Author Topic: SHOWS: Sweeney Todd  (Read 5734 times)

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Craig SM

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SHOWS: Sweeney Todd
« on: Jun 25, 2012, 02:59 pm »
Has anyone ever Stage Managed Sweeney Todd. What are the scene Changes like (Depending on the set size)?, Alot of Cues etc...... Is there alot of Activity in the Production?

Edit to subject line-Rebbe
« Last Edit: Sep 29, 2012, 01:30 pm by Rebbe »
Craig Carter
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Aladdin - December 2018
Sister Act: The Musical - June 2019

nick_tochelli

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Re: Sweeney Todd
« Reply #1 on: Jun 25, 2012, 03:16 pm »
Depends on the production and the concept.

I've done Sweeney twice. Once was a scaled reproduction of the original Broadway show. Full pie shop unit that could be rotated any way you wanted to set a new scene. Double level set with a bridge that could be raised and lowered. Full slab of metal in the back that would rise and lower to cover the pie shop when it wasn't needed etc etc.

The second production was a box set. No movements. Everything was exactly where it needed to be already. The only moving part on this set was the trap door and chair which was operated from underneath a platform.

So it depends on your director's concept. If they go for the original version, strap in for a show that could become quite complex with all the happenings of a full set with fly system. If they go for the new Broadway adaptation you might find yourself in the midst of a cue heavy lighting show to help tell the story.

Beyond the specific production concept: Yes. Sweeney Todd is fairly busy at all times. I've always felt like the production was a steam engine which just chugs along and hardly ever stops to catch it's own breath barring a few moments.

PSMKay

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Re: Sweeney Todd
« Reply #2 on: Jun 25, 2012, 05:06 pm »
BTDT shows about 10 members who've done Sweeney before and are willing to discuss it.  We did ours completely a vista with a rotating central piece, so yes, it was very busy and everything had to be done meticulously.

It is long and it is nearly sung through so make sure you take very good care of your actors' voices (well, except for Sweeney himself) and remind them to take it easy outside of rehearsal & perfomance. For this one that music rehearsal is just as important as staging, so leave plenty of time for it in your schedule. Choreography is normally minimal, although it depends on the director. Not really a good show for dancing in general, though.

As Nick said, activity level will depend on concept. It will also definitely depend on the size of your chorus. 5 people changing into lunatic costumes is different than 20 of them.

cprted

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Re: Sweeney Todd
« Reply #3 on: Jun 26, 2012, 10:27 am »
I did a production of Sweeney about two years ago.  Our production had a two level set with a revolve, no flys (not in a fly house) and it was LX heavy.  It was a lot of fun and I second what Kay said about being meticulous. There were a couple of very intricate sequences.

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Re: Sweeney Todd
« Reply #4 on: Jun 26, 2012, 12:19 pm »
I'm doing Sweeney now.  We have a two level set with upper galleries on SR and SL, and a bridge that rolls US/DS between them.  We have a bunch of flies (the chair flies in), and a a bunch of rolling pieces that come and go (pie shop table, oven, grinder, Pirelli stage).  We also have a "landing platform" that comes and goes, and connects to the main chute on the bridge for the chair trick.  Our open set has made a few things tricky, like getting Pirelli out of the trunk after he's killed.

Is your theatre renting a chair rig, or building something?  Be sure to build in time on set to get your victims used to that ride, as it can be scary at first.  We are also doing a TON of blood, with a trick knife that spurts, and a blood bib for the shaving victims that is cheesecloth lined underneath in vinyl to protect their costumes.  The blood just drips down it.  But it does get everywhere.

We have a pretty large ensemble (15),  but thankfully we do not have a lot of costume changes (instead they're shifting our moving pieces during most scene changes).  They have a basic costume, then they change for the ball for Poor Thing, but that's it.  We're doing Fogg's Asylum as shadow play, and then our City on Fire sequence is dark and red and you don't pay attention to the fact they're wearing the same stuff they've been wearing throughout.

I second the call for lots of music rehearsal in your schedule.  Not only is it sung through, but this is very tough music.  I will also suggest that if your Mrs. Lovett, Johanna, or soprano ensemble members are wearing corsets in the show, to see if you can rehearse with them.  We ran into some trouble with the blocking/high notes being much more difficult once they got into corset.

Craig SM

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Re: Sweeney Todd
« Reply #5 on: Jun 27, 2012, 03:35 pm »
We dont have any flying systems our stage is 5m High so we're tight!, and yeah i was thinking more LX Cue Heavy aswell Love Cue heavy! (My operators are still a bit slow which i need to get them trained more "high school") but think we are going to hire the set from Scenic Projects.

http://www.scenicprojects.co.uk/Shows/sweeney-todd.aspx

Craig Carter
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Aladdin - December 2018
Sister Act: The Musical - June 2019

jcawley

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Re: Sweeney Todd
« Reply #6 on: Sep 12, 2012, 07:02 pm »
I stage managed Sweeney in the spring and it was a really great experience. We built two stationary set pieces - Sweeney's shop, which was comprised of black platforms with a chute in the back for people falling out of the chair (which was just carried on by actors), and Mrs. Lovett's bakehouse, which rotated. Pirelli's cart (which was also Fogg's asylum and the bake oven) was rolled on as needed. As far as set changes went, our version wasn't too bad. There were maybe 10-12 changes total and we didn't use any special equipment. Actors moved most of the pieces because my crew was small, so I personally didn't do a whole lot aside from telling them when and where to move things.  Still, the scene changes had to be precise and fast so you do need to make sure you're on top of things. Rehearsals are always a great time to practice set changes. I made sure the actors knew exactly what was happening when, and who was doing what - that helped everything run smoothly. If you want any ideas for easier set changes or a multifunctional set design (which really helped with set changes), don't hesitate to ask!

KCANDREWNICHOLAS

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Re: Sweeney Todd
« Reply #7 on: Sep 25, 2012, 01:00 pm »
I have staged managed Sweeney Todd recently! The production I did had fairly little set changes but a large amount of cues(lighting/sound/projections/mics). We also had a large ensemble who were very active. It really all depends on the production/director. Best thing  to do is just be organized.