Romeo and Juliet Scene and Costume

I had decided to do a scene and costume design for Romeo and Juliet. I decided to do both because both play a role in the mood and meaning. The story of Romeo and Juliet is about wealth and love. So I knew I wanted my scene where Romeo and Juliet met to be a fancy ball type room, have the color red to symbol love.

The costumes that I wanted the two main characters to have is something that will resemble their status and age. In the story Juliet is described as a young girl around the age 14, she is beautiful rich yet naive. Her outfit will be simple yet elegant.
Juliet will wear a white dress to symbolize purity. Her hairstyle is a bun, with white dove shape band around it would symbolize caged birds trying to be free, like Juliet wants to be. Her pearls will show her wealth.

Romeo will have on a simple attire. Nothing too fancy, because in the play he wasn’t worried about his wealth. He was a lover boy so he didn’t where much armor. So he will wear the classic tights, vest and puffy shirt, with a cap.

This is their meeting attire. The scene and outfit they wore at first sight.

Alliance Theatre in Atlanta

What draw me into wanting to discuss the Alliance Theater of Atlanta were the reviews, the shows that were performed and the snapshots of the inside of their building. The inside of the building looks huge and resembles theaters you see on television where operas take place. I would not mind visiting the Alliance Theater if I ever had the opportunity.

The Alliance Theater was created in 1968 and ever since their showing of _ they have been going strong, winning a Tony Award for top Regional Theatre four decades later. The Alliance Theater is known for their diverse audience, having shows for every age group; from kids to adults. Not only are the good at opening their horizons to younger age levels, but the company is so good, they were able to launch three Tony Award-winning hits to Broadway: Alice Walker’s The Color Purple, Elton John and Tim Rice’s Aida and Alfred Uhry’s The Last Night of Ballyhoo. Impressive I’ll say. This proves the magnitude of the Alliance Theater.

The Alliance Theater believes in quality. Their focus is on what the audience wants. They also focuses on their community and the idea of helping up and coming inspired playwrights to show their work. There is a competition called the National Graduate Playwright Competition. Playwright competes for a prize. The Alliance Theater gives the four finalists the chance to work on stage producing their own work and broadcasting it to the Atlanta artist community. Community is everything to Alliance that’s why they work for the people to entertain and keep interested.

Another great part about the Alliance Theater in Atlanta is their intern program. The internship is for college students and recent graduates who are actively pursuing careers in professional theatre. The interns have the ability to have sessions with workers at the theater. Even though the internship does not pay the idea to work hands on and receive credit for the job is payment enough.

Not only do they just focus on older classmen but children k-12. They start early teaching children about the art of the theater. For each grade level there is a certain amount of classes offered to prepare the youth. During a class called “Movin’ and Groovin” children learn stories through movement and the idea to build physical foundation for their possible later acting career. They also offer a class called “The Actor’s Voice”, which trains the youth voice and develop a perfect articulation.

The idea of the Alliance Theater being involved in the community, helping the youth mature their skills for the future, and give the college students interns and a jump start to a possible career, is awesome for a theater to do. Not only focusing on the art within their four walls but outside and worldwide is something that more theaters should follow.

Broadway Closings!!

I am not a big fan of shows on Broadway, however I was a bit surprise at the huge varieties they had and the choices. Shows like Wicked, The Lion King, Spider-Man; Turn of the Dark, and Chicago, are all the Broadway musicals that I am familiar with and heard good things about. However doing research on the 2011 Broadway shows I became more interested in the shows that were closing. The numbers were unbelievable. From today’s date, shows are closing next week, some in a month, and others were giving two extra months. These shows consist of The Addams Family, Billy Elliot; The Musical, The Mountaintop, and there’s news that the play Bonnie & Clyde might be closing the day it makes its premiere. The list goes on, but listing them would take away the meaning of the blog.

Looking at the reviews of the play’s that were due to close, the prices of the tickets, and the declining interest in theater life is why most shows are being closed.

Reading some of the reviews posted by the New York Times and the actual viewers I saw that the likes and dislikes where kind of around the same numbers. There were some that was fascinated with the show and others were disappointed. But that’s how things like that go. However what I found interesting and the reason that might cause the show to close is critics and reviews. Many people take heed to reviews, if someone sees a show getting bad publicity or reviews they probably feel less obligated to go .Critics use their opinion to persuade others judgment. So the question then would be does criticism actual mean anything to the outcome of a show? I say yes, bad reviews can lead up to bad numbers of box tickets being sold.

Now another factor we can add to the reason shows close is ticket prices. Good seats to a Broadway play would average to about $100-$150. They are not cheap! The way the economy is the $100 ticket could be used for much more. But the people involved in promoting the play knows these things, this is why they sometimes lower the price to make them appeal to more people. They go as low as $50 that’s half price for the original ticket. However, like many people in America the crew putting together the play has bills as well so the cheaper they make the tickets, the less money they are actually making back. This causes them to not be able to hold the space where they are doing the performances, cast has to be laid off, and eventually they must shut down.

With so much technology coming out these days, social networks, and television, the art of theater is just not as interesting to this generation as it was to prior generations. If there is no appreciation for an art and the new millennium kids do not find going to a play something “fun” of course the ticket sales will decline, attendance will decline, and with no tickets being sold and no people coming out to support, this would lead to of course the closing of shows.

I wrote this blog in hopes to inform, but instead I feel like I should close this with a little persuasion. There are cheap tickets online that fit in many people budgets, look some up, get off the computer or off the couch and go visit a show and remember don’t let critics influence your choice.

Tyler Perry; A Man of Many Faces

When thinking about a famous playwright who has inspired me, connect to me on a personal level, and is a great entertainer, I instantly think of the great Tyler Perry. Tyler Perry is a man of many different talents and faces. Writing, directing and acting in his own plays, he has somehow found a way to focus on a particular group of people while at the same time not eliminating anyone out.

Majority of Tyler Perry plays such as I Can Do Bad All By Myself, Diary of A Mad Black Women, and Madea’s Family Reunion are focused on religion, family, and love. He starts each play out introducing the family, the problem that they are dealing with, and always the turning point of the story is when the characters of the story realized that all hope is not lost and with family, love, and a little prayer things can change.

His concept and his morals are just a few of the things I love about his plays. The way Tyler Perry promotes his themes is what fascinates me. He uses inspirational songs and his realistic characters.

His character Mable Simmons, which Tyler Perry plays, is also known as Madea. She is a big woman, about 6 feet or more in height, very overweight, old and loud. She wears a floral house coat; she always carries a black purse which holds her nine miller meter hand gun in one hand, while in her other hand she holds a lite cigarette. Madea is a live wire in the family, running from the police, getting arrested, and smoking marijuana. What makes her character so important is, although she is the livewire she is also the rock which holds the family together. Being an older woman who experienced much in life she has a lot of wisdom and lessons to offer and teach and in her own way she offers it, even if she has to use her gun.
Tyler Perry uses Madea often to bring the family back together. Madea’s are very common in American families. Not all are crazy or walk around with a gun, but every family has an elder relative who holds up the family tree and is the go to person when they are in need of inspirational words.

He also uses her as a speaker to the audience. Often when the character is speaking she directs her attention to the audience and will say a phrase like:


“You know, I don't know what's wrong with folks, ain't anything wrong with these kids, they just need some love and support and discipline. I see people taking in foster kids just to get money off of them; you need to watch how you treat these kids. I don't know who I'm talking to, but there's a lady in this section somewhere, watch how you treat them”


The audience will clap and cheer and the message was delivered just like that. Creative Right?

I’ve witness many of Tyler Perry’s plays, some in theater others were recorded plays. I use to sit and watch, laugh at the animated characters and enjoy the songs that were sung. However, after taking up Intro to Theater and getting a better understanding on the concept and the task it takes just to make a productive play, I appreciate the art playwrights like Tyler Perry create. I was able to go back, analyze the characters and their meanings.

Tyler Perry work in my opinion is admirable. He became known for his own creativity and talent. He is able to act out his own characters; he can produce his own shows, and direct them as well. He was able to make himself a millionaire and overcome all the doubts from others. After learning his life story I would add always be self-motivated to my list of aspirations.

Too Perfect To Fail

Scene 1; Stage 1
The scene opens with London standing in front of her mirror applying her brand new Estee Lauder lipstick to her puckered lips. She steps back finger her long black satin hair then steps back admiring her outfit of choice. Giving herself the stamp of approval she leaves the bathroom heading to the kitchen.
Her mother Laura and Father Calib sits at the table drinking coffee.
London: Good morning mother, good morning father. She says in a singing voice
Calib: Good morning honey. He leans over to give her a kiss on her cheek.
Laura: Wow, are you going to school or are you going to a photo shoot?
London: I wish it was the later but, sorry to disappoint you but its only school.
Calib: Is this how school girls dress now? What happen to the uniform policy?
London: Daddy this is high school not elementary. They allow us the right to express ourselves.
Laura: If that’s what you call it. She says snidely
London: Ok, it looks like somebody woke up on the wrong side of the bed. I’ll eat breakfast at school. Good bye you guys.
Calib: Be safe
London: I will London walks toward the door
Laura: And London don’t forget to be home right after you get out of school. Scouts from Princeton will be here to talk to you about your scholarship.
London: Ok.
Closing the door, London got in her cherry red convertible and rush to school.
The scene fades out.
Scene 1; Stage 2
The scene opens with Samantha, Carly, and Maliah, posted on their lockers discussing after school plans.
Carly: My mom said she would be working late tonight so I guess we could hang at my house and watch a movie.
Maliah: What about your annoying brother? What you gonna do with him?
Carly: He’s not gonna bother us.
Samantha: Yeah right that’s what you said last time.
Carly: Then you come up with an idea.
At this time London walked over to her friends.
London: What yall talking about?
Maliah: It’s Friday we just coming up with plans for after school. What you want to do.
London: Nothing, I have to go home after school. Princeton’s coming to my house to talk about track.
Samantha: You are so lucky! I wish I had a talent.
Maliah: You do. Laying on your back.
The girls busted out into laughter. Hearing the bell ring all the girls hugged goodbye and went to their separate classes.
Scene 1; Stage 3-Math Class
The class is full of talking student. The teacher writes CALCULUS 101 on the board.
Math Teacher: All right class today we are discussing our favorite topic Calculus!
The class erupts in sighs and frustration. Sitting in the back of the class, London digs in her red bookbag in search of a pen, Todd walks behind her placing his hands over her eyes.
Todd: Guess who?
London: Trey Songz?
Todd: Yeah right girl.
Sitting in the seat next to her he smiled devilishly at her.
London: Why you eyeing me like that. She blushed.
Todd: You look nice today that’s all. Where you going?
London: Nowhere.
Todd: Damn, I thought you were coming over my house today to help me study.
London: I forgot. She frowned. But I have to go home I have a school coming to see me.
Todd: Damn you that good?
London: Hell Yeah!
They both laughed at her arrogant statement.
Math Teacher: Todd, London.. Turn to page 97 and shut your traps!
The scene fades out and goes to next stage.
Scene 1; Stage 4-After Class
After school, Sam, Maliah, and Carly once again stand surrounding their lockers looking for a place to go. Spotting London down the hall talking to Todd, Maliah called out to her. Telling Todd to wait a minute she walked over to her friends.
Maliah: Since you going home to meet up with Princeton we thought we’d get a ride with you.
London: I’m not going straight home. I’m going to help Todd with his Spanish work. He got finals coming up.
Carly: What happen to Princeton?
London: I’m going to stay over his house for just a minute and run home. I’ll make it in time.
Samantha: You better hope so. I would hate for you to miss that opportunity.
London: Please I am not missing anything. Besides I’m not like you scrubs I have plenty options!
Maliah: You think you are so perfect London. God don’t like ugly and he ain’t to find of beauty.
London: I have everything and yall got nothing. That’s why yall waiting on me for a ride. Cause you have none. She laughs at them
With that she walks away to meet up with Todd.
Maliah: She thinks she too perfect to become a failure
Scene 1; Stage 5- Later that night…
Seeing the lights were off in the house, London quietly stuck her keys in the hole and turns the knob slowly. Before she could push it open it was pulled open with so much force she fell through landing on the floor.
Laura: London Marie Radcliff, where the hell have you been? Do you not know how late it is!
Standing to her feet, London brushed imaginary dust off her jeans. She was to ashamed to look in her mother’s eyes.
Laura: I know you going to answer me right?
London: I’m sorry mom time just flew by
Laura: Time just flew by? What kind of an excuse is that London!? Princeton was here today. He waited for you for an hour London.
London: I’m sorry mom!
Laura: Yes you are. London if you don’t care about your life and your career then let me now so I’ll stop!
London: It’s not to late mom, I’ll call them tomorrow, tell them something came up and we’ll have another meeting. They want me. I’m the best at what I do, they will brush pass this incident.
Laura shook her head at her daughter. She had no choose but to laugh. Laugh at her naivetés.
Laura: You just don’t get it! You think everything is gonna be given to you and you can just get what you want because you say sorry? Life does not work like that London.
Taking a deep, Laura wiped her hand over her face, in an exhausted manor
Laura: I don’t know what else to say to you London. Go up to your room. You’re grounded for the weekend.
London: What! I made plans with Todd to go to the movies to see Twilight.
Laura: I guess you gonna be missing it because you are not leaving this house. I mean it!
London: You are so dramatic! I can’t stand to live here another second! I can’t wait till I graduate and go to college. She yelled stomping her feet up the steps
Laura: Just hope you make it there!
Scene 2; Stage 1-Girl Locker room
Two months later…
The scene opens in the girl’s locker room after gym class. Sam and Carly ears are pressed up against the bathroom door where they can hear London vomiting.
Samantha: London is you ok? Do you want us to call the nurse?
London: No. I’m fine I’ll be out in a minute.
Carly: Are you sure?
London: Yeah you can go. I’ll see you guys later.
Shttp://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gifamantha: Ok, call us later on.
When the coast was clear, London open the door and walked out heading to her locker. Putting in her combination she opened her locked and got her spare toothbrush and toothpaste. Going back into the bathroom she groomed herself, then prepared to go home.
When London got home, her house reeked of fried seafood.
London: Oh my god what are you guys cooking? She walked into the kitchen where her parents sat devouring over a pile of crabs, shrimp, scallops, and clams.
Calib: Its seafood Saturday. Go grab a bib and dig in with us.
London: Yuck! That smells gross.
Laura: Seafood Saturdays use to be your favorite.
London: Not anymore it smells like trash. I’ll eat at Todd’s tonight.
She was about to leave when her mother called out to her. Excusing herself from the table Laura pulled London to close to her.
Laura: Last night I heard you throwing up. Is there anything you need to tell me?
London: Like?
Laura: I was just asking London. I know we fight and argue but I am your mother and I love you.
London: Ok, sensitive. She replied sarcastically. If it was something wrong I would tell you. Now can I go?
Letting her go, Laura watched her daughter walk out the house.
Scene 3; Stage 1
The weeks were going by an every night like clockwork; Laura would lie in bed and listen to her daughter barf up her dinner. Finally having enough Laura sat up in bed, walking quietly over to her night stand she open the draw and removed the plastic bag which held a white and pink box. Walking out the room she headed down the hallway. Opening the door she saw her daughter bent over the toilet coughing.
Looking up from the porcelain London frowned at her mother.
London: Get out mom.
Laura: Look at you. London I expected much more from you. Throwing the plastic bag towards her daughter it landed by her foot.
Laura: Go ahead. Open the bag.
Wiping her mouth with the back of her hand she reached down and grabbed the bag. Inside was a pregnancy test.
London: Mom I am not in the mood for your crap! She got up from the floor trying to walk pass. Laura pushed her back.
Laura: You have your head so far up your ass you don’t even notice you gained at least 10lbs and your stomach is not as flat as it used to! You are pregnant! She screamed as tears rain down her cheek.
London: I am not! Move mom! She tried to push pass again.
Laura: Take the test London now! Laura bent down to get the box and shoved it in London face.
London: No! Get out of my way!
Hearing the screaming Calib ran down the hall to see what was going on.
Calib: What the hell is going on?
London: Laura is having one of her tantrums again!
Laura: Your daughter is pregnant.
Calib: Pregnant? Calib frowned his face looking at his daughter with dismay.
London: She is lying please tell her leave me alone daddy. Tears of frustration ran down her face.
Laura: Then take the test.
Calib: Yeah London, take the test. If you are not pregnant your mother will apologize and this mess will be over. We will be outside.
Grabbing his wife hand they exited the bathroom. London stood in the bathroom all alone. Opening the box she slowly removed the tube covered in plastic. Reading the instructions she took the test. In less then two minutes a pink line occurred in the window.
London: Damn
Scene 3; Stage 2
Walking out the bathroom to her parent’s room, she heard her mother crying. Lauren sat on the bed while Calib soothe her by patting her back and kissing her softly on the cheek.
Laura: I tried with her. We were good parents. We didn’t spoil her that much, we sent her to good schools, after school programs to enhance her knowledge and talents, I never wanted her to make the same mistakes I did. That’s why I gave her everything she needed and wanted so she wouldn’t go out there have sex with some simple little boy and become a mom so young. Wiping her red nose with a Kleenex tissue, she looked at her husband.
Laura: Where did I go wrong? Weren’t we the perfect parents?
The scene goes to the hallway where London sits holding the pregnancy test. Her head is against the wall as silent tears trail down her already tear drenched face. The question that echoes is “How did this happen”. The question plays in different tones doing from deep to auto tune.
Having an answer London wipes her tears coming to terms with the idea of her failing her parents and herself. She said looking up at the ceiling
London: Damn… I guess I ain’t so perfect after all.

The Lion King Musical

When the lights are completely off and there is a little light from above that shines onto the stage and a women comes out dressed in a colorful costume, face painted in numerous colors, and is carrying a cane that resembles a wooden stick, this creature is Rafiki. Please sit back and enjoy because the show is about to begin and you are about to witness the best musical in the world, The Lion King.

The Lion King originates from a movie. It was written by Irene Mecchi, Jonathan Roberts, and Linda Woolverton. Six years later the movie was produced by Walt Disney Feature Animation and released by Walt Disney Pictures. The movie focuses on a young cub Simba and his relationship with his father Mufasa. Mufasa is the king of Pride Rock and is morphing his son into becoming the next up and coming king. However Mufasa’s brother Scar is not happy with the birth of Simba or the idea of him one day being king of Pride Rock. Plotting the death of his brother Mufasa and nephew Simba, Scar plans to take over Pride Rock and rule it with the hyenas. Scar is successful with killing his brother but Simba survives. He is raised by a meerkat name Timon and a warthog Pumbaa. Later in the movie Simba returns to Pride Rock and avenges his father’s death, killing Scar, and becomes Pride Rock‘s rightful king.

At the end of the movie, the theme The Lion King gives is one day everyone must grow up. In the movie, Mufasa spent his last days installing wisdom and values into his young cub’s head. He wanted to make sure that one day after he’s long gone, he can leave the kingdom to Simba knowing that Simba would be able to take care his tribe and protect his family.

The Lion King the Musical is based on this movie. The characters and plot is all the same. However Julie Taymor and the producers of Lion King the Musical presented the characters and the setting of Pride Rock, so creatively, you’ll actually sit there amazed at how graphic the stage is. The cast are designed to imitate the local animals of the jungle, such as giraffes, wildebeest, hyenas, and of course lions. Being different and instead dressing the actors in tons of fur, she used craved mask created in Africa to show what type of animal they are. One of the main characters Simba wore a huge mask over top of his head that looked like a lion face. The character’s body was covered in clothes that fit perfectly for the African theme. To me it was very simple, not too much, yet amazing and you could actually tell which animal they were playing. Plus the way the actors and dancers used their body help as well.

Another key fact in the creativity of the musical is the music. The music was written by Elton John and Tim Rice. The famous songs from the movie like “The Circle of Life”, “Hakuna Matata”, and “Can You Feel the Love Tonight?” was featured in the show. The actors sung the songs so perfectly, I couldn’t resist myself, I had to sing along. The way the stage transformed to fit the mood of the song was great. Bright lights, the props that were used to resemble the sun, the exotic trees, and the lake were all used to give the aura of a celebrating jungle.

Growing up watching the Lion King: The Movie, I was ecstatic when I received two tickets from my aunt to see it on Broadway for a birthday present. It was my first time watching a musical on Broadway, or even seeing a show. I watched the show with awe and it set the standard for me whenever I go to a musical.

The Lion King played a major role in my younger years growing up. I watched it non- stop as a child. The songs and the characters are made to never get old. It’s really one of those shows/films that can be passed on from generation to generation.