Embedded Files
10/18
Another great rehearsal and one step closer to our performances! We have quite a few updates for the week, a lot about costume photos next weekend, so please READ ALL of this email.
Director Sara's Comments
Today was another great day of rehearsal on the main stage. New Yorkers and Subway characters - AWESOME job today! You all worked so hard on the main stage.
In the song Steak - all kids sing all the parts (except for Alex's part), regardless of what the script says for lines. We need loud, confident voices singing so the song can be heard by our audience.
Please make sure you are working with your performers on ALL songs at home! We are switching from the vocal tracks to performance tracks and want everyone to know the words for their parts. No more books for lines or songs starting next week.
Costume Photos
We will be taking our much anticipated costume photos and cast photos NEXT SUNDAY! It is important for everyone to be on time for their call time next week to work through putting costumes on, getting makeup done, and getting lined up for the cast photo in a timely manner. If you are in the stage crew or chorus, we will have the Madagascar Jr. t-shirts for your child to wear for the picture.
Just as a reminder - to ensure our costumes stay performance ready, we ask that this order be followed for putting on or taking off costumes and makeup.
On: Costume first, then makeup.
Off: Remove makeup completely, then take the costume off.
We are asking for parents to please stay and help your child into and out of their costumes, to ensure everything goes smoothly and in the correct order. We do not have enough cast coordinators to help each and every performer with costumes.
Costume Update - Shoes
Please see the attached information for shoes needed to complete each student's costume. If you need assistance to acquire the correct shoes for your student, please let us know ASAP so we can coordinate with the costume team. Shoes need to be brought to rehearsal NEXT SUNDAY for costume photos.
Hair and Makeup Needs for Everyone
Please send a neutral lipstick and mascara for your student to rehearsal NEXT WEEK, if you have not done so already. We need them for costume photos. Please label a ziploc bag with your student's first and last name AND their character name or ensemble role. If your student has a need for sensitive makeup remover wipes other than what is provided by our makeup team, please send those (labeled) along with their makeup bag.
Our makeup team does all the makeup after arrival. Please have your child arrive with a clean face (no lotion or sunscreen) and clean, dry, brushed hair. Please see the attached list for hair requirements for your performer. For hair, check the "Who Does Hair" column: if it says to arrive with hair done, please style it at home before call time. Boys just need clean hair.
Memory Maker Orders
We are so close to costume photo day and we think about the wonderful Memory Makers our volunteer photographer spends time putting together. These are a framed photo collage with your child's costume photo and the cast photo, along with their name and role. These are $15 each, and the money comes back to the play to help make these shows so successful! If you would like to order, please fill out this FORM by Saturday, October 31st. Invoices will be emailed and should be paid promptly.
Microphone Use
We are working to get more characters using microphones during rehearsals leading up to the performances. If your student has a latex allergy, please let us know so we can use the appropriate tape when placing the microphones.
Song List
All of the music is on the website: www.westridgeplay.com. The password for the website is "showtime". Please continue to listen to the music for the show at home so your child learns it more quickly! Here is the direct link to the parent folder where you'll find all the vocal tracks: https://www.westridgeplay.com/login/castparentresources/parents
Volunteer Schedules
Thank you to all of our cast coordinators! We are a parent volunteer led program, and can't put on these amazing shows without your help! If you have questions about volunteer groups or are not sure what the best fit for you would be, please come find Jessica/Stacey/Mari to discuss the options.
Rehearsal Drop-off
When dropping your student off at rehearsal, please make sure there are AT LEAST 2 adults staying for the duration of the rehearsal before leaving. If there are not 2 adults in the room, please STAY with your child.
IMPORTANT Reminders
- Name tags are for students to use AT REHEARSAL. If a name tag accidently made its way home, please make sure it is returned next week. Name tags should be returned to cast coordinators at the end of every rehearsal.
- We are not a school led production. We do not have access to the same resources as the school. If your child would have a more enjoyable experience with you in attendance with them, please plan to be at rehearsals on Sundays.
- We are very grateful for the access we have to the building, and do not want to do anything to jeopardize the play at Westridge. Please remind your students to be RESPECTFUL, RESPONSIBLE, and SAFE while at rehearsals and to leave all classroom materials and teacher items alone.
- No food or drink (except water) should be in the classrooms.
- In an effort to emphasize the inclusive nature of the Westridge Performance, please do not bring any special gifts for your group. Gifts should only be given if the entire cast is included.
Wednesday Rehearsal Characters
Sara would like to call the following characters for our Wednesday rehearsal on 10/21:
Zoosters (Alex, Gloria, Melman, Marty)
Zookeepers
Character Lemurs (King Julien, Maurice, Mort, Lew, Lars, Lynn, Lee)
Penguins (Skipper, Private, Kowalski, Rico)
Mason
We will send Sunday rehearsal times as soon as details are finalized!
10/11
Hello from the wild!
We had a wonderful rehearsal today!! All the kids are working hard on their parts. Here are some updates for the week:
Director Sara's Comments
Congratulations on a big, long practice today. A HUGE shout out to all the adult volunteers today!
As a reminder - we need ALL kids at rehearsals so they don't miss out on valuable time learning their parts. We want everyone to feel their best and be confident when showtime arrives.
Costume Update - Shoes
Please see the attached for updates on shoes needed to complete each student's costume. If you need assistance to acquire the correct shoes for your student, please let us know by 10/18 so we can coordinate with the costume team. This will also be posted on our website this week.
Memory Maker Orders
As we get closer to costume photo day - we start thinking about the wonderful Memory Makers our volunteer photographer spends time putting together. These are a framed photo collage with your child's costume photo and the cast photo, along with their name and role. These are $15 each, and the money comes back to the play to help make these shows so successful! If you would like to order, please fill out this FORM by Saturday, October 31st.
Makeup Needs for Everyone
Please send a neutral lipstick and mascara for your student to rehearsal over the next week or two. We need them by Sunday, October 25th for costume photos. Please label a ziploc bag with your student's first and last name AND their character name or ensemble role. If your student has a need for sensitive makeup remover wipes other than what is provided, please send those (labeled) along with their makeup bag.
Microphone Use
We began working with some of the characters to get used to microphones during rehearsal today. If your student has a latex allergy, please let us know so we can use the appropriate tape when placing the microphones.
Work Toward No More Books
Please make sure you are practicing lines and songs at home. Everyone should be off books and have everything memorized by Sunday, October 25th.
Song List
All of the music is on the website: www.westridgeplay.com. The password for the website is "showtime". Please continue to listen to the music for the show at home so your child learns it more quickly! Here is the direct link to the parent folder where you'll find all the vocal tracks: https://www.westridgeplay.com/login/castparentresources/parents
Volunteer Schedules
Thank you to all of our cast coordinators! We are a parent volunteer led program, and can't put on these amazing shows without your help! If you have questions about volunteer groups or are not sure what the best fit for you would be, please come find Jessica/Stacey/Mari to discuss the options.
Rehearsal Drop-off
When dropping your student off at rehearsal, please make sure there are AT LEAST 2 adults staying for the duration of the rehearsal before leaving. If there are not 2 adults in the room, please STAY with your child.
IMPORTANT Reminders
- Name tags are for students to use AT REHEARSAL. If a name tag accidently made its way home, please make sure it is returned next week. Name tags should be returned to cast coordinators at the end of every rehearsal.
- We are not a school led production. We do not have access to the same resources as the school. If your child would have a more enjoyable experience with you in attendance with them, please plan to be at rehearsals on Sundays.
- We are very grateful for the access we have to the building, and do not want to do anything to jeopardize the play at Westridge. Please remind your students to be RESPECTFUL, RESPONSIBLE, and SAFE while at rehearsals and to leave all classroom materials and teacher items alone.
- No food or drink (except water) should be in the classrooms.
- In an effort to emphasize the inclusive nature of the Westridge Performance, please do not bring any special gifts for your group. Gifts should only be given if the entire cast is included.
Wednesday Rehearsal Characters
Sara would like to call the following characters for our Wednesday rehearsal on 10/14:
Zoosters (Alex, Gloria, Melman, Marty)
6th Grade Zookeepers
We will send Sunday rehearsal times as soon as details are finalized!
10/4
Hello from the wild!
We had a wonderful rehearsal today!! All the kids are working hard to learn their parts. Here are some updates for the week:
Director Sara's Comments
We had a wonderful rehearsal today. A huge thank you for everyone's attention on the stage and for staying focused and working so hard. We know it was a longer day on stage, but everyone did such a great job. Cast coordinators - you are all amazing!
Song List
The parent drive has the list of all songs the ensemble groups need to practice! Please find them on the drive and start listening and singing along! Tip: if you start playing from the google drive while bluetooth enabled to your car, you can swipe to the next song easily! A password was added to the website for the parent page and the cast coordinator page. The password is "showtime".
Microphone Use
Starting next week, we will begin working with characters to get microphones out and practice using them during rehearsals. If your student has a latex allergy, please let us know so we can use the appropriate tape when placing the microphones.
Work Toward No More Books
Please make sure you are practicing lines and songs at home. Everyone should be off books and have everything memorized by Sunday, October 25th.
Volunteer Schedules
Thank you to all of our cast coordinators! We are a parent volunteer led program, and can't put on these amazing shows without your help! If you have questions about volunteer groups or are not sure what the best fit for you would be, please come find Jessica/Stacey/Mari to discuss the options.
Rehearsal Drop-off
When dropping your student off at rehearsal, please make sure there are AT LEAST 2 adults staying for the duration of the rehearsal before leaving. If there are not 2 adults in the room, please STAY with your child.
IMPORTANT Reminders
- Name tags are for students to use AT REHEARSAL. If a name tag accidently made its way home, please make sure it is returned next week. Name tags should be returned to cast coordinators at the end of every rehearsal.
- We are not a school led production. We do not have access to the same resources as the school. If your child would have a more enjoyable experience with you in attendance with them, please plan to be at rehearsals on Sundays.
- We are very grateful for the access we have to the building, and do not want to do anything to jeopardize the play at Westridge. Please remind your students to be RESPECTFUL, RESPONSIBLE, and SAFE while at rehearsals and to leave all classroom materials and teacher items alone.
- No food or drink (except water) should be in the classrooms.
- In an effort to emphasize the inclusive nature of the Westridge Performance, please do not bring any special gifts for your group. Gifts should only be given if the entire cast is included.
Wednesday Rehearsal Characters
Sara would like to call the following characters for rehearsal on Wednesday, 10/7:
Zoosters (Alex, Gloria, Melman, Marty)
Mason
City Slickers
Jungle Jammers
We will send Sunday rehearsal times as soon as details are finalized!
9/27
Hello from the wild!
We had a wonderful rehearsal today!! All the kids are working hard to learn their parts. Here are some updates for the week:
Director Comments
A huge thank you to Nicole McBride for coming back today to fill in for Sara! We loved having her back for the day and seeing how much fun the kids are having with the show this year. She enjoyed her time with the groups on stage.
Registration/T-shirt payment
Payment was due by TODAY--we are still missing some registration payments! Your invoice has been emailed and has your total amount due. Payment can be made with cash, check, via the PTA givebacks site, or in person with a credit card. Please note there is a small processing fee when using the Givebacks site or credit card. We appreciate your prompt payment to allow us to purchase paint, building supplies, and costume materials! If you need financial assistance, please reach out to us and let us know.
Song List
The parent drive has the list of all songs the ensemble groups need to practice! Please find them on the drive and start listening and singing along! Tip: if you start playing from the google drive while bluetooth enabled to your car, you can swipe to the next song easily! A password was added to the website for the parent page and the cast coordinator page. The password is "showtime".
Volunteer Schedules
Many of our groups would benefit from more cast coordinators on Sundays. If you are able to help in your child's classroom, please plan to attend rehearsals. We are a parent volunteer led program, and can't put on these amazing shows without your help! If you have questions about volunteer groups or are not sure what the best fit for you would be, please come find Jessica/Stacey/Mari to discuss the options.
Rehearsal Drop-off
When dropping your student off at rehearsal, please make sure there are AT LEAST 2 adults staying for the duration of the rehearsal before leaving. If there are not 2 adults in the room, please STAY with your child.
Headshots
Today was headshot day! All the kids showed off their wonderful smiles and the excitement on their faces shown in their pictures. If you missed rehearsal today, please let us know so we can coordinate a time to get those taken.
IMPORTANT Reminders
- Name tags are for students to use AT REHEARSAL. If a name tag accidently made its way home, please make sure it is returned next week. Name tags should be returned to cast coordinators at the end of every rehearsal.
- We are not a school led production. We do not have access to the same resources as the school. If your child would have a more enjoyable experience with you in attendance with them, please plan to be at rehearsals on Sundays.
- We are very grateful for the access we have to the building, and do not want to do anything to jeopardize the play at Westridge. Please remind your students to be RESPECTFUL, RESPONSIBLE, and SAFE while at rehearsals and to leave all classroom materials and teacher items alone.
- No food or drink (except water) should be in the classrooms.
- In an effort to emphasize the inclusive nature of the Westridge Performance, please do not bring any special gifts for your group. Gifts should only be given if the entire cast is included.
Wednesday Rehearsal Characters
Sara would like to call the following characters for rehearsal on Wednesday, 9/30:
Zoosters (Alex, Marty, Gloria, Melman)
Lemurs (King Julien, Maurice, Mort, Lemur Lynn, Lemur Lew, Lemur Lars, Lemur Lee)
Mason
We will send Sunday rehearsal times as soon as details are finalized!
9/20
Hello from the wild!
We had a GREAT first rehearsal today!! Seeing the kids so excited definitely makes the behind-the-scenes work worth it!! Here are some updates for the week:
Director Comments
I am so happy with how everyone did at the first rehearsal! There was A LOT happening today and all the kids did a wonderful job of listening to all of their cast coordinators and to me! I'm excited for the weeks to come. Also, a HUGE thank you to all of the cast coordinators for taking on this labor of love.
Registration/T-shirt payment
Payment is due by September 27th--we are still missing some registration confirmations and payments! Even if you paid at the parent meeting, you still need to fill out THIS FORM. Your invoice will be emailed and has your total amount due. Payment can be made with cash, check, via the PTA givebacks site, or in person with a credit card. Please note there is a small processing fee when using the Givebacks site or credit card. We appreciate your prompt payment to allow us to purchase paint, building supplies, and costume materials! We will submit t-shirt orders soon, so be sure to fill out the form so each student gets the correct shirt size! If you need financial assistance, please reach out to us and let us know.
Parent Meeting Information
If you did not attend the parent meeting, please be sure to read through the email with information regarding this play season.
Song List
The parent drive has the list of all songs the ensemble groups need to practice! Please find them on the drive and start listening and singing along! Tip: if you start playing from the google drive while bluetooth enabled to your car, you can swipe to the next song easily! A password was added to the website for the parent page and the cast coordinator page. The password is showtime.
Volunteer Schedules
Many of our groups would benefit from more cast coordinators on Sundays. If you are able to help in your child's classroom, please plan to attend rehearsals. We are a parent volunteer led program, and can't put on these amazing shows without your help! If you have questions about volunteer groups or are not sure what the best fit for you would be, please come find Jessica/Stacey/Mari to discuss the options.
BLACK SHIRTS
Reminder that this Sunday, 9/27 is headshot photo day, so your child will need a plain black shirt to wear. For stage crew, you may choose to send a different shirt for painting!
IMPORTANT Reminders
- Name tags are for students to use AT REHEARSAL. If a name tag accidently made its way home today, please make sure it is returned next week. Name tags should be returned to cast coordinators at the end of every rehearsal.
- We are not a school led production. We do not have access to the same resources as the school. If your child would have a more enjoyable experience with you in attendance with them, please plan to be at rehearsals on Sundays.
- We are very grateful for the access we have to the building, and do not want to do anything to jeopardize the play at Westridge. Please remind your students to be RESPECTFUL, RESPONSIBLE, and SAFE while at rehearsals and to leave all classroom materials and teacher items alone.
- No food or drink (except water) should be in the classrooms.
- In an effort to emphasize the inclusive nature of the Westridge Performance, please do not bring any special gifts for your group. Gifts should only be given if the entire cast is included.
Wednesday Rehearsal Characters
Sara would like to call the following characters for rehearsal on Wednesday, 9/23:
Lionesses (all 6)
Zoosters (Alex, Marty, Gloria, Melman)
Mason
Penguins (Skipper, Kowalski, Rico, Private)
Zookeepers (all 6)
We will send Sunday rehearsal times as soon as details are finalized!
9/13
Madagascar Jr. Families!
Please click on the link below to complete the form, which includes details about registration fees and t-shirt sizes. The registration fee covers the student's t-shirt. However, any additional t-shirts you'd like for yourself or siblings are $10 each. If you are unsure of sizes, please still fill out the form with your best guess, and we can change the size as needed. If you have requested payment assistance, please still fill out this form, and we will adjust your invoice accordingly.
We look forward to seeing all of you at the mandatory parent meeting this WEDNESDAY, September 16th at 6:15 PM in the cafeteria. Please bring your schedules with you so that you can sign up for volunteer dates that night.
LINK: https://forms.gle/R1HYmYfLXYd9EuAo6
See you in the wild!
9/13
Are you ready to adventure into the wild?
Congratulations and welcome to the cast/crew of Madagascar, Jr! We have worked very hard to place kids where we think they will both shine and grow. This year's cast is spectacular, and what a great group of kids! Our stage crew is packed with really impressive kiddos as well! Please read the following email for some very important information about the next steps.
Parent meeting
We have a MANDATORY parent meeting at 6:15 PM on Wednesday, September 16th. We will meet in the Westridge community room (aka lunchroom). Please bring your calendars to schedule your volunteer dates with your team. Please email us if you are unable to attend the meeting, as you will need the information prior to the first rehearsal.
Registration fees and T-shirts
Play registration fees and t-shirt payment are due by Sunday, September 27th. You will get a separate message with the t-shirt order form in the next few days. You must fill out this form by Wednesday, September 23rd. If you are unsure about sizing, we will have t-shirt examples at the parent meeting. You will receive an invoice for payment emailed to you, so please try to fill out the form as soon as you receive it. The PTA has generously provided the option of online payment or in person card payment. This does include a small admin fee, so it's no problem if you prefer to pay with cash or check. Please note that we cannot refund registration or t-shirt fees after the first rehearsal. Please send us an email if you have a hardship and need payment assistance.
First rehearsal
-Some Characters will have their first rehearsal WEDNESDAY the 16th, after school, in the orchestra room. We will email those specific characters for Wednesday.
-Everyone will all have rehearsal on Sunday, September 20th. We will send an email before the 20th with the specific times for each group.
Chorus group
We had another record year of registrations. As expected, we had more kids register than will fit on our tiny stage, and too high a number to be best supported by the human and costume resources that we have. The chorus group is composed of some kids who chose the chorus, and others were selected through placement process. Please stay tuned for more information on how the chorus group will run this year! In general, the chorus group will sing/dance near the audience wearing their cast T-shirts, and attend fewer rehearsals. They will still get the experience of preparing for the play and being part of the big team effort it takes to pull it off!
We look forward to meeting you and getting to know your fantastic kids this fall!
See you on Wednesday, September 16th!
8/22
We are very excited to announce that the fall 2026 play will be MADAGASCAR, JR.! Registration opens 8/28 at 5pm. We can't wait!
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