Messages

1

Students and Novice Stage Managers / Re: Should I give it a shot?

« on: Oct 20, 2009, 08:23 pm »

I attended WMU as sort of a non-traditional stage management student. I have a degree in Dance but I spent a lot of time in the theatre department. My twin sister graduated with a Stage Management degree from Western as well. If you have any questions about the department feel free to PM me!

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Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: Require cast to have an email?

« on: Sep 05, 2009, 11:05 pm »

I wish we could do a callboard. We're a community theater, borrowing space in a church. Hmmm, maybe a small posterboard could be used as one. Well, we'll see how the group comes together at Tuesday evening's read-through. Thanks for your thoughts everyone!

For a show that I stage managed where a callboard was not available, I purchased a poster sized cork bulletin board to use as a portable one. It was around $10 at Target. This probably isn't the most practical idea if using any kind of public transit to get to rehearsal, but if you have a car you can just throw it in the back seat or trunk. I printed out several headings on bright colored cardstock and then could attach important information to the cork bulletin board with thumb tacks as needed.

3

The Hardline / Re: Treating all actors as AEA in a showcase?

« on: Aug 30, 2009, 11:37 pm »

I just worked on a show with a very small cast of only 4 people. Only 1 of the 4 was AEA (performing under the Equity Guest Artist Agreement).
A similar situation arose where the director was trying to schedule more rehearsal time with less notice for the non-equity cast members.

Eventually, this carried over into the director wanting to do several 10 out of 12 days during tech that were not allowed by the contract the guest artist was under. Ultimately, the Equity Guest Artist went to the producer standing up for the entire cast. The producer made the director cancel rehearsals that caused unreasonably long days.

Perhaps this was a unique situation, but in my case it didn't start a riff but in the end brought the cast closer together. The Equity member I worked with helped protect the non-equity cast, and the non-equity cast had huge respect for her for what she did.

4

Employment / An Employment Dilemma

« on: Apr 12, 2009, 10:06 am »

I will be graduating from college in two weeks. I received a job offer this week to work with a local company who is creating a new work. At the same time I am waiting to hear back (after three interviews) from Cirque du Soleil in which I have applied to be the stage management intern. The job with the local company is only a month long and start in 16 days. I don't have a firm potential start date from cirque. I am conflicted as to what I should do. I don't want to have this local gig end up conflicting with the internship. At the same time, the local company may be a great contact and I don't like to make a habit of screwing people over.

Any advice?

EDIT: spellchecked title -PSMK

5

Stage Management: Other / Re: Your most interesting "Other" Project

« on: Dec 06, 2008, 12:16 am »

Tonight I stage manged a film showing of an RV Adventure Video. The pre-show was a husband and wife sing-a-long duo. They sang some interesting* renditions of Christmas tunes and told really bad jokes. Another show tomorrow with a different pre-show act.

*By interesting, I mean off key in addition to some pretty horrible Elvis impersonation attempts.

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Stage Management: Other / Re: The annual nutcracker 7th inning stretch....

« on: Dec 03, 2008, 12:01 pm »

I'm stage managing my first Nutcracker this year. It's very small and only two performances but it should be interesting none the less! (And also help with that whole paying the holiday bills thing!)