Author Topic: AEA - LORT - REP - QUESTION #2  (Read 5240 times)

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MatthewShiner

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AEA - LORT - REP - QUESTION #2
« on: Aug 28, 2006, 12:36 pm »
Okay, question number two.

I am putting together a rep plot . . . and my proposal right now is one SM and two ASMs for the rep'ed shows. 

How have people handled stage management staff in LORT rep situations (WHO DOES DO LORT REPS?)?  What works?  What staffing issues did you wish you knew about before hand you learned through the process?  Give me your LORT REP horror stories?  Your success stories?

(I do admit I am shamlessly fishing for different ways to think outside of the box, since I don't have much experience with this.)
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DeeCap

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Re: AEA - LORT - REP - QUESTION #2
« Reply #1 on: Aug 31, 2006, 01:28 pm »
I'm not sure if I can help you, but I'll tell you my experience.

I did rep twice (it was a LORT and they won't do it again)

The first time I was the PSM on both shows. Equity approved of this after discussing it with me. I had an Equity ASM. I also had two actors that were cast in both shows. We rehearsed one show for four hours, took a two hour break, and rehearsed the other for four hours. We did this for a week; then decided to alternate days. (One day do one show, the next do another)
At first, I was going to have my ASM sit on one rehearsal and I sit on the next. I decided that since the two actors had to be there all day, I should be there as well.
Tech was almost a month long. We had two 10 out of 12's for each show. It was tough on my crew, and the two actors. The shows were pretty easy; but it was the time that it took to do it. They would go through the 10 out of 12's; then they would have to switch the set over to start the next 10 out of 12's. Near the end of the month everyone just wanted both shows to open so people could rest.

The next time I did a rep; they hired another Equity SM for the other show. Two Equity SM's and each had a production assistant. We had to keep the communication flowing. (two directors, but one set of designers) I sat in on their production meetings so when they talked about schedule I was in the loop. It was easy on me this time around since I didn't have a month of tech. However the crew still did.

Both reps didn't sell too well and ended up being costly to the theatre. They decided not to do them anymore. I know Alabama Shakespeare still does a rep schedule.

Hope I helped.

prizm

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Re: AEA - LORT - REP - QUESTION #2
« Reply #2 on: Dec 31, 2006, 12:57 am »
well it depends on the rep, the schedule and the people you have. I worked at a LORT REP for two years and we did a six show rep so the scheduling was tight but it was a science. If you gave me more specifics I might be able to help. We had PA's that were MFA students so they took the brunt of the load but for the rep we had 3 SM's each had two shows as SM and two shows as ASM. Again the PA's did a good portion of the typical ASM paperwork. We would rehearse 4 shows open two add the nest to into the halls open the next and so on. Once you get into performance its just remembering which show and which space you are in and wheather or no there is a fight call. Now if you have to have a brush up or put in then things get a bit fuzzy cause you have to try and do it when the right set is in place. The only issue I ever ran into was when they extended the run of a show prior to rep into the rep rehearsal period. which put me on three shows at one time. But I took the overtime and didnt sleep for two weeks. The money was nice so I didnt complain. Id be happy to look for an old schedule to send if youd like.

Aerial

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Re: AEA - LORT - REP - QUESTION #2
« Reply #3 on: Jan 24, 2007, 02:21 pm »
The year I interned, we did Richard II, Henry IV, & Henry V in rep with the same cast.  Stage Management-wise, each show had their own Equity SM.  It was a LORT D contract, so there was no requirement for an Equity ASM.  We had 2 PA's and 2 interns on the project as a whole, who rotated between the various shows (it worked out that each PA always stuck with a show when that particular one was rehearsing, and I got the 3rd as the always in the room with the SM person). This was the craziest rehearsal/tech/performance process I've every been through.  Sometimes the plays were performed in order, sometimes a completely random order, and other times the same show maybe 3 times in a row.  It was a great experience for my first show on the LORT level.

Balletdork

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Re: AEA - LORT - REP - QUESTION #2
« Reply #4 on: Jan 24, 2007, 03:03 pm »
I reccomend one SM per show while performing in rep...  ;)