Hey! im a student in high school and i am SMing a community theatre production of "children of eden". i have never SMed anything, i have always been on stage. so far all i have done is a prompt book(no cues yet) and a list of all the props we need and the cast's conflicts. this upcoming week is musical rehearsals, what should i be doing. HELP ME!
Okay, this is what I do, but it's by no means an exact science. First, I get my prompt book put together and make a cast list with phone numbers, in case I need to contact them. I get together with the director and work out a rehearsal schedule. For musical rehearsal, do you mean singing or dancing? Usually there's not much to do with the singing, but I will let the choreographer run through the dance a few times before putting any blocking down. This will be your most changeable part of the blocking process, or at least, so I've discvoered in my time SMing.
During the rehearsal process, I make down blocking, indicate where set pieces should be and make notes to myself if we need a particular prop in the scene. Those notes I will pass on to the Prop person if it's not me. Always have at least three sharpened pencils and a good eraser with you as you will be doing a lot of erasing at first.
I don't worry about correcting line until the actors actually dropped their scripts and start calling for lines. Then I will take notes as to what lines cause problems and mention it to them after the reheasal. This is unless your director tells you differently. Remember that he or she is in charge and the only one to be calling the shots (at least until you open).
You probably won't be getting any actual cues written down until your paper tech, which is usually a few days before your cue-to-cue and tech rehearsal. You can't write any lighting cue down until the LD gives them to you, same with music cues and the SD. Remember that your light cues should be numbers and your sound cues should be alpha - unless you're instructed otherwise. Once you start into actual dress rehearsals, make sure you post a check in sheet, so that you don't have to try and figure out who is and isn't here in the madness that is tech week. Remind the actors that while the prop people do handle the props, it is up to them to check to make sure their props are where they need to be.
You will also have to coordinate the set changes as per your prompt book. make sure you have eyes and ears on both sides of the stage, even if you on the deck to call the show. We call from the booth, but always have deck managers to coordinate everything back stage. If you have someone running flys, make sure they understand the importance of handling them correctly and to not fool around with them. That person should be the only one handling them as well. Safety is a primary concern of mine when a show is running. Also make sure you have a first aid kit or at least access to one as you never know when you might need it for some reason. have plenty of spike tape ready and have a color code written down so there is no guess work when you start spiking your set pieces for the changes. Your crew will look to you for guidance, so you need to act like you're sure of yourself, even when you're not.
It sounds like a lot, but it all comes together pretty easily. And each show gets easier after the current one. Don't lose heart and know that you can always come here for help and advice.
Be strong!
Charlie
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