Karl and the Root, aka Jack and the Beanstalk

The focus - backdrops for the main scene.

This week we focused our attention on visualizing our main scenes. Teachers and students met in their assigned practice areas.  Once there, each group re-grouped by reading their scripts paying close attention to the details of the main scene. 

I met again with the group Karl and the Root. After reading through the script twice, students were assigned creative tasks based on what the group decided as a scene. We collectively made a list including a blue sky, clouds, potato vine, large cloud on the ground, small cottages in the sky, and a big castle. Then we got busy. Students worked in pairs or threes and used butcher paper and construction paper and lots of glue. 

Each meeting area had prepped the backdrop 3-panel screen with several sheets of butcher paper. Students could then see how hanging their creations vertically might be a challenge! The first round of clouds attached to the backdrop all crashed within an hour of application. Students in charge of the cloud formations wanted to have enormous puffballs of crumpled white butcher paper, well it failed the "hanging" test. After school let out, I gathered the fallen clouds, trimmed them considerably, and reapplied with extra tape. Hopefully, the group will realize that less is sometimes more when it comes to backdrop creations.

This week, we turn our attention to props, costumes, and getting personal with the script. Only a few weeks left.....AHHHHHHH!