Messages

151

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: Jesus Christ Superstar

« on: Oct 12, 2007, 02:25 pm »

Hi Jill!

Maybe I'm misunderstanding your situation, but I think you'll find a lot of the stage managers here might have a different experience than you.  I'm personally not used to seeing or paying much attention to pre-printed stage directions (except in my pre-production sleuthing) -- hopefully, your stage director will be giving the stage directions which you will notate ("taking blocking").

Again, excuse me if I am misunderstanding your dilemma and good luck!

Hey guys,

 I'm currently working with JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR, and like most SM's, I'm used to having my stage directions already in the score- however, Jesus is different. Jesus Christ Superstar does not have a score attacted to it, and thus, I'm working out of a vocal book. So, that's where you lot come in. I'm curious if anyone's done JCSS before, and how they've dealt with this problem. THANK YOU GINORMOUSLY.

152

Tools of the Trade / Re: SM Software

« on: Sep 29, 2007, 02:05 pm »

Sarah not sure I agree with you here! 

10 years ago cell phones would never replace land lines and email would never replace snail mail.  Both are well on their way!  It's only a matter of time before someone is able to create an effective SM package.

Cell phones were useless during 9/11 -- only landlines were working.  Just saying...

Umm.  I don't know where you were but landlines weren't really working so well either that day.

About 20 miles West of Ground Zero.  Land Lines worked fine here, cell phones were useless.

153

Tools of the Trade / Re: SM Software

« on: Sep 27, 2007, 11:37 am »

Sarah not sure I agree with you here! 

10 years ago cell phones would never replace land lines and email would never replace snail mail.  Both are well on their way!  It's only a matter of time before someone is able to create an effective SM package.

Cell phones were useless during 9/11 -- only landlines were working.  Just saying...

154

Articles from the Old Site / Re: Fake cigarettes/joints

« on: Sep 26, 2007, 12:46 pm »

I am working in a very old theatre in Ireland in which live flame is completely banned onstage, no exceptions.  I have a director who insists that he MUST have joints "smoked" onstage, and that he wants to be able to see smoke coming from the cigarette.  Any ideas?

You can get fake puff ciagarettes from a number of sources (we used them this past spring on "Carmen".)  However, they are only good for a few puffs each.

155

Employment / Re: Touring Shows question

« on: Sep 04, 2007, 10:37 am »

Theatreworks/USA hires a lot of Equity SMs for their tours -- my experience with that compnay for one full tour and two as a replacement SM was very positive.

Networks and Troika were infamous for sending out non-equity tours -- I don't beleive that has changed since 2004.

156

College and Graduate Studies / Re: Emerson/DePaul/Webster/Syracuse/Penn State?

« on: Sep 04, 2007, 10:27 am »

While I remain dubious about the value and and desireability of  BFAs in stage management in general, one thought about the above schools:

I have met more working (NYC) young actors from Syracuse over the last decade than any other school -- so they must be doing something right in their theatre program in general and a cadre of working actors would be a good ground level networking for an aspiring stage manager.

157

The Hardline / Re: violation

« on: Aug 27, 2007, 11:28 pm »

Sieve,

I am also curious as to your location.

Also, are you currently Equity and were you when the incident that has caused you to mistrust Equity occured?  Or conversely, have you since resigned your membership or are you still afilliated?

158

The Hardline / Re: violation

« on: Aug 22, 2007, 04:39 pm »

It's a sticky situation that you're in. I was in a similar situation. Two days before the production closed, the producer comes to me and the actors saying that he was going to tape it for "backers". I expressed my disapproval for it, but the deputy and the other actors wanted it done, so it was done.

Just because the deputy gives it a nod doesn't make it legal!

Taping for backers is not cool -- it is a huge problem for our unions and our membership.  I have had a union rep seize media that were being taped by producers illegally (said producers trying to do it around my back since they knew I didn't approve) and would do it again in a heartbeat.

Solidarity is far more important than any one employer!

159

The Hardline / Re: AEA Secret Ballot

« on: May 22, 2007, 12:07 am »

From the SPT agreement as found on Equity's online library:


10. (B) (1) "This 1½ hour break may be shortened to one hour by unanimous consent of the Actors taken by secret ballot."

(Bully for your holdout(s)!)

44. (G) (1) (c) (1) [six hour rehearsal block providing the following] "There has been a unanimous secret ballot vote by the Actors"

(pretty clear....)

160

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: And it blew like a sailboat, right into the orch pit

« on: May 21, 2007, 11:49 pm »

Brakes are good!

161

Tools of the Trade / Re: Washablbe, Edible, Over 24 hours Blood

« on: May 13, 2007, 12:15 pm »

Don't have an exact recipe but just this weekend got a hot tip (from a costume designer) that non-dairy creamer (the white powdery stuff used to ruin good cup of joe) makes a great base for blood.

162

Students and Novice Stage Managers / Re: Trouble ASM

« on: May 05, 2007, 12:43 pm »

I for one (but am not alone) think that the job market is being flooded by with too many stage managers from too many academic programs -- you'd be probably doing us all a favour by telling this person that they "are the weakest link!"

163

Tools of the Trade / Re: I need help with a prop....please!!!

« on: May 04, 2007, 11:27 pm »

Rosco (for one) has a good line of breakaway glasses -- assuming you are in the US, you should be able to find a Rosco distributor who will ship to you.

164

SMNetwork Archives / Re: Liquid Nitrogen Ground Fog

« on: May 04, 2007, 11:22 pm »

Dry ice can look damn good (especially in conjuction with fog and haze) with the right distribution mechanism -- maybe it would be in the best interest of your company (i.e. your actor charges) interest to look further into that.

165

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: Who Runs the Tech?

« on: Apr 30, 2007, 02:02 pm »

Also just wondering what peoples preferred methods of running techs are. I personally would rather run all the way through (just skipping large monologues) if time allows but if not I'll just go cue-to-cue. But other Stage Managers I know like to go to each entrance/ exit or cue (which ever is first...).

I hugely prefer not to go Q-to-Q or entrance/exits but instead to run all the way through.  I think that Kelly (Thomas, "Backstage Guide to Stage Management") makes a compelling arguement against Q-to-Q (if I recall the text correctly.)