Messages

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Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / SAFETY: Diary Of Anne Frank no shoes

« on: Dec 20, 2017, 09:34 pm »

Hey gang!

I'm currently stage managing The Diary of Anne Frank and they speak specifically about not wearing shoes in the annex.  They are wearing stockings.  Just wondering if anyone has done this and/or has suggestions for how to do this safely?  We'd like to explore options to avoid having to go without some sort of foot protection. Thanks in advance!

Edited to add topic tag - Maribeth

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Tools of the Trade / Re: Google Docs.

« on: Jun 07, 2016, 12:22 am »

Yeah, google docs is great until you can't all update it together because the wifi is out.  When we did hairspray almost all of our documents were on drive.  We had a digital script copy, all reports, even a slideshow groundplan for blocking purposes.  It was okay, but when the internet was down it was difficult.  We had someone who had unlimited data on their phone so we could use their phone as a temporary hotspot to send out reports. 

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Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: SHOWS: Mary Poppins HELP!

« on: Jun 07, 2016, 12:17 am »

That sounds like a really cool trick, Branden.  I'll keep that in my back pocket if needed!

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Students and Novice Stage Managers / Re: My first prompt book

« on: May 27, 2016, 11:32 pm »

Taking notes is a lot more important than people think.  I would encourage you/them to definitely have someone in charge of jotting down little notes during rehearsals, even if it's not a formal report format. 

Also, I just did my first show without a formal prompt book, and I was totally lost.  I felt incredibly disorganized and I will never not have one again.  Having all the show information in one place is extremely helpful, especially if you can't always be there.  Schedules, medical information, the script, notes... keeping it all together just helps the show run so much more smoothly!

Half of the things I have picked up as a stage manager have been things other stage managers have used and I've observed!  I would just start doing things (keeping notes, assembling the book, encourage daily communications, that kind of stuff!).  Sometimes it takes one person being really into it to gently nudge others into trying it.

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Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: SHOW: Mary Poppins HELP!

« on: Apr 14, 2016, 08:38 pm »

Thank you all for your responses!

We decided to keep the flying and just do what we can with the set, mixing projections with flats to achieve the looks we need.

Again, thank you.  I am always amazed and excited about the collaborative artists on this site. 

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Introductions / Re: Young, scrappy, and hungry

« on: Apr 10, 2016, 11:08 pm »

LOVE the Hamilton reference.

Advice:  Don't throw away your shot.  Don't be afraid to say yes to something you might not usually do.  And try everything.  Run the sound board, run the light board, be on the deck crew, help with dressing... Often at smaller theatres you may be some of this in addition to SM-ing anyway, might as well become well versed in it while you're surrounded by very supportive professors.

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Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / SHOWS: Mary Poppins HELP!

« on: Apr 10, 2016, 10:53 pm »

Hi all!

My next project (after I finish RENT) is Mary Poppins.  We THOUGHT we had the budget figured out and could work in the flying effects and also have a really intricate two story set.

Turns out we might not.

We're currently scratching our brains about what to do.  My plug was to keep the flying effect and utilize lighting to help with the set issues that might ensue due to a lack of a practical second story.  Hardly any of the sets are stationary, and we planned on rolling them on from the wings (some of the house ones anyway).  I digress.

We're trying to think of alternatives to both the flying and the set.  Our show doesn't open until the last weekend in July, so we have time.   If you have any ideas or solutions or innovative ways to fake one of the two (or both!) I would forever be indebted to you.

Seriously.  I'll draw you a really mediocre dinosaur.  I'll write you a really average rap. 

Thanks in advance!

Edited to add topic tag- Maribeth

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Tools of the Trade / Re: Google Docs.

« on: Mar 22, 2016, 09:14 pm »

For line notes, I use a spread sheet.  I can send you an example template if you'd like.  Blocking, I use the script and keep a live copy.  I haven't yet moved to digital script keeping.

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Self-Promotion / Re: Rent & Mary Poppins!

« on: Mar 01, 2016, 02:03 am »

Thank you so much! I've gotten really lucky and have some really great directors that I really work well with.  It's definitely partly who you know, especially in the Great Lakes Bay Region.

There's some REALLY GOOD shows going on in the middle of the mitten this year.  Grand Rapids Actor Theatre just did Heathers, Owosso Community Players put on Legally Blonde at the same time we were doing Hairspray at Pit & Balcony.  But we're also doing shows like Eurydice and Noises Off.  It's a good mixture with amazing talent, and the shows are so much fun to be a part of!

Theatre is alive and well in the mitten, thank goodness! 

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Self-Promotion / Rent & Mary Poppins!

« on: Feb 07, 2016, 09:21 pm »

Two of the best musicals!


I've known that I would be stage managing Rent at Pit & Balcony in Saginaw, Michigan for four months or so - auditions are next week!  We used Google forms for our audition forms (which if you haven't used you should totally check out & if you have any questions about how amazing it is feel free to message me) and so far we have almost 20 responses! 

But I also just got asked to stage manage Mary Poppins for Stage M in Big Rapids, Michigan!  It's my first show with mostly strangers, so I'm really excited about the opportunities to meet and work with new people. 

Also, in April I'll be receiving Hamilton: The Revolution .  WHICH I'M LITERALLY THE MOST EXCITED FOR. 

This has been a shameless self promotion/fangirl moment.

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Students and Novice Stage Managers / Re: How do you divide a rectangular stage up?

« on: Feb 07, 2016, 08:34 pm »

This is the only way I've ever seen it, although sometimes when notating I'll get a little more specific "Left of center" or "downstage of USL" if the blocking calls for it to be that specific.

But I print out a groundplan on the back of each page of dialogue with several blank lines below it, so I can visualize each blocking movement that way.

I can see there being added 'zones' if you have a platform or are using the voms or an extension or something like that.

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Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: Hairspray spray.

« on: Sep 06, 2015, 08:07 pm »

Good call on the FX spray, I've alerted our director, props master, and producer. Thanks!

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Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / PROPS: Hairspray spray.

« on: Sep 04, 2015, 01:55 pm »

We're currently a month out from our production of hairspray and we're still trying to figure out which kind of spray to use. We've looked at dry shampoo and moisturizing spray, but neither of those would be good for set/costumes/mics/lights. I was just wondering what some other options may be that are cheaper, as our next plan is to order from the supplier that makes the Ultra clutch "spray" and it's 12 bucks a can.

Thanks!

Edited to add title tag. - Maribeth

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Self-Promotion / "Hairspray" at P&B!

« on: Jul 07, 2015, 08:13 pm »

Hey there!

I'm very excited to announce my first post-graduate job!  I'll be stage managing Hairspray (my first musical!) at Pit & Balcony Theatre in Saginaw, Michigan.  The show goes up in October!

It's not only my first musical, but it's also the largest cast I've ever been in charge of, with 38 cast members.  It's also my first experience with actors under the age of 18.  I'm very nervous, but also completely confident in my abilities with this show.  I have two great assistant stage managers, and the team is awesome.  Plus, it's a great musical.  I will never get sick of our Motormouth singing "I Know Where I've Been."

The talent in this cast is out of this world, and I am so excited.

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The Green Room / Re: Silly things done when we're not at our best

« on: Jul 07, 2015, 07:46 pm »

My claim to fame in my university during my first couple of shows was sending the rehearsal report without attaching the rehearsal report to the e-mail.  Largely why I copy and paste into the body of the e-mail now.