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New Semester, Whole New Show!
We are so excited to get back into class this Friday at The Menomonee Club and start rehearsals for our NINTH stage production. We wish we could tell you more about it, but, well, the thing is, it hasn’t been written yet… This semester we’ll be dividing our full ensemble of 20 into smaller groups of…
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Rehearsal Log: WEEK 2
Week Two was a busy one! Our stories are starting to take shape, and we’re continuing to build on our social skills and grow as an ensemble. Here’s what we worked on: Dance Party: Somer was this weeks Dance Party DJ and she mixed a combo of old-school classics and some newer faves. Everybody loves…
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Rehearsal Log: WEEK 3
This semester we’re writing our own scenes for our final performance. So far we’ve figured out WHO we are. We’ve figured out WHERE we are.  This week we focused on WHY we’re there – the relationships that brought all of these characters together to these specific places. Here’s what we did: Dance Party Peter was our Dance Party DJ this week. We grooved…
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Rehearsal Log: WEEK 4
After taking a week off, everyone was so excited to see each other and get back to ABLE on Friday. Our actors came bursting in ready to work and have some fun! Here’s what we did… Dance Party Sean (with some help from DJ Eva) led our dance party this week. We had songs from One…
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Rehearsal Log: WEEK 5
We had an awesome class this week! Most of our ensemble came straight to class from a belated birthday party for Fletcher. They had just the right combo of cookies and cupcakes to give them great energy, but also came in together as a team so were focused and ready to work. Here’s what we…
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Rehearsal Log: WEEK 6
Halloween came to A.B.L.E. this week! Many of our ensemble arrived in costume and good spirits ready to play. We had witches, zombies and even Superwoman in class this week and had a great time putting our scenes on the their feet. Here’s what we did: Dance Party Katie was this week’s dance party DJ…
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Rehearsal Log: WEEK 7
We’ve been working hard and are ready to start putting our finished scenes on their feet. To help with that, this week, we focused on blocking and stage directions so that our performances can stay consistent from one performance to the next. Here’s what we did… Dance Party Lindsay led our dance party this week…
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Rehearsal Log – WEEK 8
After several weeks creating the elements of our stories, learning about blocking and stage directions, and building our ensembles, everything came together this week in class as we FINALLY staged our completed scenes for the first time. Here’s what we did! Dance Party Kaylie was our Dance Party DJ and helped us kick off the…
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Rehearsal Log – WEEK 9
This semester is flying by! Today was the penultimate class before we move into the theatre. Our scenes are shaping up, our costumes are all coming together, and we’re just finessing our performances. Here’s what we worked on today… Dance Party Kate was this week’s dance party DJ. We had lots of fun dancing to…
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Rehearsal Log: WEEK 10!
We made it! Week 10! This was our last class of the semester at Menomonee Club. All of our cast, volunteers, and teaching staff joined together in the large dance studio to do a full run-through of the entire show. Before class, our teaching artists and facilitators spent a lot of time organizing props and…
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WHAT YOU WILL!
If you’ve been following our blog the past three months, you’ve seen our actors pick everything from their character names and scene settings, to music and sound effects for a completely original show. Through it all they have been working on skills like movement, communication, imagination, and teamwork. This weekend, we finally got to share…
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Production History: WHAT YOU WILL (2015)
Who are you? Where do you want to go? What do you love? What do you want? What is your story? SEMESTER OVERVIEW Throughout a structured 10-week rehearsal process, the A.B.L.E. ensemble, comprised of 19 young actors with Down syndrome, looked at the elements of storytelling – character, relationships, setting, objectives – and worked together…
