Messages

136

Self-Promotion / Teddy

« on: Dec 29, 2011, 03:49 pm »

Okay, it's not a show. "Teddy" is the name of my masters' thesis. Since I've been working on it for about a year I felt it best that he should have a name. He is also the longest "production" I have worked on.

"Teddy" opens in April. Closes in April. 

137

The Green Room / Re: Nudity and Sensitive (Sexual) Material

« on: Nov 04, 2011, 03:01 pm »

How many participants do they need? I did The Blue Room

138

The Green Room / Re: How to deal with an unruly ASM

« on: Oct 28, 2011, 10:23 am »

That is a sticky situation. You have an ASM who breaks props when angry and what sounds like a production manager that isn't doing anything.
I agree with the "come to Jesus" talk. I also think you should have one more conversation with the production manager. Not knowing your comfort level, you may have to go above the PM's head if this doesn't improve.
At this point it might be best to document everything the ASM is doing if you haven't done that already.
Good luck and let us know how it all ends.

139

The Hardline / Re: AGVA contract that follows AEA Off-Bway Rulebook: FMLA?

« on: Oct 20, 2011, 01:57 pm »

I have not had this experience. I'm assuming that your place of work employs more than 50 people, as below that FMLA doesn't apply (I believe)
I don't think it's weird to ask for something that the majority of the US gets without any problems.
Good luck, and I hope it all works out for you.

140

Employment / Re: On the Back of Intern Labor

« on: Oct 03, 2011, 03:13 pm »

The intern pay on the upcoming Broadway show Godspell is $50 a week.

When I interned I did receive $50 a week.... back in 1996...

141

Self-Promotion / Re: Candide in Boston

« on: Sep 22, 2011, 08:49 am »

Loved the show last night! Those sheep are cute! They should sell those at concessions.

142

Tools of the Trade / Re: Software-packing a truck

« on: Sep 06, 2011, 08:35 am »

Thanks for all the advice! I don't have Vectorworks or Auto Cad, and it looks like I don't have to waste the money buying that software

143

Tools of the Trade / Software-packing a truck

« on: Sep 02, 2011, 11:41 am »

Are there any TD's (or people that know TD's) who toured and used any truck packing software?

If so, can anyone recommend any?

Thanks!

144

The Hardline / Re: Theatres That Have Closed--Can You Say "Emergency?"

« on: Aug 15, 2011, 10:37 am »

http://www.boston.com/ae/theater_arts/articles/2011/08/15/publick_theatre_boston_goes_on_hiatus_after_resignation_of_diego_arciniegas/?p1=Well_AE_links

145

Self-Promotion / Re: Candide in Boston

« on: Aug 01, 2011, 09:19 am »

That show is on my "must see" list this fall.

146

The Green Room / Need some inspiration

« on: Jul 13, 2011, 02:44 pm »

Ok. I'm venting. Something I feel like I haven't done here in a long time.

While holding down a full time job, I'm stage managing an opera for a very small company in town. Last summer I swore that I wouldn't work for them again but my future sister in law is majoring in stage management and needed an internship. I asked the company if they were interested and they said yes, as long I came in as the SM. While I thought I did a bad job last year, they said I was their strongest stage manager they've had in awhile.

They decided that the ASM should also do props, and boy does this show have some! The director has the singers eating real food in the show (something that's difficult to do while singing).
She also has the ensemble on roller skates. They were never told in the auditions they would be on skates. And they aren't new skates, these skates are used, so the stoppers are worn.

Then they are skating on a stage that is hardwood and hasn't been repaired in years. The singers and I have been saying this isn't safe, the production managers have said it's not safe, and the artistic director knows it's not safe, but the director won't budge on this despite all the safety concerns.

Also, everyone has gone way over budget. People just buy things knowing they won't get reimbursed because they feel bad for us.

Now about the set: It consists of two moving walls and to foldable walls that are ds left and right. All of which are heavy and require two people to move it. Scene changes are very slow. The singers (when not eating and skating) have stepped up to help, but we have no wing space so we are playing tetris with the set each night.

Did I mention that we only had a 4 hour tech? We're in a movie theatre and we are only in there when there aren't movies playing. We are in the a maximum of 5 hours per night. Last night we finally got through the entire show. We open Friday.

All I'm trying to do is survive, keep my day job,  and make sure no one falls in the pit (which fits 15 musicians and we have 22)

What I'm asking is can anyone share some inspiring theatre stories to get me through this?

147

The Green Room / Re: Reading Plays

« on: Jun 30, 2011, 11:28 am »

Adding to the list..

Arthur Miller
August Wilson
Tony Kushner
Paula Vogel

And why not throw some Stephen Sondheim into the mix. I have to say I wasn't too familiar with his work; all I knew was that his songs were impossible to sing. I recently saw "Company" at a movie theatre and it was wonderful.

My two cents

148

Employment / Re: Fired from an SM Job

« on: Jun 08, 2011, 10:05 am »

I've had contracts end and did not renew them from theatres, but that was mutual between me and management.

I was fired from a film. I was hired for a job that was slightly out of my reach. My immediate supervisor liked me but for one reason or another a producer on the film did not like me.  She told my supervisor that she was changing the production department. I was going to get fired, and my supervisor was going to be demoted to my position. (My supervisor ended up quitting)

I had a feeling that I was going to be fired. It sucked, but I did learn that the film industry was not for me.

If you haven't already I would suggest that you read Larry Fazio's Stage Management: The Professional Experience. In my opinion I don't think the book is that good, however in the back he tells an epic tale of how a stage manager got fired from the show: after he and the lead actress got in a fist fight during a performance!

149

Students and Novice Stage Managers / Re: Taking years off to get experience

« on: May 10, 2011, 09:09 am »

I took about 13 years off between my bachelor's and my master's degree.

I think many grad programs like to see some experience following undergrad. My thought is that grad school will always be there, but some experiences won't be.

150

College and Graduate Studies / Re: MFA vs MA

« on: Apr 26, 2011, 11:17 am »

Usually it implies that if you are getting a MA then you're on your way to getting a doctorate.

At one point I was looking to get a MA. I did a little research and I found that MA's were usually for "Theatre Arts" and not specific to what I wanted. This was my experience. Maybe it's more specific for directing.