Bellissima Ballerina

When I was a Brownie or Junior Girl Scout, tenish years ago (oh my goodness), I remember going to see The Nutcracker at the Kennedy Center. I got all dolled up because I was going to the theater, and that is what you are supposed to do when you go to somewhere almost magical (well, feels that way when you are ten) like the Kennedy Center. The ballerinas were all so pretty and concise.
My slideshow is about a ballerina, her dancing, other interests and pursuits in her life to come. She does gymnastics, ballet and soccer. She's funny, sweet and goofy.

-Heather

Let's Hear it For the Playwrights

Annually, since 1982, Baltimore has welcomed Maryland playwrights to perform their plays on stage at the Baltimore Playwrights Festival, located at Fells Point Corner Theater. Tonight is the night that the festival begins, and it is featuring 10 plays this summer. Volunteers read through hundreds of plays to vote on which plays will be staged. A play is chosen based on the amount of yeses it receives from the readers. If a play receives three yeses, it will get a reading. No one, not even the actors are paid. A prize of $250 is, however, given to the playwright who has the best play, based on the opinions of a panel of theater producers and teachers. Putting on a show is not about the money, of course; it is about being able to put on a show that has never been produced before.
The article "Baltimore Playwrights Festival opens tonight" could use a little input from a volunteer.
Although Bob Russell, a theater owner and organizer for the festival, is knowledgeable and interesting, I feel like a volunteer could express the excitement that putting on these shows deserves.
It is interesting to see his point of view- it is necessary to explain the submission process- however, I would like to see enthusiasm.
I would like to know how many plays are submitted, and if any of the plays have made it past the Maryland scene. Have any of the playwrights written anything that I would know?
The article is not poorly written at all. The author has the important information that should be seen. I am just a little more curious about the playwrights and the people who are involved with selection process.

-Heather

Nonlinear Story

A good way to introduce my beat in a nonlinear story would be to express the immense amount of performing arts that communities in the Baltimore-Washington metropolitan area have to offer. Schools, high school and colleges that offer plays; community centers have summer intensive programs that teach theater, writing, directing and dancing; there are dinner theaters for people who enjoy watching, rather than being more directly involved.
Basically, there are a lot of opportunities to get yourself out of the house and try something new, fun and a little out of your comfort zone.

- Heather

Living the Dream Behind the Scenes

I finally have my feature story posted.
I interviewed a few people about their job as stage managers. People who work behind the scenes in theater are not acknowledged as much as actors and actress, despite their work being just as, if not more laborious.

-Heather

Non-American Widows Have to Go

I watched a short segment called For Better Or Worse from CBS's 60 mins. Basically, if an American marries a non-American, and the American born citizen dies, the widow has to go back to their birth country, according to the U.S government. If the couple has a child the child is allowed to stay, however the widow must leave. The problem is the government does not process the paper work efficiently and quickly enough that states that the couple married for love and not just for citizenship.
The law says that a spouse is considered a citizen and that widows do not count as spouses; however the definition "surviving spouse" disputes that.

-Heather

Audio Story

I interviewed Andre Mazelin and Greg Hamilton from the Creative Alliance for my audio story. Creative Alliance houses galleries for art as well as a stage for theatrical performances. The events at Creative Alliance are open to everyone, and you don't have to be skilled to take part in any of their workshops. You can learn how to improvise on stage, act, be a clown, put on theatrical make up, and make set and costume designs. Some workshops are free; the paid programs are less expensive than summer camps, so it is a great summer activity for kids, teens and adults.
-Heather
Listen to this story on the creative fun workshops that Creative Alliance has.

Audio Story Ideas

Centerstage was what I was planning to write my audio story on; in fact, I have the outline of my story written.  The problem was that the people in charge took a little too long getting back to me, and someone from work offered to try to set me up with an interview with his friend who owns a theater.  Now, I am waiting to see if I can get in touch with his owner friend, who I hope will let me interview him about how he came by owning a theater, how the theater is doing despite financial constraints, and whether his theater is affected by financial cuts the way many theaters in the area are.

-Heather

Downsizing

Theaters adopt lower budgets by Mary Carole McCauley

Theaters all over Baltimore and Hartford county are facing budget shortages. Many theaters are non-profit organizations and need to stage fewer performances, reuse sets and costumes, have smaller casts or perform the same shows.
"The financial pressures - and reactions - seen in Baltimore are part of a national trend."
Shows that audiences are unfamiliar with or have provocative themes are not being played out of fear of pushing away audiences.

The story is filled with quotations from theater management, however it lacks any reactions from the audience. Would audiences rather see something traditional than something new and quirky such as Avenue Q, or edgy like Spring Awakening, "with its themes of incest and suicide."
McCauley should really consider the audience's opinions. As long as a show is performed well and the plot sounds intriguing people will see the performance, which is why the traditional shows they are playing are a success: the plots are are interesting.
How else is a classic supposed to be made if theaters will not perform new plays?

-Heather

Hardnews to Broadcast

PARIS — An Air France jet that disappeared over the Atlantic Ocean earlier this week with 228 people on board was due to have part of its airspeed sensor system replaced after the plane’s manufacturer, Airbus, had advised operators of some of its A330 aircraft to do so, the head of French air investigations said Saturday.
- From Air France Was Warned of Speed Sensor Problem Before Crash by Nicola Clark and Liz Robbins.

French air investigators said that the Air France Jet that disappeared with two hundred thirty people on board this week, was due to have its airspeed sensor system replaced.

The Justice Department began an investigation Friday into the shooting death of the Kansas doctor who provided late-term abortions and will seek to determine if more than one person was involved in the crime, department officials said.
- Killing of Kansas Doctor Becomes Federal Case, too by Karen Ann Cullotta

Justice Department officials said an investigation began Friday for the murder of the Kansas doctor who aborted late-term fetus'.

BRISBANE, Australia - An American man pleaded guilty and was sentenced Friday for the manslaughter of his wife, who drowned during their honeymoon scuba diving trip in Australia. Her body was found on the ocean floor.
- American jailed in wife's Australia vacation death - The Associated Press

An American man pleaded guilty for killing his wife on their Australian honeymoon.

-Heather

Not your ordinary high school

Not your ordinary high school

 Rather than implementing a general high school education to students, Carver Center for Arts and Technology has been known for its vigorous interest in a variety of arts.

Carver Center for Arts and Technology's less than ordinary approach to education begins with its rigorous attention to accepting applicants.  To become accepted, one must audition, write essays, go through trials such as knife cutting for those interested in the culinary arts and several interviews.

"It was intense," Heather Malinowski, 20, said.  "But way worth it."

Although students are still required to take typical core courses, such as History and Science, they are expected to succeed in their particular field of interest.  A student with an interest in acting would have to prove they have imagination, the capability to listen to their trainer, as well as their commitment to acting.

Hectic and stressful, just getting into this high school would be an accomplishment.

-Heather LeMaire

Feature Story

For my feature story I want to gather what the experience of going to the theater is like to the people who view it, direct it and play in it.  My friend is the one with the information on the performance, so I am waiting for her to get back to me on that.  I suppose it would be more of a personality profile on the theater experience or a human interest story.  I want to see what draws someone to the theater; to work in it and see it.

If that doesn't work out I have another idea.  There's a theater camp where the directors train kids to act, and I think it would be interesting to interview the people who work for the camp.  The camp doesn't start until July, however, so it might be difficult to get in contact with anyone.

Update: The ballet idea fell through; now I have to figure something else out.

I've been thinking.  Since the ballet story didn't work out, I think I'll save the theater camp story for later, and focus on a student with a theater major or minor.  I am waiting for an old class mate to get back to me still.

In the mean time, I think I will call up the Children's Playhouse of Maryland, on N Charles st since it's near by.  They have a summer camp for children and I am hoping they will let me talk to someone in charge of the program.

There's also a production of the Wizard of Oz at CCBC Essex, and a production of Beauty and the Beast at Toby's Diner.  I'm not sure where these places are, or how I will get to them yet, but hopefully someone will be open to an interview.

-Heather

Wall Street Journal Formula

The Wall Street Journal formula style is used in many aspects of The Washington Post, including the Travel section.  One particular article stands out to me.  Alice Reid begins her article with an anecdote.  Reid's anecdote follows for two to three paragraphs before the nut graph appears and says, hey, here I am with the point of this story.  The nut graph begins with "call it ' trekking lite,'" and the real story begins when Reid reveals what a great place Tasmania, Austrailia, is to "trek lite."

Reid's point is that "trekking lite" is an ideal way to have an adventurer hike.  She backs up this idea with facts on how expenses are cut; by "trekking lite" a hiker does not have to submit to stressful " planning, often months in advance, lengthy outing requiring permits and guides or camping expertis."  Her article ends with a line about how happy she and her trekker buddy are to participate in the experience.  In other words, she begins the article by talking about herself and her photographer friend, and leaves the story by relfecting back on herself, as well as her photographer.traveling partner.

-Heather

Feature Leads Vs. Summary Leads

Feature leads are less detail oriented than the typical hard news lead; they express an overview of what the story is about in an attempt to entice the reader into continuing the story; therefore feature leads are more focused on a creative way to convince readers to continue reading, rather than having a matter-of-fact tone.

Summary leads immediately divulge the most important information of a story, and are usually seen in hard news stories.

-Heather