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Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: RUNNING: How do you decide when to cancel a performance?
« on: Apr 17, 2011, 01:01 am »
I actually had my second show ever cancelled last night.
The first time was an outdoor summer stock venue and we cancelled due to a rain-out .... pretty straight forward.
Last night, we experienced a catastrophic lighting equipment failure ... our board kept freezing beginning at about 1/2 hour, we were able to get it up and running and then it froze again at 5 minutes. It unfortunately seemed to be a problem with the DMX, so we couldn't even hold a cue state on-stage - when the board froze the stage would go to black. The work lights are somewhat dim in our theater, and not adequate for performing under. (I actually would use stage lights for understudy rehearsals). Luckily, my company manager was still around as curtain wasn't up yet and he was in touch with both the general manager and the producer. Once we realized that there was nothing we could do to revive the board, and the limited work lights would not provide a safe show for the actors or an enjoyable show for the audience the producers' rep (the CM) and the venue staff decided the best course of action would be to cancel the performance.
The first time was an outdoor summer stock venue and we cancelled due to a rain-out .... pretty straight forward.
Last night, we experienced a catastrophic lighting equipment failure ... our board kept freezing beginning at about 1/2 hour, we were able to get it up and running and then it froze again at 5 minutes. It unfortunately seemed to be a problem with the DMX, so we couldn't even hold a cue state on-stage - when the board froze the stage would go to black. The work lights are somewhat dim in our theater, and not adequate for performing under. (I actually would use stage lights for understudy rehearsals). Luckily, my company manager was still around as curtain wasn't up yet and he was in touch with both the general manager and the producer. Once we realized that there was nothing we could do to revive the board, and the limited work lights would not provide a safe show for the actors or an enjoyable show for the audience the producers' rep (the CM) and the venue staff decided the best course of action would be to cancel the performance.