Thursday, March 27, 2025

OLSH Theatre Invited - Edinburgh Fringe Festival 2026

Subject: Exciting Opportunity: OLSH Theatre at The Fringe Festival!

Dear OLSH Family,

I hope this message finds you well. I am thrilled to share that our OLSH Theatre has been invited to perform at The Fringe Festival in Edinburgh, Scotland! This exciting trip is scheduled for August 2026 and will last for 14 days, including visits to both London and Edinburgh.

Students currently in grades 9-11, as well as incoming 9th graders, will have the opportunity to travel as student performers. During our time there, students will perform four times in an official Fringe venue. Additionally, we will explore the sights of these incredible cities and attend various theatre performances. Students will also participate in workshops, and there is the possibility of earning college credit hours from George Mason University.

To share more about this wonderful opportunity, we will hold an informational meeting on April 24, 2025, at 6:30 PM in the auditorium. I encourage all interested families to attend, as we will discuss important details and answer any questions you may have.

Our previous trip in 2016 included eight students and three adults, and it was a truly remarkable experience for everyone involved. To make this trip more accessible, we will begin fundraising efforts to help offset costs, and limited financial aid will be available for student travelers.

Thank you for your continued support. I am excited about the incredible experiences that await our students!

Warm regards,

Dolores Manuel 

Tuesday, March 25, 2025

HAM BINGO FUNDRAISER - ALL HANDS ON DECK!!

OLSH Theatre will be hosting Ham Bingo on Saturday, April 12th at the Coraopolis Keith Holmes VFW

This is a big fundraiser and is "all hands on deck" for all Theatre Students!

Please watch for sign ups coming out soon.



Pirate Game, FREE Movie Night, & Empty Bowls

Hello Theatre Families!

Feeling a little post show crash? Here are three opportunities for the Cast & Crew of "Children of Eden" to get together.

  1. Join your friends for a FREE MOVIE NIGHT in the auditorium on Thursday, March 27th. Check out the posters around school. 
  2. Join me in supporting the OLSH Choir as they sing the National Anthem for The Pirates. The game is Tuesday, April 8th. If you order tickets from Mrs Vallecorsa you can get a special rate. Please check your email for additional information.
  3. Join your friends during Empty Bowls! Tuesday, April 15th. Tickets will be sold at upcoming lunches.

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FREE MOVIE NIGHT: "Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark" 

Thursday, March 27 from 3:00 pm — 5:00 pm OLSH Auditorium. Admission is free! Candy and drinks will be available for purchase for $2 dollars each; cash only. Any questions, reach out to Mr. Wojtechko!

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OLSH CHOIR at THE PIRATE GAME - Please join us on Tuesday, April 8th and show your support for our OLSH Choir. If you plan on attending, you can save a few dollars and purchase tickets directly through me for $29. You will be in our section and $10 of that is food and beverage credit.  Pay cash or check to OLSH.  Hope to see you there! Ticket money is due March 26th! Thank you! 

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EMPTY BOWLS - Ask Marena Miller for more info & how to get tickets

Thursday, October 5, 2017

Tips for Memorizing Lines

Dear Theatre Students:

Please use these tips to help you get offbook!

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Newsletter:  Working with Actors

Tricks and Treats of Memorizing Lines

By Brian Hampton 
Brian Hampton is an actor, playwright, and producer.  He is a member of both the Dramatists Guild of America and the Actors Equity Association.  He is passionate about theatre, animal rescue, and spreading the truth about Gossip, his play with Pioneer Drama. 
 

Because I often act in my own plays, people always assume it’s easier for me to memorize my lines because I wrote them.  I wish!  Unfortunately, it’s not the case.  In fact, it’s just as difficult for me to get off-book as anyone else — whether it’s my own writing or someone else’s.
In my over 20 years of acting, I’ve discovered some great tricks to memorizing lines.  Hopefully, these will help you out — or perhaps inspire you to come up with your own!

TRICK #1:  The traditional moving piece of paper.  I bet everyone has done this memorizing trick.  You highlight your part(s) and fold a separate piece of paper.  You move it down the page as you come to each of your lines.  You pause while your line is covered, and then you reveal it to see if you got it right or what you need to work on.  This is the first way I learned.  And, it’s very useful.

TRICK #2:  Use index cards.  Here’s a technique I use in almost every single show I’m in.  Buy a stack of index cards.  First, be sure to number the cards!  On one side, write down the character’s name and his or her line before yours.  (Note:  If the line is something short, like, “Yeah!”  then write two).  On the other side, write (preferably in a different color ink) your line that follows.  If you need to, separate them into Acts (for longer plays and musicals).  When you’re done, go through them like flash cards until you’re ready to...  brace yourself ...  SHUFFLE THEM.  Yes.  Try to do them out of order.  This trick not only creates memorization but sharpens your memory recall for your cues.

TRICK #3:  Use your voice memo on your phone or any other recording device.  This is especially good for scenes between two people.  Record only the other person’s lines.  Read them out loud.  Then give a silent pause in the spot where your line will be spoken.  Be sure to give about 1 ½ times the amount of time for yourself.  I like to slowly (almost in slow motion) “mouth” my line so I know I’m recording enough space to remember it.  That way, if I make a mistake, I have enough time to fix it before the next line is played.  Play and practice over and over until you can go through the entire recording smoothly.

TRICK #4:  For monologues, do the same thing as Trick #3 with your voice memo or recording device.  This time, though, say your monologue and act it out.  Then play it over and over while you go about your day.  Have you ever wondered how quickly you learn the lines of a song?  It’s because you listen to it over and over and over again.  Do the same with your monologue!  It works!

TRICK #5:  When you’re at least 90% memorized, ask someone to “read lines” with you.  But make it fun for them too.  Tell them they are more than welcome to act out the other roles.  If you wait until you know at least 90%, it will be way more fun for your reader, and way more rewarding for you.  Here’s a tip for this trick:  make sure you’re ready!  Otherwise, it can be frustrating and a real bummer for you both.  Advanced memorizers:  when you are 100% ready, ask your reading partner to say the lines fast, and you do the same.  This will really solidify them and make you even quicker.

Memorizing lines can be difficult.  Trust me, I know!  But, here’s the TREAT to your TRICKS.  Your true acting choices emerge once you know your lines.  That’s when the real fun of being in a play or musical happens.  Your mind is not thinking, “What’s my next line?”  It’s thinking as the mind of the character you’re portraying.  You are in the moment.  And that’s when great acting ignites!
Hope these help!  Break a leg!