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Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / COMMUNICATION: Props List and Production Manager

« on: Apr 23, 2009, 03:53 am »

This is part of a long story....
My short question, as long as I'm communicating with the props master, does my Production Manager need a props list?

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Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: Dressing For The Part?

« on: Apr 14, 2009, 04:51 pm »

We girls are talented that way. 
[/quote]

I'm not, put me in pair of heels and my top speed goes way down.

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Students and Novice Stage Managers / Re: Dear Abby: Torn between two majors

« on: Apr 06, 2009, 01:58 pm »

I had a friend in college who did a double major in Math and Technical Theatre.  He went to community college first and got all of his general studies credits at a fraction of the cost.  This allowed him to focus all his time and attention on the tech and math specific courses.  It was still hard going, but he felt it was worth it.

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Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: Marking Out the Floor Without Tape

« on: Apr 05, 2009, 10:31 pm »

I've done something similar with cheap plastic rope.  I marked the bend points and the center, when I got to the rehearsal space, I'd measure from center and tape it down with painter's tape.  It worked well, wasn't *too* time consuming, and make the actors very aware of the edges of set pieces.  However, this method only works really well with sets with straight lines and simple angles.

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College and Graduate Studies / Re: Stage Management Colleges

« on: Mar 04, 2009, 06:01 pm »

I wanted to put a plug in for my alma mater, Millikin University in Decatur, IL.  The program is intensive with a black box, medium proscenium and large proscenium.  They have some excellent scholarship programs and great mentoring from the staff.  The program is small enough that you get to know everyone and large enough that you're not always stuck with the same people.  I staged managed almost from day one there and was able to create my own program (with an advisor's help) that has stood me in good stead.

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Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: Requests for Electronic Scripts -- Post 'em here!

« on: Feb 22, 2009, 04:29 am »

I'm in the process of typing out Guys and Dolls right now and it does help to delve into the script on a word by word basis, but I'd like to save myself a little work on the off chance that someone is willing to share.  I'm happy to reformat or type, both take time, but reformatting is easier on the carpal tunnel syndrome...

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Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: Actor Cuts throat on Vienna Stage - BBC News

« on: Dec 16, 2008, 01:52 pm »

This as always a frightening reminder.  I almost slit my wrist the "right way" demonstrating with a blade that I had personally dulled.    Needless to say, I was back at the machine shop the next day. 

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Stage Management: Other / Re: Your most interesting "Other" Project

« on: Dec 01, 2008, 04:38 pm »

An indoor dance program for a company that used live fire as a part of every piece except one!  I call it the crazy awesome dance and fire show.

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Uploaded Forms / Re: WWW form...anyone?

« on: Jan 26, 2008, 01:09 am »

I'd love to see a page from a Met WWW (just so I can see the standards of a place I'd be honored to work).

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Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: Budget?!

« on: Dec 11, 2007, 08:02 pm »

Just wanting to make sure, you've already secured the rights?  Best of luck!  For props, don't forget to talk to other theater companies, you may be able to borrow and perhaps at little cost if you explain your situation.

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Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: Preshow (turn off your cellphone) announcements

« on: Nov 29, 2007, 01:57 pm »

Working Seussical right now.  The I bring the house to 1/2 and then start the preshow speech.  The lights dimming seems to get patron's attention and the preshow speech is in rhyme so it also gets a chuckle.  I can't remember the whole thing, but the cell phone bit is:
"We must not hear your cell phones ring.
We must not hear them while we sing.
We must not hear them beep or buzz.
We must not hear them just...because"

It gets a laugh every time and I haven't had any trouble with cell phones going off.

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Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: Vent vent vent

« on: Aug 18, 2007, 01:44 pm »

Mac, thanks for the advice.  I did hand out assignments and give responsibility lectures, but never tried "hide the prop" trick.  Problem is, about 9 pm when the show is getting done, it's really obvious when the SM is combing the grass in the dark looking for something.
I'd call this a semi-pro gig.  Everyone's getting paid, but not enough to really make it worth their while (especially me considering gas, wear and tear on my car's interior, and weekly costs on disposable props!)

Thankfully, I get my check today and know to steer clear of this company (and a few actors) in the future.

On a happier note, there are three people I really want to work with and a couple actors I wouldn't actively discourage a director from casting (If asked my opinion).  Putting it in perspective, I'm only frustrated with about half the cast.  Hey it could be worse, but it's over!

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Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / PEOPLE: Vent vent vent

« on: Aug 18, 2007, 02:17 am »

I had to put this someplace and hope you'll all understand...
I'm finishing up a theatre in the park thing this weekend and it has been so frustrating!
Every weekend I go to storage, load up lights, props, cords, water for actors who can't remember to bring their own.
Then I get to drive all around town, get to the park, unload all the stuff by myself.
Set up the lights, run 200+ feet of cord, field calls from actors who have lost the maps I gave them and too cheap to buy a decent map of their own.
Then sit through the show so I can do one sound cue.
After the show, I get to hunt through the grass in the dark to find the props that the actors throw around and can't be bothered to pick up.  Then I load up the lights, props and cords with grudging help from a few actors while listening to promises of "I'll help double next time - I've got plans with some friends".
Thank goodness it's ending soon!

Does anyone else have something they want to get off their chest?

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Students and Novice Stage Managers / Re: help with "real" stage management

« on: Feb 04, 2007, 01:34 pm »

Definitly - BUY the Kelly Book.  Check Stern out of the library first.  I love the Kelly section on props

and the Director said, 'Let there be concept'.  He looked at the Stage Manager and asked 'Can we get a stuffed alligator to hang from the ceiling?

 

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Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: Merged Topics - "Left or Right" and "Your book Left or right"

« on: Dec 14, 2006, 04:48 am »

I have to say I just finished an opera and had set up my book with score pages on the left.  It drove my director nuts when he went looking for something in my score but also trained him to *ask* me before diving into my book.  It also discouraged the actors from trying to sing offstage from my book - bad bad actors stay away from me while I'm calling the show!