Assignment #7 Attend a Dance

Back in October I attended the ballet Dracula, I saw posters and banners around Columbia last year and really wanted to see it. Finally this year I finally was able to see the performance. It was such a different theme then a normal ballet that it caught my attention.
Describe  The ballet goes follows along with the same plot of Bram Stoker's Dracula.  Jonathan, a lawyer, is sent to Transylvania to close a deal on Dracula's castle. While he is there he is seduced by three of Dracula's mistresses, luckily he escapes. Back in at his home Van Helsing is holding a pinic with Mina, Jonathan's wife, Victoria, his daughter, Lucy and Author, his two friends. At night Dracula comes to Lucy and turns her to a vampire. Author and Dr. Van Helsing have to do the unthinkable to free her soul. While distracted Dracula captures Victoria. The group goes to fight Dracula, in the end Author joins Lucy and Victoria is reunited with her parents.
Analyze I really enjoyed the gothic style of costume and the eery background props, it really brought the play all together. The dances were amazing, the beats and music that they danced to were so upbeat and powerful that it gave me goosebumps. Some of the dances by certain groups were repeated throughout the play, like the madiens they did the same steps several times. Each way the groups moved together were in perfect harmony, it was really stimulating to see a ballet so entertaining and technically well done. 

Interpret The mood is dark and eery, but the message conveyed is about undying love, the writer really creates an ironic ballet. Even in some of the dances the music is soft and passionate but soon are dark and strong. Everyone ended up with the people they loved. 
Evaluate I absolutely loved this ballet; it was so powerful and strong and I would recommend it for anyone to see. The ballet was beautiful and the plot was gothically romantic, I hope to see it again next year.  

Assignment # 8 Attend a concert

SoundCheck is the student all male a cappella group at the University of South Carolina. Each winter they put on a concert to help support the Palmetto's Children's Hospital.
Describe Like last year the auditorium is standing room only, seats are filled within minutes of the doors opening. Each of the members introduced themselves and one explained why they were asking everyone to bring a toy. In the beginning they sang modern songs, which I love a cappella anything so this part was enjoyable. Then they moved on to holiday music, which is always fun.
Analyze The members varied from bass to soprano and each complimented each other. One member was even a beat-boxer using his mouth and and hands to make a beat. SoundCheck participated in two different disciplines of art- Music and Dance.
Interpret The concert was put on to raise toys for the children at the Palmetto Children's Hospital. Another reason to put on the concert was to promote the awareness of SoundCheck, to make them more known, at one point they asked people to buy their christmas cd.
Evaluate I really enjoyed the performance, I don't mean to be cheesy but its like having Glee perform right in front of you. From popular to Christmas songs, the concert was really enjoyable and I can't wait for the next one.

Assignment #9 Attend a Play

I attended the play Big Love. 


Describe: Big Love was performed in the Longstreet Theater, which is a theater in the round. A family of girls were set up against their will to marry their cousin. Instead of doing so they escaped accidently to the house of Piero, where things are just as bad. Instead of helping them Piero set them up for marriage. The girls decided to seek revenge and kill the husbands to be. All but one killed their grooms, the one who did not ran off and saved her husband. I really enjoyed the creativeness of the set and costumes. It was fun to watch fellow students act in such a interesting play.

Interpret: With such little props and costumes, the actors really had to own their character and make the audience believe in what was happening. This "big love" has really become popular in other medias so it was a perfect idea to use for the Longstreets Theater. It was an enjoyable play full of love and revenge. The actors did a great job of making it come to life.

Analyze: Big Love is a play to bring attention to the ancient ways of the Greeks to present day. Marriage set-ups are still not so uncommon in the past or present. It gave multiple views of the situation for the bride, groom, and parents.

Evaluate: I really enjoyed this play because of the USC involvement, its put on by students, made by students, etc. This was my first time in Longstreet Theater and I really hope that I will be able to go back. Big Love was entertaining and I would recommend almost anyone to see it.

Assignment #10 Opera and Musical Theater

1.Turandot is a three act opera composed by Giacomo Puccini, who died before the opera was completed, but it was finished by Franco Alfano. The opera is about Princess Turnadot who would only marry a man who could solve her three puzzles and every many that tried and failed lost their head. Before giving up one man solved the three puzzle, but Turandot was not pleased, he plead with her that if she could find out his name before the next morning, she could have his head. Searching for his name day and night, she comes across a maid who gave in to the Princess. Ecstatic with the knowledge of his name she runs through town yelling " I know his name I know his name." She says "his name is... love," for she had been in love with him the entire time.

Mozart

2. Two operas composed by Mozart: Don Giovanni and Marriage of Figaro 

Carousel, a light opera

3. The difference between a light opera and an opera is that during the performance of a light opera words are spoken, not everything is sung. Light opera appeals to more audiences and usually are more popular. An opera is a more elite style of music and theater. Both are appealing and I hope to experience them some day. 

I had a really fun time with this activity in class. The opera, Turnadot, was fun of love and passion, death and chaos. I think my small drawing elicits all the emotions expressed during this play. 

Assignment #12- Music

A. What is the time for the Music? 4/4 meaning four beats per measure.
B. How many beats does the solid green G get? The solid G is a quarter note and when it is solid it gets 1 note.
C. How many beats does the open green G get? The open G is an open half note and gets 2 beats.
D. What is one dark vertical line to one dark vertical line called? This is know as a measure, it helps with timing.
E. What song is this? The song is twinkle twinkle, little star.

 I used to sing this song at the first star I saw every night when I was younger, I remember being told it was good luck to do that.

1. Who wrote Peter and the Wolf? Sergey Prokofiev wrote Peter and the Wolf in 1936.
2. What instrument is played as Peter? Peter is played by the violin.
3. What instrument is played as the wolf? The wolf is played by the french horn. ( I really like this instrument because of the way it sounds and looks, its really unique)
4. What instrument is played by the grandfather, duck, bird, and alligator?
Bassoon, clarinet, flute respectively, I don't remember there being an alligator in the movie. The hunters were played by the timpani.
I really enjoyed watching, it was the first time I had seen this version and it was a interesting way to learn about different types of instruments.

Assignment #11 Phantom of the Opera

1. This movie combines many art disciplines. Which ones were present? Can you name 5? Art disciplines is the different categories in which art can fall into. Phantom of the Opera displays many of these disciplines including: dance, theater, music, film (if you are watching the movie), and visual art. Phantom of the Opera takes place in a theater where many of the productions are opera, thus including dance and music. Phantom of the Opera is not just an on stage Broadway performance it is also a movie, allowing it to be considered in the discipline of film. The set used in both on-stage in film involve realistic period set designs, including famous paintings, sculptures, and architecture.


2. Choose one of the following questions to research and write about: b. Download one of the songs from "Phantom of the Opera" and describe what is going on during the song and opera. 
video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RxKjDUrmecA

My favorite song from both the on-stage performance and movie is Masquerade. I love how dramatic and rambunctious this part is, was well as visual aesthetics of the elaborate and elegant costumes. During the opera the owners of the Paris Opera house are throwing a Masquerade to celebrate the success that have recently come into. The people are dancing and singing on and around the grand staircase, the setting is just magnificent. It is not only the wealthy people who are celebrating but those who put in the work to make the production a success. On a side note, Christine is engaged. All this celebrating shortly comes to a stop when the phantom of the opera enters and does not like what is going on. The song is about being whoever you want to be and no one will ever know: a king, a devil, a ram. It is also about celebrating in the spectacular that is surrounding you.

Assignment #6- Theater

This type of stage is know as proscenium arch stage found first in ancient Rome.  In proscenium theater the stage is border by a large proscenium arch, which is most times has extricate designs and are beautiful . The audience faces the stage, which is usually several feet taller than the audience, this allows them to see the stage better than if it were at ground level.  Stage and set designers create backgrounds on cut cloths, back cloths, ground row, and props that mimic what the scene would look like if were actually occurring. At home this is the type of theater I attend at the Chrysler Hall in Norfolk, Va. I have seen many plays and musicals there including Lion King and Wicked. In New York I have seen on Broadway productions in proscenium theaters including Phantom of the Opera and Mamma Mia!

1. Proscenium Arch Wall
2. N/A
3. Off Stage Left
4. Main Curtain
5. Apron
6. Audience/ House
7. Teaser