Topics

31

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / SAFETY: Brazilian actor playing Judas accidentally hangs himself

« on: Apr 25, 2012, 09:05 am »

http://uk.news.yahoo.com/brazilian-actor-playing-judas-accidentally-hangs-himself-during-%E2%80%9Cpassion-of-the-christ%E2%80%9D-play.html

Brazilian actor playing Judas accidentally hangs himself during “Passion of the Christ” play
Yahoo! NewsBy Adam Parris-Long | Yahoo! News – Tue, Apr 24, 2012

A Brazilian actor has died after accidentally hanging himself during a theatre production of the “Passion of the Christ”.

Judas Iscariot hangs himself after betraying Jesus in the gospel of Matthew.Tiago Klimeck, 27, was enacting the suicide of Judas during a Good Friday performance in Itarare, southern Brazil.

The audience and his fellow actors didn’t realise anything was wrong for more than four minutes.
Kilmeck died this week after being in a medically induced coma for the last 16 days.

Police are investigating the cause of Tiago Klimeck’s death, with the safety harness being scrutinised at the Criminal Institute of Sorocaba.

Reports suggest that the harness had been lent to the theatre company from a local fire department and Klimeck was not supervised because he had used the equipment before.

Klimeck was said to have got material from his clothes caught on the harness cord when he jumped from a ladder during the scene.

Janaina Carvalho, a member of the theatre group, explained: "I started talking to Tiago and asked him to help us to take the rope.

“When I realised he did not answer, I and other actors call for help.”

Local vendor Luiz Carlos Rosner told Brazilian broadcaster TV Record of the panic after Klimeck was found hanged.

"One of the actors came over to me, desperate, explaining there was someone unconscious hanging from the rope and that he wanted to cut it,” he said. “I was a little worried about giving him a knife in the middle of the crowd”.

Mr Klimeck was buried in Itarare, southern Brazil on Monday.

Edit to subject line-Rebbe

32

The Hardline / On the Clock

« on: Apr 20, 2012, 01:30 pm »

From another thread:

my "rule of thumb" - If cast is late, clock starts when the cast is here. If the director is late, clock starts when the cast is here.

In my understanding, TYA touring is the only AEA contract which officially memorializes the concept of the clock not starting until the last cast member has arrived. If there's another one, please point me to it. An AEA cast that is called at 10am, has the right to that time being their official start of day, regardless of whether cast members are late or not.

33

Tools of the Trade / WSJ Article

« on: Apr 05, 2012, 10:50 pm »

That other thread is locked so I had to post this in a new one.  Mods or Kay, feel free to move this where ever you think it belongs.

Here's the link to the WSJ article. Please note, there is no mention of any "controversy."

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702303302504577325812364620728.html


EDIT: Struck the entire article. The app does not deserve any further press from us. I do not wish to reward bad behavior. - PSMK

34

The Green Room / Nudity and Sensitive (Sexual) Material

« on: Nov 03, 2011, 03:58 pm »

Any Stage Manager (union, non-union, or university student) who has experience in dealing with nudity and sensitive sexual material in rehearsal and/or performance of a play/musical, who might be willing to be interviewed for a Master's Thesis Project, please send me a PM. (I am acting as a middle man for someone else, who is having trouble finding SMs who have experience with this. This is not my project)
Thanks!

35

The Green Room / University of Iowa 2011 Stage Management Survey

« on: Nov 02, 2011, 03:31 pm »

The University of Iowa 2011 Stage Management Survey is open for business.  SMs at all levels of the business are welcome to participate.

http://www.smsurvey.info/

36

The Green Room / The Agonies of a Stage Manager, 1914

« on: Sep 05, 2011, 07:45 pm »

http://www.props.eric-hart.com/reprints/the-agonies-of-a-stage-manager-1914/

The Agonies of a Stage Manager, 1914
By Eric Hart | Published: March 18, 2011

The following was written by Arthur Fitzgerald and originally printed in the New York Times, November 22, 1914. It included the following bio of the author:

Mr. Fitzgerald is the stage manager of “The Law of the Land,” the grisly melodrama by George Broadhurst, which has been running all Fall at the Forty-eighth Street Theatre, with Julia Dean in the role of the woman who kills her husband, to the great delight of many audiences.

Enjoy!

Fine productions are seen in New York. Certainly nothing finer exists than the American housing of plays. Contrary to an all to general opinion, the staging of plays in America is not reckless. Lavish, yes, in the outlay of money, but painstaking always. The producers are not “satisfied with anything.” I have known one man to replace a single chair seven times because it did not blend with the room.

In our play, “The Law of the Land,” this exactness has been instilled into every one “back stage,” so that our stage machinery works like a perfect clock. The curtain rises punctually, the necessary properties are checked and rechecked and are always in their places. When a telephone bell on stage is to ring “in the middle of a word,” as we say, the man off stage who pushes the button does it just as carefully and just as seriously as if he were playing his part in full view of the audience. There is an extra gown at the door in case something unforeseen should happen to the one which the butler ordinarily carries in for that funny situation in the last act. The property man has instructions to taste the near-whisky used in the first act. Imagine an experience of mine in the north of England. The hero was about to drink a toast to the heroine. He took a mouthful of the drink—it was varnish! In our second act grapefruit is actually eaten. Grapefruit is puckery. Miss Dean has a most demanding role, and the grapefruit does not help much. I spend my leisure hours at the grocer’s finding the finest fruit.

The moon shines through a window onto the body of the dead man, and our producer and Mr. Broadhurst were not satisfied with the light during the first week of rehearsals. I went to an artist friend’s studio for three nights, during which where was no moon, but on the fourth night the moon shone and I got the effect. Next night at rehearsal we tried it at the theatre and Mr. Broadhurst asked, “Is that moon coming in through the top of the theatre?”

The finger print charts are not faked, but are genuine, and the method used in taking them and in their use has been approved by Inspector Faurot of Detective Headquarters.

Lawyers’ papers and documents, pencils for the stenographer, vichy, a waste basket, a bit of crumpled paper, an amber trimmed jet tassel, a dog collar, a dog whip, a revolver—these so-called “necessary props” are tripled and must each be in its place. The slightest change is a most dangerous proceeding.

In Dublin, once, a statue of the Virgin Mary was necessary to the play. In the hurry it was left to the property man. When the statue was undraped a moment before the curtain went up it was found to be the statue of Venus de Milo. The actor who referred to it in his part had a splendid presence of mind and read his line, “She is as chaste as the Virgin Mary and has a figure like the Venus de Milo.”

Originally printed in the New York Times, November 22, 1914.

37

The Hardline / Stage Managers Networking Event

« on: May 03, 2011, 05:46 pm »

The 5th Annual Off-Broadway Stage Managers Networking Event is scheduled for Friday, June 10th from 12pm until 5pm in the AEA Council Room, 165 West 46th Street, 14th Floor. Equity Stage Managers will have the opportunity to meet-and-greet Off-Broadway League producers and general managers from commercial ventures and institutional not-for-profit theater companies.

http://www.actorsequity.org/NewsMedia/news2011/april28.StageManagerOffBroadway.asp

38

Tools of the Trade / Your Cue Light System

« on: Apr 22, 2011, 05:06 pm »

We've had a thread where we've "peeked" into each others booths or at calling desks. Now, let's peek at the cue light controllers we each have, as I'll bet there are quite a variety out there.  What do you like/dislike about your systems?  What would you change? What would you recommend to others?

Post a photo, if you can. 

I'll start:

http://dl.dropbox.com/u/1119315/Cue%20Light%20Panel.jpg

Here at the Riverside Theatre in Vero Beach FL, they use a system I've never seen before. As described by the ME, "It's an AMX (Brand name) cue light system. Basically, any circuit, dimmable or non-dimmable, can be used to trigger a cue light. It is a single touchscreen that has all the buttons labeled per location. These can be reprogrammed however you'd like."

So, basically it's a computer touch screen that relays a signal to the light. The touch screen has other functions as well, as you can see by the labels across the top of the screen.  Touching any one of these takes you out of cue light mode, but you can switch back and forth easily. During Tech., I had control of house and work lights, moving from Show to Work Mode,as we started rehearsal or we went on breaks. Now that we are running, the Light Board Operator takes care of changing into Show Mode for preset, and then I sit down and switch to the Cue light Mode.

After working with it for a few weeks, I am now used to it, but there was indeed, a learning curve. The system has limitations, and you find them out immediately. 
•You cannot change the names of the buttons. You cannot change the order of the buttons. (If this device had a skin you could put over the screen, giving you the ability to change the labels on the buttons, it would be a small improvement.)
•Now, you CAN program any cue light into any button. For example the one called "Conductor" could very well be a cue light for an Automation position, or even on the Rail. But you have to remember what it really refers to, you can't label it accurately on the panel.
•The buttons labeled "Group #x" and the one labeled "Master" can have any number of the other buttons programmed into them, so that just hitting "Group #2" can trigger lights at Sound, DSR, USL, and the Rail, etc. But programming takes a while and really can't be done on the fly. So as much as you plan ahead, as things change during Tech. you can't change the cue light groups easily enough. And you only have 5 of these groups to play with, so unless your show is small, triggering every transition using a Group or Master, isn't going to happen
•You turn the lights on by touching the button, and turn them off by touching again. But, if you don't have a group programmed, and you need more than one light to go off at a time, you have to turn them off one by one. There is not way to hit more than one at the same time. So, you hit them in a very quick sequence, hoping there will be the illusion of cues happening simultaneously.
•And, unlike hitting a switch, there is no tactile information coming into your body, to know that you have been successful in your cue.  I find I have to look at the panel to know that I've touched in just the right place, have turned off the light, haven't turned on or off the wrong light (which I have done...), and to locate the next button I have to push.  It takes my attention away from the stage.

It's a sophisticated system that the theatre is very proud of, but actually I'd rather use the simplest of switch boxes instead. At least I can use each of my 10 fingers, and trigger many lights at once, and be able to make changes on the fly.  I've worked with a variety of systems over the years, and this one is the most modern, and the most baffling to me.

Over the next few months, I'll try to post more cue light system photos, as I work in other venues, but I'd love to see yours!!

39

Employment / NYC Based Non-AEA SMs Sought for Manhattan Children's Theatre

« on: Dec 04, 2010, 10:14 am »

The company below is looking for Non-AEA Stage Managers.  Please do not contact me, as I have no connection with the business, outside of being asked if I knew how to drum up some Non-AEA SMs.



Manhattan Children's Theatre is a company located in TriBeCa, NY dedicated to providing affordable theatre for children. All of our actors are adults and we perform Saturday and Sundays at Noon and 2pm on both days. We are currently looking to fill 3 SM slots in our season.

1. Little Red Riding Hood

Rehearsals begins next week in the evenings and tech week is Jan 3rd- Jan 7th with the show opening on Saturday Jan 8th. The show will run for 7 weekends closing on Feb 27th. The stipend is $500 payable at the end of the run.

2. Goldilocks

Rehearsals begin the week of Jan 24th in the evenings. Tech Week is Feb 27th- March 4th Show opens March 5th @ Noon. Same deal once the show opens it will be only Saturday and Sundays at Noon and 2pm til Apr 17th. The Stipend is $500.


3. The Brothers Grimm Abridged
Rehearsals begin the week of March 14th in the evenings. Tech Week is Apr 17- 22. Show opens Apr 23rd @ Noon. Shows Saturday and Sundays at Noon and 2pm with an occasional weekday show to accommodate for school groups. The stipend is $575. Runs thru Memorial Monday.

If interested please respond with the show title in the subject.

Thank you and Happy Holidays.


Christie Santiago
Production Manager

manhattanchildrenstheatre@gmail.com

40

The Green Room / New Feature

« on: Oct 22, 2010, 12:21 am »

Along with the Chat and BTDT features that have so recently and publicly been added to this site, there is another new feature that has been added very quietly and privately. I found it earlier today and want to share it with all of  you.

If you go to the "About" menu and click it, you will see in the drop-down column, the word "Donation."  If you choose it, it takes you to a page telling you how to donate towards the hosting and upkeep of SMNetwork.org.

Now Kay has never asked any of us for money.  This is not a pay-for-membership site, and mostly anyone who wants to register and participate for free, is welcome to do so.  I have, and many of you have, participated, shared information, and met colleagues here for years. So, today I clicked the "Donate" button and made a small donation, as thanks for Kay's many years of devotion, both to Stage Managers and to the care and feeding of this site.

So, just be aware that page exists on this site, and if you ever feel grateful for the information you've gleaned, or the friends and colleagues you've stayed in touch with through the site, or have some small change needing a good home, I urge you to click this button as well. If not now, several months from now, if not then, maybe next year or the year after--whenever you feel you've used the site enough to want to give a little back.

Just so you know you can!

Ruth

EDIT:  It's more of an Easter egg than a feature.  Thank you for finding and mentioning this, Ruth.  Also, shucks and golly! --PSMK

41

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / SAFETY: RSC actor injured by prop firearm

« on: Apr 20, 2010, 12:16 pm »

Short article here:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/8629369.stm

Edit added tag to subject line.-Rebbe

42

The Green Room / Asolo Stage Manager Retires...

« on: Apr 18, 2010, 09:20 am »

...after 42 years on the job!

http://www.heraldtribune.com/article/20100418/ARTICLE/4181020/-1/NEWSSITEMAP?p=1&tc=pg

43

The Green Room / smnetwork.org Board Layout

« on: Apr 06, 2010, 09:09 am »

What happened to my simple blue and white layout?  It seems to have disappeared from the layout choices, and I don't like anything that remains, including default...

44

Tools of the Trade / New Printer Recommendations, Please!

« on: Feb 26, 2010, 01:11 pm »

My old printer, purchased in 2001 is about to reach the end of its useful, working life. I'm in need of a new printer to work with two Macs, a desktop running Snow Leopard, and a laptop running Tiger (for the time being anyway--the laptop will also be replaced soon.)

I'm looking for a multi-function (scan/copy/print) unit, that does great black and white documents but has the flexibility for to print photos as well, if necessary.  Ideally, if I can find a model that others are using successfully and happily, I'd like it to have a sheet feeder, and double sided printing capability.

What do you use in your home or office. and what would you recommend to me? Thanks in advance!

45

Tools of the Trade / Converting PDF Files Back To Word or Excel

« on: Feb 23, 2010, 04:48 pm »

Two very useful web sites to know about:

http://www.pdftoword.com
http://www.pdftoexcelonline.com

If someone has sent you a file in .pdf format, you can use these sites to convert the file back to either Word, or Excel, so that you can work on the document yourself, or see how it was formatted.

You need to know which application the file was created in originally, and use the correct converter.

Also, this only works for files that were converted to .pdf, NOT scanned into .pdf.