Messages

76

The Green Room / Re: "I can't do that on stage."

« on: Jul 05, 2011, 10:51 am »

This has never actually happened to me, but I dread the day that it does.  I cannot imagine how anyone would be able to thread a needle onstage.  I am not an actor, but it makes me nervous just thinking about it.  If I ever do a show where this is required, I will definitely try to figure out a way to pre-thread the needle.  It just seems like it would be incredibly awkward and there is a potential for a huge long silence while the actor tries to repeatedly thread the needle... yeah. 

They make these easy-to-thread needles now. I've been sick at home the past few days and saw only a million infomercials for them, they have a catch built into the eye so you only have to loop the thread and slide it along the needle and it will automatically catch the thread. Kind of cool, and a decent option if needle and thread MUST start apart for some reason.

Also, I did a show where an actor had to properly clean and load a handgun which later had to actually fire the blanks he loaded onstage. All this while delivering a tongue-twister of a monologue. At least he wasn't moving around, too -- just sitting in a chair. But still, it became one of his pre-show warm-ups every night.

77

Students and Novice Stage Managers / Re: Blocking Script vs Calling Script

« on: Jun 27, 2011, 05:07 pm »

I understand your concerns. Our scores here don't move around too much. Just from the office to the console and back (we're rotating rep, so we can't just leave the score at the console). Grand total of about 40 feet. Plus, with all of these new "super sticky" post-its, you can depend on them more.
But, as is the case with most of our job description -- to each his own.

78

Students and Novice Stage Managers / Re: Blocking Script vs Calling Script

« on: Jun 24, 2011, 11:04 am »

The 'standard' system that has been used at the summer company I'm at right now is to use semi-transparent multi-colored post-it flags for cues.

Let me preface first -- we are an operetta company, so we work out of librettos. During rehearsals we take notes by writing a small number over the measure (or next to the word) where something happens, and write the corresponding action on the blank page opposite (with the number leading it off).

This then leaves the score almost entirely clean for our post-it cues. Since we mostly work out of a score, the post-it flags are great, they span just about the height of a system (one line of music on the page) and because they are semi-translucent, you can still see the music underneath.
For sections of straight dialogue containing cues (no music underscoring), we cut little slivers of the post-it flags and stick them over the cue word (or even as specific as syllable).
And the best part is that the pack comes in five colors -- so for our system we have one for lights, one for spots, one for sound, one for rail, one for cue lights. This way, we can easily look ahead to find the next rail cue -- it will be the next green flag.

But the best part is that we get to have only one copy of the score. Scores are big (and bigger when they are only single-sided), and the idea of having more than one is awful.  Unless ABSOLUTELY necessary, I would prefer to have everything in one place.

79

The Green Room / Re: LINKS: Simple desktops

« on: Jun 24, 2011, 10:52 am »

This is awesome! Just the right amount of distraction for a quick break from paperwork. Thanks so much for sharing!

80

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: Onstage as an SM

« on: Jun 18, 2011, 12:42 pm »

I've been a costumed ASM/crew member before -- a lot of maid outfits. My favorite was a pair of scrubs -- I was a nurse, and helped roll out a hospital bed during a production of Falsettos. They were super comfy to wear backstage and I got to keep them.

81

The Green Room / Re: Suffering from what I call "theatredox"

« on: May 31, 2011, 01:57 pm »

I definitely spend the first few days off after a contract doing as little as possible. I will marathon a television show or a large number of movies. If I can manage it, I try not to even leave my apartment. After a few days of pure laziness, then I'll start doing things like cleaning the apartment, reading books, seeing friends, seeing shows, or whatever else I want to do.

82

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: PROPS: Edible dessert

« on: May 08, 2011, 12:05 am »

What about a larger cake?  I'm possibly going to need a whole edible sheet cake each show...money is a concern, but the bigger worry is the one actor that is consuming a large portion of the cake.  Is there something that looks right but would be a lower sugar alternative?  Just using Splenda doesn't seem like the best option as there are warnings about consuming too much.

Of course I hope that this one actor isn't actually eating a whole cake every show, but as we get closer to staging this scene I'd like to have some options consider.  It doesn't need to taste like cake at all, just look like a homemade frosted sheet cake before and after being cut.

I don't know how cost efficient it would be, but have you looked into the idea of a sugar-free cake (no Splenda, Sweet n Low, Equal, etc.)

Also, making a cake from scratch, while time consuming, is often cheaper than buying one. It also allows a reasonable number of options for kind of cake -- perhaps there is a very light kind of cake that would not make the actor feel bloated after every show. Something like an angel food cake, perhaps?

83

The Green Room / Re: Achieving a Professional Understanding

« on: May 07, 2011, 09:25 am »

When I was Stage Managing in school, it was impossible to do a show without several friends being in the cast. I understand your concerns -- hey, it's not like you could just pick another show with another cast. While I was friendly with most of the students in my department, I had only a few choice friends. Those closest to me witnessed my work outside of rehearsal and gained a respect for what my job entailed. I think that helped them, so that they knew that when I was in "Stage Manager Mode," as they started to call it, I was not their friend but an authority figure. I think my "Stage Manager Mode" consists of a slightly different voice - most specifically the tone and weight given to each word. I've been told that I don a determined expression when I enter "The Mode". It's all about having a professional demeanor -- behave like a professional, and you'll be treated like one.

84

Self-Promotion / Re: I've found a new home!

« on: May 07, 2011, 09:03 am »

Congrats! The admiration of a child is a priceless perk! Best wishes for your new home!

85

Students and Novice Stage Managers / Re: House is Open or Closed?

« on: May 04, 2011, 11:27 pm »

I've only ever heard that when audience is coming in, the house is said to be open. And that's what we tell the cast: House it Open.

86

The Green Room / ARTICLE: Stage Managers as a parental unit

« on: May 03, 2011, 05:55 pm »

http://www.actorsequity.org/AboutEquity/president_archive10.asp (Nice Article "Love and Boundaries" from AEA President Nick Wyman about stage managers)

Happy Mother's Day! Happy (early) Father's Day! to everyone on SMNEtwork!

Modnote: Thanks, Rpicket. I added a description of exactly what's behind the link. Mods, let's make sure to revisit and update this link in June when the article is replaced.  There will be a permalink but it doesn't exist yet. - PSMK

Modnote: Link updated.

87

Employment / Re: Websites

« on: May 03, 2011, 12:13 am »

So today is my full day off after opening (Yay opening!) so I decided to spend the day figuring out how to make myself a website. I've read through this whole thread, and checked out all of the websites posted. I've been inspired by some of the ideas on various websites, and came up with this.

www.beccapickett.com

Please let me know what you think. Keep in mind this is Day One, so there is plenty of room for improvement.

88

Self-Promotion / Boston Marriage

« on: Apr 25, 2011, 09:49 am »

I'm opening Boston Marriage by David Mamet this weekend with Hudson Stage Company just north of NYC.

I'm very excited about this production -- it's wordy, but a lot of fun!

89

The Hardline / Re: Rehearsal Shoes

« on: Apr 12, 2011, 09:08 pm »

Thanks to you both!

That's basically how I interpreted it -- not required, but awesome if it's possible, so I should ask the designer.

Thanks again!

90

The Hardline / Rehearsal Shoes

« on: Apr 12, 2011, 07:10 pm »

Hello all!

I'm working an SPT contract, and an actress asked me today about her provided rehearsal shoes. We are not doing a musical. It's a period piece (Victorian) so the shoes are period, I grant you, but the rest of the cast seems just fine wearing their own character shoes.

I just searched thru my rule book, and the closest piece of information I could find was 13-A:
"...Additionally, the Producer shall furnish all Actors with footwear, including properly fitted shoes, tights, hoes, and stocking."

But is that for rehearsals, too, or just performances? Thanks for any input on this!