The stage is set

[Monique Chambers]

Monique Chambers walked into her classroom, smiling as she looked around the room. Many of the teachers thought that the way t was set up to be a little on the strange side, as all the desks were pushed back against the wall, all still usable if the students did choose to sit at them, but the main part of the floor was scattered with bean bags in as many colours, patters and styles as one could imagine. The walls were covered in various movie posters, pictures of different playwrights and a poster that a birds-eye view into Globe Theatre.

Walking over to her desk, she took out her box of markers and carried them over to the whiteboard where she artistically wrote Welcome across the board, and left the box on the tray at the bottom of the board. On her desk was a box that was filled with books, the kind that a parent would read to their child as a bedtime story - good old fairytales and the like - which she planned to use as part of this semester's topic. She then waited for the students to arrive.  

As the teenagers filed in she greeted each of them, the ones she knew by name and the ones she didn't know she just welcomed to her class, and asked them to find a seat for themselves. After the tardy bell sounded, she silently counted to thirty as she walked to her place at front centre and smiled at the students. "Welcome to drama." She said warmly. "I am Monique Chambers, that's Miss or Ms Chambers." She walked over to her desk, opened the top draw, retrieved a multi-coloured koosh ball from the drawer and then walked back to her spot as she bounded the soft ball up and down on her hand. "You are all going to hate me and mutter about how babyish this is, but I find it to be the easiest way to remember names. What you will do, is when you are holding the ball, you will thank the person who threw the ball to you, introduce yourself and then say what your favourite film genre is. Please make sure you make eye contact with whom you are intending to throw the ball to and the only person who is allowed to talk id the one holding the ball. As I said, I'm Monique Chambers, and my favourite genre is crime." Her eyes twinkled as she looked around the room again and pitched the ball, under arm, to a blonde girl. "Tag, you're it."

[Jayne Doe]

Jayne stuffed her history text book into her backpack before zipping it up and swinging it over her shoulder. She was sure that she had all the books she needed in it, but it was too late now if she didn't. Racing out of the House, she made her way to the academic building and then down to the Drama classroom. She gave Ms Chambers a bright smile as she walked in and then made her way over to a light pink beanbag that was covered in tiny butterflies. She sat down pulled out her folder for the class, then her pencil case and waited for class to start.

She arched her eyebrows when their teacher said what they were going to do, and she wanted to hide when the woman's eyes landed on her, and she didn't have time to think before the ball was headed in her direction. Her hand shot up and caught it easily. "Thank you, Ms Chambers." She said, remember to thank the woman. "My name is Jayne Doe. My favourite genre is Romance." She glanced around the room and threw the ball to a dark skinned boy. "Hi. You're next." Ms Chambers hadn't told them they had to greet the person they were passing the ball off to, but she would have felt rude if she just threw it and said nothing.

[Othello Buskirk]

Othello was enjoying the academic side of things at Blue Ridge, almost as much as the equestrian side of things. He finished packing his bag, and made is way toward the academic building and then, asking some of the other students the way, walked into the drama room.

His eyebrows arched as he looked around the room, a little surprised to find the area that would have been filled with desks in any other classroom, to be scattered with beanbags instead. He saw the tables around the walls. Seeing that there were students sitting on the beanbags, he walked over to one that was dark brown with no other patterns on it.

He smiled as the woman at the front of the room introduced herself, but he couldn't help but groan at their first exercise. The doctors had made him and a group of other young cancer patients do when he was in hospital for chemo treatments. He listened to the first girl introduce herself and then his eyes widened as the ball headed is his direction. He caught it easily, surprised with how light and soft the ball was. "Thanks, Jayne. I'm Leo... well Othello, but I prefer Leo. My favourite genre is science fiction." He looked around the room, it seemed that all eyes were on him, and caught the eye of a small, young looking blonde. "You're it." He said as he threw the ball toward her.

[Elizabeth Toman]

Elizabeth threw her books into her bag with as much grace as a sumo wrestler, wishing that she had packed her bag the night before as gymnastics training didn't give her a lot of time in the mornings. "Stupid classes." She muttered as she closed the bag up and then hurried out of the room, life would be so much better if she could just do gymnastics all day, every day.

It hardly took any time to get to the academic building, and she pushed her way through the students in the halls, demanding direction when she needed them, and finally made her way into the drama room. She stood just inside the doorway and sniffed in disapproval as she looked around. Knowing that she couldn't do anything, other than changing classes, she strode further into the room and dropped down onto a white beanbag that was covered with flowers in a multitude of colours.

She rolled her eyes at the game, that Ms Chambers said they were going to play. She watched as the ball went from person to person and was tempted to let the ball fly past her when it headed her way. However, she snagged it out of the air. "Ta, Leo. I'm Libby Toman." Let the teacher match her last name with her actual first name on the role! "My favourite genre are musicals." She had been to a number of Broadway shows and had loved them, especially Phantom of the Opera. She looked around the room and her eyes locked with a very cute brown haired boy across the room. "You're it." She said as she tossed the ball.

[Thomas Oliver]

Tommy grabbed his bag and slung it over his shoulder as he left the room and jogged down the stairs to meet up with Reni as they made their way toward the academic building. Their first class wasn't one that they shared, so they parted ways in the hall and he continued down to the drama class. He was glad that he had arrived in the middle of the summer vacation, as he'd used the time to scope out the entire campus and learn where everything was before classes started, and it had also meant that he got to spend a lot of time with his mare.

Walking into the room, he smiled and nodded at the set-up. "Nice." He said under his breath as he walked over and lowered himself down on a zebra-striped bean bag and pulled everything he needed out of his bag. He had always been a fan of drama, he'd never been a class clown, but he could preform when it was asked of him.

When the teacher started the class, he chuckled at the first game, it seemed easy enough. He watched the first people as they introduce themselves, and then found himself locked in the gaze of the blonde who had just been speaking. Her face was young, but had just enough make-up on it to look slightly brighter than naturally, and her hair sparkled under the class lights from what he guessed was glitter, and then the ball was heading his way. He caught it, flicking it back into the air to catch it properly - how embarrassing would it have been if he dropped it? "Thanks, Libby." He said with a grin. "Name's Tommy Oliver. My favourite film type is Thriller, not too keen on horrors though, the director sometimes tries too hard with them." He looked around the room and his eyes landed on another student and he threw the ball. "Tag, you're it." He said.

OOC: Up until now, they have been my own characters, which is why I was so clear about hair colours, this time I have no idea who is going to post next, so I left it very open on who he threw it to.

[Deleted]

Kate had stopped in her room quickly before her drama class, and smoothed her dark brunette hair with her fingers once more before leaving to get to her class. Her blue dress swung around her knees, brushing her polka dot tights. She loved her drama class, and hoped that this year she may have a chance to sing as well as act in the school production. Hurrying to her class, she stepped into the classroom, trying to look as composed as possible even though she had been rushing a bit to get there in time. She knew that it was due to fussing over her appearance, but as long as she was on time, it was fine.

Upon entering, she noticed all of the new students in the classroom, and wondered if all of them could be freshman. Walking over to a royal blue beanbag, she flounced into it, arranging herself once seated and crossing her legs carefully. Upon class beginning, she listened to the teacher explain the instructions for the game, nodding as she went along. 

Kate watched the rest of the students take their turn, keeping attentive in case the ball was thrown to her. When it came her turn, the ball came from a rather attractive student whom she didn't recognize. Flashing a grin, she began, "Thank you Tommy." She then turned to address the rest of the class, "Hello, my name is Kate Holden. My favorite genre is definitely musicals." Her British accent rang strongly through the classroom, but she wasn't self conscience about the difference in her voice that called more attention to it like Peter seemed to be when he was here in America. Running her gaze over the classroom, Kate stopped on a student who hadn't spoken yet and threw the ball. "Here you go."

clothes

[Adonya van Rutherford]

Adonya grabbed her big purse, which doubled as a school bag, and headed out of her room, checking out her makeup and clothes in the full-length mirror that she had hung up there. She hadn't really talked to Cortney much yet, having fallen into bed soon after setting up, and then now the rush to breakfast, with now her having returned to grab her bag, and she didn't know where her roomie had gone. However, there would be time for that later, years of time.

As she entered the Drama room, the easiest to find, she eyed the beanbag chairs on the ground speculatively, but without comment, before carefully perching on one that had various forms of fish and bubbles surrounding it, on a blue background. She dropped her bag next to her and then eyed the class, listening to the 'icebreaker'. Well, okay, then. When the ball came in her direction, she grabbed it, tossing it from hand to hand as she looked at the brunette that had tossed it to her, "Thanks, Kate. My name is Blythe, and my favourite genre is Drama." Glancing around the room, her gaze landed on someone that hadn't had the ball yet and she tossed it in an arcing underhand.

[Monique Chambers]

After the ball had made its way around the room, Monique was impressed with the diverse range of genres that were mentioned and the reasons to back up some of the choices that were made. "Thanks." She said as she caught the ball as it was thrown back in her direction. "I commend you all for keeping an eye on the ball and for not throwing it at the person rather than to them." She had seen the exercise go very badly in the past, especially with college students.

She walked to her desk and returned the ball to her draw and brought the box back to the centre of the room with her. "In here are a selection of fairy-tales." She explained as she opened the box. "I would like you to pair up and come and agree on a book that you would like to work with." She looked around the students. "Today, working together, I want you to find an interesting part of your chosen book and improvise a scene out of your chosen part. Each scene requires the following; the plot outline, setting, character descriptions, rough draft, revision." She listed each of these on the board. "Today you are only required to get up to the rough draft and then you can share what you have with the class."

[Jayne Doe]

Jayne looked around the room as they were told to pair up. She had followed the ball around the room so pretty much had everyone down. She looked to the boy she had pitched the ball too, but decided that working with him would seem a safe choice as she'd already spoken to him, instead, she looked over at the girl whom Leo had thrown the ball to and rising to her feet she walked over to white flowery bag that Libby was sitting on. "Hi Libby, would you like to work together?" She ignored the other girl's reaction as they both headed over to the box and began sorting through the books, listening to the comments that Libby made behind her until she pulled out a book with the picture of a girl looking up at the sky where there were swans flying. The Hans Christian Andersen tale of The Wild Swans. Handing the book to Libby, she went to collect her things and bring them - bean bag included - over to Libby's bean bag as she got the feeling that the other girl wouldn't be the one to move her things.

Getting herself settled, she opened her folder and then looked at her partner with raised eyebrows. "I guess the place to start is to choose a scene the we want to choreograph and perform."

[Othello Buskirk]

Othello raised interested eyebrows when they were told to break into pairs and after quickly looking around the room, he walked over to a boy with brown hair. "Tommy, right? Do you want to work together?" At the other boy's nod, they headed up to the box and waited for the girls to make their selection.

He sorted through the books slowly, listening to the other male's reaction to the title until they had found a book that they both liked the look of; Aesop's The Boy who Cried Wolf, at least it was a tale that Leo knew well, and they walked back to their seats. Since he had asked the other boy to work together, Leo grabbed his stuff and dragged them over to where Tommy was sitting. "So, any idea where to start?" He asked as he pulled his folder open and pulling out a black pen.

He glanced around at the other teams, seeing what everyone else was up to, before he turned back to Tommy and the book they had chosen. [color-greenyellow]"I guess we should look through the book and pick a spot that could be made into a decent performance for the class."

OOC: Stern and Cymilla, feel free to post before I get up Libby and Tommy's posts.

[Adonya van Rutherford]

Adonya listened as the teacher talked about the exercise, which had been simple, and childish, but then, whatever. It was over now, and hopefully they wouldn't have to go through it again. As they were asked to pair up, she started looking around the room already, although she kept listening to the teacher's instructions as she settled on whom she would ask about partnering up.

When they were released to start working on the project, she approached the brunette, the one with the British accent, and asked, "Partners?" They seemed to be the last students not paired up, and anyway, who wouldn't want to work with her? After the brunette had agreed, Blythe lead the way towards the box of fairy-tales, which she waited her turn to dig through before pulling out a couple of books and holding them out to her partner, what was her name? Oh, yes, Kate. Like the princess, wasn't it?


After they had decided on a book, she pulled her backpack and beanbag over to her partner's space and pulled out a notebook, "So, which scene are we doing, and how do you want to divide the work? I guess I could do the character descriptions and setting, if you can do the plot outline and rough draft?"

[Deleted]

Kate grinned as she listened to the activity they would be doing. It sounded like a fun exercise, so long as the work was divided evenly. When instructed, she got up to find a partner, and was approached by Adonya, who asked if they could be partners. Kate agreed, and followed the other girl to the books. Adonya was certainly taking charge so far, but Kate wasn't worried about it lasting for long. Sure, she was small and seemed child-like, but she could also be very opinionated, especially when it came to things that she cared and knew about.

Looking through the books that Adonya offered, Kate selected The Princess and the Pea, a classic. Anything involving princesses suited her, and the book was short and simple, so they may be able to cover a good deal of it in a short scene. It also had two major female roles, both of which were respectable, so hopefully Adonya would be happy with that. "I think this one will work well. I can be the princess if you don't mind, and you can be the queen. The major scene involves these characters, so I think it would work well. It's also rather simple, so we could add some creative touches."

Flopping back down on her beanbag, she pulled out her notebook and pen and began to jot down the basics. She quickly agreed to Adonya's plan as far as splitting the work, though she did think that the other girl definitely had a lighter load. She didn't mind much, as she would just have the other girl help her, as she would no doubt finish first. Besides, doing the plot outline and rough draft pretty much allowed for her to do what she wanted with the scene, which she always appreciated.

[Gretchen Holmes]

Gretchen sank into her seat the minute the word partners was announced. She swallowed nervously, playing with her hands in her lap a little bit. She watched quietly as everyone immediately partnered up with someone, and wished she was so brave as to ask. Instead she sat where she was, praying that someone braver than her would take the initiative to ask her to be their partner.

The excersize itself was easy, in fact Gretchen already had a million ideas in her head about where they could take some of the more well known fairy tales. She loved this sort of thing, but was always too shy to ever act it out in front of anyone. This class would certainly make her braver in front of people, of that she was certain. In the meantime, she was just going to stay on the quiet side and hope nobody bit her head off.

She nearly smiled at the thought, it certainly would be amusing if someone actually did bite her head off. Not amusing for her of course, but she was sure it would be pretty entertaining to watch. She pushed the thought away, instead focusing on the task at hand. Finding a partner.