Messages

211

The Green Room / Re: Dracula in NYC

« on: Jan 14, 2011, 04:45 pm »

And don't forget Wildhorn's musical-bomb version of the Stoker tale, either.

It sounds to me like someone rushed into a Dracula revival because of the vampire trend and thought that was enough to sell the show.

Oddly enough, though, this production wasn't rushed.  It was originally set to open at this time last year and was delayed.  Some may remember that this was the production which, back in November of '09, did an open search for their SM team and failed to use the BCC field in their rejection email.  I was on tour with Theatreworks at the time and got the email on my iPhone, and thus didn't notice at first.  Then I started seeing posts on Facebook from several of my SM friends alluding to something odd about the email.  I went to my phone and selected the expanded view option and suddenly had the email addresses of about 75 or so other stage managers (including some very high profile/recognizable names) that had also been deemed to have made it to the so-called "short list" of candidates.

212

Students and Novice Stage Managers / Re: How to tape out a staircase...

« on: Jan 11, 2011, 07:36 pm »

Well, in the case of The Will Rogers Follies I did (oh so many years ago), we were bouncing between four different dance studios (in two different buildings on the campus of the college this theatre operated out of) for the first two weeks of rehearsal.  While we were able to get on the set for the final two weeks, a rehearsal staircase the size we would have needed (about 32 feet across with 12 steps up, the tread on each one being 18") was just not a reality, especially carting it between the dance studios, which also needed to function as classroom space when we were not in them.

213

The Green Room / Re: Spider-Man: Turn off the Dark

« on: Jan 11, 2011, 07:32 pm »

Yes, they grossed more than Wicked this past week...

By a grand total of 58 dollars!  Somehow I have a feeling that green girl isn't too afraid of the spider yet.

And to be fair, Wicked has had its own share of pretty horrible injuries over the years.  They had to design a neck brace for Kristin Chenoweth when she was injured during the show, Idina Menzel fell through a trap door and had to miss her final couple of performances, Stephanie J. Block had a near catastrophe with the lift mechanism and had to stop "Defying Gravity" during a performance.  Spiderman is far from the only "actor killer" out there.

214

Students and Novice Stage Managers / Re: How to tape out a staircase...

« on: Jan 10, 2011, 04:23 pm »

Let's face it, there are just some "staircase" shows that you should just plan extra time on the set if at all possible, because no matter how careful the actors are about "hitting every step" there is still a major difference between doing that on a flat plane and doing it in real life.  Then you have the shows like The Will Rogers Follies where the dancers may be where they need to be, but once they are up on those staircases all the formations look off due to the new perspective and a lot of adjustment still needs to be made by the choreographer.

215

Tools of the Trade / Re: Finding Slip NoMor in the Boston Area

« on: Jan 06, 2011, 05:39 pm »

You can also try a restaurant supply store.  Many restaurants have a non-slip additive that they use in both the kitchen and out in the dining area, we certainly did back when I worked at Taco Bell (oh, so many years ago now).

216

The Green Room / Re: Performers & Safety - would you walk off a show?

« on: Dec 21, 2010, 11:26 am »

I think it should also be noted that according to one of the stage hands this did not happen during one of the flying sequences.  People on the message boards keep talking about snapped wires and broken harnesses.  This actor was not intended to leave the ground, which is why he was able to fall off of the platform.

217

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: PROFESSIONALISM: Managers in rehearsal?

« on: Dec 21, 2010, 12:16 am »

And of course, from all reports, there was no negotiating with her, all decisions were being made by him, since he was also her manager and that's who you would have had to begun negotiations with.  Much as it may seem mean or unfair, On_Headset is right, getting rid of him meant getting rid of her.

Side note: this is why stage dads are ten times worse than stage moms.  Somehow there always seems to be a creepy "ick" factor that works its way into the overbearing pushiness.

218

Tools of the Trade / Re: Useful applications for Blackberry

« on: Dec 17, 2010, 03:26 am »

Now if they'd only come up with one that lets you track your absent actors by GPS, we'd be all set!

That's a bit too 1984 for my tastes.

219

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: PROFESSIONALISM: Managers in rehearsal?

« on: Dec 16, 2010, 10:14 pm »

I would just like to also say that this production has been delayed for a year.  Some of the NYC based SMs may remember that they were the ones last November who failed to use the BCC field in the rejection email they sent out and thus published a list of about 75 or so email addresses to those of us who had submitted for the PSM & ASM positions.  It was kind of nice to know that I was on the "thanks but no thanks" list with several Broadway SMs as well as a good number of my friends and casual acquaintances.

220

Tools of the Trade / Re: Gifts!

« on: Dec 11, 2010, 01:49 pm »

Just for future thought, I read an article recently talking about how Apple products (especially iPhones) have really retained value as new versions come out.  Go on ebay and you can still find 1st/2nd generation iPhones selling for a decent price, and 3G/3GS going for close to full price.  The article expected that the iPad will probably follow in much the same manner.

221

Employment / Re: Transitioning from non-union to CAEA

« on: Dec 11, 2010, 01:40 pm »

Agreed, especially since your union status has changed, and thus the positions that they would be considering you have also changed accordingly.

222

Students and Novice Stage Managers / Re: Bad Behavior?

« on: Nov 14, 2010, 07:48 pm »

As you are in an educational setting I would advise making sure you document everything and keep the faculty informed of what is going on.  I may not go so far as laying down an ultimatum to the faculty (such as "I will never work with this person again") but be sure that they know about the type of behavior he is displaying.

223

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: FORMS: Reports - Getting actors to read them (from Tools of the Trade)

« on: Nov 10, 2010, 11:53 am »

It turns out that the computer that they'd had was so slow that they just got frustrated trying to open the document each day.  Once they got a better machine they were perfectly happy to read the notes.

However, it would have been nice if they had told you that that was the problem so you could have reached a solution a lot sooner.

224

The Green Room / Re: Just a random what if....

« on: Nov 09, 2010, 05:12 pm »

On the flip side of the "wait until the show is over" train of thought, sometimes waiting (or bottling up those feelings) can lead to an inordinate amount of stress and jealousy (and, sadly, I do speak from experience there).  Some people might be able to handle the conflict of their feelings of trying to remain professional, while all the while wanting to be closer to somebody, and others are going to have a hard time doing that.

I'll also share that I had a "show-mance" that resulted in a two and a half year relationship, so they can sometimes lead to something good.

225

Tools of the Trade / Re: BITE LIGHTS!

« on: Nov 03, 2010, 03:44 pm »

I know many wardrobe folks who have switched away from the bite light over to the head-lamps.  One said they made the switch after doing a show with an onstage (behind a set piece) change that was particularly tight on space and time and they nearly had their teeth knocked out and the bite light jammed down their throat.