Messages

1

Students and Novice Stage Managers / Re: Musicals Vs. Straight Plays

« on: Dec 26, 2006, 02:47 am »

My highschool doesn't have a pit, they set up on the side-corner of the audit. So I always give the MD places cue last...
I say "give me 45 sec. to get to the booth, then start."

since we don't have any way to be on headset or have a cue light, it seems to work. He laughs every time I say it tho...
-isha

2

Students and Novice Stage Managers / Re: Pre-show Blues

« on: Dec 26, 2006, 02:21 am »

NO KIDDDING!!!

sometimes highschool theatre is soooo hard!

we learn about SM-ing, we read all these books about it...but there isn't a book about high school stage management.
I've been blessed to have 1 good director that lets me do what I want, but I've worked with others that have no idea what my job is and won't let me do it.

It's hard to try to be organized and do things well when all you've got is other highschool students. I've just learned that, no matter how hard i try, no matter how hard I work, no matter how much I cajole, and try to motivate...the show will NOT pull itself together until the last week. I think that is just highschool. We're just kids. The actors would rather hang-out with each other than make a good show. I promise myself to do my best, and set-up as much as possible, so I don't go crazy during that week...but you can't force other people (no matter how much you want to)

I'm just excited to see what college will be like. And I sure hope I get the chance to work professionally. I might not do it my whole life, but I would like to get to the point where I can settle into it a bit, feel like I can actually help fit the pieces together.

Highschool the pieces don't fit because they are all from different puzzles. The make one interesting picture tho..

But good luck with your show!!!!! IT's fun isn't it!
-isha

3

Students and Novice Stage Managers / Re: SMgt project

« on: Dec 26, 2006, 02:12 am »

I like drawing lots of x's and arrows...

my last show had 5 round platforms extending in front ot the stage (proscenium?) and it was more of a pain to number them then to draw sketches and draw the paths of actors...I could never figure out how to say "moves from center of platform 3, right foot on plat4 while left foot goes to plat1 and then jumps on plat2, crosses across the corner to plat6" short...it was easier to draw a line.

since I'm still new at blocking I usually try different methods..and if that doesn't work, I'll switch the next day. I try to do all my experimentation near the beginning tho, because t is less likely to hurt the show. If I switch methods during serious blocking and can't remember what symbols mean then I'm in deep poo, and I've lost precious rehearsal time and my respect from the cast.
-isha

4

Students and Novice Stage Managers / Re: Calling/teching your first show, your experiences.

« on: Dec 26, 2006, 01:57 am »

I don't really remember mine either.....*sad*

*I remember was being completely in the dark, and somebody from the college telling me I was doing great.
*I remember the fight that was choreographed 30 minutes before opening scaring the death out of me..
*I remember the pianist telling me a funny story to calm down
*I remember making opening night cards

nope...no tech rehearsal memories. i think we stayed after super late fixing the sound tho...'cause I got to walk around the stage singing for an hour or two so they could test and fix everything.

I think your first show is always a plunge in the dark. No matter what you do to prepare, you aren't prepared. I know I wasn't. But it made me want to learn more...and that's why I'm still pursuing it. You would think after so much stress you would want to quit...but it's addicting, and I can't wait until college to continue on with SM-ing in a new area.
-isha

5

College and Graduate Studies / Re: Little help please... (Seeking College Recommendations)

« on: Dec 26, 2006, 01:48 am »

Sorry to go off on a tangent...

but does anybody know anything about St. Olaf's theatre program? I want to go there mostly for music, but still do theatre too.

their program seems a little amateur-ish, but there's only so much you can learn from a website, so has anybody been there or know anything about it?
thanks in advance
-isha

6

SMNetwork Archives / Re: The new SMnetwork

« on: Jun 21, 2006, 03:05 am »

no kidding...is very nice! good job to those who made it happen!!!!!!
-isha

7

Students and Novice Stage Managers / Calling a HUGE Show... HELP!!!!!

« on: May 27, 2006, 03:20 am »

the thing that can be frustrating tho, is when so much else is messing up/not working, that you can't use your techs for your calling practice. (highschool theatre) Sometimes I wish people would listen to my deadlines and finish theings when I know they need to be finished, then the show would be soooo much better

8

Students and Novice Stage Managers / Calling a HUGE Show... HELP!!!!!

« on: May 23, 2006, 09:08 pm »

Oh I'm very partial to Oklahoma...that was my very first show in stage management....a bit like being thrown into the deep end of the pool and being expected to swim...but it was good times.

BREAK A LEG!!! the show can be lots of fun....

during the run I satred saying "FOOT!" everytime I was mad or frustrated. It was pretty funny.

9

Students and Novice Stage Managers / Bye Bye Birdie Script!!!!!!!!!!! HELP!

« on: May 17, 2006, 10:51 pm »

thanks anyways...and it wouldn't help snce it's over.....but the thought was nice.

yeah, we cut the shriner scene too. it wasn't very small town apropriate.

10

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Hospitality backstage

« on: May 14, 2006, 03:08 am »

coffee dries out your vocal chords....

milk does nothing to your vocal chords but it increases mucus secretion which clogs your throat and can make a bad sound if you don't know to stop it correctly..(without clearing your throat, because clearing your throat is bad for your vocal chords)

juice tends to be the same thing as milk. depending on the kind it can clog your throat a little

lets not even talk about how bad soda is for you...and the ones with caffeine are even worse because it's the caffeine that does most of the drying out of your vocal chords

non-caffienated tea tends to be good, but some ingredients can be bad, so consult a pedigologist before becoming dependent on anything (I think black licorice is bad,) the lemon, and chamomile teas tend to be okay.

that tis what I know....water is really the only safe thing...
I usually do water with lemon juice in it, and suck on a ricola...

oh, and anything that really numbs your throat is bad, because when it's numb it can't hurt and then as a singer you can't tell if you are straining your voice or not, this can make you over-do it. (VERY BAD!!) unless they are really careful they can lose their voice. I've known some to be fine until they were 35, then they totally lost their voices. There's a lady here who only has one working vocal chord....she strained her voice until one of the chords just won't work anymore...sad, but could have been prevented.

11

SMNetwork Archives / Calendar Programs?

« on: May 02, 2006, 10:19 pm »

I just turned the page sideways and put a table in.....it's a pain to type the dates in, but then I can adjust all the porportions exactly how I need it, and add a lot of extra information....or make it a 2/3 week clender, instead of 4.

12

The Green Room / SMs in media?

« on: Apr 16, 2006, 11:49 pm »

oh...and bye bye birdie has a stage manager role...... she/he is on to direct cast members around the stage during the ed sullivan show (one last kiss)
no lines tho  :cry:
-isha

13

Students and Novice Stage Managers / Calling a HUGE Show... HELP!!!!!

« on: Apr 15, 2006, 06:49 pm »

somes shows won't have any breaks.....
my last show had 1, 3 page break, everything else there was only about 2 or 3 lines between cues ..... I went crazy...
-isha

14

SMNetwork Archives / Spike Tape Problems

« on: Apr 15, 2006, 06:34 pm »

too true...slow set changes drag down a show waaaayyyy too much! I know from experience it feels great to execute them perfectly in less then 7 seconds....I think that motivates the most..to know that you did something perfectly...but thats just my 2 cents...

oh, and rosmary..di you ever go to south medford?

15

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / What to do After the Show Closes

« on: Apr 15, 2006, 06:32 pm »

I'm glad this has been revisited....

my last show closed almost a month ago...this break that I'm in right now has been the first break in almost 2 years of straight shows... my first show ever was romeo and juliet 2 years ago, and I had a show from that point on. it's like I discovered theatre and couldn't stop...

But I'm still having closure issues with this one..partly it's because I don't have another show in the near future, but partly, I think it's some other stuff.
I've moved on to other things, but I just can't get a sense of closure...

it seems as if I'm never be done with the show. Every time I go to finish up (finish cleaning up any residue of auditorium mess, or getting thank you cards out) something else comes up..and it's been really hard to get my director to help/support finishing..I don't think he realizes I'm still having issue being done with the show...
It's kind of hard, I have a great relationship with my past director, but he is also my choir teacher, and I see all of my cast every day in choir. All the choir members are used to me being in authority, and I'm the only one they all listen to, so even when I'm not in charge of something, if my organizational nature takes over and starts organizing something that no one else is doing, they all automatically follow me....I don't mind it, sometimes I just get tired of feeling like I'm the only one who's responsible, who cares enough to get something accomplished.

I don't know..this show was just hard to end, we never had a cast party..(and I never got a chance to have everybody sign a poster for me...) and it just feels weird.) we never had any sense of cast closure either...

I think, now that I think about it, I might take my poster and go around to all the cast members and have them sign it..that might help...

but does anybody have any suggestions? any way to avoid this in the future?
-isha