Author Topic: I'd like to thank all the little people.  (Read 3291 times)

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PSMKay

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I'd like to thank all the little people.
« on: Sep 25, 2007, 08:59 am »
(contributed by
Steve)


This isn't really a horror story... but its funny. Post it where applicable. I was working ASM for my local high school my junior year on Guys and Dolls. That year, we started making a 20 or so page playbill type of program with cast/crew/orchestra bios, photos of rehearsals, etc. The photographer for the program was wandering around the theatre shooting pictures during the tech rehearsal. This person knew nothing about the run of tech rehearsal and that it usually takes forever. Constantly insisting that we hurry up wondering why the techies kept running out and putting down little tape marks just after they set the scene. Most of us were getting fed up. Once we were finally finished with the rehearsal, the photographer
announced "I need the Stage Manager, Lighting Designer, Sound Designer, and Tech Director-- the MINOR people-- for a picture." That was it. It was time for "the minors" to flaunt our power. We (the SM, ASM's, LD, and Sound Techs) devised a very involved prank (required our own headset system.
It was that complicated.). There were about 7 or 8 people out of 40 some cast/crew/orchestra/production staff
people that knew what we were up to (all crews. No actors). 


As you may or may not know, Guys and Dolls has one huge scene where the entire company is on stage singing "Sit Down, You're Rocking the Boat". Halfway through the song, the pit lights go out (I had cut the circuit breaker on stage). The orchestra trails off into nothing because they can't see their music. The cast trails off just as the stage lights fade to black. 10:00 p.m. in a 95 year old auditorium. Not a pleasant place to be in pitch black. Most thought it was a power outage until.... a sound starts over the system: an air raid siren. then, a digital voice comes over the system proclaiming "We are the techies! We control every audio and visual effect. Techies make the show! FEEL THE POWER OF THE MINORS!" Lights come back up. Pit lights back on. The director was
practically rolling on the floor laughing. The techies, confused at first, thought it
was hilarious. The actors didn't speak to the crews for the remainder of the week. The pit musicians were divided. Some thought it was a riot, others hated us for it. Oh, well. Techies rule. :-) To this day, there is a sign on the light booth door in that theatre that says "Office of the Minors".


If your power is ever disrespected, read this. You'll feel better. Maybe even try it sometime. :-)