Messages

46

Self-Promotion / Re: Back to the cartoons . . .

« on: Mar 24, 2014, 11:26 pm »

Congratulations!  The score from the film is quite lovely.  I'm interested to see this new incarnation of the piece, as they seem to be interested in taking it in a very different direction than the James Lapine helmed production in Berlin from back in the day.

47

Tools of the Trade / Re: MTI's Stage Manager Scripts

« on: Mar 24, 2014, 08:59 pm »

I'm going to assume that these Stage Manager scripts were created to aid small, amateur companies and high schools and middle schools where the idea of an SM is a somewhat vague notion.  I would imagine none of the folks at MTI thought that professional, seasoned stage managers would be taking advantage of this offer.

48

The Green Room / Re: Movies to musicals

« on: Feb 19, 2014, 01:56 pm »

Adaptation has been the backbone of musical theatre for a long time.  Back in the "Golden Age" the go to source materials were books and plays.  Nowadays movies have fulfilled the role of books and plays as the pop -culture touchstones that audiences already know, so it makes sense that they have also taken over the role as the primary source material for musical adaptations.

49

The Green Room / Re: Short Rant: Why Can't You Number things Consistently in Your Script?!

« on: Feb 14, 2014, 03:39 pm »

Having workshopped several musicals now I can attest that even though the end product may seem to have no rhyme or reason the numbering made sense to the original team.  Basically it boils down to the fact that as you cut and add songs/scenes you don't want to throw off everything else that came after so you get things like "there is no Number Whatever," "this number is repeated," "this page intentionally left blank," etc, etc.

Matthew is right that the eventual publishers/licensing agencies want to get their stuff out cheaply and quickly, hence those numbers and notes becoming forevermore a part of that script/score.

50

Employment / Re: Theme park work

« on: Feb 03, 2014, 02:18 pm »

I would definitely agree with the others that work as a stage hand would be far more useful than another year in the rides department if you are interested in pursuing future work in stage management.  And use that time as a stage hand, if that's what you end up doing, watching and observing the stage managers you are working with.  I credit a large portion of my own foundation as a stage manager to my time in undergrad working at a regional theatre in multiple backstage positions and using that opportunity to observe and learn from the various Equity stage managers that came through.

51

Introductions / Re: Hello Everyone! :)

« on: Jan 28, 2014, 02:05 am »

I think a BTDT style listing for graduates of various programs could be useful, but I think it would be important to include what years we graduated from those programs.  After all I can speak to my experiences from my schooling, but I know that both my undergrad and grad programs have gone through many many changes in the years since I graduated from them (12 years for undergrad, and 8 years for grad school, for the record), which would not necessarily be of much help to somebody who's looking to apply in the coming years.

52

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: CALL BOOK: Repeating music score - how do I mark cues?

« on: Jan 19, 2014, 03:35 am »

The other option, if you are worried about confusion, would be to put the page in multiple times.  Using that PDF you linked as an example, you would copy the page into your book twice.  On the first page cross out (or cover with blank sheet when you are at the photocopier) the extra bars after the repeat section and indicate a page turn.  Then at the top of the second page just indicate in a way that is clear for you that you are now following the lyrics for the repeat and when you hit the end of that section you are good to go.  That is what I did many ages ago the first time I did The Magic Flute (the Schirmer printing of that score is big on the repeats for that one, especially, as I recall, on Papageno's songs).

53

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: SCENERY: Linoleum Floors for a touring show

« on: Jan 14, 2014, 01:10 pm »

KMC307's suggestion is really great - and a good carp can make one adjustment, that it can fold on itself so it lays flat when open, but takes a whole lot less room when struck. But also, easier to carry when it takes less space.

I have seen this done accordion style, or just a simple half-way fold. Even being able to fold it in half would mean carrying in a standard car instead of requiring a truck. Unless you have a truck anyway?

You'd need to make a slit in the linoleum where it folds though, otherwise you would probably quickly end up with a permanent crease in it.

54

Stage Management: Other / Re: Paid Summer Opera Internships

« on: Nov 03, 2013, 12:45 pm »

I also know a good number of people who've worked multiple seasons at Des Moines Metro Opera and always seem to have a good time.  I'm not sure when they start hiring for their summer season.

55

College and Graduate Studies / Re: Compilation of grad schools

« on: Oct 05, 2013, 07:30 pm »

UMKC is about to go through some change with their program.  The current head of the stage management program is set to retire at the end of the year, which may be something to consider (it can sometimes be tough to be in one of the classes that are there during the transition years between old and new faculty members).

I did graduate from the MFA program there (class of 2006), and greatly enjoyed my time in Kansas City.  The relationship between the department and the KC Rep has improved greatly over the past few years, and they also have very strong relationships with some of the smaller companies in KC as well.  I'd be more than happy to answer further specifics if anybody is interested (though it comes with the disclaimer that I have indeed been gone for seven years now).

56

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: PRE-PRODUCTION: Alternative to Taping Floors

« on: Sep 15, 2013, 12:36 am »

I've also used white liquid shoe polish as an alternative to tape in the past on a floor that a dance department was worried about (this was what they wanted us to use, so it was approved by them).

As always, find a corner or edge of the room and spot check any sort of method you might be considering that involves any of these paint-type methods.

57

The Hardline / Re: Mandatory meetings with no contract

« on: Sep 13, 2013, 03:04 pm »

Just something to bear in mind, I have worked on several contracts where the official start day is the first day of rehearsal, but I'm also paid for pre-production days, with that pay being included in the first paycheck (which often makes for the appearance of a nice little bonus for the first week).  The theory there is that I would use those pre-production days as and when I saw fit, and on occasion that did include a few production meetings.

58

College and Graduate Studies / Re: BA in Theater Management w/ MA in Stage Management vs BFA in Stage Management?

« on: Aug 29, 2013, 03:11 pm »

My personal advice would be to avoid getting both degrees from the same school.  Do you really think there is anything more you can learn in that one additional year from the same people that you have already spent three years with already?  To me a big part of getting a masters degree is to expand your experience in a relatively safe environment.  I'm also a big proponent of taking some time off and actually working between getting a bachelors degree and your masters degree.  Bring some real world experience with you and you become that much more valuable to the program you eventually end up in.  It will also give you a chance to synthesize what you've already experienced in the educational setting versus what is going on in the professional world.

59

Employment / Re: Stage Managing Events--Put on Resume?

« on: Jul 31, 2013, 05:10 pm »

I would probably nix putting a wedding on your resume.  If I received a resume with that listed I would assume it is there to pad out a thin resume and at best ignore it, at worst discount everything else.  It doesn't really give me anything to go by in terms of what your experience is.  At least with a show or theatre company I can most likely find some information on it through a Google search as I'm considering the resume. 

I would go with dallas's suggestion and list it as "event planning" or similar under your Special Skills, and then touch upon that a little in your cover letter (I'm all for keeping information on your resume streamlined and simplified and then using your cover letter to expand upon the points you really want to make about what you've done).

60

Tools of the Trade / Re: Simple Ground Plan Design Program

« on: Jul 06, 2013, 08:08 pm »

To take it a step further, I've found myself using Excel (now Numbers, since getting my new laptop last year I didn't feel like shelling out the extra money for Office and have been pretty happy with the iWork applications).  It's pretty easy to create a grid of 1/4" by 1/4" (or whatever size you choose) and to be setting it in a scale.  In the iWork programs it's pretty easy to manipulate your shapes and drawings to get angles and line them up with other objects or reference points on your spreadsheet.