Hey.
My name is Zoe and I am in grade 12 and Stage Managing my first show (Little Shop of Horrors).
I really love it but am finding that I am driving myself to the point of insanity. I am working with an incredably talented cast, and a director who is wonderful on all accounts. My thing is that I find that no matter how much work I do, no matter how many emails I send out confirming rehearsal dates, times etc, how often im stopped in the halls and whip out my rehearsal schedual, arrive early to make sure everything is set up, there is always a conflict with something or other. Sometimes its the musical director, who is a total pessimist and downer, never gives these guys positive reinforcement, and is totally NOT involved with the production team, infact he only just told us the day before our biggest music rehearsal in the entire course of rehearsals that he nor the accompanist will be there. Other times it the actors, I mean I understand having a smaller part (like everyone else ive been there too) and i understand how its lame sometimes to sit around, but there is no way that i can get these guys to listen to me, "please put away your cell phone... turn it off... now please..(etc)" or "yes you are needed tonight, yes for the whole thing, yes i know you only lean up against the garbage cans in this scene but you have already missed 3 rehearsals and we open in 5 weeks so we need you there, no you cannot leave... SIT DOWN". ETC...
I'm not going to pretend that I havent lost my cool, I have, but i have managed to gain the respect of most of my cast members.. all of them actually (except one)... but i just need some advice about what i can do to be a better stage manager. Anything that you have to offer I will take.
Thank you very much