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Margot Rowe
CP English
Period 1
November 18th
A Whole New World
For the past three and a half years, Ive always been in the category of actor with the
occasional singer and dancer but acting is where I really belong. When it came to a senior
project it had to be based around something I cared about and something I loved. When I was
about 6 years old, I dressed up as Princess Jasmine from Aladdin for Halloween its my favorite
Disney princess movie and to this day still is. When Mrs. Albertson (The Theatre Department
Teacher) told me I had the opportunity to either direct Treasure Island or Aladdin, I knew my
choice in seconds. There was just one problem, I have no idea how to direct or what methods are
needed to direct. So, I had to step out my acting world and enter a whole new world of directing.
Not only that but 50 of my peers had to look to me for my leadership. The first question that
comes to your mind when you realize you have to direct a class of FIFTY students is How do I
direct a show? That was where I was about to go wrong with this whole production, the 2nd
question was soon then What could wrong? Now, unlike the genie in Aladdin who goes with
the flow and basically uses improvisation throughout the entire storyline, I cant do that when it
comes to directing a classic story such as this one. The first step to putting on a great show is
actually casting the show, then memorizing the lines, along with character development. Not to
mention I have two actors with mental and physical disabilities and actors who are shy and have
stage fright. Theres also my first timers in the theatre world who have no idea how to do stage

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make-up, and my fish characters in the show who will need special effect make-up. Meanwhile I
have to keep and audience of children and adults entertained and focused on the story. The story
itself will also need to be grasped by all the actors, not just by the script but the history along
with the cultural of the story is being told from, so costumes and regional clothing will be taken
considered. This whole new world of directing will not be a simple magic carpet ride, its going
to be bumpy with twists and turns and sudden drops but in the end we will arrive to our
destinationopening night.

First steps on the stage

After handing out the scripts and reading through the play, students picked three characters of
their choice of who they would like to audition for. After writing down everybody down on
which part they wanted, the audition phase started. Working Mrs. Albertson, certain scenes were
picked to audition for, now each student must come up and perform on the stage doing a cold
read (a cold read is an audition without any preparation). During this phase, looking for character
for the certain roles is important in this process. For the villain, a rude and mean character is
what should be seen when it comes to auditions. As for the genie, a lighthearted and hilarious
character should appear with great energy. After everyone auditions, its time to start the casting
process. Now actors will be considered for variety of roles before an audition list is even set up
(Guild). As true as it is, looks will be considered and previous experience along with the term
senior-ority which means due to how its seniors last year they should get a bigger role in the
production. First off, directors have to have some guidance on who best fits these roles (Ellis-

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Christensen) .The directors dont have a lot of time when it comes to casting they have to work
in tight deadline & high pressure situations(Guild). Character will be shown during auditions
along with senior-ority and whoever the directors believed showed the best character and had
potential to grow will be most likely assigned the role.
Casting is done, times for the actors to memorize their lines. The first method to memorizing
is actually writing your lines, using flashcards and simply reading it over and over again
(Albertson). These methods are the most popular when it comes to memorizing lines. By writing
the lines that actor is connecting their mind to the action of writing the characters lines down
and seeing the script lines at the exact same time (Newton). They are simple and easy
(Albertson), theres no reason not to do it. The writing of the lines are also part of the actors
grade, it is required in Childrens Theatre to write the characters lines that actor has received
when assigned the role. Its worth six points of their grade and is due every Monday.
During the process of memorizing lines, character must be developed as well. While some of
my actors struggle to build character themselves for personal gains. So how can the director help
with that? Well, when it comes to building good character its all about addition, not
subtraction (Baker). When it comes to an actor struggling with character its usual because part
of it is self-restriction; we learn to give up (on) something yet its also about perspective
(Gowin). Removing the negative will also help build character because when it comes to
change, our focus is usually always on the factors of our lives that are negative (Baker).
Focusing on positives of the actors and encouraging them to believe in themselves is very
inspirational and motivating for actors as well, little encouragements can help anyone out. There
are two actors in the class who struggle due to physical disabilities and/or mental disabilities.
One of the actors has slight autism and the other one is legally blind, they can only use their

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peripheral vision. A disability is referred a physical impairment or mental impairment that limits
a persons functions (Disabled World), to encourage these actors, the director plans to show
them and read to them a list of famous people who have disabilities to show that they arent
different from anyone else and that they can do it!

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Off Book, On Stage

Its getting to the time where actors are getting off-book (off-book-an actor learning their lines
to the point where they dont need a script) and starting to get comfortable on stage. Yet, when
everyone comes to see them its going to be difficult to see them with the stage lights beaming
down on them. Thats why stage make-up is important. First, wash your face thoroughly
(Mitchell) so the actor can create a clean surface to start applying make-up. Whats required for
stage make-up is liquid foundation (a shade lighter), and translucent powder, bronzer, brown
(no glitter looking) eyeshadow, mascara, brown eyeliner, blush, neutral color lipstick, and makeup brushes (Albertson). First apply the liquid foundation all over the face and is necessary the
neck as well. Be aware to blend evenly into the actors hairline, at the temples, and slightly
under the jawline (Mitchell). Apply blush along with bronzer to add that rosy cheek look also
so you dont look like a ghost (Albertson). Bronzer to contour and bronzer is amazing
(Deepica) which will be used to define certain feature in the actors face like cheekbones and
collar bones, this is common knowledge. Apply eyeshadow in which certain shades will be used
to emphasize the eye (Mitchell). Apply a thick line of eyeliner and add mascara, to keep this
make-up in place You need the translucent powder to hold everything (Albertson). Now the
actors are ready to perform, well not all of them.
Now for some more interesting make-up, there are fish characters in this Childrens Theatre
production of Aladdin. So how can a human actor be turned into a fish? First, start off with the
first steps in the previous paragraph above, wash the face and apply the basic foundation. Theres
one extra thing needed in this processfish nets. Fish nets? Yes, Fish nets!! Fish net tights are
needed for this process, the netting will create a scale-like illusion. Cut one leg off a pair of
regular adult fishnet tights, than cut the foot end off of the tights to make it into a tube (Hines).

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Be careful with the scissors when doing this! Gently stretch the biggest part of the tube hose
over the actors face (Hines). Using eyeshadow apply the eyeshadow across the fishnets around
the face creating the scale-like art. Then carefully remove the tube sock (Miranda, Slashed
Beauty). There will be a variety of colors and combinations or where the eyeshadow will be
applied but its a simple process and sets realistic standards or fish-like characteristics.
The stage itself is very difficult to work with due to how its Santa Susana High Schools Black
Box Theatre, its a small black theatre that can only seat 100 people. Due to how this is Aladdin,
we need a magic carpet and make a genie come out of a magic lamp, now in the Black Box
theatre there isnt that much to work with. Due to how its a confined space, fog machines are not
recommended and being concerned for adults and children who could have asthma or breathing
problems, it would not be best to put their health at risk in order to make a scene of a flying
carpet more believable or a genie appearing out of a lamp more realistic. Using lighting by
fading in and out will probably be the wisest choice for making the magic happen, along with
instant blackouts, which is basically switching a light switch as fast as you can, except this is on
a lighting board. We dont to have a black out to long because it might take away the attention of
the story and audience will start to focus on the fact that the blackout is taking so long and the
transition to the next scene is troublesome.

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Opening Night
Its opening night and the directors are welcoming people and notice children entering the
Black Box theatre, curious and excited, the director has to calm them down and prepare them to
sit down and remain seated and focus on the show that will be performed. Its technically a
school setting, they are surrounded by talkative people and they are obviously so excited to see
the show as well. With simple methods such as meeting with the kids and using a method to keep
them focused on the show, one method is when the lights are flicking on and off (Davies).
Before the show begins, house lights will flicker telling everyone that the show is about to begin,
which can be a sign for the younger children that the show will begin and its time to settle down.
Also using hand motions (Davies) will help, the director wouldnt want to use hand signals in
which some of the older audience members would feel like they were be treated like children, so
discreetly using hand signals such as placing a finger on the lip when the house manager
announces the house rules such as NO TALKING, that can give the director and opportunity to
use that hand motion making and directing eye contact with the children.
Now during this whole process, the curtain opens and the audience notices the cultural aspects
of everything, you notice that all the women are wearing hijabs, which is an acritical of regional
clothing you will find women wearing in Arabian regions, and Islamic regions due to there
religion. Realizing that these actors know about the culture and history of Aladdin which was
written by an anonymous storyteller and the story was passed down for generations till the
Grimm Brothers decided to write it down themselves and since then it was turned into a Disney
movie in 1992 (Disney.com) and has many adaptions today.

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FINAL BOW
Todays moments are tomorrows memories Robin Williams
The quote above is not only a quote by the wonderful actor who played The Genie in Aladdin
but is the most honest quote throughout the experience I intend to make during my senior
project. Knowing that the time I have to prepare my show is small and the cast I have is big. Its
a grand challenge Im taking on. Knowing that todays moments of research will be locked away
in my memories for helping my actors put on a wonderful show and the audience to enjoy a
wonderful show. My senior project will take a lot of work and maybe 3 wishes but I believe that
the research above will help my learning stretch as a director and grow into a leader, so that in
the end, this whole new world of directing, wont be so new, so that I can fly on a magic carpet
to a more brighter, successful, and magical future