Messages

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Students and Novice Stage Managers / Re: BFA SM Students or Students who entered college knowing they wanted to be a SM

« on: Nov 28, 2010, 01:28 pm »

although I am out of school, I also knew going into school that I wanted to be a Stage Manager

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Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: Talk Backs

« on: Aug 30, 2010, 11:53 pm »

yes...time could have been done to redo the work she needed to do. However, the actor directed the show for herself and the director allowed it to happen..."They have a working relationship" i've been told. But yes, talkbacks all over the place. She is even inviting others into the theatre if they disagreed with the show one night to talk about it every night. Its a very confusing and frustrating process at the same time.


Post Merge: Sep 01, 2010, 10:19 pmJust an Update....SHE DID ANOTHER INTERMISSION TALK BACK, but this time it wasn't 26 min long. Unbelievable!

(thanks for listening to my vent)

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Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: Talk Backs

« on: Aug 30, 2010, 09:25 am »

exactly. We all want to get together to make a study guide that we can pass out to the audience when they leave...we think they need it after all the talkbacks that happen during the show.

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Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: Talk Backs

« on: Aug 30, 2010, 12:42 am »

I won't be able to talk her out of it...it is what she wants to do. Shes the boss, pays the bills and is her theatre as the AD. She is starting to realize that people don't have the time to digest what Act I is all about during the intermission talk back...hence why she does a post show talk back as well. The show is good, it is different for the community that we perform in, so the patrons just need to get used to the show we are doing. She doesn't realize that currently, but hopefully will so.

I wish I could turn off the monitors to the dressing rooms...however, we don't have any. Its just one of those theatres that is very very very very tiny. The actors could hear the audience talking during preshow / intermission / post show so, even if we had monitors they would still be able to hear what is going on in the house.

I'm just glad to hear that you all find this very odd...i thought i was crazy when i saw this happening.

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Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: Talk Backs

« on: Aug 29, 2010, 06:52 pm »

I just want to be clear on the situation that I experience. The actors were not asked to participate and they were not informed that there was a "talk back" happening at intermission. Myself as the Stage Manager did not even know that there was a "talk back" happening...I went backstage to chat with the actors and suddenly heard my AD talking to the audience about what they think so far.

I will not allow the actors to do a talk back at intermission in the first place. My actors don't even want to do one after the show, but do so in the kindness of their heart to the theatre.

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Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: Talk Backs

« on: Aug 29, 2010, 02:34 pm »

Nomie...The surprising thing is our AD is the director, she wrote a directors note, posters/dramaturgical information is posted and still a talk back is given. Its very strange and odd. We all sit backstage waiting to hear what is said or done during the show every night. Keeps us on our toes...

You would think the audience are taken out of the experience, but it seems like they aren't. They are there on pins and needles listening to her and are believing everything she says...So, I'm not sure if that is what the AD is going for or not.

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Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: Talk Backs

« on: Aug 29, 2010, 09:57 am »

I agree with you. If I had the chance not to let the actors know, I would. However, we perform in a very small theatre where the actors are sitting right next to the audience with a wall in between them, so needless to say, they heard it going on. And after the show, the actors took their sweet time to go out to the house because they were not going to participate in the talk back.

Liz..the purpose for it seemed to be that our AD doesn't feel like our audience is smart enough for our current show. So she feels the need to tell them what they should be listening to and what they should be thinking about while watching the play.

The actors did not perform in the talk back during the intermission. Just our AD. Even if it wasn't an AEA show, I still wouldn't let my actors perform in the talk back during intermission.

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Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: Talk Backs

« on: Aug 28, 2010, 10:14 pm »

Well...let me tell you from experience, a talk back at intermission is very odd. The audience didn't know what to do with themselves. We are a very small theatre and I've been instructed to wait for the bathrooms during intermission, which intermission lasted 25 min (should be 15).

And to top it all off...the talk back continued after the show for another 15 min.

The actors did not want to go back out on stage for Act II. "Everything was said in the talk back, why do another act?" they said to me.

I wanted to make sure I wasn't the only one that thought it was odd...thanks.

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Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / RUNNING: Talk Backs

« on: Aug 28, 2010, 07:11 pm »

I wasn't sure where to put this on the board...but I have a question regarding talk backs or a thought at least.

Have you ever heard or seen a talk back during intermission before? I understand after the show, that is the idea of talk backs, but before the show? Just wondering....

Edit to tag subject line-Rebbe

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Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: ESCRIPTS Archive June 09-Dec. 10

« on: Jan 25, 2010, 09:27 pm »

Hello all!

Does anyone have a escript of I Hate Hamlet by Paul Rudnick?

Thanks!

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Students and Novice Stage Managers / Re: Schools

« on: May 08, 2009, 08:16 pm »

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign has a excellent program for Undergrads if you want to receive a BFA. I can tell you more, if you are interested. Never hurts to look into other schools, just to see what they offer.

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Students and Novice Stage Managers / Re: ALL-STATE AUDITIONS...i cant spell...

« on: Feb 27, 2008, 12:27 pm »

I ASM Macbeth and SM Arabian Nights.

How about yourself?

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Students and Novice Stage Managers / Re: ALL-STATE AUDITIONS...i cant spell...

« on: Feb 27, 2008, 03:09 am »

I agree with all the other three.

I also did Illinois All-State when I was in High School. I actually ASM my junior year and then had the great experience to SM my senior year for it. I learned a lot from it both good a bad.

I don't know how your high school works, if you have the chance to take blocking or to take on the "SM" roles, but anything does help. Remember to be yourself when interviewing for it. If you have any specific questions, feel free to ask me. I'm more then willing to help.