Messages

61

The Green Room / Re: Production Haikus

« on: Apr 29, 2016, 11:46 pm »

When I'm kept out of
the loop, I can not do the
job you hired me for.

Please empower me
to lead this show and cast, not
limit that ability.

*These really are therapeutic.

62

The Green Room / Re: ARTICLE: Why we get frustrated . . .

« on: Apr 25, 2016, 11:06 am »

Agreed with Lexie: while learning to accept that things aren't fair is a valuable, important part of life, there's a difference between letting frustration overcome you and channeling it toward a constructive purpose. If we all shrugged off bad things as "the way they are," no progress of any kind would be made. Recognizing that things aren't as they should be can lead to meaningful improvement.

It can also lead you to dissociate yourself from negative/parasitic environments. Sometimes the only thing you can do is step away from a situation.

63

The Green Room / Happy Deathday Shakespeare

« on: Apr 23, 2016, 10:34 am »

It's the 400th anniversary of Will's death, but as we all know his work still survives and thrives. Thought it might be interesting to hear about what people are doing (if anything) to commemorate, or just your general experiences with Shakespeare.

I'm helping next week with my state's 48-Hour Marathon of his plays (staged readings, or we'd probably run longer!) Also, I'm in the middle of a run of Tempest, which is by far one of my most challenging shows to date: it has haze/fog, giant puppets, aerialists, dancers and blacklight. Not mention the joys of being in a discovered space (no insulation or heat/cooling, limited electricity, loud airplanes overhead and horn honking on the street), which actually has made me feel like we're performing the way the Globe must have been with all its noise and distractions.

Previous to these gigs, I've also acted in Shakespeare twice (Julius Ceasar and Macbeth), Assistant Directed/SMed Twelfth Night, and ran the board for a production of Henry V on trapeze (the fight scenes were awesome!)

How about you: any great Shakespeare productions you're proud of working on? What's your favorite time working with the Bard?

64

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: PROMPT BOOK: Your Prompt Book - Left or Right?

« on: Apr 22, 2016, 07:34 am »

After reading this thread I decided to try an experiment with my current show. I usually keep two books: one for blocking, then a clean one for calling. In the past I've printed both the same: single sided, with holes on the left. This time I decided to try my cuing script with holes on the right, writing out my calls on the right side with my script on the left.

I found it far easier to keep track of calls and the story. I had worried following along in the script would be difficult with it on the "wrong" side, but in fact I found it worked better. It's a complicated show with lots of simultaneous calls (lights, sound, fog, etc.), and this format really clicked to make the experience less of a nightmare. I plan to use this format again for my next set of shows.

65

The Green Room / Re: ARTICLE: 'Hamilton' producers to share profits with original cast

« on: Apr 19, 2016, 10:02 am »

Maybe, but there's a key phrase buried in this article that bears remembering:

... producers have largely opted to pay actors who help develop shows more up front, in exchange for not granting them a share of profits if — as happens relatively rarely — the show becomes profitable.

For every Hamilton, there are a lot of flops out there. Getting a stake in future profits of a megahit is great; getting a stake in future profits of a show that may not be restaged for a decade (if ever) offers little to compensate teams for their work. Whatever profit sharing is offered/negotiated for, it should not come at the expense of the money actors/crews make here and now.

66

Introductions / Re: New Girl, New Work

« on: Apr 19, 2016, 09:57 am »

I hope your new work experience is better than mine (an original two part musical that wasn't planned very well). Keep us informed on how it turns out.

67

Self-Promotion / Re: Summer Stock

« on: Apr 17, 2016, 06:54 pm »

Congrats, especially on getting to work with someone you like, respect, and can learn from. Sounds like a blast.

68

Self-Promotion / The Tempest

« on: Apr 14, 2016, 04:09 pm »

Shakespeare's bow to the stage presented in downtown Wilmington, NC: aerialists, giant puppets, shadow puppetry, blacklight, and more combined. Plotting! Clowning! True Love! There is literally something for everyone in this show, presented by Dram Tree Shakespeare. We open tonight.

69

The Green Room / Re: Article: School show on hold after boys injured

« on: Apr 07, 2016, 11:18 pm »

"It was deemed important to make it as realistic as possible."

I think that quotes sums it up: so many times people are obsessed with "realism," rather than acknowledging the hyperrealism of theatre and letting things be suggested.

It reminds me of a great moment in one of my technical classes in college when my professor reminded us that theatre isn't real. It's not meant to be real. It's meant to be a suggestion of a reality that the audience accepts.

70

Self-Promotion / Re: Kentucky Shakespeare Festival 2016

« on: Apr 04, 2016, 08:49 am »

Three full Shakespeare productions in one day? You and your crew deserve a round of applause. Have a great time.

71

The Green Room / Re: Production Haikus

« on: Mar 28, 2016, 11:14 pm »

An ASM who
can't come until opening?
A very odd offer.

72

Introductions / Re: Me!!

« on: Mar 28, 2016, 09:57 am »

Welcome Janet. I spent one summer doing costuming, enough to know it wasn't for me, so I'm always very grateful for good costumers (my other tech hat is in lighting). "Noises Off!" is a fun crazy show: break legs.

73

The Green Room / Re: Production Haikus

« on: Mar 21, 2016, 07:00 pm »

You kept book for me
in my absence, kindly, but
marked my script in pen.

74

Tools of the Trade / Re: Stage Management Software

« on: Mar 14, 2016, 02:03 pm »

Agreed on simplicity being the best course of action: I'm not sure about making the plunge toward this software myself yet, but I'm excited people are creating future solutions for the industry.

On that note (commercial warning: one of the reps I spoke to at SETC contacted me and wanted to know if I'd like to take part in a free beta version. I'm not really in a show that would work for coming up (more devised projects), but he said he'd welcome input from any stage managers who are interested. If you'd like to sign up, here's the link to register: http://www.mylinesllc.com/StageProAbout.aspx.

75

Introductions / Re: Hello

« on: Mar 14, 2016, 01:56 pm »

Welcome from a fellow computer geek (I'm a developer/designer). I just took a workshop on creating projections for theatre at SETC and got a lot of ideas for how to integrate emerging technology in live theatre. There's really cool stuff happening on what you can do with a computer and projector. The software we were recommended to use is called Isadora. Feel free to PM me for more information from the workshop.