Backstage with Pumba

Hi! My name is Aine and I was Pumba the Warthog in are Ty show Shadowland.
I auditioned for the part of Pumba so when  I got the part I was really excited. The reason I love
Pumba so much is because I find him very comical and I love the song Hakuna Matata.

The week of the play I was very nervous and excited about going on stage in front of my family and friends but when I went on stage all my nerves went and I loved it!
Being back stage was really fun seeing everyone with their full costume, make up and seeing everyone getting into there character because we have been waiting to wear them for so long! It was very crazy because everyone was running around fixing and changing costumes.There was little room and a lot of people. When going on stage we had to be extra careful because of the costumes, they could easily break. There is not much room backstage also, which makes it very hard waiting to go on stage. The costumes played a big part of the play because they were so amazing and you could easily tell which character was which.  The costumes were very special to everyone because they were made by our Ty year, Miss O'Sullivan and Miss.O Shea. My Pumba costume was  my favorite. The Pumba costume was a bag with a bum added on to it by using paper mache and legs hanging of the bum.  The front part was a big piece of cardboard shaped into Pumbas face. It was very hard to hold and control and when backstage I was hitting everyone and taking up all the space.

I loved doing the play and I definitely recommenced for the third years to get involved with their play next year, whether it being the art department, acting, hair and make or the business team. I hope everyone enjoyed the play as much as we did.

Playing Shenzi

Hi there!
Beth here, and I'm going to tell you about what it was like to play Shenzi in the recent school show. When I first auditioned, I hadn't even considered to try out for the role of any of the hyenas. My preferences were for Scar and Simba, but now looking back, I'm so happy that I was given the role of Shenzi, I feel it really suited my personality and acting style.
I was put in a hyena group with Ella and Ellen, but later on we had a switch so my final cast was Ella as Banzai and Aisling as Ed.
My favourite part about performing as Shenzi was the singing. "Chow Down" is, in my opinion, the most fun song in the show (though I might be a tad biased) and we also got to sing on "The Madness of King Scar" with Georgina, another really fun performance.
Backstage got a bit stressful at times, especially with our huge masks - we were so afraid that somebody would knock off them and break them! Navigating backstage with a huge hyena head is never something I thought I would do. But it was worth it for the amazing artwork and the effect that the masks gave.
Overall the show was a great success, and every minute of work put into the art, singing, dancing and business really paid off!

Show Prepreations!

Hey everybody,

Just a short post to let ye know that all the show preparations are well under way. There are rehearsals everyday of the week for the main cast,dancers and singers. While they are rehearsing  the art and business department are also very busy. The art department have a very important role as they have to make the costumes and masks for all the main cast and for the dancers as well! The business department are currently finalising the billboard which will be put up outside the school in the coming week, so make sure to check it out!

Also everybody should check out the new website made for Shawdowland for lots of news and updates about the play!
http://theatercompanystals.wix.com/shadowland#!teams/cru1

Here are some images of the preparations for the play!

Sinead!

 

 

 

 

 

Book review: The Fault in Our Stars

The Fault in Our Stars, by John Green

The Fault in Our Stars by John Green (A New York Times bestseller) is a teen romance novel with a twist. The main character Hazel Grace has terminal cancer and attends a support group as her mother fears she is becoming depressed. While at a support meeting (which she despises) she meets Augustus Waters who is there at the request of his friend, Isaac. The books describes the unexpected journey that Hazel and Augustus take together. USA Today described it as “A pitch-perfect, elegiac comedy…that will linger long and hard in the minds of teens and former teens.” 
 I would highly recommend this book. It was both  heartwarming and also heartbreaking. The novel is  must-read and once I started it I found it very hard to stop! 

Target Audience: Young Adults
Rating:5*****

Image Sourcehttp://www.npr.org

November Competition - "Diary of Juliet"

November Competition - "A Wild Adventure" 3

A Wild Adventure by Maire Murphy, 2nd year, Ms Lawlor

Runner up

"This story gave a refreshing twist on an ancient Greek tale."

 

 

November Competition - "A Wild Adventure" 2

A Wild Adventure by Suzanne Holland, 2nd year, Ms Lawlor

2nd Place

"This story was sweet and imaginative, clearly the work of someone who likes fantasy and it has lovely twist and an open ending." 

 

November Competition - "A Wild Adventure" 1

A Wild Adventure by Andrea Lenihan, 2nd year, Ms Lawlor

Runner up

"This was written well with a very good first paragraph. This was a great story of the love between siblings."

November Essays - Winner "The Sky Painter"

The Sky Painter by Grace Fannon, 2nd year, Ms Lawlor
Winner

"This was the winning essay for November. It was incredibly honest and original - A beautiful synthesis of mature thought and imagination."

November Competition - "Escape"

Escape by Hannah Vahi, 2nd year, Ms Lawlor

Runner up

"This was an unusual story written in a unique style. Its title describes it perfectly - it is a story of the hardships of having to run from danger."

Hi guys,

Just to thank everyone who entered our writing competition and to let you know that we have chosen this months winner. Our November Winner is: Grace Fannon with her essay 'The Sky Painter'. Well done to those who entered and we will be uploading the entries soon.

May

Homemade Christmas snow globe

Image taken from http://www.bashcorner.com

So Christmas is approaching and the decorations will be hung up soon. Christmas is expensive at this time of the year and is very costly for your parents so I have an idea to make homemade snow globe.

Tools needed:

*A clean jam jar

*glass of water

*hand full of rice

*small Christmas ornament (snowman ,santa )

First place your Christmas ornament into the jam jar upside down .then put in the handful of rice. Pour the glass of water carefully into the jar. Put the lid back on and make sure it tight. Shake the jar and place it upside down on the table.

That’s your homemade snow globe!

Writing Competition

Image taken from http://photosof.org

Hey Everyone,

As part of our Project Development in T.Y class we have set up a writing competition. The English teachers in the school have been nominating students work which we will put up on the school website  http://stalsgalscarrig.blogspot.ie/. We will choose a winner each month and there are great prizes to be won. Feel free to come to us (May Weber, Aoibhne Rice) or your English teacher.

May

The Way Way Back film review

I watched a movie last night called "The Way Way Back." An immensely humorous film courtesy of Nat Faxon and Jim Rash the directors and writers, to whom we also owe thanks for the equally witty "The Descendants."

The film follows an awkward and innocent teenage boy (Liam James, 2012) spending his Summer holidays in a beachside town with his mother and her boyfriend (Steve Carell, Get Smart) and his daughter. The boyfriend is a manipulative bully forcing Duncan to leave the home everyday in order to avoid him. Eventually he lands a job in the local water park working with Owen (Sam Rockwell, Seven Psychopaths), Roddy (Nat Faxon, Bad Teacher) and Caitlyn (Maya Rudolph, Bridesmaids). There he grows in confidence and popularity, the ugly duckling turning into a swan.

I am a huge fan of Sam Rockwell. He consistently charms me with his wacky and quirky roles but also by showing his ability to play a more serious character like in "Everybody's Fine." He is absolutely outstanding in this film playing a fun-hunting and generous young man befriending Duncan and showing him what it means to have fun.

Steve Carell is also fabulous. He successfully plays his bullying character resulting in you finishing the film with a burning hatred towards him.

I have heard little of Liam James but was pleasantly surprised with his convincing performance as a browbeaten and sad boy. He powerfully pulls at your heartstrings and we are ecstatic as he grows and develops throughout the film.

An absolutely hilarious and moving film, take heed of my advice and WATCH IT!

Image taken from http://www.tqsmagazine.co.uk

Halloween Costume

Hi all !

As Halloween is just around the corner everyone is going to need a costume so here as some tips on where to get them :)

We all know the most obvious Halloween costume is either a witch, ghost or a devil but why not shake it up this year with something different!

These angry bird costume from costumeshop.ie is cute and different!

A rebel pumpkin fairy! you'll be set for any Halloween party!

This Crayola crayon costume is cute, fun and very different!

For more ideas take a look at <a href="http://www.thecostumeshop.ie/" target="_blank">thecostumeshop.ie</a> for more ideas! :)

Homemade Halloween Costume

                                  Homemade  Halloween Costumes 

So Halloween is approaching, this can be an expensive time of the year having to buy new costumes and sweets. I have an idea to make a homemade ghost buster Halloween outfit in three easy steps.

Tools you will need: red spray paint

                                 large cardboard box

                                old white pillow case

                                black marker

                                scissors 

1. Get the pillow case and draw the face as shown in the picture below.
2. Get the large cardboard box and and you're going to cut it into a large circle. In the circle cut out two semi circle leaving a line in the middle. 
3. Bring the cardboard outside and spray it with red spray paint.

Now your homemade Halloween costume is ready!

Junk Kouture The Finals

Its the final stages in the Junk Kouture competition. We are wishing both Amy Ryan and Deirdre Keane the best of luck.
   

Amy Ryan 'Extinct'

Amy Will be modeling her outfit her self. She will strutting her stuff to a mash up of 'video killed the radio star' and 'check it out'.

Deirdre Keane 'Snaking up the fashion Ladder'        

   Leah Cronin will be walking down the runway for Deirdre .  She will be walking down to 'Love Game' by Lady Gaga.

We hope both of our girls have an amazing time and experience. We have no doubt both our girls will be successful.

Get Voting For Your Favourite Junk Kouture Contestant - NOW!!!

Final entries have been made and the voting has commenced for this years Junk Kouture Competition! Our girls put so much effort into their outfits and have definitely released their inner Alexander McQueen! Take a look at some of their outstanding creations.....

"Snaking Up The Fashion Ladder" by Deirdre Keane.

Model: Leah Cronin.

"Kitty", by Ellen Cahill.

Model: Isabelle Dowling.

"All Of The Lights", by Faye Cooney.

Model: Leah Bashford.

"Back(less) To The Future", by Laura Barry.

Model: Laura Barry.

"Extinct", by Amy Ryan.

Model: Amy Ryan.

"A Fairytale Ending", by Yasmin Lahique.

Model: Fiona Ramos.

Vote for your favourite now! Just enter your e-mail address at www.junkkouture.com and you are given 1 Vote per day. So, go on, get voting!!!!

Surprise Musical Talent

TY's this year were lucky enough to be offered the chance to learn the Ukelele, thanks to Ms Sheehan and Mr. A Corbett.

The definition of a Ukelele is: A small four-stringed guitar of Hawaiian origin!

As you can probably guess, these instruments are an exellent way to introduce students to music making, as Ukeleles are not only small and compact to carry around but they are also inexpensive to buy. You can also buy them in really cool colours and designs!

We are hoping to learn a few chords, maybe a few songs from artists such as Emeli Sande.
So those of you hoping to do TY, if you opt for music you could be in with the chance of learning this fabulous instrument!

Ticket Sales for Les Miserables Opening Soon

The school production of Les Miserables is well underway with a number of weekly rehersals taking place. The show premieres on the 28th of January with a show running every evening until the 31st of January. Tickets will be on sale during the coming weeks (available in the quad) so keep an eye out for updates!