Author Topic: TERMS YOU NEVER HEARD OF BEFORE  (Read 11854 times)

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missliz

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Re: TERMS YOU NEVER HEARD OF BEFORE
« Reply #15 on: Dec 19, 2012, 01:30 pm »
Another one that I actually love: a rehearsal prop is a doofer. As in, it's not the real thing, but it'll doofer the time being.
I personally would like to bring a tortoise onto the stage, turn it into a racehorse, then into a hat, a song, a dragon and a fountain of water. One can dare anything in the theatre and it is the place where one dares the least. -Ionesco

LCSM

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Re: TERMS YOU NEVER HEARD OF BEFORE
« Reply #16 on: Dec 19, 2012, 03:29 pm »
Another one that I actually love: a rehearsal prop is a doofer. As in, it's not the real thing, but it'll doofer the time being.

If I worked in film, I would use "doofer" and "gaffer" in the same sentence. Often.

Beatr79

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Re: TERMS YOU NEVER HEARD OF BEFORE
« Reply #17 on: Dec 28, 2012, 12:56 am »
Two terms that were complete mysteries to me early in my career, both related to understudies, and neither of which I experienced in 2 years off broadway, but are commonplace in larger regional theatre and Broadway due to contractual obligations:

Stuffers - those little slips of paper "stuffed" into the playbills that inform the audience of a cast change.  (Typical language: At this performance, the role of xx, usually performing by Actor One, will be performed by Actor Two).  I had no idea this things were stage management's concern, and in actuality, they can be a big logistical project.  Some shows create them on an as-need basis, printing, copying and cutting them day-of.  On broadway and on the road, entire closets or road-cases can be devoted to storing pre-prepped stuffers for any given understudy scenario.

In/Out (also heard it called the "Daily", the "At This Performance"): A document prepared by stage management to inform the cast, crew and staff of the theatre of a cast change.  The name comes from the columns in the document indicating which actor is "out", which understudy is "in" and the roles involved.  Often will include any other changes to the show, additional rehearsals, the conductor per performance.  Its posted on the callboard, distributed to department heads and usually read as a part of the half-hour call.  I've worked in theaters where this document is prepared only when an understudy is on, and in theaters where is is distributed every performance regardless of whether an understudy is on or not.

Cedes

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Re: TERMS YOU NEVER HEARD OF BEFORE
« Reply #18 on: Jan 11, 2013, 01:03 pm »
Two terms that were complete mysteries to me early in my career, both related to understudies, and neither of which I experienced in 2 years off broadway, but are commonplace in larger regional theatre and Broadway due to contractual obligations:

Stuffers - those little slips of paper "stuffed" into the playbills that inform the audience of a cast change.  (Typical language: At this performance, the role of xx, usually performing by Actor One, will be performed by Actor Two).  I had no idea this things were stage management's concern, and in actuality, they can be a big logistical project.  Some shows create them on an as-need basis, printing, copying and cutting them day-of.  On broadway and on the road, entire closets or road-cases can be devoted to storing pre-prepped stuffers for any given understudy scenario.

In/Out (also heard it called the "Daily", the "At This Performance"): A document prepared by stage management to inform the cast, crew and staff of the theatre of a cast change.  The name comes from the columns in the document indicating which actor is "out", which understudy is "in" and the roles involved.  Often will include any other changes to the show, additional rehearsals, the conductor per performance.  Its posted on the callboard, distributed to department heads and usually read as a part of the half-hour call.  I've worked in theaters where this document is prepared only when an understudy is on, and in theaters where is is distributed every performance regardless of whether an understudy is on or not.

This is so true. I've heard these terms a lot on tours. I've also heard terms for moving scenery aka "0 and 10" positions. "0" is when it is in in it's active/onstage position, and "10" is when it is in its home/offstage position. I heard this on one show I shadowed, and when I used them on another tour that I was shadowing, they seemed impressed that I knew what that was ;) NETWORK.

Maribeth

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Re: TERMS YOU NEVER HEARD OF BEFORE
« Reply #19 on: Feb 19, 2013, 02:28 pm »
Has anyone else used the term "train schedule" before? An opera SM that I worked with would make one for specific rehearsals, like a piano tech, particularly if we were going to jump around a lot. It listed what we were working on, what's involved, and how much time each section should take.

It ended up looking like this:

7:00p-7:15p     (15:00)     Scene 12 (staircases)
                       (15:00- length of scene)
7:15p-7:25p     (10:00)     Trans. 13 to 14
7:25p-7:40p     (15:00)     BREAK
7:40p-7:50p     (10:00)     Scene 22

Basically a schedule to make sure you get everything done that you need to in a particular rehearsal. Not an unusual document- but I had never heard it called a "train schedule" before.

ejsmith3130

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Re: TERMS YOU NEVER HEARD OF BEFORE
« Reply #20 on: Feb 19, 2013, 02:37 pm »
Basically a schedule to make sure you get everything done that you need to in a particular rehearsal. Not an unusual document- but I had never heard it called a "train schedule" before.

I also just learned this term on the last opera I was working on... I asked why it was called that and was just told that because it was a highly detailed schedule telling you where you were going like an actual train schedule.

AshleyR

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Re: TERMS YOU NEVER HEARD OF BEFORE
« Reply #21 on: May 28, 2014, 08:52 pm »
I've also heard terms for moving scenery aka "0 and 10" positions. "0" is when it is in in it's active/onstage position, and "10" is when it is in its home/offstage position. I heard this on one show I shadowed, and when I used them on another tour that I was shadowing, they seemed impressed that I knew what that was ;) NETWORK.

I've used this with my current team, but we consider "0" position to be it's home or starting position.  =/  Ruh roh.

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Re: TERMS YOU NEVER HEARD OF BEFORE
« Reply #22 on: May 29, 2014, 07:00 pm »
Where I work now, we have a "Big List." Essentially it's the prop/scenery/costume/music/SFX/puppet lists in one big list, divided up by scene. I've actually never found a use for it that each of those individual lists (also still produced) can't cover. But it's what they ask for, so it's what I produce!
Jessica: "Of course I have a metric size 4 dinglehopper in my kit!  Who do you think I am?"

 

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