Messages

31

Tools of the Trade / Re: [FAQ] What goes inside a SM Kit?

« on: Nov 11, 2007, 10:58 pm »

I know this sounds amazing, and I used to be a big believer in "the kit," but I only use a few things regularly anymore. 

We keep a regularly stocked first aid kit in the theatre and rehearsal hall at all times.
I keep needles, thread and safety pins for wardrobe malfunctions--anything bigger goes home with me for repair that night on the machine.
Pencils, pencils, pencils--sharpened, of course
Erasers, erasers, erasers
Highlighters (cheap ones for actors, nice ones for me)
Paper clips
Sticky notes
Black Sharpy Marker (one with two sizes of tips--one on either end)
Kleenex--we usually keep a box backstage, but I keep a purse pack in my kit
Cough drops--(oh, wait, those are considered medicine)--so I'll change that to menthol-flavored hard candy
Feminine products
Pain relivers (for me, of course, never for the students)
Architect's rule

Our tool chest is backstage, so we always have tools and tapes available.
Likewise our props storage is backstage and we improvise rehearsal costumes.

32

Students and Novice Stage Managers / Re: Pre-strike

« on: Nov 11, 2007, 10:46 pm »

If the TD is not there to supervise strike or pre-strike, then the SM should supervise. 

Make sure that the cast and crew knows that no one leaves until they are cleared by you.  Once they finish one job they are to report to you for another job.  Everyone strikes!--even complete clutzes can take off spike tape and hang costumes back on a rack.  I give a large grade for strike.  Anyone who leaves early or doesn't work gets docked.  People who flake will fail.

I start by making a list of everything that needs to be done.  Then I sort it in the order of the way things should be done. 

I try to get my crews to take care of things that can be done during the run of the last show--hang costumes back up on the rack in the inventory order, put props back in the props boxes when they are no longer needed, clean up and store the make-up kits, etc.  I verify with my crew members that this is what will happen, or their strike grades will suffer.

I assign my crew to the stuff that happens immediately after last curtain while the cast is greeting the audience and getting out of costume.  Then I assign the cast in groups--usually separating close friends so more work gets done faster. 

My next set of duties are things that can be done after the first set of things.  I assign these jobs as company members report for their next duties until strike is done.

I try to position myself in a central location where I can supervise the work in the dressing rooms and onstage by transitioning only a few steps.

If you rehearse in your own space, double-check that every item is returned to its proper place and not just thrown around.  If you are in a rental space, check every single area to make sure that you don't leave anything by accident.  Don't forget the lobby display boards!

33

Students and Novice Stage Managers / Re: Difference between Assistant Director and SM?

« on: Nov 11, 2007, 10:37 pm »

My AD is in charge of watching blocking and making suggestions to me on the visual.  I'm more a verbal director, and I know that visual is my weakness--so I really depend on AD's suggestions.  I'll also use my AD to run lines with struggling actors or work scenes with them and help them develop their characters.

If we're really behind the rehearsal process, I'll have my AD hold one rehearsal in another room while I do one in the main hall (or vice versa).  Of course, I have to make sure I have another adult present, so I usually call in favors of fellow faculty or offer bribes (show tickets and reserved seats) to get help.

34

Students and Novice Stage Managers / Re: Show suggestions (for HS)

« on: Nov 11, 2007, 10:20 pm »

How about a melodrama?  It gets your audience going well, and they're easy to stage.

Pioneer has a great selection of them with a wide range of characters, from small to large. 

With only a few weeks rehearsal time, I'd look up their one-acts.

http://www.pioneerdrama.com

35

Students and Novice Stage Managers / Re: Emergency Contact/Medical Info forms for Students

« on: Nov 11, 2007, 10:17 pm »

We have a standard "Authorization to Treat a Minor Card" that I attach to all audition packets.  An actor has to turn one in order to audition--even if the actor is not technically a minor anymore (18, you know).  Crew members have to turn one in before showing up for their first call.

The director (if faculty) or the faculty advisor (if a student director) keeps these cards with her at all times.

36

Students and Novice Stage Managers / Re: How do I audition for SM at a college?

« on: Nov 11, 2007, 10:14 pm »

At my alma mater, you were admitted by the department without audition or interview.  You were not allowed to SM until you had at least ASMd one show and received a good recommendation for future work from your director and TD.  They preferred that freshmen spent time rotating through the different crews (props, costume, set, lights, sound) as well as acting in a student play or film before attempting ASM.

37

Students and Novice Stage Managers / Re: Talking to a group of campers about stage management

« on: Nov 11, 2007, 10:10 pm »

I'd use these girls who are here to "perform" to come up and perform a few pages while you call cues.  If you can get some help and are in a performance space, have lights and sound and deck respond as you call, so the girls will see the lights change, the sound come one, the scene change happen as it is called.  Then you can take a volunteer and see if she can call the cues.

38

Students and Novice Stage Managers / Re: Notating a Dance Sequence

« on: Nov 11, 2007, 10:07 pm »

Before the rehearsal I create separate papers for blocking.  One type will be the score, one set of eight-counts for 1/4 page, leaving blank space in between.  I then insert miniature floorplans underneath each bar.  After writing down positions of the corps, I use stick figures near each beat to indicate positions of arms and legs.

39

Students and Novice Stage Managers / Re: Stage Management: A Nutshell in 3 minutes.

« on: Nov 11, 2007, 09:59 pm »

and 2) kinda a cross between mom and a benevolent dictator.

I thought all moms were benevloent dictators!

And here is my favorite "joke" about stage management--old but true:

Theatrical Structure

Producer:
Leaps tall buildings in a single bound.
Is more powerful than a locomotive.
Is faster than a speeding bullet.
Walks on water.
Gives policy to God.

Director:
Leaps short buildings in a single bound.
Is more powerful than a switch engine.
Is just as fast as a speeding bullet.
Walks on water if the sea is calm.
Talks with God.

Playwright:
Leaps short buildings with a running start.
Is almost as powerful as a switch engine.
Is faster than a speeding BB.
Swims well.
Is occasionally addressed by God.

Actor:
Makes high marks on the wall when trying to leap buildings.
Is run over by locomotives.
Can sometimes handle a gun without inflicting self-injury.
Dog paddles.
Talks to animals.

Chorus:
Falls over doorsteps when trying to enter buildings.
Says "Look at the choo-choo."
Wets himself with a water pistol.
Plays in mud puddles.
Mumbles to himself.

Stage Manager:
Lifts buildings and walks under them.
Kicks locomotives off the track.
Catches speeding bullets in his teeth and eats them.
Freezes water with a single glance.
IS GOD.

40

Students and Novice Stage Managers / Re: Calling attention

« on: Nov 11, 2007, 09:50 pm »

I had a really rowdy cast last fall.  A volunteer suggested the director or SM clap in a certain pattern and then have the cast respond with two claps and saying "Respect" in time to the claps.  (We used "Shave and a Haircut--Two Bits")  It worked when they could hear me clap to begin with. 

Othertimes I would just sit there looking at them until a few realized I wanted their attention and I would get their neighbors to quiet down.

Lastly, if they won't behave, they run laps around the rehearsal hall--not enough to tire them out but just enough to let them know they are wasting time when they don't focus.

41

Students and Novice Stage Managers / Re: Bad ASM's

« on: Nov 11, 2007, 09:47 pm »

Take the ASM on a field trip to your local library--whether it be the school, the public, or the nearest university.  Have her check out either Stern's, Kelly's, Fazio's, or Ionazzi's text and then tell her you expect her to read the entire book within the next two weeks and to start applying what's found in the text within the next two days.

If she doesn't respond, go to your faculty supervisor and indicate that she isn't doing the work and needs to be replaced.  At the very least, if she is receiving a letter grade, it should not be a "C" or higher, because her work is below average.

Alternately, if you can't find a stage management book at your library, have her try this link:  http://www.geocities.com/dollariquestnet/SMhandbook.html

42

Stage Management: Other / Re: Finding ASMs

« on: Nov 11, 2007, 09:31 pm »

Contact the local theatre departments and talk about setting up internships.  You can even get great grad students who need to fulfill their internship requirements--usually with very little pay.

43

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: SMing a Shakespeare

« on: Nov 11, 2007, 09:29 pm »

I would definitely get the side-by-side version of the script from B&N or Amazon.  I would then have your read it 10 times and then work out your actor/scene breakdown so that you really know the show before working with scheduling and other issues.  It might also be helpful to see another company's production of the show--as R&J is quite frequently performed.  I'm sure that someone in your area has done it in the last 5 years and has a home video of it.

44

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Director and Stage Manager Conflicts - Help!

« on: Nov 11, 2007, 09:25 pm »

Have you scheduled a meeting with her--and I would have your parents or another faculty or administrative member present.  If she really wants you to SM this year, you should talk about this situation with her.

If you don't feel comfortable confronting her with this, then either go to the principal or don't SM.  You don't need the stress.  Find a middle school that needs an SM and donate your time to their play.

45

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: Headset Etiquette

« on: Nov 11, 2007, 09:09 pm »

A house divided against itself cannot stand.

The SM is the head of the household on a show.  Sometimes we have to discipline, but speaking negatively about an actor or crew member on headset does not solve any problems (especially since actors are not on headset to hear--so we can't call this correcting a behavior). 

However, I've noticed that something happens psychologically when you're on headset.  The bonding of the crew happens as you make jokes--which eventually turn to deriding the way an actor looks on stage, etc.  As the SM you have to control the way the humor happens and train your crew not to chat on headset--no matter how much fun it is.