The Musical Notes about our final rehearsals, and costume needs are below.

The Music in the Parks forms are still available! Even if you are in band and orchestra, please come and get a form so we have an accurate list of singers. All Show Choir and 7/8 Singers need a form! The schedule is arranged so that band and orchestra competition times are different than our Singing groups' times and everyone is at the same high school. There is only one fee to participate in all 3 groups. Please turn in your forms as soon as possible!

There will be no 7/8 Singers or Show Choir Rehearsals until the week of March 14 and 15. Our song playlists are linked below for those who want to keep singing!

Lastly, check out two of the sixth grade students' World Music presentations - very impressive work!

Vocal Power Families are invited to attend our Vocal Showcase on Tuesday, March 5 at 8:10 am.

Have a fantastic weekend!

- 🎶 Mrs. Broeker

The Cast and Crew of Mary Poppins Jr cordially invite you to attend the Emerson production of Mary Poppins Jr

Here is the link to purchase tickets for Mary Poppins Jr!

Tickets are $6.00 online and $8.00 at the door.

The Show Schedule is:

Friday, March 8 7:00PM BLUE CAST

Saturday, March 9 3:00 PM BLUE CAST

Saturday, March 9 7:00 PM RED CAST

Saturday, March 10 3:00 PM RED CAST

Mary Poppins Jr Cast and Crew

All proceeds are used to fund the musical.

Here is the Link to buy the T-Shirt for 7/8 Singers and Show Choir. We will be using this t-shirt at our Spring Concert, field trip, and Music in the Parks competition. Many of you have already purchased this shirt! Today is the last day to purchase the Chorus/Band/Orchestra shirt!

The Entire Cast and Crew has rehearsal next week on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday until 5:00. On FRIDAY we will meet from 3:00 until 5:30. Thank you in advance for your support.

The show is developing beautifully, but we do need everyone at rehearsal!

Wednesday, March 6, is picture day. All students will be photographed. If this is a problem you need to contact me immediately. We often use the pictures for publicity.

We have some costuming and make-up needs:

All chimney sweeps and Bees need black leggings.

All Bees, Penguins, Bankers, and Park Strollers will be wearing a white or pastel blouse/long sleeve shirt. We do have some blouses, but their own will fit them better. The band and orchestra concert shirts are perfect! Whenever possible, please wear dark colored shoes.

All Cast members should have a neutral colored sleeveless t-shirt and shorts to wear under their costumes to protect their modesty during costume changes.

Every cast member playing a female role needs:

A hairbrush, comb, and hair ties

Dress flats - no gym shoes or plush winter boots

No nail polish please (except Miss Andrew)

If you want to wear make-up: A plastic bag with natural toned eyeshadow, eye liner, mascara, blush, and light lipstick.

Every cast member playing a male role needs:

A hairbrush or comb

Dress shoes if possible

Dark pants.

Every item should be labeled with your name!!

Finally, we have some important rules for rehearsal:

PLEASE DO NOT SEND FOOD TO BE EATEN AFTER SCHOOL DURING REHEARSAL. FOOD and COSTUMES do not mix!!! ONLY CLEAR WATER TO DRINK!

Thank you for all of your support! Mary Poppins Jr will be a spectacular show!!!

Families! We are looking for eight families who will purchase/assemble raffle prizes (two for each show) to help raise additional funds at the musical on March 8, 9, and 10. (Or a group of families could work together to assemble a basket) Please use this link to sign up for a basket today. We have included a few ideas to get you started, but feel free to get creative! Thanks for your support! Ideas:

• Spoonful of Sugar: Lots of candy! Sports drinks.
• Jolly Holiday: Park supplies - sidewalk chalk, bubbles, sand toys, picnic blanket, etc.
• Mary Poppins/British: English breakfast tea, Honey, Sugar cubes, British cookies or sweets, crackers (the party favors they give on New Year's /Birthdays)
• Feed the Birds: “fresh” birdseed “ornaments, etc
• Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious: Anything supersized! Big bucket for popcorn, jumbo candy bars, supersize gum packs.
• Practically Perfect: A modern "Mary Poppins" basket - mini-first aid kit, wipes, portable crafts, sunscreen, water bottle, etc.
• Chim Chimney: All the stuff to make S’mores. Marshmallows, graham crackers, chocolate, skewers.
• Let's Go Fly a Kite: All the materials to create a kite and some snacks to bring along
• Anything Can Happen: All items would be wrapped - a total surprise

Buy a Bracelet at Rehearsal on Tuesday, February 27!

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.

The Vocal Power Students performed International Pop Songs this week. They perfected songs from around the globe! The Digital Music Class created "Love Pop Songs" celebrating what they appreciate.. The Music 6 class investigated music from the country of their choice for their 🌎World Music Unit🌍 this week. See below for stellar examples! In Keyboard class, students are mastering Jazz songs, learning about how to "swing" a song.

There is still time to get Drama 1 and Choir in your schedules for next year!! If you are making a change and adding it in you simply need to email you counselor and cc Dr. Keith (tkeith@maine207.org).

No 7/8 Singers' or Show Choir Rehearsals until the week of March 11.

Musical Soloists before school as needed.

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

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

Maine South Eighth Grade Invitational Choral Concert-TBD

Maine South Choral Workshop with Matthew Hanes-TBD

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)

Welcome to the Renaissance and the outrageous, crowd-pleasing musical farce, Something Rotten! Created by Grammy Award-winning songwriter Wayne Kirkpatrick, and successful screenwriters Karey Kirkpatrick and John O'Farrell, Something Rotten was lauded by audience members and critics alike, receiving several Best Musical nominations and hailed by Time Out New York as "the funniest musical comedy in at least 400 years''.

Set in the 1590s, brothers Nick and Nigel Bottom are desperate to write a hit play but are stuck in the shadow of that Renaissance rock star known as "The Bard." When a local soothsayer foretells that the future of theatre involves singing, dancing and acting at the same time,

Nick and Nigel set out to write the world's very first musical. But amidst the scandalous excitement of opening night, the Bottom Brothers realized that reaching the top means being true to thine own self, and all that jazz.

Something Rotten! features large song and dance numbers, and a wacky cast of over-the-top characters, each given his or her own special moment in the show to shine. Throughout its Broadway run, the musical received a show-stopping standing ovation from audiences...in the beginning of the first act! It's become clear that "nothing's as amazing as a musical," so don't miss your chance to see this history-twisting tale on stage.

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

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