Messages

571

Students and Novice Stage Managers / Re: Being friends with the SM

« on: Nov 10, 2011, 10:28 am »

This topic has been discussed a couple of times as well as some ancillary discussion that included this issue altho it wasn't the central exchange of info. Here are a few links to get you started -

The Green Room / Re: Achieving a Professional Understanding
http://smnetwork.org/forum/index.php/topic,6171.msg37968.html#msg37968

and - break a leg!

572

The Green Room / Re: Best one-liner from a performance report

« on: Nov 04, 2011, 12:24 pm »

We are doing Robber Bridegroom, set is an open barn-like two-story area. This show has a soft open with audience interaction from 5 thru TOS, so sometimes I can overhear a particularly brilliant line and list that in my performance report.

Last night, a cast member walked on stage, looked at the audience and said "who left the barn doors open?"

573

The Green Room / Re: Nudity and Sensitive (Sexual) Material

« on: Nov 03, 2011, 05:53 pm »

I did a slew of what we affectionately ended up calling "naked boy plays", including Take Me Out - if I have time, happy to help

574

Students and Novice Stage Managers / Re: call times

« on: Oct 31, 2011, 07:24 pm »

I think that's the norm - I time to the clock up to 5, but at that point adjust to reality (and places is as close to a real 2-3 minutes to start as I can predict). And always always call house open

575

The Green Room / Re: How to deal with an unruly ASM

« on: Oct 31, 2011, 01:20 pm »

Matthew is wise, as always. Here's one more thought: since he thought he shd be the SM and is resenting being the ASM, perhaps one way to approach him is to make him think he is the teacher. That means, regardless of your true belief and all the things you are going to do anyway, telling him how much you appreciate him being your asm so you cd learn to be an sm, and asking his advice or help on things = is this the SM or the ASMs job? can you show me how you'd do it? I am going to do X, can you give me feedback after? Can you show me how you do Y? I have an idea, can you help me see if we can make this work? Thank you so much for that idea....etc etc etc

Yeah, it's manipulative as all get-out, but with someone like this, it can put them on your team, and if they think they are teaching you, are more likely to do their job and let you do yours. It takes vigilance - and you have to keep your truth close to the chest AND you still have to do whatever isn't being done as well as your job, but sometimes this can turn a person who resents your presence into a fan.

576

Tools of the Trade / Re: Yikes! Any suggestions for roaches?

« on: Oct 24, 2011, 02:22 pm »

the house TD and I poked holes in all the bales and shot in boric acid poison mixes, then circled it all - but if they continue to hatch, we will have to eliminate the bales (a key element of our set, sadly) and subsititute either wooden boxes/crates or, per someone who does landscaping, bring in fake hay bales which have (hopefully) been treated.

In the meantime, after a week of notes and bug spraying attempts, we still haven't heard from our set designer abt feasible alternatives proposed by the house (and me)....

PSMKay, house is purchasing the product for after the bales leave, when they will be chasing the little buggers down.  Thanks for the lead

577

Tools of the Trade / Yikes! Any suggestions for roaches?

« on: Oct 23, 2011, 04:36 am »

We have a wonderful set for our prodn of Robber Bridegroom and are using these huge hay bales all over the set as both dressing and places to sit.

Sadly, seems a slew of roach eggs ready to hatch came with them.

We have sprayed and done a dozen other things (boric acid is next; I will be injecting it as far down into the bale as I can get). But the hatching babies keep landing on the poor actors and then flying away - and I don't know what else to do. The theater can't be sealed and bombed during the run (per my house TD).

Ideas? Suggestions? Anything?

thanks!

578

Stage Management: Other / Re: My first ballet gig!

« on: Oct 18, 2011, 12:54 am »

A side note that I find amusing - casting supers in opera often comes down to who fits the costume. Literally. I have seen the call go out for (eg) female 5'6" size 10 skirt, medium blouse, size 7 shoe. For men, it gets even more specific, but it's all abt the clothes. Singing, acting, dancing, paying attention...all are set aside if you are a match. Of course, this leads to interesting tales of onstage shenanigans.....

579

Self-Promotion / Re: TITUS ANDRONICUS

« on: Oct 17, 2011, 10:21 am »

from the sublime to the bloody ridiculous....wow! I don't know if I COULD do Titus 5 times....

580

Self-Promotion / Robber Bridegroom

« on: Oct 11, 2011, 12:17 pm »

The Robber Bridegroom
International City Theatre, Long Beach CA

Previews Oct 11-13, runs thru Nov 6 (Thu-Sat nites and Sun mat)

Directed by Todd Nielsen, musical director Gerald Sternbach

wonderful cast, delightful show, and holy cow we are doing this with 9 people!

Any local folks, I have comps for TWTh of this week plus a limited number thru the run.

581

The Green Room / Re: Trivia Tournament III - 2.0.11

« on: Oct 06, 2011, 03:02 am »

ACKKK hate hate hate when I think I clicked on a button and it didn't register. Esp when it means 100%. ACKKK ARGHHH.

582

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: PROMPT BOOK: Gratuitious Paperwork

« on: Oct 03, 2011, 01:35 pm »

TheSingingSM - even on a show where the director knows it so much better than I do at the get-go, like this one, because he's directed it twice already, I always do my own paperwork. It helps me learn the show quickly, regroup things like props that will shift and change w each version of a given piece, solve various prop and set placement issues ahead of time - and helps me catch holes he might have forgotten or overlooked given the current space.

583

The Green Room / Re: Halloween 2011

« on: Oct 03, 2011, 01:32 pm »

we will be in our 3rd week of performance on Robber Bridegroom, and this cast will definitely celebrate! Chocolate all around.....

584

The Hardline / Theatres That Have Closed--Can You Say "Emergency?"

« on: Sep 20, 2011, 11:27 pm »

Denver's Vintage Theater is being vacated to make room for a local brewery to expand -

http://www.denverpost.com/theater/ci_18905061

585

Self-Promotion / Re: SHIRLEY VALENTINE

« on: Sep 18, 2011, 11:41 pm »

Big hugs to my wonderful DeeDee - give her my best - you are so lucky to be working with such a love (and make sure you get some of her tasty salsa!)