Topics

1

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / PRE-PRODUCTION: Noises Off! How to be Prepared?

« on: Aug 20, 2013, 09:44 pm »

Hi all!

First off, thank you all for helping me so much. I only joined smnetwork a few days ago and I love being here

That being said, today I met my new director/theatre teacher and we discussed our first show this year: Noises Off and announced that I am to be stage manager! While I have been stage manager for a few of our shows in the past, as well as been a PA at my local professional theatre over the summer, this particular teacher and I have never worked together before.

We don't start school until next week, and auditions aren't until mid-September.. but I'm just so excited I can't handle myself, so I would love some advice to help me be prepared! I'm already planning on watching the movie and a few stage recorded versions on youtube before school starts.. but what do you all recommend to be prepared for a production like this? I have heard this this show is a beast, but I also know that it is set in all one setting so I don't quite understand why it should be so difficult.
What should I know about this particular production so that I can hit the ground running? And what sort of research do you do about your shows before you start work on them?

Also, I have been searching through the other forums, but if anybody has any tips on how to make my high school work seem as professional as possible that would be very helpful!

Thanks again!
Dani 

2

Students and Novice Stage Managers / 3 Directors in 3 Years.. Transitioning.

« on: Aug 17, 2013, 03:16 am »

The theatre department at my high school barely exists.

The only theatre related classes we offer are Theater 1, Theatre 2, and Technical Theatre. Our Tech class consists of over 40 students, and only around 20 of us actually do anything. Our technical director, general director, technical teacher, and theatre teacher is all the same person. Our "department" is hodge-podged together and driven solely by the will of the students.
Two years ago this person got fired so we went through a transition into a new director last year. At the end of that year they got fired. This year is my senior year and we are going though yet another transition into a new director.

I have been the stage manager at our school for the last year and a half. Over this summer I got the opportunity to work with a professional theatre and I absolutely loved it. Stage management is what I am passionate about. Unfortunately when we go through these transitions to new teachers every position is a free for all. Whoever convinces the teacher that they can do a better job.. gets the job, without even having to prove it.

This year we are having a technical theatre teacher who is different than our theatre director, which is new. So that means that this year we have two people who we need to work with. I emailed the tech teacher and arranged to go in and meet them on monday, though they said they do not want to discuss the upcoming season yet.

What would be a good way to reassure them that I am able to handle the position of stage manager? What things should I figure out about them before hand? What is a good way to go about this transition?

Thanks,
Dani 

3

College and Graduate Studies / To Major or Minor? That is the question..

« on: Aug 17, 2013, 03:05 am »

Hi everyone!

I'm starting my senior year at high school very soon here, and I'm starting to look at colleges.
I am very interested in stage management and would absolutely love to pursue it in the future. However, I am completely aware that it is a lot of work and very difficult to get into. My parents have told me that if I go to college I have to major in something "real."

Recently I got involved with my local professional theatre and I am in love with it. I truly believe that being involved in theatre is one thing that I must do in my life. Theatre is the only thing that I am passionate about.
I am determined to at least go to a university with a good theatre program and stay connected with it.
Therefore I have been considering minoring in theatre.

I was wondering if anybody here had any experience in minoring in theatre, and if its any help going into the business?
Also, just some curiosity questions for anybody reading this who went to college:

• What did you major in?
• Was your major important in getting the job that you have? Or do you think that you could have still gotten it without studying that?
• Do you think you're college would have let you still be involved in the theatre program had you not been studying within it?
• If you majored in something theatre related: If you hadn't majored in that, what would you have wanted to study instead?

I've searched through the forums here for quite a while and have found a few things helpful to me, but I would love to hear some more specifics.
Thank you all!
Dani 

4

Introductions / New, still in High School!

« on: Aug 17, 2013, 02:26 am »

Hi there!

My name is Dani, and well... as most people who post here, I'm new!
I'm going into my Senior year in high school and I'm considering pursuing Stage Management in college. I know that I'll for sure be applying to schools with pretty good theatre programs because I hope to be involved with theatre even if I don't major in it.
My school has gone through 2 directors/theatre teachers within the past 3 years and we're getting yet another new one this year. Transitions are going to be difficult for me and I need to "fight" for my position as stage manager yet again.
I recently was a stage management intern / production assistant for my local professional theatre's production of Legally Blonde and it was amazing!

Anyway, I'm happy to be here and I can't wait to meet most of you!