Messages

1

Students and Novice Stage Managers / Re: College Interviews

« on: Jun 05, 2007, 01:51 pm »

I got lucky in high school; my director was connected with other people who needed people in their crew. Definitely do some work (if you want to go that extra, non-paid mile) with community theatres, professional, or non-profit theatre to get some more experience. Perhaps if you looked around in your area there are a few theatres that would love help; techies are always in demand.

2

College and Graduate Studies / Re: Stage Management Colleges

« on: Jun 02, 2007, 01:09 pm »

I would recommend Emerson College in Boston, MA. I'm going there as a Stage Management major next year, and you get a lot of experience. I also love Boston, and it's close to my home.

I believe Yale has a Stage Management program. But, from what has been posted, their main plus is providing contacts.

3

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: Let it snow! onstage

« on: May 13, 2007, 10:23 am »

Thanks everyone!

We ended up using a larger tube and some styrofoam bits, after some of the cast made fun of me for being on a stage management network. Oh, actors.

But it was fun. There is never a polite way to say "can you blow that for me?"

4

Students and Novice Stage Managers / Re: Injured during tech?

« on: May 10, 2007, 11:07 pm »

I recently did a high school production of "Into the Woods" with huge set pieces. During the last show we had a set piece fall on an actor, while another actor pulled a muscle.

At that point, I convinced my SM for next year to get a first-aid kit for backstage, and resolved myself to learn First Aid and all that good stuff. It felt awful not being able to know what to do when someone was hurt.

5

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / SCENERY: Let it snow! onstage

« on: May 10, 2007, 11:01 pm »

Hello-

For a production of "Barefoot in the Park" there is a snow scene. We put some clear tubing (after shifting some removable ceiling tiles) so that a crew member can blow into it and thus blow the snow onto the stage (we only need a little bit). However, we haven't been able to capture "snow," the lighting being blue lights. Potato flakes don't fall right, the glittered up white confetti (although it just looked like glitter) couldn't be seen, paper can't be seen although it floats well (the paper had to be ripped into very small pieces to fit in the tubing without blocking it). Any ideas?

6

Employment / Re: Where and How to look for jobs

« on: Feb 24, 2007, 01:41 pm »

I don't know much about Arizona, but there are generally community theatres that are great places to pick up know-how. It also gives you some more leeway in making mistakes, I feel.

7

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: Warm-up/ Games

« on: Feb 24, 2007, 01:38 pm »

Lately, I've been trying to get my current actors to even do warm-ups. The last professional show I did, the actors were responsible for warming up before the house opened, and at the beginning of rehearsals. I didn't join in because I was uncomfortable with doing so.

It was fun watching them though, they were hilarious.

Right now, I'm working with high school students as a high school student, and it's hard for them to take the show seriously enough to do a warm-up activity that would otherwise get them in the mood for acting. The last time I asked them to do a warm-up, they did a game called "Booty booty." Oh well, something's better than nothing.

What are a few good movement warm-ups? The vocal warm-ups would be difficult to introduce and then immediately produce with the students I'm working with now.

8

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

« on: Jan 21, 2007, 07:44 pm »

Thank you! I will certainly get the books you all suggested. And it's great knowing that others have been where I am now. Again, thanks very much.

9

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

« on: Jan 17, 2007, 09:52 pm »

Hello,

I've currently overbooked myself on a few shows, and the problem is that I've never actually stage managed a show before. I've done high school musicals and plays where the director takes over, and I've ASM'ed on one professional show, but I don't know what to do. How do I start out?

I asked my set design teacher, and he told me that what I'm asking is what I'll learn in college, but I need to start learning now because of the commitments I've made. Any resources, comments, tips?

Thanks!

10

Tools of the Trade / Re: Creating a prompt book in word...using comments for cues

« on: Jan 17, 2007, 09:49 pm »

I used the COMMENTS option for a Cinderella script, and it worked awesomely. the only problem may be the margins on the side, especially if you type out your cue sheets horizontal; it uses up a lot of space. Editing the comments can be a slight pain if you're not used to Word.

11

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

« on: Jan 07, 2007, 08:40 pm »

I was the youngest person on-board (rehearsal manager and ASM) for my most recent show, and at the beginning I wore solid colors and good shoes and jeans. I think I went to my college interview in black jeans. I generally go for the casually dressy look.

I've always supposed that if you were good, it didn't matter what you wore after a while, as long as it isn't something you'd wear to bed.

Although we did have our sound guy come into our rehearsals with flannel pants, offset by a suit jacket.

12

SMNetwork Archives / word usage?

« on: Jan 06, 2007, 02:36 pm »

It's hard for me to suggest instead of ordering. What are some key phrases that can help in dealing with actors/directors/tech so that no one feels offended? (When the situation calls for subtlety, anyways.)