Messages

1

Tools of the Trade / CCTV Monitor

« on: Jun 19, 2008, 02:31 am »

I need an answer quick! I'm working on a community theatre show that is being produced in a high school auditorium. At a previous school i've worked at, there was a piece of equipment, a black bar, that connected via a coaxial jack into the school's cable system and broadcast whatever was hooked into it on a specific TV channel throughout the school.

I can't find any information about such a system. Anyone have any help?!

THANKS!

2

College and Graduate Studies / What Major?

« on: Apr 05, 2008, 01:22 am »

Okay. so i'm a hs student who stage manages and does a lot of tech at the school/community theatre level. i also direct a community theatre and help direct high school shows. i love performing, but i could never make it a living. i also LOVE doing anything else relating to theatre, especially stage managing and directing. i'm seriously considering perusing a career in stage management, but would also like to direct later on (probably at a local level) as well as keep performing (in community theatre).

SO... here's my question. What kind of degree should I get? If i want to be a stage manager, do i need a degree in stage management? I see a lot of school have a "directing/theatrical production" major. That sounds right up my alley, but how practical is it?

THANKS FOR YOUR HELP!

3

Tools of the Trade / Wireless Headset

« on: Mar 08, 2008, 01:31 am »

I'm going to be producing a low-budget show this summer. One other person and I are going to be co-directing. She'll handle the music, i'm doing everything production, and we're doing the actually artistic direction together. (trust me, this works well in my situation...)

ANYWAY-- We have a nicely equipped venue, with new  WIRED clear-com system. I always HATE having to run 300 XLR's together to have a headset and still be able to run around the theatre during tech. Is there any way to have a wireless headset (or something similar that will work) for CHEAP?

4

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: Cheap Rigging-ish

« on: Feb 01, 2008, 12:35 am »

Thank you all so much! I'm going to be using 2 roll drops, and thanks to you guys and some research, I'm pretty sure that I'll be able to make them!

I also definitely want to use the periaktoids, but I still have no clue how to make them! Ahhh! I'm a relative newbie to this side of theatre (tech), so I have no idea what you talking about!

Could someone explain this in layman's terms?

5

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / SCENERY: Cheap Rigging-ish

« on: Jan 28, 2008, 12:38 am »

okay. so i'm working in a new theatre, and it has about 3 feet of flyspace above the stage and about 3 feet of space in the wings. there's no kind of rigging system at all. I'm working on (tentative) plans for 3 shows there: a community show (guys and dolls) a jr. high show (seussical), and a high school show (pippin or little shop). I'm drafting plans for set, but it's SOOO hard in this space.

I worked in a similar theatre (as a performer) a few years back, and they had some kind of drop system, where small drops were spooled around a cylinder, and when a rope was pulled backstage, the drop came down.  Also, they had flats that were mounted on the top to the back wall of the stage, so that they could be rotated 180° and you could have one scene painted on each side.

I have no idea how to do either of these. does anyone have any help about something similar to what i described or ANY kind of simple and cheap "rigging"?

THANK YOU!

6

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: Budget?!

« on: Dec 11, 2007, 01:40 am »

as i said, this IS community theatre. our performers are used to rehearsing for AT LEAST six weeks... usually eight.

7

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: Budget?!

« on: Dec 09, 2007, 11:31 pm »

8 weeks is standard for a musical, and we're going to take it pretty slow, so i don't think 2 extra weeks is at all unheard of. I already have a milky white donated from another theatre. musicians will be volunteers. as i said, we have a venue with excellent sound/lighting and experienced volunteers to run it! all for free. that's the beauty of a small town.

Set really is what i'm not sure about. Those few pieces like the tower and cottage are what i'm not sure about, so if anyone has more info specifically about this show and sets, it would be greatly appreciated!

and the concert idea really isn't bad!

thanks!

8

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: Budget?!

« on: Dec 09, 2007, 08:25 pm »

well, as far as time goes, we're planning to run the end of july, and we're starting planning now. we'll rehearse for 8-10 weeks.

for sets, we're going to go pretty simple. i'm thinking mostly a unit woods set, and we have most of the supplies donated.

Our theatre seats 250, and we're thinking about 8 shows, with an average of 200/show.

THANKS for all your imput!

9

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / PRODUCING: Budget?!

« on: Dec 09, 2007, 03:50 am »

okay. so the last theatre company in my town just dissolved, so a friend and I are planning on starting our own to fill the void. we both have a lot of experience (she in music, me in management *at the school level*, both in directing...), and are planning to do "Into The Woods" (i know it's a tough show...). We have a free venue, everyone is volunteering, we have all of the basic costumes but will rent the others, we have everything needed on the tech side, and the basics needed for a set.  We also have free publicity.

my question: what should i budget?

Here's what I'm thinking:
Rights: $3000
Sets: $1500
Costumes: $700
Props: $300
Misc: $1000
TOTAL: $6000

Is this even close?

THANKS!