Topics

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Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / SAFETY: Real weapons on stage?

« on: Mar 30, 2015, 11:36 pm »

I'm stage managing a new musical. It's set during World War I and features two Scottish brothers. One goes to fight in the war and the other is a conscientious objector. The show features a bayonet training sequence as well as several battle scenes.

The Managing Artistic Director, who also wrote the musical, has acquired six antique World War I bayonets that he is set on using in the show. I haven't seen them yet, but they're apparently fully functional guns with actual blades attached. This is a very small theatre and no one is union. I don't have anyone higher in the organization to go to with my concerns, since the writer is also the MAD.

How do I convince the MAD/writer that real guns (and blades!) on stage is a very, very, very bad idea? And if I can't, what do I do?

Edited to add topic tag- Maribeth

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Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / VENUES: Outdoor Theatre

« on: Jun 28, 2014, 02:57 am »

I'm stage managing my first outdoor show this summer. It's a Shakespeare show that will be in a different park for each performance.

Does anyone have advice or tips for doing outdoor theatre?


Edited to add topic tag. - Maribeth

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Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / REHEARSAL: Tension in Rehearsals

« on: Apr 09, 2014, 02:00 pm »

The other day in rehearsal things got tense and there was this really weird energy. It was the first rehearsal off book and people were goofing around, so the director said something a little harsh (but not unjustified) to get them back on track. After that the actors started working harder, but also messing up more and blaming each other. Our normally relaxed and friendly atmosphere turned into something aggressive and mildly antagonistic. Nothing blatant was said, but I could tell everyone was tensing up and it got uncomfortable. Everyone left at the end of the night feeling stressed. 

What I'm wondering is, has anyone ever had a similar situation where things got tense and you decided to stop the rehearsal and address it? If something happens that effects everyone in rehearsal, would you stop and address it, take a 5 and hope people cool off, or just keep going?

Of course, the answer is pretty much always "It depends," but does anyone have an anecdote or advice they'd like to share?

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Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / PROFESSIONALISM: Artistic Director wants me to email actors link to a review

« on: Feb 04, 2014, 11:18 pm »

A blogger wrote a nice review of my current show (professional, but non Equity). It's at a small, pretty informal theatre. The Artistic Director emailed me a link to the review, and asked me to forward it to the cast.

This particular theatre doesn't have a general policy of not talking about reviews in the dressing rooms/greenroom. But the thought of emailing the actors the review makes me uncomfortable. The blog says a lot of nice things, but not all actors like to read reviews. I'd rather not send the email. But I also don't want to get on the bad side of the person who hired me.

Anyone have any thoughts or advice?

5

Introductions / Long time reader, first time poster

« on: Feb 04, 2014, 11:02 pm »

Well, I read all the rules and stuff. And now I guess it's time to introduce myself.

I'm Sarah Ross, I graduated from Whitworth University a couple years ago with a degree in Communication. I've been stage managing in the Seattle/Tacoma area since I graduated, and I have enough black clothes to uniform a ninja army. I've been reading (lurking) for a while, and finally decided to officially join in.

A tip - I recently bought a giant scrapbooking bag to use as my SM kit. It's great because it has a ton of pockets and things. I spent an hour organizing everything, and was extremely happy with that hour 

A tale - I was feeling burnt out a year or two back, and was considering taking a break from stage managing. I was working on a panto at the time (Cinderella), and things were...difficult. But then we opened. And I got to see the looks of joy on the faces of the kids when Cinderella "transformed" into her ballgown. I was reminded of why I love theatre so much.

A bit of trivia - According to QI (an absolutely amazing show, by the way) when the Mona Lisa was stolen from the Louvre in 1911, one of the suspects was Picasso.


Anyway, I'm excited to become a member of this great site, and learn as much as I can!