Messages

61

The Green Room / Re: What would you do, with a grant for SMing...

« on: May 29, 2011, 05:17 pm »

I'd probably invest a hunk of it into a new computer. My current laptop turns seven this summer, and just last week started making funny noises. I'd probably need some new/upgraded software. Printer and network is fine. Why not put it towards salary/wage? Ok, fine, part goes for gas/vehicle reimbursement, paper/toner expenses, office supplies, first aid supplies, gaff and spike tape.

62

Tools of the Trade / Re: Spike marks on peat/bark floor?

« on: May 21, 2011, 09:46 am »

If you only have a few pieces of furniture to set, and can set two spikes (literally) in two spots out of the way, you could use different length ropes/cords (that hopefully won't stretch too much). Simply form a triangle with the spike, and the back two corners of the sofa. Then from another spike at another corner of the stage with two other edges of the sofa. There should only be one place that the sofa could go such that the four ropes/cords will be taut. After placing the sofa, move the ropes/cords back to their spike.

Another way would be to form a grid down the back and side of your stage, then you'd have to set the sofa's corner in your notes. (top left corner at 3,4; top right corner at 5,9, etc...)

Sounds like a fun experience. Post some photos with what you come up with.

63

The Green Room / Re: How to recover from mistakes

« on: Apr 12, 2011, 02:11 pm »

I once made a mistake about 15 minutes before the curtain was scheduled to rise. I was trying to turn the lights off in the magic box in Pippin. Unfortunately, the light switch my fumbling fingers found were instead for the "Poof! huge ball of smoke rise from the top of the box" effect. Luckily we had time to reset the effect. But I did learn to always know what all the buttons and switches do in equipment used on stage. Plus the cast sitting near the box got to tease me a little bit, which actually helped their morale.

64

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: RUNNING: No stage manager?

« on: Apr 12, 2011, 02:05 pm »

Thanks everyone for your responses. After meeting most of the crew/designers/management, this group appears to work with the stage manager actually serving as the deck stage manager; the producer serving as the contact point for messages that need to be distributed; the director and assistant director I assume will be maintaining their own blocking notes; the technical director coordinating all design aspects with the artistic director and director. Historically, they've never had anyone calling the show's cues, each operator took their own. I think this will be an interesting show to work, I'm sure I'll learn a lot.

65

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / RUNNING: No stage manager?

« on: Apr 06, 2011, 11:51 pm »

I have been asked to be the assistant technical director for a large community theatre musical this summer. We're having our first pre-production meeting tomorrow so everyone involved can meet, and basic questions can be answered. The cast will be made up of about 75 people, kids through adults (auditions in May). On the initial crew list that was sent out this evening, they did not list a stage manager at all. I've asked the Tech Director about that, but no response yet.

One of the things they have already asked me to do is call the show from the booth. Otherwise I'm not real sure what my other duties will be in this production. Assuming they have no stage manager, just a backstage person herding the cast, would I in fact be like a stage manager? Have you ever worked a show where there was no stage manager during the rehearsal process? I'm mystified how this could work.

66

The Green Room / Stage Manager Beverley Randolph Has Died

« on: Mar 16, 2011, 07:33 pm »

As reported in Theater Mania: "Stage Manager Beverley Randolph died of cancer on Tuesday, March 15 at her home in Bloomingdale, New Jersey. She was 59. The marquees of Broadway theaters in New York will be dimmed in her memory tonight, March 16, at exactly 8pm for one minute."

Full article at http://www.theatermania.com/new-york/news/03-2011/stage-manager-beverley-randolph-has-died-broadway_35130.html

67

Tools of the Trade / Re: OCR software

« on: Feb 17, 2011, 07:19 am »

I have a Fujitsu ScanSnap and love it. There are several different model numbers, and there are different models for Mac vs Windows, so be sure to get the model for your operating system. The scansnap allows you to run up to 20 (?) pages at once through the scanner. Double sided, color, creates JPeg or PDF. OCR is an option through the included Acrobat app, but I've never used that. Scanning is very quick, no warm up period, fairly small, about the size of a shoe box. Pages sit upright and come out the front.

68

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / SAFETY: 'Billy Elliot' musical sued for $4 million

« on: Feb 15, 2011, 03:35 pm »

From the Associated Press, published in the Washington Examiner, two patrons were injured by a prop during a performance of Billy Elliot.

The lawsuit filed Monday accuses producers of "negligence and carelessness" for "hazardous and dangerous" props and choreography, failing to train employees of the show and for not warning patrons of the risks.

- http://washingtonexaminer.com/entertainment/2011/02/billy-elliot-musical-sued-4-million-0

And this is why we have to watch our cast and crew members when they are handling stuff. Scene change is one thing, but people drop stuff all the time. Hopefully not on stage during a scene, but things happen. As for warning patrons of the risks, I'd guess their ticket has some kind of warning printed on it in small print.

Edit to subject line-Rebbe

69

Stage Management: Other / Re: Hundreds evacuated in fire at NW Indiana theater

« on: Feb 13, 2011, 01:09 pm »

One of the mailing lists I'm on they were discussing this incident. Someone pointed out that drawn curtains can create a funnel or chimney in the folds when they catch fire. So maybe the curtain should have been closed? So spread the fire over a larger area, but it would have allowed suppression efforts to get to the fire.

Someone else pointed out that if this was indeed caused by a light resting against the curtains/drape, it may have been beneficial to have turned the stage lights off. I'd guess it depends if the stage work lights can be turned on from the booth before plunging the stage into darkness.

I don't know what the best process would have been.

70

Stage Management: Other / Re: Hundreds evacuated in fire at NW Indiana theater

« on: Feb 12, 2011, 10:58 pm »

Here's a news report, with video shot from inside the theater as it was being evacuated. http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/breaking/chibrknews-fire-empties-star-plaza-theatre-in-merrillville-20110210,0,2035102.story

71

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: RUNNING: Director Wants Excess Crew

« on: Feb 12, 2011, 10:57 pm »

Are there any quick costume changes? I did a show once that had several quick changes and the nights we were lacking volunteers were a bit more hectic.

72

Stage Management: Other / Re: Hundreds evacuated in fire at NW Indiana theater

« on: Feb 11, 2011, 11:01 am »

And an update: Reported by the Associated Press, published in the Washington Examiner: http://washingtonexaminer.com/entertainment/2011/02/shows-go-ind-theater-despite-fire Shows to go on at Ind. theater despite fire

The Times reports investigators determined the fire broke out when a performer accidentally kicked over a high-powered light.

So the light was in a bad place? The performer should have told someone? Maybe the performer didn't know it tipped? Maybe there wasn't an ASM type person nearby?

73

Stage Management: Other / Hundreds evacuated in fire at NW Indiana theater

« on: Feb 10, 2011, 12:37 pm »

Reported by the Associated Press, published in the Washington Examiner: http://washingtonexaminer.com/entertainment/2011/02/hundreds-evacuated-during-fire-nw-ind-theater Hundreds evacuated in fire at NW Indiana theater

Authorities evacuated about 1,800 people from theater in Merrillville after a fire broke out during a performance on stage Wednesday night.

The event was not a play, but "Shanghai Circus Live." There are conflicting tales about how the evacuation was handled. The difference could be the "official" story, and how it actually looked being one of the 1,800 people in the audience.

74

The Green Room / Re: Two Dopey, But Obvious, Questions

« on: Feb 05, 2011, 12:55 am »

1) I just saw The Comedy of Errors at the Folger Theatre. Hilarious, fantastic production. Great set. Rehearsals must have been crazy. The five sets of doors with actors on both sides coordinated to change sides with only one bang! as the door shuts; then 10 seconds later, the doors bang! again as the actors change sides again was awesome.

2) I'd love to work Guys and Dolls, Fiddler on the Roof, How To Succeed in Business Without Really Trying, or Jesus Christ Superstar. Hmmm, all musicals. The Diary of Anne Frank.

75

Students and Novice Stage Managers / Re: Trash, missing tools and other dilemmas

« on: Jan 31, 2011, 01:11 am »

And make a point that you and your cast and crew members should not leave anything out when you are not in the theater. If it's not out, it can't be damaged or borrowed by your visitors. I've stage managed at facilities where we've had to strike everything, including the set between rehearsals. And I had to note all damage or problems before rehearsal. If I started rehearsal and then noticed a problem, I was out of luck. So while clearing everything four times a week was a major headache, it did protect our stuff for the most part.