Messages

31

The Green Room / Re: Trivia Tournament II: Electric Boogaloo

« on: Dec 10, 2008, 01:59 am »

Okay, I read A LOT.  But 5 out of 10 questions on a single trivia quiz relating to Stephen King's Dark Tower books?  What about those of us who don't like Stephen King?  (I accept that many questions relate to subjects that don't interest me, but 5 in the same test on the same topic?)

32

The Green Room / Re: Trivia Tournament II: Electric Boogaloo

« on: Dec 05, 2008, 01:57 am »

My favorite question of today (without giving too much away) actually asked about what a specific commercial advertised.  Of course, the commercial ran in another country when I was 6 years old. 

Yup, missed that one!

33

Stage Management: Other / Re: Quesitons Needed for a stage management workshop

« on: Dec 03, 2008, 02:24 am »

you could also do blocking demos - hand out the scripts, take three aside and tell them where to go and see how many of the folks in the house get the blocking down - rotating thru the class with different people doing the actor role means everyone finds out the challenge of watching everything at once in a practical sense

I just did this as a test in the stage management class I teach today.  It works really well.

34

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: Help for On the Town!

« on: Dec 01, 2008, 08:26 pm »

3 male leads
Ozzie
Chip
Gabey

3 female leads
Ivy Smith
Hildy Esterhazy
Claire de Loone

Supporting Men
Pitkin W. Bridgework
Rajah Bimmy/Master of Ceremonies/Miss Turnstiles Announcer (can be split up, but all small roles)

Supporting Women
Madame Dilly
Lucy Schmeeler
Flossie
Flossie’s Friend (these are a duo that pop in and out the whole show)

Featured Small Roles (played by Ensemble members)
Little Old Lady
Mr. Uperman
Diana Dream
Dolores Dolores
“The Great Lover” (dance role)
Waldo Figment

Ensemble—we had 13 who also played the Featured Roles, etc.

35

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: Prop Recipe Exchange

« on: Oct 17, 2008, 02:07 am »

Thought I'd contribute too!

Blood(not for consumption):
-red food colouring
-liquid clothing detergent
This recipe is for pure body blood and since it is made out of detergent, it can just be thrown in the wash.

I always add a drop (or less) of blue to the blood.  It gives a richer color.

36

Employment / Re: When is enough enough

« on: Oct 12, 2008, 05:22 am »

I don't know that "fun" is the right word, since there are plenty of days that haven't been fun.  I think that when you are no longer finding joy and satisfaction in your job, it's time to try something new.

37

Tools of the Trade / Re: The Blackberry

« on: Jun 26, 2008, 01:44 am »

I know I get very annoyed when I'm in the middle of conversation with someone and the oh so important text or e-mail comes in and I get put on hold, as I'm standing there, so they can respond. 

I'm one of those lo-tech people who keeps their personal calendar in a book with a pencil.  I know that's shocking to most people now-a-days.  However, I have a dear friend (a lawyer) who is completely attached to her Blackberry to the point that her sister refers to it as her "pacifier."  We've had to start to ban it from events.

38

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: "Blood" cleaning techniques

« on: May 28, 2008, 02:10 am »

If you're making your own blood (and not using it anywhere near eyes, mouth, etc.) you can forego the corn syrup and make the blood just with detergent and food coloring (use a teeny bit of blue with the red to keep it from looking too fake).  Use a detergent like Tide Free that's mostly colorless.  If you make the blood about a week in advance the bubbles will settle and won't look too soapy.  You should test any recipe you use on similar fabrics in advance to make sure that the blood will wash out before you put in on the real costume.

39

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: Musical Suggestions for a limited stage.

« on: May 07, 2008, 01:12 am »

Godspell.  Little Shop of Horrors (it seems elaborate, but we did it on a small stage with minimal wing space and no fly space at all).  Dreamgirls.  All can have a cast under 20 and fairly simple sets.

40

Students and Novice Stage Managers / Re: Student Stage Manager's Challenge #3: SMs Everywhere

« on: Apr 12, 2008, 03:35 pm »

Completely outside of the Theatre world:  a friend called and asked my help for her wedding.  It was outdoors and the wedding party dressing area was a 10 minute walk from the ceremony area.  She (the bride) asked me to be on walkies to cue the wedding party when the guests had all arrived and cue the musicians when the groom's party was in view to start the wedding music.  They specifically asked me (as opposed to lots of other friends--mostly actors) because they knew I would stage manage their wedding just as efficiently as I would do any show.

41

Tools of the Trade / Re: Headset Side

« on: Apr 07, 2008, 03:01 am »

I go back and forth.  Sometimes I even switch sides at intermission to feel more balanced.

42

SMNetwork Archives / Re: Disease Prevention Techniques

« on: Apr 02, 2008, 04:55 pm »

SLEEP!  I know that's the hardest thing for most of us to do--we're busy and stressed and working long hours.  However, to combat all those problems, you need to sleep.  Your body needs rest to renew itself and let your immune system have time to work.  Vitamins are great (if you're wondering, that's just what Airborne and Emergen-C are), water is great, etc., etc., but sleep is the most important thing our body needs.  Maybe that means you don't go out with everyone after the show, or that you have to reschedule some outside plans, but it will keep you healthier.

43

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: Caling the show...

« on: Feb 11, 2008, 08:57 pm »

I also prefer calling from the booth at the back of the house.  I hate staring into monitors and would much rather see the stage live.  As long as I have at least one ASM I can trust backstage on headset, I'm fine with being a little farther from the stage.  I can understand how this wouldn't work as well in a much larger theatre, because you're TOO far from the stage, and in those situations I've always called from backstage (it's actually usually been SR, not SL).  However, given a choice I'm usually calling from the booth.

44

Tools of the Trade / Re: Business Cards

« on: Jan 26, 2008, 04:52 pm »

Unless you have a PO Box or an office or something similar I'm generally against putting your address on your business cards.  Do you really want perfect strangers knowing where you live?

45

SMNetwork Archives / Re: Happy Birthday Kay!

« on: Dec 22, 2007, 05:39 am »

Happy Birthday, Kay!

Hey, your birthday is the Winter Solstice (most years) and you share a name with a character from "The Snow Queen."  Coincidence?

Either way, I hope your birthday was wonderful.