MANN SHOW Presents October!

1. Students AND TEACHERS may still become members of Mann Show 2007 during the month of October. Annual membership dues are $25 and include numerous benefits. Please bring your payment to Coach White in the Auditorium.

2. Film Criticism: TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD, October 2-4.

3. Film Criticism: LA STRADA, October 9-11.

4. Coach White presents a one-time lecture for The Caleb Group on Thursday evening, October 12 at Coffee Underground. "BONO: How to Dismantle a Messianic Rock Star" starts at 7:30 PM.

5. Film Criticism: RUN LOLA RUN, October 16-18.

6. October 18: MANN SHOW Membership Meeting immediately after school in the Auditorium.

7. Advanced Drama students studying hair and makeup design for the theatre will be visited by a local hair stylist on October 19. Todd Burns (of Todd, Inc. on Washington Street) will select two students for extreme hair makeovers, and then cut their hair right then and there on stage!

8. NO SCHOOL! October 20-23.

9. THE BATTLE OF SHALLOWFORD at Oconee Community Theatre, Saturday, October 21.

10. Film Criticism: THE BRIDE OF FRANKENSTEIN, October 24-25.

11. Furman Theatre Arts Professor Rhett Bryson will discuss James Whale's THE BRIDE OF FRANKENSTEIN with Film Criticism students, Thursday, October 26.

12. MANN SHOW 2007 will sponsor “Gothic Horror Thursday” October 26 in conjunction with the Film Criticism class screening of James Whale’s THE BRIDE OF FRANKENSTEIN. J.L. Mann students are encouraged to dress in a horrifically romantic fashion.

13. The Upstate Shakespeare production of THE LEGEND OF SLEEPY HOLLOW, Friday night, October 27 at Falls Park.

14. ROUGH CROSSING at The Warehouse Theatre, Sunday afternoon, October 29.

What's your motivation?

"The Method" or "method acting" was popularized by Lee Strasberg at The Actor's Studio and the Group Theatre in New York City in the 1940s and 50s.

The process was derived from Konstantin Stanislavski's quest for "theatrical truth"--discovered in his teachings, writings, and acting at the Moscow Art Theater.

Strasberg's students included many of America's most famous actors of the 20th century, including Paul Newman, Al Pacino, James Dean, Dustin Hoffman, Marilyn Monroe, Robert DeNiro and many others.

The key question Method Actors ask themselves as they work through a scene is this: What's my motivation? The theory being, if an actor knows why, he/she can play the who, what, and how.

So this is what I want to know from you: why are you drawn to the theatre? Why do you want to create in the theatre? Why do you want to see theatre?

What's your motivation?

Your Town

I tell you guys what, I've really been digging the last couple of weeks in Advanced Drama (1st and 6th periods).

We've been reading and working through Thornton Wilder's play OUR TOWN. And it's been really great. Great to encounter this terrific play again (OT: OUR TOWN was an AWESOME documentary)...even better to use some of Wilder's famous scenes to step into acting.

Please know that I am going to be tough on you as actors. I expect a lot and I am willing to teach you a lot about acting. But it may--some days at least--be painful. Irritating. It may seem that you never quite impress me enough, or that I'm not really satisfied with your efforts.

Just hang in there. I am on your side. I want to see you succeed like never before.

Phantom of the Auditorium?

A recent post on this blog by a supposed J.L. Mann alum has me intrigued:

"I am a J.L.Mann graduate, and drama student, from so many years ago you'll likely consider me obsolete. However, I assure you, my vast experiences would astound you. Or perhaps more accurately - be slightly interesting to you.

"Nevertheless, I have a question that directly relates to you and your kindred spirits: have any of you yet encountered the Ghost of Mann Theatre? Yes...the ghost."

I, for one, want to know more. Has anyone heard of this before? And to our spooky alum, please tell us more.

Mann-ly Artists Unite!

Men of Mann...I need your help.

I will be speaking to a group of arts teachers Friday in Columbia at a conference sponsored by a group called the South Carolina Alliance for Arts Education. My topic is "How to Integrate BOYS Into the Arts."

Basically, I'm going to be giving these folks some friendly tips on how they might make their dance, drama, music, or visual arts classes more appealing for guys. Studies show that girls dominate arts education classes in high schools across the country. Whereas I'm really glad for all these artistic ladies, I feel for my brothers!

Guys need arts, too. They help us learn to express our creativity, how to work with others under stressful circumstances, connect with our feelings and emotions...they can even help us score chicks!

So. What are your ideas? What would you tell these arts teachers? How can they make their programs more appealing to guys?

"It don't matter if it's black and white."

I recently graded quizzes from last week's Film Criticism class (3rd Period). The film we had watched that week was Charles Chaplin's CITY LIGHTS (1931).

I was stunned by the number of my students who revealed their general distaste for movies shot on black and white film.

Apparently, many (if not most) teenagers think B&W films are "boring," "old fashioned," or otherwise not appealing.

Are you guys kidding?

There are far more dull/boring/old fashioned color movies than B&W, given the fact that so many more color movies have been made than B&W. That said, films shot on B&W since color became the film standard (late 1940s, early 50s), are almost all Top Ten films of their year, if not decade. When a modern director chooses B&W, that generally indicates that the director is ambitious. Another sure sign that a movie will not suck.

Now. One more thing on B&W. To immediately tune out a black and white film--modern or classic--simply because it lacks pigment, is foolish. It indicates a shallowness of thought that bodes well for vapidity, triteness...a mind gravely lacking intellectual gavitas.

Do you reject the U.S. Consitution because of its difficult, old-timey language? Would you pass on a great Italian wine because you couldn't read the bottle? Would you not speak to a kid a school because he/she wore unfamiliar clothes? Or had a bad haircut? Or talked with a weird accent?

How about race? Do you avoid contact with people of different races simply because of the color of their skin?

How can anyone claim to be smart and alive, and out-of-hand tune out any black and white film?

MANN SHOW 2007 Leadership Team Selected

These students were elected to leadership positions at Wednesday's membership meeting:

PRESIDENT Kyle Ames
PRESIDENT-ELECT Nicole Schmidt
SECRETARY Sally Haltiwanger
SENIOR REP. Sara Reynolds
JUNIOR REP. Knox White
SOPHOMORE REP. Kym Day
FRESHMAN REP. Martakius Dennis

Congratulations to each.

Stay tuned for an announcement about our next membership meeting.

Croc Hunter Steve Irwin Dead at 44

You guys are starting to know me pretty well, now. You can probably guess that I feel sad that Steve Irwin died Monday shooting a new television program near the Great Barrier Reef.

Steve Irwin was unironically devoted to animals large and small. And he wanted desperately for you and I to join in his adventures. The man took risks, true. Some found his enthusiasm grating. Still, I can think of few performers (he was a performer, you know) so comfortable in their own skin...so unabashedly...sweetly...passionate about their work.

He will be missed.