Oil City Middle and High School Choirs

Brian Stokes Mitchell is an actor of both the stage and screen, most noted for his powerful Broadway performances as Coalhouse Walker in Ragtime (from which Make them Hear You  comes), Don Quixote in Man of La Mancha, and his Tony Award Winning performance in Kiss Me Kate .  In addition, Mitchell has done a wealth of voiceover work, most notably in the role of Jethro in the animated movie, The Prince of Egypt . USING THE EVALUATION VOCABULARY FROM THE ADJUDICATION FORM (PROVIDED IN CLASS), EVALUATE MR. MITCHELL'S PERFORMANCE IN THIS VIDEO 1. How would you describe his voice? He is a bass/baritone.  Do you agree with this classification? Does it sound like the same voice throughout his range? Are all of his vowels consistent? Does he make it sound easy? Does it seem like he is really working hard to create the sound he is making?  Can you tell when he is singing in his chest voice, and when he is in falsetto? 2. Using some of the things we emphasize in class, how you

Please see previous posts and your email for Tuesday Afternoon's schedule.  Here is what is being rehearsed for the rest of the week: WEDNESDAY 3:15-5:30: 1-1 (FULL CAST) 2-5 (FULL CAST) 2-7 (FULL CAST) 1-2 (ADD Mission Band) 1-5 (ADD Mission Band, Shopper and Man crossover) 1-8 1-10 2-2 THURSDAY 7:00-9:00: 1-4 (Full Scene) 1-7 2-1 (Full Scene) 2-3 2-4 (Full Scene) 2-6 (Full Scene) FRIDAY 6:30-9:00: Choreography Rehearsal - Running: Sit Down, You're Rockin the Boat Take Back Your Mink Bushel and A Peck Crapshooter's Dance Luck Be a Lady Oldest Established Jacki will be in attendance for Friday's Rehearsal SATURDAY 2:00-5:00: HOLD FOR REHEARSAL - WILL CANCEL PROVIDED REST OF WEEK GOES WELL! See Mr. Luxbacher with Questions.

In an attempt to accommodate those who would like to attend tomorrow night's basketball game, I am going to move rehearsal back to 3:15 - 5:30 pm.  Here are the following scenes I would like to rehearse: Fugue for Tinhorns - Song and Blocking ·          1-2  ·          1-3 ·          1-4 Dialog After Bushel and a Peck ·          1-5 Benny and Nicely Only ·          1-6 ·          1-9 ·          2-4 Dialog After Gambler Crossover and Sue Me ·          2-6              NOTE: Students participating in VC's play rehearsal are excused from Tuesday's rehearsal. Schedule for the rest of the week will be posted tomorrow.  See Mr. Luxbacher with questions.

Below are some upcoming schedule changes for the musical.  While none of them are changes of time or date, there are changes to what we are working on.  Let Mr. Luxbacher know if you have questions or issues. THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 20TH: Clean-up and Polishing Act I 6:30-8:30 FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 21ST: Clean-up and Polishing Act II 3:15-5:30 FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 28TH: Polishing Act II, Scenes 1-4 6:30-8:30  Was scheduled Act I Put-Together, but many of the orchestra will be involved with Joseph at Rocky Grove HS that Night TUESDAY, MARCH 4TH: Act I Put-Together 6:30 - 9:00 (FULL CAST IS EXPECTED TO ATTEND) WEDNESDAY, MARCH 12TH -  FRIDAY, MARCH 14TH: HOLD FOR REHEARSAL As of right now, I am only planning on adding the Wednesday Night Rehearsal that week if we need it.  With the weather, I am not ready to release the others.  If EVERYONE has their lines, moves, and music ready at the Act I and II Put-Togethers, we will more than likely give you a long weekend before T

Mandy Patinkin is an actor of both the stage and screen, with roles on Homeland, Chicago Hope, Dead Like Me, Criminal Minds , and, most famously, as Inigo Montoya in The Princess Bride.   However, many people do not know that Patinkin is also a famous Broadway actor and tenor.  He has originated the role of George Seurat in Sunday in the Park with George, and Che in Evita. USING THE EVALUATION VOCABULARY FROM THE ADJUDICATION FORM (PROVIDED IN CLASS), EVALUATE MR. PATINKIN'S PERFORMANCE IN THIS VIDEO 1. How would you describe his voice? He is a tenor.  Do you agree with this classification? Does it sound like the same voice throughout his range? Are all of his vowels consistent? Does he make it sound easy? Does it seem like he is really working hard to create the sound he is making?  Can you tell when he is singing in his chest voice, and when he is in falsetto? 2. Using some of the things we emphasize in class, how you would evaluate his posture, his jaw placement (

Due to today's school cancellation, we will not be having musical this evening at 6:30.  Please take some time today to go over lines, choreography, blocking, etc.  so we are ready to go tomorrow afternoon.  The schedule this week will be adjusted slightly: Wednesday (2/19) -  3:15 - 5:30 pm: Polishing Act I, Scenes 6-10 - if time, work Act II, Scenes 1-3 Thursday (2/20) - 6:30 - 8:30 pm:   Polishing Act I, Scenes 1-5  (FULL CAST MUST BE IN ATTENDANCE!!  WE WILL BE RECONFIGURING ACT I, SCENE 1) Friday (2/21) - 3:15 - 5:30 pm: Polishing Act II (We will get through as much as we can.  Provided we can do some work on Act II Friday, we should be able to get through everything.  If not, we will make sure to at least get through Scene 5 for full cast) Saturday (2/22) - 2:00 - 5:00 pm: Choreography - Luck Be a Lady and Crapshooter's Dance NOTE: We will be building set pieces tomorrow (2/19) (namely the newsstand).  Anyone who has a study hall, who would be willi

Musical Schedule for This Week: MONDAY: NO REHEARSAL   Was scheduled for a hold, but as the show is completely blocked, save for one song, I am ok with cancelling for Monday night TUESDAY (6:30 - 8:30): Polishing and Clean-up Act I:   We are Working Scenes 1-5.  FULL CAST MUST BE THERE!  We are at the point that we need to make some decisions with blocking Act I, Scene 1, and if you are not there, I cannot guarantee that you will be in the scene.  We will try to run all scenes twice if possible with music. Please review music and choreo prior to arriving. Wednesday (3:15-5:30): Polishing and Clean-up Act I:  We are working Scenes 6-10.  Please review blocking, music, and choreo, especially for the Havana Scene.  If we have time, we will also probably start Act II. Thursday (6:30-8:30): Polishing and Clean-up Act II:  We will get through the majority of Act II, running each scene twice. Friday (3:15 - 5:30): FULL CAST MUSIC.   If we need to, we will also w

Choreography is for Gambler's (Crapshooter's Dance) today from 2-5 pm.  Please contact Mr. Luxbacher with questions.

FROM WIKIPEDIA: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mahalia_Jackson Mahalia Jackson (October 26, 1911 – January 27, 1972) was an American gospel singer. Possessing a powerful contralto voice, she was referred to as "The Queen of Gospel". Jackson became one of the most influential gospel singers in the world and was heralded internationally as a singer and civil rights activist. She recorded about 30 albums (mostly for Columbia Records) during her career, and her 45 rpm records included a dozen "golds"—million-sellers. "I sing God's music because it makes me feel free," Jackson once said about her choice of gospel, adding, "It gives me hope. With the blues, when you finish, you still have the blues." USING THE EVALUATION VOCABULARY FROM THE ADJUDICATION FORM (PROVIDED IN CLASS), EVALUATE MS. JACKSON'S PERFORMANCE IN THIS VIDEO 1. How would you describe her voice? She is a professional soprano. Do you agree with this

Musical Rehearsals this week will be Monday, Tuesday, and Saturday.  Please note changes in time where applicable: MONDAY: Full Cast Music Rehearsal 7:00 - 9:00 (Goal is to firm up Act II Music, and hit some from Act I, if we can) TUESDAY: Full Finish/Run Act II 5:00 - 6:30 (We will block Act II, Scene 7, then hit Scenes 3 and 5, then run Act if time) SATURDAY: Choreography 2:00 - 5:00 (More than likely Gambler's Chorus to finish Crapshooter's Dance - will confirm with Jacki and let you know if this is different) See Mr. Luxbacher with questions

Congratulations to Oil City High School's Radical Rhythm (Kiersten Beach, Leisel Kober, Jennifer Williams, and Amber Culver) for placing second in the Sweet Adelines International Region 17 Rising Start Competition this past Saturday in Huron, Ohio.  This is their 2nd second place showing in the past three years! Congratulations also to Radical Rhythm and The Long and Short of It (Hanna Stucke, Allyson Stanley, Rachele Heasley, and Nicole Boocks) for participating in the Region 17 Young Women in Harmony Chorus!  Excellent Performances by all!  Some of the video from this weekend is up on the choir YouTube Webpage: http://www.youtube.com/user/OCHSChoir?feature=watch

Choreography 2-5 Today for Crapshooter's Dance.  No Nicely and Sky.  Email Mr. Luxbacher or Jacki with questions

As many of you know, the National Anthem is a difficult piece for singers to master, and one that is often butchered at public events.  This week, we are going to critique the performance of Renee Fleming, a Grammy Award winning vocalist and Opera Star.  As many of you know, the performance you are watching is from the 2014 Super Bowl, held February 2nd at Giant's Stadium.   USING THE EVALUATION VOCABULARY FROM THE ADJUDICATION FORM (PROVIDED IN CLASS), EVALUATE MS. FLEMING'S PERFORMANCE 1.  How would you describe her voice?  She is a professional soprano.  Do you agree with this classification?  Does it sound like the same voice throughout her range?  Are all of her vowels consistent?  Does she make it sound easy?  Does it seem like she is really working hard to create the sound she is making? 2.  Using some of the things we emphasize in class, how you would evaluate her posture, her jaw placement (is it open? is it closed?  Does it look like the space in the ba

Due to the basketball performance tonight, I have slightly adjusted the schedule for rehearsal.  Here is the plan for tonight (2/6/14) 6:30 - 7:00 Review Blocking/Choreo for Rocking the Boat - Please be in your seats on stage at 6:30 7:00 - 7:20 Review National Anthem and perform at Girls Basketball Game 7:20 - 8:30 Finish Act II, Scene 5 I have been asked by a couple of you to if you can see the game tonight, and I am willing to let you go over and see the game, once the scene is done.  As we are only a few pages from finishing, you should be able to see the majority of the game.  The goal for tonight is speed and efficiency.  See me with questions.