Take Note Troupe

Service with a Smile

2009-04-19T20:20:00.000-07:00

I long to accomplish a great and noble task, but it is my chief duty to accomplish small tasks as if they were great and noble. Helen Keller

TNT had the opportunity to provide workshops at Deseret Industries (DI) in Sacramento last Friday. DI provides on the job training and rehabilitation for individuals facing a variety of challenges and limitations.

Being unwanted, unloved, uncared for, forgotten by everybody, I think that is a much greater hunger, a much greater poverty than the person who has nothing to eat. Mother Teresa

TNT facilitated 3 workshops that taught foundational life skills. As each workshop progressed the positive energy began to flow and smiles on initially disinterested and even defensive faces became contagious.

Kind words can be short and easy to speak, but their echoes are truly endless. Mother Teresa

The good accomplished working with the delightful employees of DI was wonderfully rewarding as intangible needs were met and hearts were encouraged and souls validated. The troupe loved the opportunity to model and teach that good begets good and positive attitudes create positive energy.

In this life we cannot do great things. We can only do small things with great love. Mother Teresa

One of the games TNT lead to model generosity and the value of making your partner look good is called gift giving. Everyone in the room gave a fictitious gift to the person sitting next to them. Each participant was instructed to receive the imaginary gift in a gracious validating way. At the end of the game, Terrence from Samoa, commented on the good feeling in the room and how there was a greater feeling of love present. This game consistently manifests that everyone wants to be generous and validate others but the specifics and the details get in the way of the true message we want to send out to others, that they are of worth, that we love them and that there is room enough for all to have the joy they seek.

I am only one, but still I am one. I cannot do everything, but still I can do something; and because I cannot do everything, I will not refuse to do something that I can do. Helen Keller

Just another workshop, another stone dropped in the pond, that sends out ripple upon ripple, reverberating endlessly outward. Good cannot be done without good coming of it. This was a satisfying and fun way for the youth of TNT to experience the value of serving others.

Shakespeare 101

2008-11-19T17:44:00.000-08:00

Emmett as Joe and Shawn as Aaron with an A

Christian as Sil of the Cimbelines

Kiersten's "gonna be famous one day" Taylor

TNT's original production,
Shakespeare 101 receives warm reception!

"The best TNT show I've seen yet!"
"I laughed the whole time."

"I wanted to go home and read more Shakespeare"

The show opened at Coyote Ridge Elementary for 500 3rd through 6th graders. The next day TNT provided 3 shows, starting with Rocklin Academy/Rhukula School for 500 students then an afternoon performance at Placer School for 350 6th, 7th and 8th graders, our toughest audience. Even they were loud and long in their applause. That evening TNT performed for Olympus Jr High with approx 250 in attendance. Again the response was positive and generous. The Public shows at NCDC theater were well attended and enthusiastically received. The only problem encountered by the troupe was realizing they had to pause in their delivery at times due to the loud laughter from the audience. It has been a joy to see the collaborative creativity of the troupe as a character is fleshed out with quirky individuality. Every performance the troupe's improv training has been put to use as a line is added or a character needs to ad lib to buy time for a costume change gone wrong.

This show seems to meet all of TNT's goals to foster an interest in the arts and Shakespeare while entertaining and uplifting. The plotline rolls between a number of interesting characters determined to get a date to the Winter Ball and pass their English Lit class presentation on Shakespeare. The leads, Joe and Aaron, with an A, both learn to not accept sterotypes or prejudices and instead look to themselves for a sense of purpose and worth.

The Saturday matinee is sold out but 7:30 shows the 21 & 22 still have seats at this time.

TNT provides Improv Workshops at BYU

2008-10-07T22:54:00.000-07:00

TNT and BYU's Young Ambassadors

Playing I am a tree extreme version &

TNT with Young Ambassadors "take my hand"

Diamond Dancing

AHSHEE

IMPROV WORKSHOPS AT BYU

TNT just returned from their 5th annual trip to Cedar City, Utah to participate in the Utahan Shakespearean Festival High School Competition. The trip was a success at so many levels. The troupe performed well in competition taking multiple awards including 3rd place sweepstakes, meaning the overall points awarded to TNT as a whole.

The troupe left early October 1, traveling to Provo, UT. We were up early the next morning in order to teach 3 workshops at BYU. The day started with an advanced workshop with Laurie Harup-Purser's 200 level Acting class. What a treat to work with such a generous group of college students. TNT workshops are usually an introduction to improv. The chance to work with a group already possessed of a foundation of improv was highly anticipated. Because the class had already received training in accepting offers and taking risks it was a fast start into more advanced games offering group involvement at a variety of levels.

A highlight was Ahshee, TNT's version of gibberish, consisting of a singer(Ahwshee), a translator, an impromptu accompaniment and back up dancers. The tale told of the poor girl whose father was an auto mechanic from a country with no hand soap was compelling. Emmett(TNT) and Andrew(BYU) teamed up for some rocking piano music that carried the scene. Victoria(TNT) sang while a BYU student translated, both applying the "make your partner look good" rule playing off of each other's actions or words. Of course the trio of BYU MDT (Music, dance, theater) majors dancing back up was amazing as well. A magical moment created on the spot.

The other highlight was an interactive game called Muse. A poet starts a poem and takes inspiration from a "muse". TNT's twist added "expressers" meaning anyone could hop up any time and add to the poem physically. The whirlpool of cats was wonderful. So much creation in a room without condemnation. Which brings me to the point of our workshops at BYU. There is an amazing connection between creative energy and charity. Pure love casteth out all fear. When a room is filled with love, fear subsides and the creativity that resides in all of us is unleashed. TNT's experience has validated Mary Vinton Folberg's saying time and again that

"...talent is very common. What's rare is the environment that allows talent to flourish."

TNT's ability to cultivate this "environment" repeatedly is the key to its success.

We were also able to work with students in Gayle Lockwood's vocal performance class. Many would ask what improv has to do with singing. TNT focused on the difference between seeking self aggrandizement in performance and seeking to enhance your partner's experience; partner meaning anyone listening to the singing. When self focus is turned outward the energy can surge through a performer and into the audience instead of being held in by the gravitational pull of self focused thoughts and doubts.

The final workshop of the day was with BYU's performance group, The Young Ambassadors (YA). Another exceptional experience brought about through both groups willingness to be open and accepting as TNT taught the foundational rule of improv, "say yes...and...". This rule means to accept offers that are of pure intent and add to the offer. As participants mixed it up and played the game gift giving, warm smiles and laughter were evidence that barriers were down and hearts were open. The highlight for TNT came when the YAs took the stage to perform the numbers they had been developing. While singing the lyrics "take my hand" from the song, Fools rush in, the YAs extended their hands towards TNT sitting in the audience. TNT, being the yes anders that they are, extended their hands as well and in nano seconds, the YAs had swept TNT up into the scene as their dance partners. The energy created by such openness and acceptance was palpable and very memorable.

Most have been amazed to hear of TNT's success teaching college students. The typical high School student can be defensive or easily intimidated. TNT may have initially felt surges of the common mind chatter, "What are you thinking?" "What can you offer someone so trained?" "Why would they be interested in what you have to say?" All of these Yabba Yabbas, or voices that would diminish, were squelched by looking outward and seeking to serve those participating in the workshops. This generosity of intent can compel even the weak to do great things. And best of all......we had a GREAT time doing it! Thanks BYU!

2008-10-07T22:25:00.000-07:00

Take Note Troupe

(AKA TNT)

is an award winning youth theater company focused on service in the community. TNT's core philosophy focuses on cultivation of the human potential rather than a specific skill set. TNT's emphasis on the development of life skills that translate into award winning performances on stage makes it a theater program everyone can feel great about.

TNT also believes in producing family friendly, fun uplifting productions that engage, educate, encourage and entertain.

TNT is a not for profit 501 (c)(3). All of TNT's staff are volunteers. Our mission is to strengthen our society (SOS) one performance and workshop at a time.

Visit takenotetroupe.org for more details