time now.

Her friend Nicole, who has been in choir forever, started voice lesson over the summer, and Maddie can tell what a difference it makes.

[PlacentiaSoccerMom]

There's a lot of good news in there, including not having a major role as a freshman. She has a great attitude about not making a major part, and maybe being in the chorus.

I am proud of her attitude.

Maddie's friend Sara also did not get a callback and Sara was Sandy in "Grease." Sara is also part of the Mock Trial Team and the Drama Teacher's husband is one of the Mock Trial coaches.

I was wondering how Maddie was going to be able to balance being in the show with Mock Trial, because she would miss many practices. She asked the Drama Teacher if she would be able to do both and the Drama teacher said yes.

My own feeling is that the Drama teacher wants Maddie to be part of the choir because she is reliable, works hard and will learn from it. Being part of the chorus won't distract Maddie from Mock Trial too much, so the teacher can keep peace at her home.

Maddie wants to be part of the show so she can earn more Thespian points. She has 9 out of the 15 points she needs to join the Thespian group and she is on track to being able to join as a Freshman, which is rare.

[PlacentiaSoccerMom]

I hope she's planning on going to law school. If I ever need an attorney, I'm sure I wouldn't hesitate to hire her.

I echo the others sentiments as far as being in the chorus and the voice lessons goes. Both will be beneficial to her. Good luck! Maddie does" fricken rock", if I may borrow the expression!!

You are so sweet

[Appa23]

PSM, are they doing the recording industry case for mock trial?

I have been involved in mock trial over the years, as both an attorney-coach and a judge.

If Maddie enjoys mock trial and theater, she should try forensics.

[PlacentiaSoccerMom]

PSM, are they doing the recording industry case for mock trial?

I have been involved in mock trial over the years, as both an attorney-coach and a judge.

If Maddie enjoys mock trial and theater, she should try forensics.

No, it's a case about the TV industry.

[Appa23]

PSM, are they doing the recording industry case for mock trial?

I have been involved in mock trial over the years, as both an attorney-coach and a judge.

If Maddie enjoys mock trial and theater, she should try forensics.

No, it's a case about the TV industry.

OK. I was thinking that the national competition case for this year is a civil suit where a recording company is suing a college student for illegally downloading music. It may just be the case slected for the Nebraska state mock trial competiion, which is winding down this week.

Although these mock trials are nothing like real trial work or legal practice, it is fun to watch how well they deliver their speeches, and how well they can tweak those speeches mid-trial.

I always thought that opening statments (no arguing) were much harder to write than closing arguments.

[PlacentiaSoccerMom]

She wasn't cast in the play at all.

Her friend Nicole is part of the ensemble. Her friends Blair and Sara didn't get cast at all.

[mellytu74]

PSM --

Freshman year, I was an usher for our school musical.

I was peeved because I was really looking forward to being a sharecropper in Missatucky in Finian's Rainbow.

One of the nice things about going to a Catholic girls' HS in Philly was that our "brother" school always needed females for its yearly musical.

So, I got to do two musicals a year -- spring and fall -- for three years.

While I never was a Missatuckian, I WAS a Siamese wife, a Scottish lass, a Broadway chorus girl, a farmer's girlfriend in a brand new state, a New England mill worker, and an Iowan waiting for the Wells Fargo Wagon.

But I like to think I am none the worse for wear for not appearing in a musical my freshman year.

I can say with certainty that Maddie will turn out just fine (she certainly has so far )

[PlacentiaSoccerMom]

PSM --

Freshman year, I was an usher for our school musical.

I was peeved because I was really looking forward to being a sharecropper in Missatucky in Finian's Rainbow.

One of the nice things about going to a Catholic girls' HS in Philly was that our "brother" school always needed females for its yearly musical.

So, I got to do two musicals a year -- spring and fall -- for three years.

While I never was a Missatuckian, I WAS a Siamese wife, a Scottish lass, a Broadway chorus girl, a farmer's girlfriend in a brand new state, a New England mill worker, and an Iowan waiting for the Wells Fargo Wagon.

But I like to think I am none the worse for wear for not appearing in a musical my freshman year.

I can say with certainty that Maddie will turn out just fine (she certainly has so far )

THANK YOU!

She's fine with it and I am sort of relieved that I have three fewer nights of taking her back and forth to the school. As a Freshman, she wasn't expecting more than being in the ensemble.

This setback will probably make her work harder on voice lessons this summer and now she can really concentrate on Mock Trial and Quiz Bowl.

She may not become a Thespian as a Freshman, but she will do it as a Sophmore.

[earendel]

She may not become a Thespian as a Freshman, but she will do it as a Sophmore.

NTTAWWT.

[PlacentiaSoccerMom]

She may not become a Thespian as a Freshman, but she will do it as a Sophmore.

NTTAWWT.

When she talks about becoming a Thespian, she always jokingly cries "don't judge me!"

[mrkelley23]

Can she get Thespian points for crewing? (The musical, I mean, not the boat stuff.)

Being on a crew allows the HSMPTB to get to know you without the stress of being evaluated for your acting. She may find she likes backstage work as much as onstage. And Seussical is particularly good, because the props are so imaginative. The time commitment is less, you still get to bond with the theater folk, and it's a lot of fun, especially if you can stack your crew with friends who didn't make it, either (like Blair and Sara.).

Good fortune on you all.