Messages

181

Students and Novice Stage Managers / Re: Working with a Russian Director

« on: Dec 22, 2008, 11:02 pm »

Let us know how it goes. Best of luck!

182

SMNetwork Archives / Re: SM: the musical

« on: Dec 21, 2008, 12:21 pm »

But is this a comedy or a drama!?

Yes.

What if it's part improv? Because, afterall, a lot of what we do as stage managers is thinking on our feet, no matter how prepared we try to be!  I think the show should reflect that.

What about a Rocky Horror Show feel with audience interaction: sell bags filled with a mini flashlight, gaff tape, mic tape, bandaids, a highlighter, a mini stop watch...etc. And when a stage manager says their line such as "15 minutes" or something, the audience would response (probably snarky, who knows) with "Thank you, 15" or something...

Oh, I could see the marketability now.....

It could become a cult-type show like the Rocky Horror Picture Show and each year at Christmastime all the stage managers would convene to watch the show...

183

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

« on: Dec 18, 2008, 11:44 pm »

During the show it's self the ASM is the little piece of you that is backstage and not in the booth. They are your eyes, ears, and hands and will take care of things there, leaving you free to call the show. During the rehersal process they really are there to help you and to take the load off your shoulders. They can take care of stuff while you're tied up writing down blocking, they can feed the actors lines, etc. In short, whatever takes some of the stress off your back.

Good luck!

184

Students and Novice Stage Managers / Re: Picking a New Stage Manager

« on: Dec 18, 2008, 11:39 pm »

Someone involved and with lots of enthusiasm. The job takes so much work that at that point you really have to be ready to invest quite a bit without knowing exactly what you're getting into.

185

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: Costuming the Crew

« on: Dec 18, 2008, 11:35 pm »

It also depends on the style of play the director is going for, whether they want it to be theatrical, semi-representational, romantic, etc. In my opinion the object of having a crew is to make the show flow smoothly. If you and the director can find a way to do it in blacks then that's good, but if it demands costume then that's waht it should be.

186

The Green Room / Re: WELCOME TO THE GREEN ROOM

« on: Dec 18, 2008, 08:54 pm »

Thanks so much, you've done really well!

187

SMNetwork Archives / Re: SM: the musical

« on: Dec 18, 2008, 08:46 pm »

I immediately thought of people suspending themselves Cirque du Soleil like from the fly lines wearing black spandex and doing complex body moves.

188

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: Actor Cuts throat on Vienna Stage - BBC News

« on: Dec 13, 2008, 12:11 am »

I saw that article the other day and it gave me the shivers, I just kept reading it and thinking about the murder tv shows like CSI. I'm definately going to send it round to all my actors, maybe then they'll appreciate just how important props are!

189

Students and Novice Stage Managers / Re: KCACTF Region II

« on: Dec 02, 2008, 05:49 pm »

Could someone clarify what KCACTF is?

190

Students and Novice Stage Managers / Re: A Sticky Situation

« on: Dec 02, 2008, 05:48 pm »

As in SMgirl's case, it's quite possible that this is a lack of expirience issue. It could be that your director is afraid of loosing control over the cast and reacts by becoming a "tyrant". Again, if all else fails, do your job as best you can under the situation and make the expirience as easy for everyone else involved (including yourself). However, if it gets to be tooo much, don't be afraid to get yourself out of the situation. Some scenarios just arn't worth dealing with and you shouldn't have to put yourself trough them.

191

Tools of the Trade / Re: Going Green

« on: Nov 27, 2008, 09:48 pm »

The theatre i'm working at right now has a huge green initiative going on (Ottawa's Great Canadian Theatre Company) and one of the things they do that i like is that they recycle their programs for future use. There's a box outside the auditorium exit audiance members can drop their programs in and then they're used for the following nights.

192

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: Fill in the BLANK...

« on: Nov 25, 2008, 12:20 pm »

Setting up the orchestra pit.  That one came out of left field for me

Really? The orchestra pit? Was that in general, or just at your particuliar theatre?

193

Employment / Re: Interview gaffes

« on: Nov 24, 2008, 11:34 pm »

Not so much an interview gaffe but...

before I went to the audition for the theatre school I'm at now I somehow mnaged to work the handshake with the auditioners into a make-or-break affair. People just kept telling me to do it, and I kept building it up to the point where it was rediculous (keep in mind it's my first real audition). I was sitting nervously outside the door waiting for them to call me in worrying about the stupid handshake for 10 minutes before the guy came out. I walked over and met him as we were just inside the doorframe and then tried to shake hands with him. Bad idea. We were less than half a foot apart and it was the most ackward handshake of my life, both our arms were bent at the weirdest angles and I elbowed myself in the stomach twice.

I still cringe looking back at it.

194

SMNetwork Archives / Re: I could have kissed them!

« on: Nov 24, 2008, 11:21 pm »

I could have kissed a couple of my actors today who gave up their dinner break to help me hang and focus lights. Despite how boring it must have been for them to move a ladder back and forth while I waved my arms in vague gestures, they did it willingly for which I am incredibly greatful and owe them a large batch of cookies.

195

Students and Novice Stage Managers / Re: Please Help Me

« on: Nov 24, 2008, 11:08 pm »

Definately get the director and other members of your team behind you as Nathan suggested, if the actors see them respecing you they're more likely to do the same. Good luck!