"The summer still doth tend upon my state"

Happy Midsummer!! Yesterday was the true beginning of Summer, as well as the Summer Solstice for us here in the Northern Hemisphere!! We are coming up fast on August, which will begin our Shakespeare Camp!! As of last Friday, we should all have up to at least three-fourths of our lines memorized, and in the upcoming weeks, we should all be working out our costumes as well as the settings.

I hope you can keep up with us all!! I can't wait to see what fun we'll have during Shakespeare Camp!!

"Draw a bill of props, such as our play wants"

Props are an essential part of any play. We use them on the stage to elaborate on our actions and detail the story in tiny ways. They come in all sorts of shapes and sizes, from scrolls to baskets and masks to swords. Props give an element beyond anything costumes and setting can provide; the element of interaction.

Now as with our costuming, our policy for props has been "if you use it, you bring it." The props don't have to be anything too fancy; simply something manageable that you can work with to elaborate or suggest.

The most difficult aspect of props is their maintenance and management. We're carrying props back and forth between either side of the stage, dropping them here and throwing them there. We have tables on both sides of the stage for storing our props, but more often than not, we're careless with keeping our props arranged and organized, especially during the moment to moment stress that is the performance night.

As a general announcement and with few exceptions, all props must be brought and placed on our prop tables by the first and second days of Shakespeare Camp!! It makes it much easier to manage the stage if the props that are so often littered about have designated areas to store them. Bringing them earlier in the week gives us more time to find a space for it on our tables. If you fail to maintain your props, it's not our responsibility to find it for you, especially when you find yourself running around searching for it during our last rehearsals!!

If you're hoping to bring a prop with you, especially one that is particularly large, please leave a comment, discussing the object in depth. It may be useful to check out what others are bringing, especially if you're in an opposite cast, since you may be able to borrow it during your performance. (There is no since in having two enchanted flowers on our prop table!!)

Quick Script Tip!! Be ready for your scenes!!

If all goes well, you won't be needing your script to remember your lines by the time August comes rolling around, but that shouldn't mean you won't be referencing it at all throughout Shakespeare Camp!! Throughout the week of camp, it's recommended you maintain, customize, and personalize your script!!

A page before every scene, mark up some text to remind yourself to get backstage for your scene. List any props you'll be using, and maybe what costume you'll be wearing. Be sure to designate which side of the stage you'll be entering from so you can be sure to be ready.