Topics

1

Self-Promotion / 2017 Schedule

« on: Oct 21, 2016, 06:47 pm »

I've got my 2017 plays set.  SM for all. 

Peter & the Starcatcher - February 3-19 (rehearsals start early December)
Curtains - April 7-30 (rehearsals start early February)
Jekyll & Hyde the Musical - October 6-29 (rehearsals start August)
Seussical - December 1-23 (Rehearsals start early October)

All at Cottage Theatre in Oregon. 

2

Tools of the Trade / Scooped Ice Cream on stage

« on: May 26, 2016, 12:21 am »

We are doing Scapino! and at the opening of Act II we would like to have scooped ice cream.  I don't really want to use real ice cream, but will if that's the best.  Any suggestions on how to best do ice cream scooped to cones on stage? 

Colored mashed potatoes?  Pre scooped hard frozen ice cream bars?  Softer ice cream so it's easy to scoop?  Any suggestions would be helpful! 

Thanks
Bil

3

The Green Room / I'm not a SM, but I play one on stage

« on: Feb 28, 2016, 08:53 pm »

I am between shows where I am SM'ing so I thought I would audition for "Annie Get Your Gun". 

I was cast as Charlie Davinport, the Stage Manager for Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show. 

I call type casting!   

Bil

4

The Green Room / First week night off since October

« on: Jan 22, 2016, 07:11 pm »

Tonight is the first week night I've had off from rehearsals or shows since October (not counting the week I took off for Christmas and went to Disneyland!)  Started 5 night a week rehearsals on October 12th.  That show opened December 4th and we started rehearsals for this show on December 7th.  We open next week and this director (bless his heart!) decided that we all needed a night off!  Back for sitzprobe on Sunday, but I get a Friday night off!  What I am going to do? 

Spend it at home with my wife watching movies!    Man, I know how to live the wild life!

Bil

5

Students and Novice Stage Managers / Motivation & Energy - Need Help & Ideas

« on: Nov 23, 2015, 12:15 pm »

A little background. 

I am the SM at a community theatre that has been around for many years (I think 1982 was our first production).  I got interested in acting and finally SM while seeing shows here.  They are just amazing in my own opinion.  Everyone at the theatre is volunteer (except for Exec Dir and about 4 part-time box office staff). 

This is my first show as SM and I am truly loving the experience.  I feel much better suited for SM than actor!

This is my issue, we have a large number of teenagers as actors on this show (Lion, Witch & the Wardrobe).  We have been blocked for a few weeks, and we've been running the show in rehearsals.  Blocking is great, the fight scenes are amazing (as the SM in charge of making sure the actors are safe, they scare me, so I guess that is good), the set is amazing.  The PROBLEM, energy and motivation at this point.  I am getting too many people texting me the day of saying they can't make rehearsal for some silly reason.  I am having a hard time getting their energy up when they do come to rehearsal.  We open on December 4th, and I'm worried that we won't give our already 100% sold out run a GREAT show. 

How do you help actors keep their energy and excitement up for a show?  Are their any activities or fun things any of you have done in the past that has helped.  How do you keep a volunteer group motivated and keep them wanting to show up every night?

I don't expect a lot, I just want them there at rehearsals.  I spend 4 hours a night M-F and about 8 hours on Saturday and at least an hour or two on Sunday (props, prep for the week, etc) getting the show ready.  Why can't they do 3 hours a night only?   

Thanks for any suggestions!
Bil

Edited to add that most of the actors are amazing!  They are there early and ready to go on time and never miss a rehearsal!  It's just a number of them that are giving me minor twitches behind my eye.   

6

Introductions / New to the board and Stage Managing

« on: Oct 28, 2015, 03:04 pm »

Hello, my name is Bil and I am a new SM.  I caught the theatre bug later than most.  I never did any theatre or acting until just about 3 years ago (in my mid-40s).  My daughters were loving the theatre and I was hanging around and decided to audition for my first play (I got Friar Frances in Much Ado About Nothing).  I was hooked.  I've been in 3 or so plays every year for the last 3 years.  I started helping with set building and back stage (while still acting) and really enjoyed it.  I let the theatre know that I would like to do more than just acting, and I would like to stage manage.  They said great, how about next December's show, The Lion, the Witch & the Wardrobe?  I said, "YES!"  I'm working with a first time director (20+ years acting and asst. directing) and he's working with a first time Stage Manager and I think we're doing pretty good.  At this point I like the SM seat better than the actors seat!  Finally all my lists can be used!

I have been asked to SM three of the shows next year at Cottage Theatre in Oregon (that's 1/2 of the shows).  I've said yes, but now I need better skills and ideas.  That's why I'm here to learn from all of you.  The three shows I'm doing next year are:

• The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee opens in February
• Scapino! opens in June
• A Christmas Story opens in December

The guide said I need to offer a Tip, a Tale or Trivia.  So here's my tip:  Don't offer to SM two shows back to back when you work a full-time job as well.  We're in the middle of rehearsals for Wardrobe and auditions are in about 10 days for Spelling Bee.  I'm pretty sure Aslan is going to win the Spelling Bee!

Looking forward to interacting!

Bil