Messages

136

The Green Room / Re: Best showing of appreciation from a cast?

« on: Mar 17, 2010, 04:00 pm »

On my birthday last year I got sent out of the room on an errand, and when I came back everyone had gathered in there to sing me "Happy Birthday" and shower me with candy corn (my favorite) and home-made cards. Makes me smile whenever I think about it, despite how sick I got from all the candy!

137

Tools of the Trade / Re: Stage Management History

« on: Feb 02, 2010, 12:21 am »

What play is this? Something tells me it's set in too late a period to be Our Town. I did a bit of poking around on the internet, but couldn't find anything for you. I would recomend watching movies set in that time period since (depending on the company) they usually know their stuff - and if it's a movie about theatre you'll likely get a lucky couple shots of SMs running around looking frantic. That's a bit of a long shot though. Good luck, I'd be interested to hear what turns up.

138

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: PROFESSIONALISM: What SMs Should/Should Not Say During Casting Process?

« on: Jan 31, 2010, 07:01 pm »

Matthew and kmc,

I don't disagree with what either of you are saying. I do, however, think that if I am doing my job as best I can with whatever personalities are in the cast, mentioning to someone that so-and-so was difficult to work with should not reflect badly on me. I agree that ultimately, yes, we are responsible for ensuring everyone gets their jobs done - but I would hesitate to recomend someone who made that hard for me to do, someone who impeded my ability to do my job.

I had a show in the past that came together wonderfully, largely due to the effort of the SM team and several of the actors. But despite the great result I would be very reluctant to work with that director again for a variety of reasons (lack of respect for actors' time/company rules, general attitude towards the show as a whole, etc). While I wouln't pass my opinion of him on to anyone based solely on that one show, I would certainly not accept that the poor expirience we had was the fault of any of the stage managers on that show.

I suppose it comes down to a case-by-case basis and, if I were hearing about a certain person from another stage manager, I would first consider how much I trusted the opinion of that SM and how hard they would have worked to make the situation go smoothly.

139

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: PROFESSIONALISM: What SMs Should/Should Not Say During Casting Process?

« on: Jan 30, 2010, 03:41 pm »

if an actor is difficult to work, has bad habits, etc . . . doesn't part of the blame fall of how that actor was MANAGED.  Isn't it fundamentally part of our job to decrease the bad behavior and increase the good behavior? 

[...]

The real reason I would not pass on a "bad recommendation" to someone about their behavior is because ultimately, it would reflect negatively on me.  "I let this actor get out of control." 

SMs are just another member of the company and do indeed have a vital role to play in keeping things together; however, I would hesitate to place the blame for an irresponsible/rude/etc actor on the stage manager. Theatre is a team sport, and while it is important to find ways to work with difficult people, I would feel very offended if someone blamed an actor's poor behaviour on my inability to keep them in line. I will go as far as I can, but it is important to me that they do the same.

If it's a case of the actor having a different style of working, that's another matter and would be a great learning experience. But I don't think "this actor was diffficult to work with and the director and I had troubble keeping him in line" should reflect badly on me. Why should the actor not be held to the same standards as the SM? Even if I am doing a horrible job, should the actor not still be expected to turn out their best possible work? And in a situation where I am doing my share, I would like to see the people I am working with doing their share as well.

140

The Green Room / Re: Stage managing your life

« on: Jan 18, 2010, 11:11 am »

I just had to ask for a reference from one of my favorite teachers and was (understandably, but irrationally) terrified. To get myself to actually walk into the room I had to stand there with my watch and call "Standby Lucia for possible-refernce-letter entrance....Lucia's possible-reference-letter-entrance...go!" It worked surprisingly well.

141

Tools of the Trade / Re: Random, household things, you use/keep on stage.

« on: Jan 01, 2010, 05:54 pm »

Tampons. Not only are they great to have if one of your female actors (or possibly even yourself!!) gets their monthly gift a little early. They are also very helpful if you have any form of a liquid spill and dont have any paper towels. 

Similarily, I've used other female sanitary objects as makeshift bandaids when someone cut themselves quite badly.

When doing period shows with lots of hoopskirts and fancy puffed sleeves I tend to keep metal coat hangers on hand. In a pinch they can help prop up the frame of a costume until it can be properly repaired. Also, another coat hanger or two never went awry on a costume-heavy show - neither have clothepins as a matter of fact.

142

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: REHEARSALS: prompting requests around the world

« on: Jan 01, 2010, 05:45 pm »

I'm from canada and I've only come across "yes" a couple of times. As others have said, I reckon it depends much more on the individual than anything else, though there probably are different tendancies in different areas/theatres.

143

The Green Room / Re: Road Life Advice

« on: Dec 30, 2009, 10:28 pm »

5) bring something that makes you feel home - whether it's a photo album or your favorite blanket or a cuddly animal or something for "those" times.

pat

I always bring the pillow I use at home and a couple of my favorite pillowcases. It's so much nicer to walk into a strange room at night and be able to curl up on something familiar; if I could I'd bring my entire bed with me! Likewise, I always bring my own shampoo, soap and - as Libby mentioned - alarm clock. I tend to make a little ritual out of organizing these in my hotel room the first night in any new accomodation. It helps create a personal routine for me - one that's not related to working.

Good luck! Have fun! Tell us how it goes!
LCSM

144

The Green Room / Re: SM gifts!

« on: Dec 26, 2009, 04:19 pm »

I got a tool belt and a beautiful new hammer. I also got a new iPod mini which has stopwatch, voice recorder, calendar, video, photos, and can function as a flash light in a pinch!

145

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: COMMUNICATION: Describing Audience Reactions in Performance Reports

« on: Dec 24, 2009, 07:56 am »

I've never been required per se, but I usually include a note or two about the audience. Generally it's just receptive/quiet/stading ovation/etc. but if there's ever an incident or amusing anecdote I put that in as well. I don't go into great detail as it's impossible to tell exactly how any audience is recieving the play. If cues were off because of audience reaction I note that too.

146

Students and Novice Stage Managers / Re: Studying SM in the US or Canada as an international student.

« on: Dec 20, 2009, 08:06 pm »

Canada also has the National Theatre School which, though it dosn't have a specific stage management program, has a great program called Production which includes stage management and lighting/sound design among others. I have several friends there right now and they all give the school glowing reviews. Here's a link: http://www.ent-nts.ca

147

The Green Room / Re: Fearless at DIY

« on: Dec 09, 2009, 09:32 pm »

This has little to do with building or renovating, but I'm currently in a huge redecorating phase and have undertaken the repainting of all my furniture. I dosn't sound like much when it's put like that, but none of my friends can understand this little bit of diy. You're right, it is all about comfort around tools and the like; I think a large part of it is knowing that if you mess up, there's (almost) always a way to fix it. Besides, I find it relaxing.

148

The Green Room / Re: audience callbacks- the ones you want, the ones you don't

« on: Dec 06, 2009, 05:35 pm »

Performance of Charlotte's Web for local elementary school classes: one of the classes was late arriving so the (fantastic) actors went out and did a bit of improv with the kids to keep them entertained. When asked what he liked to eat, one boy in the audiance cheerfully answered: "Wood!"

149

The Green Room / Re: Holiday countdown!

« on: Dec 02, 2009, 09:28 pm »

13 days until I get to hear Neil Gaiman speak (about as non-Christmasy as you can get, but hey, I'm looking forward to it!)

That's fantastic, I'm so jealous! He's brilliant, and really interesing.

2 days until I get to see my favorite play for the third time.
1 day until auditions for my current show, Alice in Wonderland, start.
0.5 days until I call my other current show for the last time (Charlotte's Web).

150

Students and Novice Stage Managers / Re: New SM, working with a creeper, please help.

« on: Nov 21, 2009, 09:40 pm »

If this is more than just a problem with an annoying guy and you begin to feel uncomfortable, then that's absolutely not acceptable. Talk to your theatre teacher again, or any teacher/guidance councellor you trust, about the problem. They should do as much as possible to alleviate the situation, and they'll be on the lookout for any future problems as well.

That said, if the problem is mostly working with an unmotivated (and likely immature) crew member, and the teacher's already talked with him, there isn't much you can do. It really is awful, but these people come along and we have to learn to deal with them as best we can. Do your job as well as possible and everyone will respect you for that. In fact, they'll admire you all the more for doing such a wonderful job in the face of adversity.

Good luck! Let us know how it turns out.