Topics

1

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / REHEARSALS/RUNNING: 2 Shows in Repertoire

« on: Apr 30, 2011, 05:58 pm »

I have stage managed many shows, but this summer I have the opportunity to stage manage 2 shows in Repertoire for the first time. It is in an academic setting and we will be performing "Antigone" & "Bad Dates" for 3 weeks, each show performing every other night.

I was wondering if there is any advice specific to this type of production other than keeping to show bibles and just doubling what you would do for one show. Some of the cast members overlap and we are planning to share the same set and light plot as much as possible. Any advice?

Edit to subject line-Rebbe

2

Students and Novice Stage Managers / Shadowing in NYC

« on: Jan 05, 2010, 04:40 pm »

I am planning a trip to NYC this March and have already planned on seeing several broadway shows.  I remeber from one of my theatre conferences that there was a program where you went to a show and got to shadow the stage manager of that broadway show.  How do I do this?  I went to Stage Manager's Association website and found their educational committee but couldn't find anything helpful and they aren't responding to my e-mails. Any help?

Thanks!
mad dog

3

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / PEOPLE: A Rude Costumer

« on: Mar 24, 2009, 10:22 am »

Ok so I am currently working my second show with a costumer at community theatre. The first show she was wonderful didn't have any problems.  But now I'm doing Pajama Game with her again and she has been extremely rude to everyone including me.

For one, she showed up to final dance review and requested that the choregraphy be changed becuase they couldn't do the dances in the choregraphy planned.  And expected the actors to jumps in character shoes that is just not safe in.

Second,  she hasn't been flexible with one specific costume.  One of my actors goes directly form one scene to another with a dance number in between with several lifts over her partners head, the costume provided always flashed everyone.  We requested that we have a different costume, no they gave us a slip. so we tried that but it looks tacky and now we have a bad costume contrast, but we decided we could live with it.

Well the slip broke, so when i put it in the report she sent me an e-mail that said we were in charges of minor repairs (i always have been not a problem) and the any major repairs were obviously a result of carelessness and that the actors would have to pay for it.  
I replied by saying I would fix the costume and that just "FYI" the costume was broken by following her choregraphy (I put this in the e-mail so she could know the extent of the damage & also to imply that the actress should not have to pay for it since ti wasn't her fault)
She replied that she is a professional and should be treated with respect and that she knows she is rightly accusing the actress, cause she knows when its carelessness.
Of course I sent the suck up e-mail i wasn't wanting to be disrecpectful and apologized even though she has been extremely rude and has helped us at all

My poor actress just wants a costume that doesn't flash anyone and looks good,so I'm not sure how to bring this up to my director since it is clearly an issue. and also how to deal with her for the remainder of the run since this will be our first of many costume changes.

Sorry for the venting.
Thanks for any help!!
M

4

Tools of the Trade / Technical Theatre Publications

« on: Mar 18, 2009, 10:45 am »

Does anyone know of any helpful magazines for stage managers or anyone involved in technical theatre?  or even just an interesting and informative theatrical magazine?

Thanks
Maddog

5

Students and Novice Stage Managers / Writing down Choregraphy??

« on: Feb 23, 2009, 12:10 pm »

Are Stage Managers expected to write down dance choregraphy?  I've written down blocking but have always depended on my actors to memorize their dances and if someone is needed to fill in they are expected to teach it to them if the choregrapher is not available. 
I'm in community theatre, so i write down blocking and everything but no one has said for me to write down choregrapy so during dance rehearsal I sit and do homework and take notes where necessary. 
I don't know what i'm suppose to do?

6

Students and Novice Stage Managers / What is a ASM suppose to do??

« on: Oct 13, 2008, 05:34 pm »

Ok so i've been SM for awhile, but i've never had a ASM, well only once but they did squat.  So i just got a gig at my local community theatre doing A Christmas Carol: The Musical. and i am going to have a real live ASM.  HELP What are tasks are they suppose to do? What should i reserve only for myself? What is asking to much? What is expected? I"m so use to doing it ALL myself that i don't want ot over load her or make her feel under used/appreciated.  Any advice is helpful!!!! Oh and i'm suppose to contact her with her tasks like today soo ASAP would be much appreciated
thanks guy!!
Madi