Author Topic: PROMPT BOOK: SMing Musicals (calling from score)  (Read 7015 times)

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Nbayard

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PROMPT BOOK: SMing Musicals (calling from score)
« on: Jun 27, 2007, 06:07 pm »
I was wondering how other people have stage managed musicals with cues going off of the sheet music? Do you insert the music in with the script, or do you flip back and forth?  I just wantes opinions of what works better.

Thanks!
« Last Edit: Jun 09, 2009, 12:36 am by PSMKay »

Jessie_K

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Re: SMing Musicals
« Reply #1 on: Jun 27, 2007, 07:21 pm »
I will make my prompt script with a mix of text and sheet music.  If there are small bits of dialogue inserted in the song I will literally cut and tape those lines into the sheet music to call from.  I like to my my prompt script as straight forward as possible.  Flipping back and forth is an easy way to lose your place.

BalletPSM

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Re: SMing Musicals
« Reply #2 on: Jun 27, 2007, 07:45 pm »
I cut and paste.  cut out the text and the piano/vocal lines (or the full score, if i need it) and make it so that it runs straight through.  Then I go through the actual script or libretto and put in the page #s so I can still yell out page numbers during rehearsals, as well as making sure i have any rehearsal measures labeled that the conductor would use.

Stage managing is getting to do everything your mom told you not to do - read in the dark, sit too close to the TV, and play with the light switches!

zayit shachor

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Re: SMing Musicals
« Reply #3 on: Jun 27, 2007, 09:17 pm »
Yup, I insert the text into the score. For me, it works really well - very fluid.

In rehearsal, I have a copy of the script and the score and follow along with whichever one everyone is using (usually the score) so I can call out page numbers.

kiwitechgirl

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Re: SMing Musicals
« Reply #4 on: Jun 27, 2007, 11:16 pm »
I always put the score into the script.  In places it's a toss-up whether to put in music which has the dialogue over it, particularly for underscoring, or just go with the script, but I tend to put my calling script together once I've been in rehearsals and have a rough idea of what is going to be more important or easier to call from.

jspeaker

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Re: SMing Musicals
« Reply #5 on: Jun 28, 2007, 12:50 am »
ALWAYS!!  It gets a little frustrating doing new musicals with rewrites.
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j-la

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Re: SMing Musicals
« Reply #6 on: Jun 28, 2007, 12:58 pm »
I have always pasted the score into script....however - I am doing Side Show right now and because the show is only about 5 % book and the rest music - I may need to reverse my usual methods. I am also finding that the 'book' script has differences with the 'vocal score' book which has differences with the 'piano/conductor's score'....Bottom line- be flexible based on what your material requires.

Nbayard

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Re: SMing Musicals
« Reply #7 on: Jun 28, 2007, 06:01 pm »
Hey thanks guys!

kiwitechgirl

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Re: SMing Musicals
« Reply #8 on: Jun 28, 2007, 08:17 pm »
Interestingly enough, I've just discovered MTI's "Stage Manager Scripts" which seem to be a new development for them.  Has anyone come across these, or know if they're combined script and score, or just a re-formatted score?  There's one available for The Producers, which I'm SMing over Christmas and if it's going to save me hours in putting my own script together it's going to be worth getting!

jspeaker

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Re: SMing Musicals
« Reply #9 on: Jun 28, 2007, 10:48 pm »
if they're combined script and score, or just a re-formatted score? 

My understanding is they are just a binder version of the libretto.
Jess W. Speaker, III
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http://q5go.blogspot.com/

 

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