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Messages - ddsherrer

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Here's my two cents as a "non-traditional" student.  I have been a professional stage manager for eight years and last year made the decision that I would go and finish this degree that I started a long time ago.  I chose to get a BFA in Stage Management from Point Park University.  I chose this school because, although an SM track, I can still do other things and I have to take lots of classes in scene design, lighting, props, costumes, etc.  I wanted to learn "everything else" and I knew that without starting over in other areas, I would be limited in finding good ways to learn these types of things.  Who knew I'd like lighting design so much?!  I also picked a school in an area where I could continue to make contacts and even find work in theatre.  With plans to stay in Pittsburgh long after graduation, it seems to be working out for me.  I don't think that I need a degree to stage manage, but I would like one.  If I had gone to a program that was so structured when I was 18, I probably wouldn't have gotten as much out of it.  A lot of more traditional students look at college as something you have to do, mostly because other people tell you you should do it; but I've seen many students happy with simply "passing" and therefore not learning as much as they could.

We'll see how I feel in a couple of years when I'm paying back my student loans...

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I'll add what's in my signature: "If all the world's a stage, where's my stage manager?"

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The Green Room / Best mentions of a stage manager in the press
« on: Mar 04, 2010, 08:29 pm »
Matthew Shiner's link to an article about his current production made me think back and giggle at the few and far between times that I've been mentioned in an article about a production.  I couldn't find a thread on this so here we go:

What are some of the best/silliest/worst/completely wrong/etc. mention's in the press of the work stage managers do?

Here's mine:

"Assistant stage manager Debra Sherrer brings the simple piece of furniture into the center of Studio 4 in Point Park University's spacious new dance complex. It immediately becomes a magnet for the cast members, whether relaxing, checking notes or simply chatting -- a clear-cut case of life imitating art."

AKA-I moved a bench...

http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/09344/1019744-325.stm

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I know this is terribly long but when I tried to cut it down it didn't make sense.  I did "The Bible: The Complete Word of God (Abridged)" several years ago and this is a letter from a concern citizen.  We offered him complimentary tickets to the show, but he declined.  As the most conservative person working on this production at the time, I thought it was wonderful and I choose to believe that God has a sense of humor.

Quote
To all,

I do not want you to get the wrong impression from my email message below.
In looking for information about good friends of ours from Slidell, whom we
have not heard from since Hurricane Katrina hit, I ran across the following
review in the Slidell Sentry. This article caught my eye.  Notice the dates
of the performances.

http://www.slidellsentry.com/articles/2005/09/02/news/news08.txt

I am a born again Christian.  After I read this article, my heart leapt into
my throat.  I did more research to determine the precise path of the eye of
Hurricane Katrina, and I found that the eye passed directly over Slidell on
the day after the Sunday scheduled performance 8/28/2005 of this play.
Additionally, I found that another theatre in New Orleans had just completed
a string of performances of this play and as you know, New Orleans has been
almost completely flooded.

After searching for other companies planning performances of this play, I
found that, as advertised on your web site, your company is planning to do
this show in November.  I felt an incredible sense of urgency, that I needed
to warn you not to perform this show, because of the disasters in Slidell
and New Orleans.  God simply does not allow His name and His Holy Word to be
mocked, and I have a very real sense of foreboding concerning your upcoming
performances.  I hope and pray that you will reconsider performing this
show.

I sincerely ask each of you, to repent of your sins and to accept Jesus
Christ into your heart as your personal Saviour.  Surrender your will to
Him, do not put it off!  The Book of Revelation in the Bible is clear that
there is very little time left for these decisions.  There is no event left
to happen before He reclaims His Church.  Become a part of it.  I am praying
earnestly for each of you.

If any of you would like to further discuss this, please call me
immediately.

My home number in North Carolina is:
(919) 552-XXX
Yours in Christ Jesus,
Ted W.

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Tools of the Trade / Re: Taping a ground plan
« on: Feb 23, 2010, 10:58 pm »
Here's a trick RuthNY just taught me!  You need two people (three is mighty helpful) but it's very simple.  One person kneels at the center of the circle holding the end of a tape measure.  The other person pulls the base of the tape measure to the correct distance from center and locks the measure at that distance.  Then start the spike tape on the floor and using the underneath side of the tape measure, push it down.  I think we ended up with the tape being held by the hand closest to center and the base of the tape measure in the hand on the outside of the circle.  Continue to push the tape down with the underneath side of the tape measure and this will force the tape to curve as you make your way around your circle.  Make sure the person in the center continues to pivot correctly and you'll have a perfect circle in no time.

RuthNY:  Please feel free to update if your written directions are more clear than mine!

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Tools of the Trade / Re: THE Sharpie topic
« on: Feb 09, 2010, 09:58 pm »
Here's a neat trick:

Ever seen someone write on a dry erase board with a Sharpie instead of a Dry Erase Marker?  I have!  The easiest way I have ever found to remove the unwanted Sharpie is to take the Dry Erase Marker you should have been using and trace over the Sharpie.   Both sets of marker will wipe right off with a paper towel, hand, eraser, etc. and leave no residue.  It has something to do with the pigment compounds in the Sharpie and the Dry Erase marker.  Of course, Alcohol does the trick, but a marker is probably more convenient.

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I will be there as well and would love to be involved in any SMNet/SMA event.  smejs, if you need any help as it gets closer, PM me.

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No, Jamie and Tim Billman.  They moved up there 3 or 4 years ago.

9
My friend was the TD and his wife worked in Admin. at Blowing Rock.  They uprooted their lives to move to NC and are now trying to figure out were to go with two small kids.  They did some amazing work there and the theatre will be missed if the close becomes permanent.

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Employment / Re: Workers' Comp
« on: Sep 11, 2009, 11:13 pm »
I worked for a theatre that required all interns to show proof of outside insurance before employment began because they would not be covered by Worker's Comp in the event of an injury.  This went for all interns; acting, arts management, sm, shop, costume shop, etc.  This meant that over half of the people working that summer would not be helped in the event of an injury.

11
At the ripe old age of 25 (on Thursday) I am going back to school to finish my undergrad.  Needless to say I'm excited and terrified at the  same time.  I've called shows for former presidents and world leaders but let me tell you that this is much harder than anything I've ever done before.  I was pretty instantaneously admitted to the theatre department at Point Park University and will be pursuing a BFA in Stage Management in a mere few weeks.  Everyone that I've met seems truly fantastic and immensely gifted so I can't wait to learn as much as possible from every teacher and student there.  As of today, I may have even found a house, which is a step in the right direction.  (How I'm getting my furniture from storage in GA to PA is another very big step that I haven't figured out yet.)  I may have hunted down a part-time job to pay for said house so things are really lining up.  I love Pittsburgh and I can't wait to call it home, even if it's just for a couple of years.

Deb

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The Green Room / Re: Best reason from an actor for being late
« on: Jul 10, 2009, 09:07 pm »
"Hey Deb.  It's Max.  I'm in a ditch.  Not a deep one, but I'm gonna need a tow.  Know anyone?"

Very calm considering he was in a ditch.  Fortunately, I did know someone and the gentleman who towed him dropped him off at rehearsal.

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Employment / Re: Share your special skills
« on: Apr 13, 2009, 12:07 am »
I am a stilt walker and juggler and have been teaching it for years. Oddly enough, my current theatre does a fund raising auction and I've been added to the "Once in a Lifetime" section to give a private stilt walking and juggling lesson to the highest bidder.  It has absolutely nothing to do with my current job but I've done several shows where these skills have been vital.

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Students and Novice Stage Managers / Re: Community Theater
« on: Mar 30, 2009, 08:34 pm »
Where in New Jersey?  I'm currently here and might be able to point you to a couple of places based on where you are.

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Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: Cancelling a show
« on: Mar 22, 2009, 08:28 pm »
Three of our five shows can be done down one person, but the other two have each actor playing multiple rolls and unfortunately leads to us canceling shows if those two shows are the ones scheduled.  I have done Schoolhouse Rock down a person (ironically the track of the  person who is out) so if that were the show we'd be fine.  This was something I brought up when I was first hired and everyone kind of looked at me like I was speaking a foreign language.  "Why would someone be out?" I think that after this year the idea of having a swing/someone to help the SM and with bookings or children's fairs, etc. may grow on them. Let's hope!

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