Laurie Walton
October 13, 2020


Dear 6th Grade Families:

I hope this finds you all safe and healthy and coping with the current challenges we are all facing.

I am very excited to announce "Placement" Auditions for our upcoming virtual "Concert" version of the popular musical OLIVER, JR!

While the 6th Grade Musical will "look" different this year, we feel that we can still offer a joyous and fun-filled outlet for the children, giving them the opportunity to tap into the arts and their talents this fall! Our finished product will be an edited, then streamed, version of our show on December 4 & 5. There are challenges that will go hand in hand with remote rehearsals and performances, but as time has gone on, we (who are directors) have all found some more creative ways to work with children virtually. We will still be able to tell this delightful story of OLIVER in a more simplified way.  

Much more information will follow, but for now here is the plan:
  • Please have your 6th Grader submit a video (filmed with phone is fine!) by Friday, October 16. You should submit it to my email address, laurieamariwalton@gmail.com. I have attached the music that the children should use. They may choose between the song "Where Is Love?" This goes from :13 to 1:32... or "Consider Yourself"- from :05 to 1:02. Lyrics to both are attached.
  • The examples of the music are definitely done with British accents!! The children may try that if they want to, but it is not necessary for the "audition". We will have some fun trying to perfect it during our rehearsal period! Don't let them stress about learning the accent!!
  • We will be creative working together to write some narration to accompany the music so we can tell the story.
  • We will do minimal movement...but I do want to give the children some minimal choreography to work on too (that will most often come in the form of youtube videos)
  • We will begin our virtual rehearsals on Monday, October 19. I will have assigned the numbers by then. Our schedule will vary. Since much of the work will be one on one or with small groups - we can have some flexibility in the schedules.
  • If you have a 6th grader who doesn't want to sing - they may certainly participate with our "script" work.

This will most definitely wind up being a collaborative effort. Once everything is taught and the kids feel confident and comfortable with their material, I will need to rely on you (parents) to film the children "performing" their sections of the play. We will then enlist the help of editors to put the whole thing together and to match the voices with the music, etc.

It's going to be fun. There will undoubtedly be questions. Please don't hesitate to reach out with them. You can always reach me by email at laurieamariwalton@gmail.com

Looking forward to giving the children the opportunity to perform once again!
Be well.

Warmly,

Laurie Walton



WHERE IS LOVE? (accompaniment :13-1:32)

WHERE IS LOVE? (London version with singer)
 
CONSIDER YOURSELF(karaoke - :05 to 1:04)

CONSIDER YOURSELF (w/singer)