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Messages - swood09

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I am about to work on a show that has 80+ cast members.

Lets all take a deep breath on that one.
Okay, here we go.

I'm a bit intimidated by getting names right. For example, if I'm taking notes and I can't remember the person's name, how the HELL do I get that note to them?

If anyone's got any experience in this situation, lemme know.

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College and Graduate Studies / Stubborn, stubborn Freshmen
« on: Mar 06, 2007, 09:16 pm »
So, I just closed a show at Texas State U., and I had a freshman as one of my leads. I got a LOT of attitude, as I was warned I would by a SM that worked with him last semester.

I would give line and integrity notes through tech rehearsals and the performance, and he would never correct what was given to him.

Kind of personally insulting, especially as he is my roommate, and especially since I sat him down and talked to him about it.

What would you all have done?

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College and Graduate Studies / Re: Texas Schools
« on: Mar 06, 2007, 09:13 pm »
"Texas State University has the best undergraduate program in Texas."

That is a quote from the Chair of the Theatre Dept. at UT, and I couldn't agree more. I LOVE IT!

4
Tech week is here, ladies and gentlemen!
I'm currently working on Move Over, Mrs. Markham, a british sex farce. I've got kind of a chatty cast (and director, for that matter), but everything is going pretty smoothly. The director's brother had a heart attack last night, so I may be running the rest of rehearsals (SCARY!), but we just finished blocking the show. Tech starts Friday (ALSO SCARY!).

Quick question, though:
In my last show, I could not get everyone to warm up, and it showed in their performances. I recently decided that I was going to MAKE my actors warm up at 6:40 every night.
Am I technically allowed to do this? Does this sound like a beneficial action?

Your thoughts are appreciated.

Thanks!
Stephen

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An industrial sewing machine, perhaps? That may be a completely lame answer, but we've got two of them at my university, and they call them industrials because they are WAY different than regular sewing machines.

6
Due to department politics, it was never put into practice (though I hear that a student found it in the library and it's become an underground manifesto for the SMs who are trying to change current department policies). 
I don't know if I'd so much call it an "underground manifesto" as an "underground bible". It certainly got me through some shit.

As for your issue, it really depends on how your department works. The reason for a college guide is that every venue is unique. You've got to find out the quirks of your department and write it down for everyone who follows.

7
What I would suggest is finding someone in the theatre who knows what they are doing, who have been in a professional setting before. Take them out to lunch and ask them what has been expected of their SM before.

I learned by throwing myself into it. The first time I ever SMed was for the season opener at my university theatre. I talked a lot to the scene design advisor as well as a few people who had SMed for our dept. before. They have a lot of insight to what goes on, as I'm sure will be the case for you.

8
I am running under the assumption that all of these things are being done to a script that you re-typed yourself. Does anyone know if there is a way around that? Isn't there a way to scan a script or something?

9
I have a problem with getting people to READ the rehearsal reports that I attach in emails. Does anyone know how to EMBED the reports in emails so that it is already in the body of the email? Preferably how to do it in Apple's Mail program.

Edited subject line-Rebbe

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I also just closed my first show. Everything went really well; the director knew it was my first time, and was patient all except for the end of act I. He kept making us do it again and again, telling me to do one thing, but wanting another. Finally, I just did what I thought he wanted, and everyone was happy. All of the people older than me told me that after working with this particular director, I can work with anyone... kind of a DIVA!

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College and Graduate Studies / Re: Texas Schools
« on: Nov 21, 2006, 02:30 pm »
I am studying at Texas State University right now, and we have an AMAZING tech design program. Head of costumes is Sheila Hargett and head of scenic is Michelle Ney. You can check out some photos of productions here:http://theatreanddance.txstate.edu/

Give one of them a call and come down to see one of our shows next semester. I'm stage managing Move Over Ms. Markham, opening in late Feb., and we're also doing Much Ado About Nothing, opening in April. Our main office number is (512) 245-2147

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riotous