Messages

136

Self-Promotion / Re: Spring Awakening - Olney Theatre Center (MD/DC area shadowing opportunity)

« on: Feb 15, 2013, 03:07 pm »

I saw it in previews- it's FANTASTIC. I thought I was Spring Awakening-ed out, but I was thoroughly moved by this production. If you have a chance to go see it, you should!

137

The Green Room / Re: SNOWMAGEDDONPOCALYPSE

« on: Feb 11, 2013, 02:12 am »

I went to college in Alabama, and it snowed my senior year- we got a whole 3 inches! It stuck to the roads! Now, the head of our tech program was in her first semester at Auburn, having recently moved from Iowa, and did not understand that in Alabama 3 inches of snow means the entire state shuts down for 3 days. We were supposed to strike our big musical that day, and kept waiting for the email to go out saying it was cancelled, but no email came so we started straggling in to the theater. She couldn't understand why people were late, why everyone thought strike was cancelled, why everyone was complaining, until I explained to her that there were freshmen in college who had literally never seen snow before in person, and on the way there I saw a car driving down South College (the busiest street in town) with a snowman ON THE ROOF.

138

December Madness I: 2012 / Re: Community, Round 3: Post-Its vs. Spike Tape

« on: Feb 04, 2013, 12:51 pm »

I went for Post-Its, purely because in the UK, we primarily use LX tape (PVC tape) instead of spike tape - so long as what I call spike tape is what you call spike tape....

C

I've worked at one theater in the US where they use electrical tape in place of spike tape in the rehearsal room, simply because it takes better to the floor of their rehearsal room.  It was weird at first (it stretches!) but it makes taping circles SO much easier (it stretches!).

139

Employment / Re: UPTA: Full Prompt book or no?

« on: Jan 31, 2013, 02:01 pm »

First of all, good luck at UPTA! Playhouse on the Square is good people.

I used to bring a whole prompt book to interviews, but I have opted recently for not breaking my back. I made a portfolio-type binder, with several examples of blocking & calling pages, props paperwork, reports, and some show photos as well- all the info I needed, no brick of a prompt book to lug around. No one I have interviewed with has asked for a full prompt book or seemed disappointed that I didn't have one, but it is of course subjective.

And a word of advice about UPTA- a lot of the companies don't bring a rep specifically to interview tech candidates, so there are a lot fewer interview slots than at say SETC, because they only have time to do interviews when they're not watching auditions. Make sure you do your research & prioritize which companies you want to interview with so that you don't waste time the day of in interviews for companies you don't want to work for.

ETA: You can't go to Memphis without eating at Central BBQ. It's about half a mile from Playhouse on the Square, in Midtown. Order the BBQ Nachos on potato chips and thank me later.

140

The Hardline / Re: EMC program Pros. vs. Cons

« on: Jan 27, 2013, 05:44 pm »

I'm currently enrolled in the EMC program, and my personal opinion is that there is not a down side right now. The non-union companies I've worked for don't care (or actually like it, because they know they're hiring someone with legitimate professional experience), and the AEA companies like it because they're hiring someone who has previously worked on union shows. If you have the opportunity to earn points now, I say go for it- earning your 50 points does not mean you have to immediately become a union member, but they also don't disappear (immediately). Again, that's just my two cents, I can't speak for your situation & theater community.

141

The Green Room / Re: Production Haikus

« on: Jan 24, 2013, 01:17 am »

Trying to track props-
Cast is still holding their scripts.
Props are all paper.

Pages disappear
Into the script in your hand-
Where is the prop now?

Line from show: "What the
F*** is this piece of paper?!"
This is my nightmare.

142

Self-Promotion / Apples from the Desert

« on: Dec 20, 2012, 12:57 pm »

Apples from the Desert opened at Theater J this week, and runs through January 6!

http://washingtondcjcc.org/center-for-arts/theater-j/on-stage/12-13-season/apples-from-the-desert/

Written by Savyon Liebrecht, one of Israel's most popular authors, and a part of Theater J's Voices From a Changing Middle East Festival, this is the first full production of this play in America.


I have really enjoyed working on this show (despite sand onstage and lots of food props), and it was an amazing experience working with a director who took notes in Hebrew and consulted the original Hebrew script whenever an actor had a question about a line.  Plus the set is pretty cool- as the DC Broadway World review said, we got applause for the big scene change on opening, so that's always nice!

I highly recommend it, especially if you need a change of pace from your Christmas Carol/Nutcracker/Santaland blues!

143

Self-Promotion / Re: Young Robin Hood

« on: Dec 20, 2012, 12:37 pm »

My roommate & I are coming on Friday! (Hooray for working at the J- Friday nights off!)

144

December Madness I: 2012 / Re: Community, Round 3: Post-Its vs. Spike Tape

« on: Dec 09, 2012, 10:06 pm »

Do you want to know how tough a decision this was for me? I voted for Spike, then looked back at the bracket I filled out the first day and realized I had picked Post-Its! Had to go back and change my vote. This one is a killer.

145

Self-Promotion / Re: Baby!

« on: Dec 05, 2012, 06:47 pm »

She's gorgeous! Congratulations!

146

The Green Room / Re: ARTICLE: NY TIMES saying no to college

« on: Dec 05, 2012, 05:19 pm »

I'm having a hard time right now convincing my parents that I don't need to go to grad school. Both of them have multiple degrees, and the fact that I have a BFA and no intention of doing anything else is mind-boggling to them. There are no jobs that I am applying for that I am not qualified for due to a lack of a master's degree (there are jobs for which I am not qualified for a variety of other reasons, but lack of higher education is not one of them), and that is SO FOREIGN to them.

147

December Madness I: 2012 / Re: Community, Round 2: Flashlight vs. Duct Tape

« on: Dec 04, 2012, 03:13 pm »

Which one of you heretics voted for duct tape?!

148

Self-Promotion / Re: Young Robin Hood

« on: Dec 04, 2012, 02:13 pm »

Oooh that sounds like fun! I have recently rekindled a Robin Hood obsession, so I'll have to try and catch this in between rehearsals!

149

Employment / Re: Phone interview for opera company

« on: Nov 28, 2012, 01:30 pm »

Since this company is out of state for you, MAKE SURE you guys are talking about the same time zone! I had one interview scheduled where I didn't realize the company was in another time zone (I had never been to Ohio before! I honestly thought they were in Central time.), and another where after learning from that first mistake, I made sure to specify the time zone in the email where we scheduled the interview and then the person interviewing me forgot and called me an hour early. That was definitely nerve-wracking.

150

The Green Room / Re: Introducing the Unicorn Rainbow Sparkly Theatre Company!

« on: Nov 27, 2012, 10:34 pm »

Two unrelated requests to the Grand Poo-Bah of the URSTC:

1- Please make all of the folding tables & event chairs stable and easy to store, transport, and stack, and most importantly, LIGHT WEIGHT. 

2- Please ensure that there is a dedicated kitchen space, including a refrigerator with ice maker, stove, microwave, DISHWASHER, and basic kitchen implements available for prop food prep. This should be a space separate from the green room kitchen, where no one will forget their leftovers for 3 weeks, where no one would ever dare to eat any food stored there, where the sink is never used for cleaning paintbrushes or dumping mop buckets, and where no one from concessions or catering or hospitality would dream of storing food for their events. This kitchen is stocked with frequently-used and useful items like tea and food coloring, funnels, a bottle-capper, and lots of tupperware, and is cleaned as part of the strike of every show.