Alternative Indie Songs Make Good Play Scores

I saw a production of "Macbeth" that was period-diverse--that's my term for "set in time period different than what it was written in." The actors used modern music to score it and played themselves. They used Lady Gaga (Bad Romance), Cage the Elephant (Ain't no Rest for the Wicked) and the Decemberists (This is Why We Fight). And I got to thinking how nice modern music, especially alt-Indie lends itself to play scores. This list might not be precisely alternative indie music, for you purists. That's just me trying to sound young and hipster. I have no idea what constitutes "indie" other than something about independent, So, like not under fascist control? Not living with parents? Non-gratis? (Erhm, highly doubt that). Alternative, I have no clue about. Don't think hipsters do either. I think they just like how it rolls off the tongue sort of important like. I know I do. Semantics aside, here's the playlist.   Alternative Indie Songs that Make Me Feel Good - News - Bubblews

Drama Mama's Acting Tips: the Convincing Sad Scene

I am a drama mama. I'll bet that doesn't surprise you! Not drama as in I like to stir up problems. Drama as in theatre. I have theatre experience, both acting and directing. I've play-written and written existing stories into plays. I've done costumes, hair, makeup, lighting, music and set design. From that I've created a series of method acting tips. Let's look at how to play sad scenes.   Drama Mama's Acting Tips: the Convincing Sad Scene

Kwanzaa, Congo Square Treme New Orleans

I get really weepy when I think of New Orleans. That city has such joie de vivre, despite the sorrows it's endured. Treme was particularly hard hit by Hurricane Katrina. All around are reminders. Foliage sprouted from flood water still grows on some buildings, like modern Hanging Gardens of Babylon. The original Mahalia Jackson Theater for Performing Arts was drowned in 14 feet of water. A new theater opened in 2009. Some areas still await clean up. Others will never return. Here's more on Congo Square, jazz funerals, Mardi Gras Indians and all that makes NOLA so "very different from any other city I've been to" (says my world-traveled friend).   Blessed Kwanzaa Ceremony, Congo Square Treme New Orleans - News - Bubblews

Cotton Club Nicholas Brothers Dance Circles Around Everyone!

Years ago, I saw a documentary on a black dance duo, the Nicholas Brothers, on PBS. They were entertainers at the prestigious Cotton Club during the Harlem Renaissance. These dancers inspired Lionel Richie, Gene Kelly, Gregory Hines, Michael Jackson and generations of others. They danced with Ziegfield's Follies. Yet I've rarely met anyone who's ever even heard of them.   tCotton Club Nicholas Brothers Dance Circles Around Other Performers

Watch Poirot Labours of Hercules, The Big Four, Curtain, Dead Man's Folly Free Online

 I am an Agatha Christie addict, a Poirot-o-phile and Marple-ian. Read all the books cover to cover, watched every film adaptation I can find. We were getting new Marples and Poirots with Geraldine McEwan/Julia McKenzie and David Suchet from BBC regularly then in 2011, nada. The Christie train stopped. No more films. We were tantalized with rumors of new Poirots, but none materialized. Well I'm happy to report that you can Watch Poirot Season 13 Labours of Hercules, The Big Four Free Online. And putlocker.com has "Dead Man's Folly" and "Curtain" free, too.

Saved Half Price on Tickets Not Ordering Online

 We took our youngest daughter to see A Streetcar Name Desire,
opera at Devos Hall in Grand Rapids last weekend. We're not big on movies, but we like theatre. I'm always looking ways to get reasonably priced tickets.

It's a little bit like roulette, getting the best deal. I never know till the last minute if husband will have the night off. So I don't dare purchase tickets early online. Opera Grand Rapids gives students half-price tickets at the door. I wanted to cash in on that for daughter. But I also wanted to make sure we got seats and got them together.
 I Saved Half on Theatre Tickets Plus Got Coupons

Props for Bible Character and Saints Costumes

Need a Bible character costume for Halloween, trick-or-treat, All Saints Day, church harvest or costume party? Or maybe you're doing a Christmas or Chanukah pageant. Here are props and symbols for major Biblical figures. I've included men and women. Bible character and saints costumes end up looking similar, so use props to identify who you are. This Bible character symbols list will make a great party game like 'Who Am I?', Bible scavenger hunt or Bible 'Sword Drill'. This list of Bible characters is taken from the older, more comprehensive Catholic Douay-Rhiems Bible. These characters are in somewhat Biblical chronological order. Props for Bible Character Costumes: Halloween, Vacation Bible School, All Saints Day

Gothic Haunted Theatre Costumes, Make-Up, Tableaux

 Saturday I dressed in costume and worked the Haunted Museum at our local historical society. I don't believe in spook houses nor in scaring children but I thought it would have an educational bent. And I was desperate to do some theatre. Having a museum for a setting is great. But you could employ these ideas in any spook house or scary play. Teens especially love this kind of theater. Read on I Have a Flair For Scaring People with Gothic Horror, to My Chagrin

Homemade Dioramas, Miniatures, Props

It's 8 pm and darling daughter is wailing. She forgot to make her school diorama project due TOMORROW! Been there done that. I was furious and thought "tough luck. Take the F. It's what you deserve." But being an eleventh hour girl myself, I understood and bailed her out. The whole family pitched in. We made an awesome woodland Native American diorama with stuff around the house. From that experience grew this guide to making homemade shoe box dioramas for any content area. All you need is a recycle bin, craft scraps, household junk and a little ingenuity.  Homemade, Recycle Bin Shoe Box Dioramas, Miniatures, Props

Homemade, Recycle Bin Theatre Costumes for Kids--Hats and Helmets

From years of putting on plays, I've learned to make homemade costumes cheap. How? With my handy-dandy recycle bin. If you need a quick costume, try these cheap, easy and teacher-friendly crafts. Today's drama mama diy--homemade hats. Rainy Day Recycle Bin Crafts for Kids--Homemade Hats Use for school projects, too.