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Site updated 11/18/2008

About the Walker School's middle school drama club, which I direct.

THE WORD SANCTUARY - My blog of commentary on literature, arts, news, education, and religion

Music and lyrics for mythical heroes, cartoons, plays, churches, and concert halls by Smoot and his students.

news about the new musical comedy, with music by Judy M. Reardon, words by Smoot

For teachers: 12 Days to Student-written plays

Latest draft of Arts Month schedule for the coming school year.  I direct Arts Month for The Walker School.

TW.Smootpage.com, a website that I manage for my father

What's New

THE MIRACLE WORKER Cast Announced


Photo: Center Stage, Jackson, Michigan
W.arts Drama Team of The Walker School's Hubert Middle School presents

THE MIRACLE WORKER by William Gibson
presented by special arrangement with Samuel French, Inc.

Cast
(with alternate roles in parentheses)
Doctor......................................Tyler Sudderth (alt. Keller)
Kate......................................... Molly Uher (alt. Aunt Ev)
Keller.................................Morgan Middleton (alt. Doctor)
Helen.....................................Kelly Rambeau (alt. Alice)
Martha ................................................. Sarah McGregor
Percy .................................... Will Stowers (alt. James)
Aunt Ev .................................. Miranda Martin (alt. Kate)
James ................................ Coleman Hedden (alt. Percy)
Dr. Anagnos .................. Eleni Demestihas (alt. Beatrice)
Annie Sullivan ............................. Madi Parks (alt. Laura)
Viney ......................................................... Katie Fallon
Laura, a blind girl .................... Celena Ashcar (alt. Annie)
Beatrice, a blind girl ...... Amy Collerton (alt. Dr. Anagnos)
Alice, a blind girl .......................... Molly West (alt. Helen)
"The smallest girl" ..................................... Madison Long
Jimmy ("Boy's Voice") ............................. Matthias Wilder
Man's voice p. 19 and Doctor, p. 56.............. Kian Roshani
Author ("Man's voice" pp. 55, 57) ........... Zack Littke-Smith

Please go to Mr. Smoot's classroom on Wednesday to initial your part if you accept it. (That means, write your initials next to your name!) If you do not, I'll have to assume that you don't want the part any more.

My second-in-command is the Stage Manager, who marks the staging in the master script, makes sure that the props, stage, and costume crew get their work done properly before each rehearsal and performance, and follows along in the script to correct errors in lines and staging. For stage manager, I invite Grace Nicholson.

The surprising depth and intensity of so many of the auditioners, even the first - timers, took me by surprise! For all of these actors, we're only half finished with selecting staff for this show. I have a pool of Warts who want to be involved backstage, and we certainly have a lot of work to be done to make each show good. There are dozens of light changes and recorded sound effects that have to be timed perfectly; we have dozens of small props and set changes; we'll have a devil of a time getting people into and out of costumes. Here is a list of people who, I hope, will be eligible and willing to join us for rehearsals in mid-January: Adam West, Erik Nadel, Jassy Tuteja, Hannah Uher, Shannon Keegan, Kirstyn DuBar, Erin Leagan. Karmin Shute, Connor Sudderth, Nic Newmark, and Sammy Smith.

First four rehearsals
All Actors and the Stage Manager are expected at the first rehearsal on Thursday, beginning at 3:30 in the Studio Theatre (or else in rm 202). At 4:15, I'll excuse all except Kate, Keller, Annie, and their three alternates, who will rehearse until 5:00.

On Friday, we will follow the same schedule, only I'd like James and his alternate to join Kate, Keller, and Annie until 5:00.

Next week, I plan to have only a memorization workshop on Monday and Tuesday, 3:30 - 5:00, for anyone who shows up.

We will perform the play in the Studio Theatre on February 2 and 3. It seems a long way away, but the show is nearly two hours long, and very tricky, with realistic scenes interrupted by flashbacks to Annie Sullivan's early years. Sometimes we see action simultaneously in two places at once.

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By the Way


Looking for a new way to invest?
How about lending to a business on the other side of the world? New York Times columnist Nicholas Kristof did, and traveled to meet his beneficiaries.

Smoot on the Radio!
My younger brother Todd is now a radio personality with a wide audience hungry for fitness tips and road-race news in south Georgia. Wednesday nights, 6:00-7:00, he's Web Streaming at NewsTalk 105.9 FM WVGA. Go to www.newstalk1059wvga.com and click on the sponsored area to hear the program live.

Live from New York

Big Screen - High Def - Surround Sound!
It took me years to learn to appreciate opera, but seeing it live on the big screen makes it easy to fall in love with opera. Next year's season includes ten shows. Go to the web site for info on opera live in movie theatres.

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Why does this painting belong on a site devoted to History, Drama, Music, and Writing? Click on the image to find out.
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Smoot wrote a chapter in this book, collaborating with other teachers at the Kennesaw Mountain Writing Project (KMWP). Link to their site and find purchase info., too.

 KMWP
Kennesaw Mountain Writing Project