Merry Christmas to all the Stirling Gang and a very Happy 2017

Now for 2018

We hope you enjoyed the show
Now it's nearly at the end
We will be back, you know.

It's time to have a rest.  The Blog is resting until at least next spring 2017

w/c Sun 25 Sept

This is the start of our week in the theatre.  Enjoy yourselves, smile and sing out !

Sunday  Bring your costumes at 4pm to the theatre in line with the instructions on the yellow sheet.  You should hang them up tidily following instructions from the dressing room staff.  You should be finished before 5pm

Monday  This is our Dress & Technical Rehearsal.  You should be at the theatre in time to enter at 5.30pm.  Please wait at the queuing point if you are early.  Entry for everyone is by the Stage Door at the entrance to the theatre restaurant.   The Junior Gang will finish at approximately 8.30pm with everyone else finishing between 9.30 and 10pm depending on how the rehearsal proceeds.

Tuesday - Saturday   Arrive between 6.30 and 6.45pm and enter via the Stage Door.  Again, if you are early please wait at the queuing point.   The Junior Gang will finish at 8.40pm (except Saturday) and the Main Gang will finish at 10pm.

w/c Mon 19 Sept

This is the last week of rehearsal so all words should now have been committed to memory along with the moves.

Tues 20 Sept : 
7 - 9pm   Everyone who is in the first half for a run through (except Junior Gang)

Thurs 22 Sept :
7 - 9pm   Everyone who is in the second half for a run through

Sat 24 Sept :
1.45 - 6pm   Main Gang rehearsal for  everyone
1.45 - 3.30pm   Junior Gang rehearsal

Saturday's rehearsal is in Beechwood Scout Centre.  A map will be emailed to everyone.

Sun 25 Sept :
Don't forget to bring your costumes to the MacRobert in line with the instructions you have been given.

w/c Mon 12 Sept

Tues 13 Sept   Guide Hut
7 - 8pm   Highwaymen                  7 - 9pm   The Opening
8 - 9pm   The Jocks

Thurs 15 Sept     Mayfield Centre, St Ninians
6 - 7pm   Junior Gang
7 - 8pm   We Could be Heroes   &   Nil Point
8 - 9pm   William Tell                &   Top Notch

Sun 18 Sept
2 - 3.30pm   The Opening & Disney Parade with Junior Gang
3. 30 - 5.15pm   Are You Dancing & revise The Opening and OZ
4 - 5.15 pm   Caveman Coppers
5.15 - 6.30pm   Finale

w/c 5 September

Very good rehearsal yesterday for the Main Gang with great progress on the last production number.
The Junior Gang also did well on Saturday.

Thurs 8 Sept
7 - 7.30  Finale Setting                               7 - 8pm   Caveman Coppers
7.30 - 9  Finale Singing                              8 - 8.30pm  William Tell
                                                                    8.30 - 9pm  Top Notch

Sun 11 Sept
2 - 3.30pm  Revise The Opening & Disney Parade with Junior Gang
3.30 - 6pm  Final setting of Are You Dancing       5 - 6  Caveman Coppers

Don't forget that there is an extra rehearsal of The Opening on Tues 13 Sept

w/c 29 August

Insufficient DVDs have been ordered so we will not proceed with this.  If you have paid it will be refunded on Saturday or Sunday.  We hope to have a DVD shot by ourselves available at a much cheaper price.  We are unsure of the quality of this DVD but hope it will be adequate.

Tues 30 Aug   7 - 9  Revision of The Opening, Cotton Fields & Circus.  Cast of Cotton
                                  Fields should be in costume.  Heroes will be rehearsed at a
                                  suitable time during the revision.
                        7 - 8  William Tell
                        8 - 9  The Jocks

Thurs 1 Sept   7 - 7.40   Top Notch
                        7.40 - 8.20  The Jocks                        8 - 9 Caveman Coppers
                        8.20 - 9   Highwaymen

Sat 3 Sept      4 - 6   Junior Gang

Sun 4 Sept     2 - 3.45 Are you Dancing  (Singing)          2.30 - 3.30   Highwaymen
                      4 - 6  Are You Dancing  (Setting)              4 - 5.30    Caveman Coppers
                      6 - 6.30   Caveman Coppers  (Singing)

The first information about your preparations for the theatre should be ready for picking up on Saturday/Sunday.

COSTUMES
Main production numbers -
Opening - lower half white skirts (females) or trousers (males)  and white socks and shoes: Gang Show t-shirts will be provided
Cotton Fields - mainly scruffy jeans or shorts with scruffy t-shirt / vest; some ladies / older guides with long skirts and high necked long sleeved blouse. Girls on front tab: white trousers and coloured t-shirt
Seasons - all males: smart black trousers, coloured shirt, stripey bow tie. Females: pink,  lilac or mauve "handkerchief" skirt and plain white blouse
Disney - as per character
Circus - as per character
Oz - all males: coloured trousers, white long sleeved school shirt. All females, rainbow coloured skirts with gipsy blouse (elastic at neck and sleeves) 
Are you dancing - red and black with silver/ grey accessories

W/c 22nd August

Tuesday 23 Aug
Special Dancers for Are You Dancing   Nos 1, 11, 34, 82, 87, 92

Sat 27 Aug
Audio Workshop for those who will be wearing radio Mikes (Speaking parts or small singing groups).  If you have been to one of these sessions before then you don't need to come.

Sun 28 Aug
2 - 6pm  Final Setting of Seasons.        4.30 - 5.30   We Could Be Heroes

Sun. 21 Aug.

2 - 3  Revise OZ & Disney Parade                   2 - 3   Nil Points
3 - 4.45  Singing Seasons                                 3 - 4.30   We Could Be Heroes
4.45 - 6  Setting Seasons                                  4.30 - 5.45  Highwaymen

Tues 23 Aug
7 - 9   Are You Dancing  (Dancers ONLY)  Nos 1, 34, 82. 87, 92

Sat 27 Aug
2 - 3.15   Audio Workshop

August

Hope everyone has had a good break and a good holiday or perhaps your holiday is still to come.

Whilst rehearsals have taken a break a lot of work has gone on the background.   Members of our scenery construction crew have been working hard making and painting items in our Thornhill store. 

Costumes are being made, altered and purchased by our Wardrobe team with people searching out material for costumes in far-off places, including Wales and Venice.  Hopefully the treasurer won't get a bill for transport costs!

We look forward to welcoming the Gang back to the first past-holiday rehearsal on Sunday 21 August - don't forget that this is 2 days before school starts.

Summer

Rehearsals are now over for the summer and will resume on Sunday 21 August.  Have a good holiday and don't forget to practice the songs when you have a spare minute

Week Commencing 13 June

Junior Gang
There is a rehearsal from 4pm - 6pm on Sat 18 June in Queen Street Scout Hall. There is also a rehearsal on Sunday 19 June from 2pm - 3.30pm in Viewfield Church Hall, Irvine Place. This is when you will rehearse The Opening and Disney Parade with the Main Gang.

Main Gang Rehearsals

Tuesday 14 June (Scout Hall) : 
     7pm - 9pm   The Opening                   7 - 7.40pm   The Jocks
                                                                  7.40 - 8.20pm  The Highwaymen
                                                                  8.20 - 9pm We Could Be Heroes
Don't worry if you are in more than one item above. 

Sunday 19 June    2 - 3.30pm  Rehearse The Opening & Disney Parade with Brownies & Cubs
                             3.45 - 6pm  Revise The Opening; OZ; Disney Parade; Cotton Fields
                             6pm   Parents' Night

Main Gang Costume Call - Sat 18 June, Scout Hall
Bring the items you have been asked to provide.  You will be needed for the 60 - 90 minute session as listed below.
10am  Guides 1 - 19
11.30am  Guides 20 - 34 AND female Scouts
1.30pm   female Leaders, female Explorers, Senior Section  
2.30pm   male Scouts, Explorers, Leaders

If you cannot manage your allocated time please swap with someone and let Rosemary know

Sat 11 & Sun 12 June

Sat 11 June
There is no rehearsal for the Junior Gang

Sun 12 June
It is the Final setting of OZ from 2 - 5.30pm.   Only those using the silk material are needed at 2pm, the rest should come for 2.30pm prompt.

Circus will be revised between 5.30pm and 6.30pm and Highwaymen is rehearsed between 4pm and 5.30pm.

Advance Notice
The Opening will be rehearsed on Tuesday 14 June in the Scout Hall from 7pm - 9pm. The Jocks, Highwaymen and Heroes will be rehearsed at the same time unless otherwise advised on Sunday.

Sat 4 & Sun 5 June

Sat. 4 June - Junior Gang
Rehearsal as normal from 4pm - 6pm

Sun 5 June - Main Gang
Everyone to be present at 1.30pm in uniform for the Cast Pictures.

2 - 3.45  OZ (singing)        2 - 3.30pm  We Could Be Heroes
4 - 6.30  OZ (Setting)

Sat 28 & Sun 29 May

Sat 28 May : Junior Gang
The Photocall is at the start of Saturday's rehearsal.  Please be there promptly in your uniform.

Sun 29 May : Main Gang
The Photocall is postponed until 5 June
2 - 3pm  We Could be Heroes (Singing)                        2 - 3.30pm   Top Notch
3 - 5pm  Final Setting of Circus
5 - 6pm  Cast of Seasons to decide on costumes.           5.15 - 6pm   Nil Points
               Circus costumes will also be finalised

Tues 17 & Sun 22 May

Junior Gang ONLY from 6pm - 7pm at the Guide Hut, Glebe Avenue.

The Main Gang had a great final setting rehearsal of Cotton Fields yesterday.   On Sunday Circus is being set all afternoon from 2pm - 6pm.  No other items are being rehearsed.  Please note that we finish at 6pm.

10th & 15th May

Lots of good work yesterday, well done everyone.   And the singing ... it's fantastic !

Believe it or not :  We are now more than a third of the way through our rehearsal Sundays


The rehearsal on Tues 10 May is for Tap Dancers ONLY.  7 - 9pm in the Guide Hut

Sunday 15 May :  2 - 4pm Final Setting of Cotton Fields
                             4 - 6pm Circus (Singing)                           4.30 - 6pm Top Notch
                             6 - 6. 30pm Top Notch (Singing)

Please note that the majority of the Gang, except those in Top Notch will finish at 6pm

W/c Sun 8 May

The rehearsals for Sun 8 May are as listed in the Schedule :
   2 - 5.30pm Setting (Cotton Fields)
   5.30 - 6. 30pm Revision of both The Opening & Disney Parade

   4 - 5pm The Jocks
   5.30 - 6.30pm William Tell

On Tuesday 10 May there is a rehearsal for the Specialist (named) Dancers for The Opening from 7 - 9pm in the Guide Hut, Glebe Avenue.

Amendments to rehearsal times have been emailed to everyone.  They mainly concern finish times but there are a few other minor adjustments with the most important being on Sunday 29 May.   Please contact Scott Park if you didn't get this email.

1st May

The past week has been very busy.  Last weekend the auditions for the Junior Gang were held and we welcomed 31 Cubs & Brownies.

Looking forward to Sunday, the rehearsals are as scheduled in the yellow schedule which every member should have.  Don't forget that it is the Final setting rehearsal for Disney Parade.

Everyone should have their Wardrobe Form handed in by Sunday if you haven't already done so.

Sun 24 April

All Gang members should have collected YELLOW copies of the revised Rehearsal Schedule.  The changes concern sketches and small singing numbers caused by swapping the positions of Nil Points and Highwaymen in the programme running order.

This Sundays rehearsals are The Opening 2 - 5pm and Cotton Fields (singing) 5 - 6.30pm.   The Jocks has its first rehearsal from 5 - 6pm in the Scout Hall but cast should meet in the church hall and walk up together.

Please note that this is the FINAL setting rehearsal for The Opening.  If you can't be present then you can't be in this number.  You should have a recording of the music which was emailed to you so please practice it before Sunday.

Sunday 17 April

This week we are starting rehearsals for the second production number - Disney Parade.   Singing and setting rehearsals last from 2pm until 5.30pm.     Don't forget that you should book in from 1.45pm so that the rehearsal can start promptly at 2pm.

From 5.30pm - 6.30pm there is a rehearsal for those in William Tell ONLY.

Easter Break

We now have a break in rehearsals until they resume on Sunday 17 April - The day before school re-opens.    The rehearsal schedule for 17th is as printed.  A new schedule (yellow) will be available then.  This lists a few changes mainly to sketch rehearsals caused by swapping the positions of Highwaymen and Nil Points in the running order.

Casting & 20/3

A lot of talented Gang Members auditioned for singing and speaking parts yesterday.   We hope to email casting lists tomorrow (Tuesday) to everyone for whom we have an email address.  Paper copies will be available on Sunday.

Also available on Sunday will be a new Programme sheet for your script.  Items 8 and 14 have had their positions swapped.

On Sunday we are rehearsing singing and setting of The Opening all afternoon.

Casting

Sunday 13 March is devoted to Casting Auditions.  If you do not wish a speaking or singing part you do not need to come.

If you wish a singing part then you should come to Queen Street Scout Hall from 2pm - 3.30pm.  These parts include solos, duets and small groups.

Speaking parts in sketches :   There are 2 sessions on Sunday.  2pm - 3.30pm and 3.30pm - 5pm.

Dancing auditions are from 5pm - 6.30pm.  These are for small dance groups in several of the production numbers.   Please note that the Gang will be dancing in many of the items but these are for small groups.

Sunday 20th will be a normal rehearsal as show in the rehearsal schedule

First Rehearsal

With only one day of Auditions left to go, thoughts now turn to our rehearsals.  The first rehearsal is on Sunday 6th March in Viewfield Church Hall (bottom of Irvine Place).   New cast members should arrive from 1.45pm with their membership forms and membership fee.  We will brief you on many of the things you need to know.

Returning cast members should sign in by 3pm and then we'll have a chat and look at this year's programme.  We will also explain about the casting rehearsals which take place on Sunday 13th March.

We will then start singing rehearsals for The Opening.  Whilst these are going on there will be a Parents' Meeting in Queen Street Scout Hall to brief parents about this year's Gang Show and to answer questions.

Auditions

Auditions take place on Sundays21 and 28 February in Queen Street Scout Hall from 2pm - 3.45pm.  Come along on either day if you are a Scout, Explorer Scout, Guide or Senior Section.  

Auditions for the Junior Gang will be held in April and information will be sent out to Brownie and Cub Packs in March.

2016 and All That

Invitations to join the 2016 Stirling Gang are being posted out today to every one of the 2015 Gang.  Please don't forget to let Scott know whether or not you will be taking part.   This year's production is in the week commencing 25 September.   The first rehearsal is on Sunday 6 March.

Auditions for new members are being held on Sundays 21 and 28 February.  It is only necessary to attend one of these sessions.  Leaflets are being circulated via Scout Groups/Units and Guide Companies.