askland on February 16th, 2007

For years magic fairies have been doing my dishes. Sometimes the dishes pile up for a few days but the magic fairies always make their way around. I don’t leave food or money for them because fairies don’t eat food and don’t use money. It never occurred to me that there was something I [...]

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askland on February 16th, 2007

Here are sound effects you can use in Seussical the Musical. This is a free download. I have provided the files in .wav format so they are ready to burn. The Seussical FX are a single download as a compressed folder.
These are the same effects I used while conducting Seussical the Musical in 2006. [...]

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askland on February 16th, 2007

T-Stylez, a member of our RapDogs.com hip hop battle forum, said he could write about any subject and wanted people to test him. I gave him the subject of the Destruction of the Library at Alexandria. Here’s what he came up with:
Third century BC, Aristotle student Demetrius of Phaleron
had a idea for a library [...]

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askland on February 16th, 2007

2007 Staff Mount Vernon Presbyterian Church
From left to right:
Michelle Hanna, Hank Alkema, Sheila Daut, Steve Weber, Andy Thor, Conrad Askland

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askland on February 15th, 2007

The challenging part of vocal coaching is getting singers to understand the feeling of vocal placement for their particular voice. It’s common at some point to show a vocalist an actual anatomy picture of the throat and muscles involved in vocal production. After that, it’s a mind game to have them understand the nuance of [...]

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askland on February 15th, 2007

Someone told me a couple days ago that they enjoyed this website here, especially all the insights into musical theater. Then they asked me “Is that what a blog is?”. I kind of bristled at this being called a blog. I do not write about cats. I write about all the very important issues of [...]

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askland on February 14th, 2007

I have received many questions about the proper use of various Ave Maria songs during Catholic church services and weddings. Not being Catholic, I am an inappropriate resource to provide specific and accurate information. However, a reader today kindly submitted detailed musical and theological information that applies specifically to the Ave Maria lyrics in a [...]

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askland on February 13th, 2007

Humility does not mean thinking less of yourself than of other people, nor does it mean having a low opinion of your own gifts. It means freedom from thinking about yourself at all.
~William Temple
A man wrapped up in himself makes a very small bundle.
~Benjamin Franklin
It is far more impressive when others discover your good qualities [...]

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askland on February 12th, 2007

Doesn’t it seem like there’s always so much to do and so little time to do it in? Before I left for Cirque Du Soleil it seemed like there was a million and one things to do. I was sitting here thinking about all the things I wanted to do but never got around [...]

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askland on February 12th, 2007

High School Musical Part Two begins production soon. The movie is slated to begin production in Utah on February 19th, 2007.
On February 9th, it was reported that three of the cast members are holding out for a more lucrative contract. The actors reported to be involved in the dispute are Ashley Tisdale, Corbin Bleu and [...]

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askland on February 12th, 2007

Richard O’Brien’s Rocky Horror Show music score calls for Piano/Conductor’s Score, Synthesizer, Bb Tenor Saxophone, Guitar, Bass Guitar, Drums. Having not received the scores yet, I am not clear yet whether the Bb Tenor Saxophone part is only played by a character or played throughout.
NEW RHS BROADWAY SOUNDTRACK RECORDING
The Rocky Horror Show - The New [...]

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askland on February 12th, 2007

High School Musical rehearsal schedule for musicians can be found here: HSM Musician Rehearsal Schedule. HSM musicians please visit that page for updates and musician-specific info. Still need two guitars and latin percussion. If you play either of these instruments and have contacted me, please email me again.
Would also still like two marching Sousaphones and [...]

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askland on February 12th, 2007

Note: These notes reflect how I approach the audition process. It may not be universal protocol, but has been consistent for all shows I have worked on.
A couple people have asked me why I didn’t cast certain individuals in different roles. This might be a good time to explain the casting process to eliminate some [...]

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askland on February 12th, 2007

Suggested Films for Dracula Projects. I highly recommend the newer Masterpiece Theater presentation of Dracula from PBS. Very nice contrast by the Dracula actor between the old and young Dracula parts.
Dracula Films
Nosferatu, Eine Symphonie des Grayens (The Undead, a Symphony of Horror) (1922)
Directed by F.W. Murnau. A silent classic of the German expressionist cinema. Believed [...]

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askland on February 12th, 2007

If you’re working on Dracula, here are some things you might hear backstage to remind you that yes indeed….. you are working on Dracula.

“I really shouldn’t be running while wearing fangs”
“Can’t see the blood from the balcony, add more Karo syrup”
“Should the music be louder when the stake goes through the heart or during the [...]

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askland on February 11th, 2007

Read the complete Dracula by Bram Stoker online.
Bram Stoker (1847-1912) supplemented his income by writing a large number of sensational novels, his most famous being the vampire tale Dracula which he published in 1897. Before writing Dracula, Stoker spent eight years researching European folklore and stories of vampires. Dracula is an epistolary novel, written as [...]

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askland on February 11th, 2007

Here is the complete Dracula novel by Bram Stoker.
DRACULA BY CHAPTER

Dracula Chapter 1

Dracula Chapter 2

Dracula Chapter 3

Dracula Chapter 4

Dracula Chapter 5

Dracula Chapter 6
Dracula Chapter 7

Dracula Chapter 8

Dracula Chapter 9

Dracula Chapter 10

Dracula Chapter 11

Dracula Chapter 12
Dracula Chapter 13

Dracula Chapter 14

Dracula Chapter 15
Dracula Chapter 16

Dracula Chapter 17

Dracula Chapter 18

Dracula Chapter 19

Dracula Chapter [...]

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askland on February 11th, 2007

The final chapter of Bram Stoker’s Dracula.
MINA HARKER’S JOURNAL
1 November.–All day long we have travelled, and at a good speed. The horses seem to know that they are being kindly treated, for they go willingly their full stage at best speed. We have now [...]

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askland on February 11th, 2007

DR. SEWARD’S DIARY
29 October.–This is written in the train from Varna to Galatz. Last night we all assembled a little before the time of sunset. Each of us had done his work as well as he could, so far as thought, and endeavor, and opportunity [...]

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askland on February 11th, 2007

DR SEWARD’S DIARY
11 October, Evening.–Jonathan Harker has asked me to note this, as he says he is hardly equal to the task, and he wants an exact record kept.
I think that none of us were surprised when we were asked to see Mrs. Harker a little before [...]

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