Messages

766

Homework Help / Re: Deadline June 2013: Safety and the Stage Manager

« on: Jul 15, 2012, 09:47 am »

Stage combat certainly comes to mind, including the use of firearms and other weapons. Fire safety, including fire exits and extinguishers. A safe stage surface- which could include topics like raked stages, adequate lighting and railings on raised platforms or other hazards.

A big one that comes to mind is an evacuation plan in case of fire or other emergency, and making that plan known to the actors and crew in advance.

Gotta run but hope this helps.

767

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: Stage Manager Prep To-Do List

« on: Jul 12, 2012, 09:35 am »

I like to organize my to-do list chronologically- Prep Week, First Rehearsal, Move-to-Stage, Tech, Previews, Opening, Closing. Definitely check out what is in the Uploaded Forms- there are some great examples there.

768

Self-Promotion / Re: My 15 Seconds of Fame

« on: Jun 06, 2012, 02:03 pm »

Very nice!

769

The Green Room / Re: Fat Suit

« on: Jun 06, 2012, 01:13 pm »

I've never made one myself, but if you took two shirts (one the size of the actor, and one larger) and stitched them together at the bottom hem, you could put stuffing between them, then stitch them together at the top. You could also stitch around any areas that want to be "larger", like the belly area, to keep the stuffing contained to that area. 

Good luck!

770

Students and Novice Stage Managers / Re: Starting Out

« on: Jun 04, 2012, 11:38 am »

Hi and welcome to the boards. There are already a number of similar threads about university stage management programs on this board- take a look at some of those and see if they are helpful to you. One of these threads is "stickied" at the top of the board- it's got some great, informative posts on deciding what school is right for you.

771

Students and Novice Stage Managers / Re: Scholarships

« on: May 29, 2012, 12:30 am »

The only stage management "scholarship" that I am aware of is the one that the Stage Managers' Association has, but looking on their website, it appears to be suspended. (It covered the cost of a membership to the SMA,  not money for school).

You might have better luck looking for scholarships that are less specific- maybe one that is designated for students in theatre in general or the arts in general. Best of luck!

772

The Hardline / Re: It Is Official

« on: May 24, 2012, 07:13 pm »

Congrats Vernon!

773

The Hardline / Re: Script rewrites

« on: May 11, 2012, 06:12 pm »

Thanks for the info Scott- I might look into that if I have another playwright using FD in the near future (which may well happen as I seem to be doing a lot of new plays these days...)

Thanks Pat!

774

The Hardline / Re: Script rewrites

« on: May 10, 2012, 05:28 pm »

The "trial" version that I was able to download only let you save a shorter document (something like 7 pages worth). If I could get FD for a more reasonable price I would consider purchasing it myself. (I think it retails for something like 250 dollars, which is more than I am willing to spend myself.) I've had this come up at multiple theatres this year- maybe if it comes up at the same theatre multiple times, we could work something out.

775

The Hardline / Re: Script rewrites

« on: May 10, 2012, 12:48 pm »

In most of my experiences, this task fell to an ASM for minor changes and the playwright for extensive rewrites.  In cases both where I was the ASM handling rewrites or the PSM in charge of said ASM, we were able to squeeze the work into the allotted weekly hours.

This has mostly been my experience as well. In a recent production of a new play, the playwright was responsible for maintaining an updated script and sending new pages, as that was the production manager's preference. The stage management team still kept a list of changes and saved copies of the new pages/updated scripts to have on hand, and we distributed new pages as they came out.

A complication to this issue that I've been dealing with a lot lately is playwrights who use Final Draft to create their scripts- which means that I cannot update the script, since neither the theatre or myself own a copy of Final Draft. (FD lets you save things as pdfs, FD files, or rich text files, which means the formatting is all messed up). Has anyone else come across this recently? And if so, how have you resolved the issue of not having an easily edited script file (like a Word document)?

776

The Green Room / Re: summer vacation

« on: May 08, 2012, 10:39 am »

Husband just got a used canoe. Time to explore the rivers of NC this summer.

Ooh, that reminds me that I want to take a couple of days here and there to do some kayaking! (my favorite summer activity)

777

The Green Room / Re: summer vacation

« on: May 07, 2012, 09:26 pm »

West Virginia for a month (for work) and hopefully Georgia and Colorado (for fun, to see family) if I can squeeze it in.

778

Employment / Re: time to ask for a raise?

« on: Apr 20, 2012, 10:46 pm »

A card might just be a card- a sign of appreciation from the theatre for a job well done and a way of showing you that they enjoy working with you.

You've identified the factors that are important to you (compensation, appreciation from the company, job responsibilities, the social atmosphere at the theatre), and I think you need to consider what is most important to you, and ultimately, where you'd prefer to work. You've said that the difference in compensation isn't that much of a factor for you, so I'm not sure why a raise at the theatre that pays you more money would make the difference, but if you feel like a higher level of compensation is important to you, it might be a conversation worth having.

Other options are: working on shows at both theatres during each season, talking to Co. A about your future at the theatre (and shows that are available in the coming season), talking to Co. B about the "additional duties" of SMing there that you don't like doing....

779

Employment / Re: Program Bios

« on: Apr 17, 2012, 12:23 pm »

You could talk to the organization you're working for about what format they prefer. Some theatres have specific preferences about format and style regarding bios. (For instance, some places prefer just a no-nonsense list of shows, or a more narrative format structured in full sentences). Take a look at an old program from this company.

Here's an example bio format-

Maribeth (Stage Manager) is happy to be returning to X Theatre, where her previous productions include Show A, Show B, and Show C. Other regional credits include Show D at  Y Theatre, and Shows E, F, and G at Z Theatre. She is a graduate of ____ University.

You only get so many words- choose the shows that you want to use to express your experience. If you only have college experience, include it. If you have professional experience, I would include that first. As you get more experience, phase out the college shows. I like to include my alma mater but don't include my graduation date.

780

Self-Promotion / Crown of Shadows: the wake of odysseus

« on: Apr 15, 2012, 08:52 pm »

Just finished previews for "Crown of Shadows: the wake of odysseus" at Round House Theatre. It's a new play about the Odyssey from the perspective of Odysseus's wife and son.

"Penelope and her teenage son Telemachus struggle to maintain control on Ithaca while waiting for Odysseus to return. As Penelope navigates the political waters of countless suitors, Telemachus, in his turbulent youth, chafes against both the bombardment of potential usurpers and his father’s legacy. With pressure for a successor mounting, they battle two outsiders for control over the island, with a shocking ending that can’t be found in Homer’s saga."

There's an interesting article in the Post about the play development organization, The Inkwell, that helped develop the script: http://www.washingtonpost.com/entertainment/theater_dance/the-inkwell-a-dc-theater-incubator-steps-onto-a-larger-stage/2012/04/12/gIQAo34ZFT_story.html

Crown of Shadows: the wake of odysseus
by Jason Gray Platt
Directed by Blake Robison
April 11-May 6
Round House Theatre Bethesda