☂️Auditions for Mary Poppins Jr☂️ were amazing! Thank you to all who auditioned. This is going to be a challenging show to cast with such an abundance of talent! Students who were absent from school and unable to audition may still submit a video audition by December 27.

The Cast List will be posted online on my website and in a special edition of the newsletter by 6:00 PM on December 29. I cannot publish last names, so the list will include the first initial or first few letters of your last name. Remember to scroll through the entire list!

The past month has been a joyful celebration of song! I am so proud of all of the Emerson singers! Mr. Hanes, the Maine South Choral Director, visited with the Eighth Grade Singers at lunch this week. He talked to them about District 207 choral program and brought them cupcakes. He was very impressed by our Choral concert last week!

Enjoy your winter break! To those who celebrate, 🎄Merry Christmas!

🔔To all, best wishes for a happy, healthy New Year! 🔔

🎶 Mrs. Broeker

If you have not already done so, please submit your form:

Audition Form

Crew Form

EVERYONE WHO AUDITIONS IS CAST IN THE MUSICAL!!!

Cast Lists will be posted on Mrs. Broeker's website by 6:00 PM on December 29.

Rehearsals start January 8, 2023.

Performances are March 8, 9, and 10, 2024

Questions? Contact Mrs. Broeker: tbroeker@d64.org

All funding for the musical comes from fundraising, private donations, and ticket sales.

The Musical Money pays for:

The Production Royalty Fee, Video License, and Scripts: $815 for Mary Poppins Jr

Costumes: expected expenditure $2500. Sounds like a lot until you divide that amount by the average number of cast members,120. Yes, we search for bargains, happily accept donations, and visit thrift stores. If I'm desperate, I even sew costumes. This is also why cast members cannot keep their costumes. I also repurpose costumes from previous shows.

That being said, sometimes the costumes from a previous show are not useable. For example, the former Mary Poppins were 5' and 5'2" tall, Miss Andrews was 4'8, and Bert was 5'4." The cast is never decided until auditions. At this point, I do not know whether or not I will be able to reuse the leads' costumes.

Props: The materials to make props for the show average $200.

Set Construction and Painting Materials average $450.

Sound Equipment: $14,986.20 New Sound System in compliance with federal regulations and hopefully resolving the feedback issues. Last year, we borrowed most of the mics from Maine East High School. We may still need to purchase new headsets because of breakage.

Lighting Equipment - no plans to purchase this year.

December 22, 2023 Middle School Holiday Assembly 1:50 PM

January 11, 2024 7/8 SIngers & Show Choir rehearse from 3:00 - 4:00 in the MPR

January 12, 2024 Musical Soloists rehearse at 7:30 AM

January 17, 2024 Emerson Musical Leads Perform at the Curriculum Night

Maine South Eighth Grade Invitational Choral Concert-TBD

Maine South Choral Workshop with Matthew Hanes-TBD

March 8, 9, and 10, 2024 - Emerson Musical

March 15, 16, and 17, 2024 - Lincoln Musical

April (18, 19, 25?) - Maine East Choral Workshop at Emerson with Katie Lee-TBD

April Choral Tour to the Elementary Schools

April 26, 2024 Middle School Music Assembly

May 2, 2024 - Lincoln & Emerson Choral Concert 7:00 PM @ Emerson

May 4, 2024 Middle School Music in the Parks Festival (Choir, Band, Orchestra)

The Vocal Power Students have been learning about Jazz Music with all of its stylistic scoops, slides, and syncopation. The Digital Music Class has composed Medleys and Rap Songs. The Music 6 class has continued exploring melodies, by playing recorder and tone bells. They also spent a day in the keyboard room, learning how to play "Jingle Bells" on the keyboard. SIxth graders need to bring in their Soprano recorders from elementary school! In Keyboard class, students are mastering coordinating both hands, playing a plethora of holiday tunes and pop songs! They are also learning about melodic intervals!

We're going to be raising money to support students in choir and the musical

(offset the cost of Music in the Parks, t-shirts for choir, and items purchased for the musical).

If you're interested in volunteering/supporting planning, please let me know!

It takes a village and I hope we can work together to make the D64 Vocal Music & Theatre Programs the best they can be!

7/8 Singers meets on Thursdays from 3:00 - 4:00

For all members who will be participating in Cross Country, Basketball, or another conflicting Fall activity, there is a morning version from 7:30 - 8:00 a.m. on Fridays before school!

Show Choir meets every Friday after school during the first and third trimesters! Our Show Choir performs throughout the Chicagoland area and competes in the annual Music in the Parks festival!

Please pay the choral fee at myschoolbucks.com

Thank you!

Email: tbroeker@d64.org
Website: https://sites.google.com/a/d64.org/emerson-general-music-with-mrs-broeker/homeeker
Location: 8101 North Cumberland Avenue, Niles, IL, USA
Phone: 847-653-3824

Instagram: emssingers678