Thanks for such a fun weekend!

You can find all of the pictures here:

oh, and by the way...

...has anyone ever done a Toboggan run? It's really fun! :)

zoinks.

Where did December go? It seems like just yesterday it was Thanksgiving and we were prepping for our first After Dark performance!

In the new year, look for an After Dark worksheet that will help us all be better prepared for the coming performances...Paul and I are working on cooking that up right now. Also, we'll need to make some decisions about our uniform dresses...

As we continue to prepare for the upcoming tour, keep in mind next year's season...we'll need to prepare our audition package for Disney and start reaching towards that goal, both with our fundraising efforts and with our performance goals. Each of you is coming so far with individual performances as well as our Ensemble numbers...things just keep getting better. In 2008, I would like to see us reach an even higher potential, and I have a nationally known clinicial lined up to help us workshop our performance pieces during the 2008-2009 season.

I don't know how you've been enjoying the massive snowfalls this December, but in the tiny bit of spare time I had, I was loving it! :)

Hi all...some updates

Just wanted to give you the latest update on things I've been working on...

Concert Tour: As some of you know, Paul, Emma, and I have been hard at work arranging our performance tour this spring. Earlier today, Joan was struck with absolute brilliance at a staff meeting...why not perform in Baraboo as a benefit for the Boys & Girls Club of Baraboo which is in danger of closing for lack of funds? I've e-mailed the people heading up that effort, and we've been invited to perform February 2, 2008, so put that on your calendar. We'll be heading up, staying at the Wilderness, doing other fun things, and helping raise money for a great cause at the same time.

Beginning, Junior, Intermediate, and Opera Ensembles are anxious to do the things Senior Ensemble does...and they've got their own blog. Please take the time to head over to http://madcapperformanceensembles.blogspot.com/ and leave some comments for them...they are just starting out their rehearsal season, and many of them admire the close friendships, fine performances, and mutually supportive atmosphere of Senior Ensemble. Let's share the love a little.

Also, we'll be starting to talk about next year a little in the coming months...I have some big ideas, and have a LOT of exciting things in the works (collaborations with other groups, exciting possibilities, and our upcoming Disney Tour fundraising, etc). I love to hear your ideas, so keep them coming.

:)

kj

Just what we were up to...

bummer.

Items not yet shipped: Delivery estimate: January 3, 2008 - January 5, 2008 Spring Awakening - Vocal Selections Sold by: Borders teamed with Amazon.com, Inc. Yep, I'm kind of sad about this.

Hello form Paul

Hey everybody! First of all, I thought we did a very nice job last night at rehearsal for the most part. Kjerstie and I have a VERY rigorous rehearsal schedule put together, and it is very important that we stay focused and working hard. I know we can be even more focused and productive, and we will be pushing for that, but good work last night. Get off book so we can really start to have fun and play. Below is a really great demo of one of the hundreds of forms of Tai Chi. Notice the smooth, connected movement and where the man is focused. http://youtube.com/watch?v=nprZhmfpH40 Also, I tend to get very excited and focused on my objectives during rehearsals, and sometimes neglect to give casts a "big picture" about what is going on. First of all, the choreography we have done thus far is heavily rooted in Tai Chi. The choreography, like the music, will be a bit eclectic, and we will be doing VERY different movement for the other numbers(a little more "dancey"). Please get written in stone off book, so we can start polishing it here or there. We are doing that number for our Winter Concert. Thanks again for your hard work.

...something we don't always talk about, but I've been thinking about it all day. Nice matters. Kind words, respectful regard for those around you, and genuine enjoyment of the process (creating ephemeral art) all contribute to the wonderful community we are part of at MadCAP. I'm so glad each of you are part of Ensemble; Thursdays are a favorite day of the week for me!

~Kjerstie

Fall Retreat--who's ready?

Hi all! Some of you were asking where you could get a "Mulan" shirt like Melinda's...here are some pictures of a few.

You can find them at our online CafePress shop here: http://www.cafepress.com/madcap_sr_ens and remember that we can always add things to the shop. For example, if you'd like some sort of clothing that is not listed on the website, e-mail me and I'll see what I can do about getting it up there for you to order.

In a whole 'nother realm, Paul and I have been hard at work planning the fall retreat, and I think we've got some great activities planned for everyone. You'll be getting the registration form in e-mail this week, so keep your eyes open for that.

ALSO! Things are getting underway for our Spring Mini-Tours. We'll be heading out to Franklin Elementary School to perform on Monday, January 14. They are so excited to host us, and I think they'll love the show. Paul is still working on scheduling a special event at the Wilderness Resort in the Dells. They've never done anything like this before, so we're kind of struggling through some of the details. Hopefully we'll have some solid plans made by the end of the week and can work on the budget, etc.

Working ahead, Emma and I are working on some preliminary plans for our trip to Magic Music Days at Walt Disney World in Orlando, FL in the 2008-2009 season. This year while planning for next year's trip, we're really making an effort to travel over a long weekend when school is out. I know families often travel during these times, but I'm hoping that with advanced planning, everyone will be able to attend our tour.

Last time we went (March 2007) we had such a wonderful time, I CANNOT WAIT to take the next group on tour. It's a wonderful opportunity to see shows together, spend time getting to know one another on a new level, and learning to cope as a cohesive group. It's a wonderful opportunity, and Paul and I are working on some more detailed curriculum about production values and the astounding budgets used by Disney World on a daily basis to provide the quality entertainment we enjoy participating in (Magic Music Days) and viewing (everything else). It will blow your mind.

Remember, all of our ticket sales from the MadCAP After Dark series goes into our Senior Performance Ensemble trip fund. I'm hoping that with enough planning and some active recruiting of audiences (this is where you'll be helping out immensely) we do well. For example, if each of you invites four people to see the show, and all four purchase tickets, we will have one hundred people in each audience. If we fill three shows this way at $10 a ticket, we will have raised three thousand dollars for our trip fund.

Our estimated costs for the tour are around fourteen thousand dollars to bring 25 people on the tour. {Trip estimates include flights, lodging, transportation to and from the airport, two special events, and Park Hopper tickets for four days.} This brings the individual cost to around $600/person, which is where we were last time. (However, there were lots of uncovered costs last time around.)

However, if we raise $3000 through After Dark performances, the cost will drop to $440/person. If you decide as a group to host and promote two more After Dark performances over the summer and bring in anther 100 people at $10/ticket, we will bring our trip cost down to a little under $400 a person. Just something to keep in mind. :)

Kjerstie