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I made a timeline because I wanted to show my whole experience within the musical and not just my freshman year of Mary Poppins.  Being in the musical and named one of the main dancers was what defined me in high school and I was most proud of that.  I included what year it was and the musical we did, a picture, an explanation of how I felt about the musical and what I did in that particular musical.

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While working on and creating this project, I learned much more about the memoir and multi-genre writing, I have a better understanding for it and gained so much from it.  I was able o express myself through all different aspects of writing and how that can be helpful for writers when they are writing personal pieces such as the memoir writing.  From a reader's perspective it can be helpful because you can learn more about the topic you're reading or your own personal topic through different genres.  i will also say this project expanded my writing capabilities and helped me to form any ideas about my first musical Mary Poppins and the difference experiences I had and putting it into words.
As a teacher, I could potentially see this type of project in my classroom.  Students would be able to pick different genres of their interest and write about that topic like we did in class.  For younger students, i could break this project down into smaller parts and do different smaller writing activities.  Students could potentially write about their same topic, but in a different genre and put their writing pieces into their writing journal.  These different writing genres could take up to a couple of weeks.  Having this extended time will give them the chance to go over their writing as we go over the different genres in class.  i want to give each child the opportunity to present their writing to the class.  The child presenting will sit it a special seat so they can see the whole class ad show of their own writing.  Giving them this extra time can be very beneficial to the students.
I also thought this project was very engaging for me, i would always talk to my groups members about my personal connections, and they would do the same.  I loved hearing their memoir stories and experiences.  Personal connections and engagements with projects or assignments are extremely important for students.  I want my younger students to feel engaged in their writing and have interest in what they are writing.  This project could definitely help the younger students being being engaged with each other.
In Gibney's article about Teaching Memoir in the Elementary School Classroom, she communicates how is can be valuable for students.  She mentions in the article, "Writing memoir becomes an individualistic and community-minded creative act, engaging even the struggling writer" (Gibney, 2012).  To add on to this project, you could get family or community (friends) connections.  You could get their personal reaction to what you're writing about to get some interviews from a family member or a community member.  On the last day of class, have the students share about their whole memoir writing project or at the end of the unit.  Gibney talked about having a sharing session that can be great for student success.  "Sharing sessions can also provide young writers with opportunities to discuss problems or roadblocks that they have encountered with a wider audience than just the teacher" (Gibney 2012).  Having an audience rather than just the teacher makes the students' writing more meaningful and will motivate the student when their classmates are listening.  She also explained, "My philosophy was that there were 31 brilliant teachers in our classroom, and we could all learn from each other in different ways" (Gibney, 2012).  When you are stuck on your writing, getting inspiration from your classmates can be very beneficial.  Also just talking things out loud and having someone listen can also help you with your writing.
In conclusion, this project certainly helped me see myself as a stronger writer throughout the different genres I used in my writing.  It also gave me a better insight on how to use different genres throughout one writing project.  It can also give me students a better understanding of how to write about different genres and see which ones they like and those could be the ones they put into their memoir project.  If not this one, then something similar will definitely be in my lesson plans someday.

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My unifying repetend is "Mary Poppins".  This is my very first musical that I ever got to be apart of and it made me who I am today.  Mary Poppins is the musical where I left my mark in Cumberland Valley musical.  There is nothing about that time in my life that I would change or take back.  I did take my time in the musical for granted which I wish I didn't because it came and went quickly.

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Fist of all, welcome to the musical community, it is an amazing experience and something you will never forget!!  It truly is one of the greatest honors and accomplishments during my time as a dancer and when I was a high school student.  Getting to dance on that big stage in front of the whole school and a whole bunch of family and friends is definitely rewarding and something like know other.  I wanted to offer some advice to help you through the full musical process.

Auditions

One of the most stressful times during the musical process.  There are about a little over 100 students that are trying out for the musical.  You're all competing against each other and everyone wants to make it.  Only 60-70 students make it.

Everyone performs a dance audition and singing audition.  The dance audition is the exact same for everyone.  The signing audition is up to you, because you get to pick what song you want to perform, but it won't be the whole song.  The song also has to be a song that is in the musical you're doing that year.

It is recommended that you show up to each and every dance practice and singing practice to practice the dance and singing audition with everyone else.  It shows them that you want to be here and want to be in the musical.

You get 1 week to practice your dance audition and your singing audition before you perform it for the dance choreographer, musical director, some stage managers, and whoever else gets to be there.

When you audition, you are put in a group of 6 and it's all random.  You could know the people you are auditioning with or you may not.  During the dance audition you are in two rows of three.  You perform the dance audition twice, if you were in the front row first, you will be in the back for the second audition and if you were in the back first, you will move to the front for the second audition.  They want to see everyone.  During the singing audition, you are singing by yourself.  You will tell them what song you're singing and they will tell you where to stop and you are expected to stop at that point.

I cannot stress this enough if you're thinking about auditioning, practice practice, practice, practice!!!  If you mess up a little bit or the whole thing, if you are smiling the whole time, they will still pick you because you look like you're having fun.

Practices

You made it to practices, congratulations on making the musical, it is an amazing time!!! This is where the journey begins for you.  Practices are the most important thing other than being at school.  When your in musical you are expected to be at every practice unless you have a good excuse.  If you have to leave early you have to let them know 2 hours in advance or you can't leave.

Practices can be very stressful because there is going to be a lot thrown at you depending what you get picked to do.  If you get chosen to be a main character, you are expected to be at every single practice.  If you get chosen to be a dancer, you only have to be at the certain practices you get picked for.  Not every dancer will be in all dancing pieces, but you will be in most of them.  If you're just chosen to be in the ensemble then you only have to go to certain practices.  Practices are Monday's, Wednesday, Friday's and certain Saturday's.

You are expected to be at every single practice you are scheduled to be at, especially Saturday practices.  You learn so much at practices.  If you have to miss a practice, it is your responsibility to find out from someone else what you missed, they will not teach it to you.

If you are a dancer in the musical and have learned sections of a dance, you are expected to be at school an hour early before the start of the school day to practice the dance.  The dance choreographer is very strict about this, he expects you to know the dance when it comes to the next Saturday practice.  He hates going backwards to review things, he always wants to move forward and teach new stuff.  He will also know if you're at the morning practice because the two stage managers take attendance.

Rehearsals

Welcome to the most tiring and stressful time of being in the musical.  It is a week before the show and you have rehearsal right after school gets out until 10:00 or 11:00 PM.  You will get told things and yelled at during this week more times than you can count.  Everything has to go perfect since this is the week before the show. This is the week everything starts to come together and you're on the stage for the first time and you're going through the whole musical.  There will be many stops and you will be expected to do things over and over again.  If you're not in a number, you can sit in the audience and watch, but this is your time to get homework done.

Since you're there all night after school, there will be parents there who will provide food for you.  Tech week, is also where you meet the whole stage crew, they are the ones who move and get all the props for you.  The orchestra who play the music on their instruments will also be there

Dress rehearsal is the weekend before the show, where you get to wear all your costumes and the people who need microphones get to use microphone.  Dress rehearsal is acted like the real show, you can't sit in the audience, so you have to be in you assigned dressing room.  There should be little to no stops during dress rehearsal.  You will get notes on what you need to fix after the whole run through of the entire show before you leave.

Shows

Welcome to show week!!! Show week is the best time of the year and the most rewarding, because you get to show off all your hard work that you have been working so hard for.  There are 6 shows, but the first show is on a Tuesday and that show is for the senior citizens.  These senior citizen love coming to these shows every year and I love talking to them after the show.  Just seeing the smiles on their faces and getting to talk to us is something you will never forget, that you touched one of their hearts.  And yes you get a half day on this Tuesday!  You have 5 more shows after this one and still two days os school left, make sure you get as much homework done as possible because you will need sleep.

During show week, if you re a main character, you are expected to not talk.  You need to save your voice for singing and talking for the show, you cannot lose your voice.  If you are a dancer, you are expected to only walk because you do not want to get hurt.  Because remember, you have 6 shows you need to perform in.

Show week is also the time where you make long lasting friendships.  All the friendship I made in my 4 years of doing the musical, are still my best friends today.  You will be with these people the most during your time in musical in high school.

Your senior year of musical is the hardest to describe, it's very exciting, depressing, emotional, tiring, etc.  It's all about you when you're a senior, you want musical to be over, but you never want to leave because musical is who you are and you can't let it go.  Before the last show when you're a senior, you get to talk to the underclassman and pass the torch along to the upcoming seniors and let them know, they are in great hands!

The whole teach/dress rehearsal week and the 6 shows you do hold some of the best memories of my life.  Your senior year will be here before you know it and it will fly by, soak in every moment and try to do as much as possible.  You will get yelled at more times than you can count, but those will be the times you miss the most.  You got chosen to be in the musical for a reason, it was because of your talent and everyone wants you to show it off.  Always be yourself, never show up to auditions and be someone out not because you won't get anywhere with that.  Yes the musical can be exhausting throughout the school year, there will be many practices you want to skip, and many times you just want to quit.  When you're a senior you'e going to tell yourself that you want everything back.  The best advice through all of this that I can give you is, alway be who you are and trust in that because you got chosen to be in the musical for a reason and no one can take that away from you.  Congratulations again on this incredible opportunity!

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Imagery Poem

If excitement was a color, it would be splattered red and black everywhere
If excitement was a taste, it would be different chocolate we sell at the shows
If excitement was a smell, it would be the flowers I got after a performance
If excitement was a feeling, it would be me so excited to perform 6 shows
If excitement was a sound, it would be the audience clapping after each number

I Am Poem

I am unique and courageous
I wonder what the next musical is going to be
I hear the dancing of tap shoes
I see signing and dancing on stage
I want to be in the musicals again
I am unique and courageous
I pretend I can sing
I feel my great grandma's spirit around me
I touch the moving stage
I worry about the incoming freshman for the musical
I cry when musical is over
I am unique and courageous
I understand when I didn't get picked as a dance captain
I say the musical is getting better and better each year
I dream of being on stage again
I try to make it in the audience to watch the shows
I hope for nothing but success for the future of the students in the musicals

Acrostic Poem
Mary Poppins
Umbrella
Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious
Intermission
Chimney Sweep
Applause
Let's Go Fly a Kite

List Poems

Jane Banks
London
Spoonful of Sugar
Songs
Dance
Mr. Banks
Mrs. Banks
Michael Banks
Kite
Park
Constable
Bert
Nanny
Chimney Sweep
Mary Poppins
Nursery
Roof top
Umbrella

Scaffold

I adore my friend
I call her Riley
She is as short as a child
She wears a fluffy sweatshirt that is as soft as a teddy bear and as big as a marshmallow
When she dances, she glides fast like a race car
About me, my friend says "You are my best friend"

Word Picture Poem

Tap Shoes
Two black shoes with silver on the bottom that make sounds
Black sneakers like running shoes
Making noise with your feet while dancing
Hurts my feet when their tied too tight
Click clack click clack

Emotion Poem

Cranky
Happy
Ecstatic
Exhausted
Excitement

I Don't Understand

I don't understand
Why people don't get along
Why we have to graduate
Why we can't be in all the dance numbers
But most of all
Why people have to argue constantly
Why we have to move away from each other
Why we can't be in every single number in the musical
What I understand most is
Why I didn't get picked right away
Why we don't always get along because of the long hours of rehearsals
Why we have 6 shows
Why some people make it and some don't

I Wonder

I wonder what the next musical is going to be
I wonder who is going to be in what numbers
I wonder who the leads are going to be
I wonder when the shows are going to be
I wonder how many tickets I am going to need and where I am going to sit in the audience

While writing different poetry in class, I very much enjoyed that and wanted to include poetry in my memoir.

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This is a poster of all the information about how to see the musical Mary Poppins at Cumberland Valley High School.  The shows are March 18th, 19th, 20th & 21st at 7:00 PM and 22nd at 2:00 PM.  Tickets for adults are $12 and tickets for students are $10.  You can buy the tickets at www.companyname.com.  To help you decide if you want to see Mary Poppins, I will give you a little taste of what it is about. Mary Poppins is the story of the Banks family who live in a big house in London on Cherry Lane. Things are not going well for the family, the children, Jane and Michael, are out of control and are in need of a new nanny. There are many opportunities for you to come out and see this spectacular show.  I hope this gets you interested in buying tickets to come and see me in my very first high school musical.  There are about 60-70 students in the production who sing and dance.  There is a cast list, a dancer's list, a singer's list, and an ensemble list.  A cast list is the list of everyone that is in the musical.  The dancer's list is just the people that got to be chosen to be dancers.  The singer's list is the people that got chosen to be singers.  Everyone sings, but there are people who get casted as a singer because they are one of the main characters who sing.  Everyone in the ensemble are the ones who don't get casted a specific part.  I got chosen to be a dancer in this specific musical of Mary Poppins.  I made this poster to hang on the walls, so everyone can see them because I want to come see me and everyone else in the musical who has been working so hard all year long.  This is a high school musical that was performed on Broadway that is now being performed by high school students on a high school stage.  YOU DO NOT WANT TO MISS IT!!!! Hope to see you there!

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Have you ever seen a broadway show done by high school students?  I started to attend Cumberland Valley High School musicals when I was in 3rd grade.  Every time I attended the musicals, I would think more and more about how I could get picked for the musicals when I got to 9th grade.  Dancing since I was three years old, I never could have imagined dancing in a Cumberland Valley musical.  Going to the musicals made me feel overjoyed and excited.  Being in the audience it felt as if I was up there dancing with them.  I would want to use my strength as a dancer as my best chance to get selected for the musical as opposed to singing.  I knew I wanted to try out, but I was still very nervous that I was not going to make it.  I was more confident in my dancing than I was in my singing.
In October 2014, I had my first audition to try out for my first high school musical.  I started learning the dance for the audition and a couple days later I had to audition the dance piece.  I only auditioned for dancing and not signing.  I did not realize, that even though I did not want to sing, I still had to try out for the signing audition as well.  A week or so goes by and I saw they posted the cast list for the musical, unfortunately I did not make it.  I was in one of my classes and I had tears in my eyes.  I was so upset and shocked.  The day I found out I didn't make the musical; I went home and told my parents.  My mom had emailed my musical director and asked, "why didn't my daughter Lauryn Wentzel make the musical"?  My musical director had said, "I was wondering where Lauryn was and why she was not at the singing audition, she needed to be there and try out for both of the auditions.  She's such an amazing and beautiful dancer we thought she was not coming back".  The musical director and dance choreographer thought I didn't want to be in the musical anymore since I was only at the dance audition, which was not the case.  My mom emailed back and said, "okay thank you, we will know for the next time".  I was very nervous how my musical director was going to respond to this, but she emailed my mom back and said, "have Lauryn meet me after school".  I met with my musical director after school, and she explained to me and said, "you need to try out for the singing and dancing audition".  I apologized and said that "I didn't know that because I just wanted to be a dancer".  I was still super anxious because I didn't know what she was going to say.  She finally told me, "Lauryn, go home and practice this little section of a song and come back tomorrow to perform it for me".  I said, "thank you so much for giving me this opportunity". I went home that evening and worked extremely hard that night on the song.  I was timid because I already didn't make the musical and I can't sing, so I really felt the pressure.  I also felt very defeated.  I came back the next day, in the morning to perform the little section of the song for my musical director.  I was already terrified to sing, then I saw other students and thought they were going to make fun of me, but instead they clapped.  I performed the song a couple times because she kept wanting to fix things, so then I was getting flustered, and I was like, there is no way I am making the musical because I can't sing.  I had so many things running through my head.  After I finished the singing audition, she told me what I could fix.  Finally, she said, "Lauryn you made the musical"!!!! I was ecstatic and so excited and thanked her so many times for giving me a second chance because she didn't have to do that.  I could not believe it!!! My dream finally came true! I immediately texted my mom, dad and two brothers.  They all congratulated me.  The conversation went a little like this: "I MADE THE MUSICAL"!!!  "OMG WHAT"?  "LAURYN CONGRATULATIONS, I'M SO EXCITED FOR YOU"!!!  I was beyond grateful and excited.  I was so excited that I don't think I paid attention in any classes that day because my head was spinning.

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Personal Narrative: This piece takes you on a journey of my whole experience, from not making the musical, then getting a second chance, and then making the musical.  It gives you a taste of what I had to go through of not making it then making it and all the emotions I endured.

Poster: I wanted to make a poster because I wanted to promote the musical Mary Poppins.  I also wanted to let people know that this is the musical we're doing and wanted to get them interested in buying tickets.  There are 6 shows that you definitely don't want to miss.

Poetry: I included multiple poems such as, Imagery Poem, I Am Poem, Acrostic Poem, List Poem, Scaffold, Word Picture Poem, Emotion Poem, I don't Understand Poem, and I Wonder Poem.  I was able to express the musical Mary Poppins and what it's all about and express myself through words.

Advice to Future Musical Members: Some of the musical members in the past have reached out to me and some other members who have been apart of the musical all four years of high school and gave us some advice.  Since I was in the musical all 4 years of high school, I wanted to do the same for the people who are thinking about auditioning.  I thought this would be a great start to that and showing people how we prepare and give them some tips about the auditioning process and what musical is like and all about.

Timeline: I made a timeline because I wanted to show my whole experience within the musical and not just my freshman year of Mary Poppins. Being in the musical and named one of the main dancers was what defined me in high school and I was most proud of that.  I included what year it was and the musical we did, a picture, an explanation of how I felt about the musical and what I did in that particular musical.

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I chose to focus this project on the topic of my first musical.  The musical is an event that involves 60-70 students and is performed in the spring.  We start auditions in October and work up until March or April when the performances are.  I have been involved with the musicals at my high school since I was in 3rd grade when I went to my very first one.  My first audition was a roller coaster of emotions.  I did not make the cast list when it first came out, but then I did make it because I re-auditioned.
I chose to do a poster, poetry, advice to future members, and timeline as the four genres I wanted to put into my writing.  I chose to do these genres because I have never written about these genres before, and I felt like I was able to express myself the most with these four genres and show how auditioning for my first musical went.  I wrote about the poster first because I wanted to get everyone interested in the musical first and have them know what it is about.  I did poetry next because I wanted to express everything about what the musical is and what the musical means to me.  I was able to do that easily with poetry and the poetry styles that I picked.  Next, I did advice to future members of the musical.  I created this because I want to show future members what it's like to be in the musical.  Also to not make the same mistake I made and go to every audition because they might not give out second chances again.  I made a timeline because I wanted to show my whole experience within the musical and not just my freshman year of Mary Poppins.  Being in the musical and named one of the mains dancers was what defined me in high school and I was most proud of that.  I included what year it was and the musical we did, a picture, an explanation of how I felt about the musical, and what I did in that particular musical.  I am most proud of what I wrote for my advice to future musical members.  I described exactly what musical is and how to never miss an audition because it will not be good for you in the end.  I was very blunt about it all because the musical is not for everyone. I had an interesting story to get in my first musical and that might not happen to a future member like it did for me.
My unifying repetend is "Mary Poppins". This is my very first musical that I ever got to be apart of and it made me who I am today. Mary Poppins is the musical where I left my mark in Cumberland Valley musical. I worked tirelessly all year to prove to my musical director and dance choreographer that they made the right choice on giving me a second chance. There is nothing about that time in my life that I would change or take back. I did take my time in the musical for granted which I wish I didn't because it came and went quickly.  I hope you enjoy learning about my obstacles and experiences with my first musical that led me to being in the musical all 4 years of high school.