Messages

1

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: Acting maintenance notes in the Performance Report

« on: Jun 15, 2013, 05:41 pm »

I'm not sure how I personally feel about it. But I have worked in some shows in which there we some very experienced and some not-so-experienced actors. The novice actors felt like they were getting more notes than anyone else ( which they were) and were upset by that idea because they felt that they were bringing everyone/ the show down ( which they weren't they just needed more help staying consistent in a long run than the veteran actors). I can see how putting actor notes in the nightly notes might single actors out and potentially upset them or throw them off.

I think a good solution would be to keep notes individual but send one doc/email with all the notes for the night to the director and artistic director. That way the actors notes remain confidential and the directors only get one email. With email and the handy "copy/paste" buttons I don't think it would add much more work for the SM....

2

Employment / Re: Should The Cradle Rock?

« on: Jun 15, 2013, 09:03 am »

I don't know how useful my advise is because I am also an apprentice at a much smaller theatre and it's my first job right out of college.

But I think you should definitely say something. There are future generations of people trying to "break into the business" who will have to go through the exact same thing you do if nothing changes. Are there other apprentii? Maybe (if there are others) you could talk to them and see how they are feeling and then present the concerns as a whole unit. That way it can not be dismissed as "one person's opinion"? I don't what standard exit policy is there, but here they have exit interviews with all of the apprentii to see what worked, what didnt, and what they could improve. Perhaps suggest something like that and then be sure to say something on your way out?
Either way, If you don't say anything nothing will change. I think the living conditions of all future aprentii is worth saying something about the way your apprenticeship was handled.

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Students and Novice Stage Managers / Reharsal Report AND Notes?

« on: Jan 30, 2013, 02:46 pm »

Hello All,
I have a question for you about what is used in a real-world non-acadmeic setting as far as notes and reports go?
At my college I was taught to have a document of the Rehearsal report which is for the designers, director and crew. It has any needs that we have discovered in rehearsal, questions we have for designers, times of rehearsals ect.
Then there is a separate document called Rehearsal Notes. This is a document for the actors containing a quick summary of what was discussed in rehearsal- things the director would like the cast to think about, any back story that was established ect.

I've worked in a couple professional settings with SMs who have used this method. I am now working with an SM who doesn't do rehearsal notes at all. Just the report.

My question is this: were the notes just a learning, academic tool, to assist the young actors? Or is it just a preference thing?

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Students and Novice Stage Managers / Re: ASM Help

« on: Jan 30, 2013, 11:26 am »

it's a little difficult early on since there is not as much to do but definitely explain what you are doing, why and how it will help in the future, since she is there to take over. Having the ASM do on part of rehearsal while you work on another. I usually have the ASM do notes ( after showing how), props or costume tracking- depending on how heavy these tasks are. That leaves you free to work on the report, blocking  and scene change tracking. As you get further into rehearsal you'll find that theres more for them to do so you have less of a workload. I usually have the ASM on line notes as well.
For training purposes, I'd say to switch off tasks that are done. Once you set up blocking and all of your lists, perhaps choose a day for the ASM to try their hand at blocking or whatever, that way they can get their feet wet in all aspects they will eventually have to do but with a bit of a safety net.

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Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: Pointers for handling large numbers of props?

« on: Jan 30, 2013, 10:49 am »

I haven't done this show, but I did Under Construction by Charles Mee recently which has many many props.
I'd agree with everything that Maribeth suggested and reiterate that lists are your best friend. If you have the resources (an ASM or PM) definitely do detailed props tracking so that you have a list which tells you where every prop is at any given time. If your ASM is doing this then they also can make room in their brain to know some things off hand. But knowing where each prop is at any given time is extremely useful for rehearsal when you have to set up in the middle of a scene. That way you are not relying on memory.

I don't know if you have room, but I also found it helpful to set up props tables as soon as possible using butcher paper or some such, since it's likely to change before the show opens. But having a specific place for each prop early on not only makes sure you don't loose anything but also so your actors have a place to put the props when they are not in use. This emphasizes the "props are not toys" and ensures that when you're on break or whatnot they cannot play with them since they have a place to be put.

You'll have to let us know how it goes!

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Students and Novice Stage Managers / Re: Summer in Chicago

« on: Jan 14, 2013, 04:26 pm »

Lifeline Theatre in Chicago does a Fillet of Solo festival every summer. I believe they have a stage management internship. You should definitely get in touch with them- a friend acted with them over the summer and had a fantastic time.

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The Green Room / Re: ARTICLE: In Defense of Stage Managers

« on: Jan 14, 2013, 04:11 pm »

This is wonderful. Thank you for sharing! Something I have to explain to many student actors who thought they were more important than they were.

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Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: RED canvas tips

« on: Dec 28, 2012, 11:33 am »

The theatre I'm at did it awhile ago but did not really have a cheap solution. They ended up buying 1000$ worth of muslin and cutting a new piece every night. I'm curious- did you find a different way of doing it?

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Stage Management: Other / Re: Radio plays

« on: Dec 27, 2012, 09:56 pm »

I don't have experience SMing them but my girlfriend directed both It's A Wonderful Life and A Christmas Carol the radio plays. If your talking about plays done as though they are radio plays- the actors play many characters, read off of scripts, stand at mics with on air signs and a foley artist doing all the cool sound effects that is....

If this is what you mean then my main advice from watching those processes is to bring a tape recorder (or use your computer) to record the actors doing different voices so they can refer back to what they've tried and the director can make decisions on the voices.

What play are you doing?

10

Introductions / Hello Again!

« on: Dec 27, 2012, 10:46 am »

I have been on and off the site for a bit now, but with graduation, job-hunting,moving, job starting and general life things I have not been on the forum in a while so I thought I would re-introduce myself! (I have grand plans of being on here much more frequently)

My name is Liz and I graduated with a BA in theatre last June from Knox College. I am now an apprentice at Performance Network Theatre in Ann Arbor MI. I have been stage managing since high-school and want to continue to do it for a very long time! I am here to learn, chat, swap stories and discover the various theatre companies that I don't know about since I have no idea what I'm doing when my apprenticeship ends in August. I just finished ASMing Glass Menagerie and am currently House Manager for A Little Night Music. Soon I will start rehearsals for Good People also as an ASM.

I very much look forward to chatting with y'all!   

11

Tools of the Trade / Re: Gifts!

« on: Dec 09, 2010, 12:57 am »

oooh an ipad! that sounds fantastic! I'm hoping to get a case for my letherman- i just got it for my birthday in Oct. and now my key ring is just heavy! Also a new mag light, sadly mine broke on the flight home

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Students and Novice Stage Managers / Re: Prompt Book For Show with NO SET!

« on: Dec 07, 2010, 12:53 am »

 I do a similar thing with two books- a calling book and a blocking book. I make sure that both scripts are one sided so that I can write on the back of the opposite page. The blocking book is just blocking- i usually draw a line from the line that the movement occurs on to the other side of the page and write the blocking on the line.  If it's a complicated blocking I'll draw a small diagram or put a start and finish place and leave it up to the actor to know how they get there.  This makes it really easy and uncluttered so that actors can look at the blocking in their down time or if an actor is stick and a replacement needs to learn the blocking in a hurry.  I also draw small diagrams of the set at the top of each scene just to get an idea of where everything is. The call book only gets taken out just before paper tech and have only my cues and standbys in it and that's what i use to call the show.
but like kiwitechgirl each SM has their own way of doing things, but I'm pretty sure any SM book will have a section on prompt books .

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Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: FORMS: Reports - Getting people to read them

« on: Dec 06, 2010, 02:05 pm »

The password is really clever! I usually just copy and paste the report into the body of the email so they literally just have to look at the computer screen. Usually if the cast isn't reading it the director can tell and calls them out on it. For the production team i found it helps to have something you need from them in the next meeting and then you can ask for it in the next meeting - if they haven't read it you can call them out on it easily. nobody wants to be caught not doing their best