Messages

496

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: PROFESSIONALISM: What SMs Should/Should Not Say During Casting Process?

« on: Jan 31, 2010, 10:55 pm »

I knew this would happen:

Tonight I had auditions for "Streetcar" and the director, who I never worked with before, asked me very specifically about a woman I had worked with in the past who was auditioning (this is one who was banned for life from any production taking place in the theatre, and for legitimate reasons). I said I know her quirks, I know how she operates, so I could work with her without problems. He pressed me further and asked specifically if she would cause drama; I repeated myself, then said I didn't want to elaborate much further than that. He told me that this morning he mentioned her name to someone else and this person said she was, in a word, "crazy." She's been asked to return for callbacks, but he said it would be for 'diplomatic reasons.'

497

The Green Room / Re: Musical Misfortune

« on: Jan 30, 2010, 02:34 pm »

We were doing "Annie" just after doing "Oliver!" two shows prior (two kiddie shows in one season. Yikes.) and the music was haunting me in my sleep. On our only two days off a group of us decided to drive the next state over for an overnight trip. We went to a strip mall, walked into a store and I instantly felt uneasy but didn't know why. Then I realized it was the music they were playing over their speakers: "Tomorrow." I clapped my hands over my ears and walked straight out.

498

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: PROFESSIONALISM: Have I overstepped the mark?

« on: Jan 28, 2010, 06:45 pm »

@missliz: If it were me, and I was in the room sitting next to the director and he asks me specifically how I would like to work with him again or how my experience was, then I would give a generalized answer like I mentioned before. But I have to drive the fact home that it would have to take the actor/actress from Hades who continually proved themselves to be unwilling to change before I would tell my director I will not work with someone. Difficult people are different from impossible people.

499

Tools of the Trade / Re: iPad: What do you think?

« on: Jan 27, 2010, 08:10 pm »

I hope it would run MS Office because otherwise why would you buy it? It doesn't seem feasible to shell out that much money for something that HP already does well for less. Or wait a year before someone else knocks it off for less.
I wonder if it will go the way of the iPhone?...$500 to start then less than a year later drop a few hundred

BLee you had me roaring with the picture!

500

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: Have I overstepped the mark?

« on: Jan 27, 2010, 09:18 am »

If someone had sought you out and said, "Hey, I know you worked with this guy for X weeks and I'm thinking of casting him. Can you tell me how he was to work with?" then I would say you could volunteer some, if general, information-- "I'm fairly sure the director wouldn't cast him again" "There were some difficulties" "He didn't mesh well with the cast". I wouldn't offer up much more information than that.

But to seek out a potential employer for that actor and say, basically, "I wouldn't hire him if I were you," seems backhanded, no matter how bad he was.

501

Tools of the Trade / Re: Software find

« on: Jan 26, 2010, 12:28 am »

Can we see a few screenshots?

502

The Green Room / Re: On The Boards

« on: Jan 25, 2010, 06:40 pm »

I think it has the potential to really help the arts if anything. Right now AMC (or is it Regal?) works with a company to bring productions from the Met onscreen in their theatres (and I believe they're live broadcasts but again I'm not certain); the ticket price is usually quite reasonable and everyone always has the best seat in the house. It keeps the arts up-to-date and in public view. I can talk to someone about the Met's production of Turandot that I found fascinating and I never stepped foot in the place!
This just might be the tentative first step to something that, ten years from now, becomes commonplace.

503

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: How much time to prepare before auditions?

« on: Jan 25, 2010, 06:32 pm »

I am doing Streetcar and unfortunately we only have a month to make it happen, so I may very well take you up on that!

504

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: TECHNOLOGY: Anyone else using Google Sites?

« on: Jan 25, 2010, 09:41 am »

Short update: we have not cast yet so only the tech site is getting use for now. It is working very well. I uploaded an electronic copy of the script, audition sides, tentative props list, three scenic plots, contact information and calendar. It also came in handy when I found myself with a few hours downtime at my other job, but didn't have my laptop or flashdrive available. I used one of our in-house laptops, went to the site, downloaded the script, typed up a tentative props list and uploaded it to the site.

505

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: How much time to prepare before auditions?

« on: Jan 25, 2010, 09:33 am »

I try to begin the process as early as possible for the simple fact that stage management supplements my other job(s), so the sooner I begin the better, since I don't often have a full day to devote to just the show. If I can't find an electronic copy of a script I'll type it into Word, after which I usually know the show very well by then. After I signed my contract in October for a show that begins auditions Jan. 31, I immediately looked for the electronic copy, read it once without making notes, read it again in order to alter the electronic copy to the version the director gave me (lots of differences!), then read it again to make notes and start lists (props, scene breakdown, etc.). For this show I also watched the movie version - I prefer not to do this, but the director made so many references in our first tech meeting that I wasn't catching, I felt I had to. Plus, Marlon Brando in a tight white shirt makes for nice eye candy

506

The Green Room / Re: Best reason from an actor for being late

« on: Jan 15, 2010, 12:13 am »

Wow. It's a long bad day when you don't know you already posted. Thanks!

507

The Green Room / Re: Where and when are you at your best?

« on: Jan 14, 2010, 11:24 pm »

I also have to like the show I am doing, both content and personel wise. The level of care I give to jobs is proportional to how much I like it. I will always aim to do a very good job, but a show I love will result in me going above and beyond.

I am SO glad you said that. I read the script for "Women Who Steal" after being talked into SMing it, and after page 8 I literally threw the script across the room. It was terrible! Vivien Leigh could have played the lead and the show still would have tanked. It was the only time I woke up dreading SMing that day. Sadly, after the bad script, it was all downhill from there. I kept beating myself up, thinking if my attitude could be at 100% only when I was enjoying myself then what kind of SM was I? But I learned from that debacle and moved on. 

508

The Green Room / Re: Things You'll Never Hear a Stage Manager Say

« on: Jan 14, 2010, 11:03 pm »

"Strangely I don't have any stories. I've loved EVERYONE I've ever worked with."
"I've read a study that says the human body can function without sleep. I'm gonna give it a whirl."
"What are Sharpies?"
"I never came THISCLOSE to killing anyone, much less an actor. Why would anyone want to kill an actor?"
"I think I should say exactly what I'm thinking the instant I think it."

509

The Green Room / Re: 10 things actors can do to get off to a good start with a stage manager

« on: Jan 14, 2010, 10:55 pm »

Remember--when a stage manager asks you to do something, it is usually because a) you were supposed to do it anyway and forgot, b) he/she doesn't want you to look like an idiot, or c) something is about to impale you. Bottom line: your life and ours will run more smoothly if you do 

510

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: Anyone else using Google Sites?

« on: Jan 14, 2010, 10:53 am »

I've double checked; at the top of the page under "More" you may "Subscribe to site changes."