hey everyone....so this is my first post so I'd really appreciate any advice.
ok so backstory: I'm going to be a senior in high school next fall, and I'm poised to take over the VERY poorly handled SM role for our fall musical. I've spent a lot of time at SM's and ASM's elbows but have never handled a show on my own yet. I do intend to major in Stage Management or something similar which is why i wanted to get this experience under my belt before my college applications go out.
The way it works in our company is that some unknown higher entity gives us some vague instructions and plans for what they want us to build and then any more information trickes through several adults before it gets to the student builders. The "Stage Managers" DO NOT attend rehearsals and consequently scramble to get a show off and running from a dead start during Tech Week.....I could go and on but it would only depress me. =]
So I decided enough was enough and I'm lobbing the director to let me handle the fall musical the way I've learned to. I've been talking to veteran cast members and have discovered that there is NO time set aside for blocking and basically "do whateve you feel is right and as long you're not doing hand stands, they're cool with that" and the choreographer is the only one who takes choreography notes.
So questions:
1) How much should I expect from the creative team, giving the conditions I've described?
2) I've never taken blocking notes and I'm wondering if I should bother to learn?
3) I'm not a dancer and Have NO idea how to handle choreogaphy...again, should bother?
4)Is there anything from your experience that you think is relevant to where I've found myself?
Anyways, I know this really long and I'd REALLY appreciate anything you have to say about it...I'm trying to make it, jsut like everyone else, so give a sister a hand? Thanks. =D