46
The Green Room / Re: Check your emergency procedures
« on: Jul 06, 2016, 03:32 am »
I hope you have someone outside the show to talk with about this?
News:
14 Jan 2021: Happy 21st birthday, SMNetwork! I replaced the old broken mobile theme. -K
Show Posts
This section allows you to view all posts made by this member. Note that you can only see posts made in areas you currently have access to.
47
Students and Novice Stage Managers / Re: Master Cue Sheet
« on: Jul 03, 2016, 10:15 am »
Other than mandatory practical cues like ringing phones and people flipping on lamps, I have not seen a show where the cues were pre-written before tech outside of high school theatre.
48
Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: PROPS: Prop master problems
« on: Jun 27, 2016, 01:12 am »
Generally the propmaster isn't doing anything backstage in professional theatre. The calling SM might be backstage but they do not assist with moving of props or scenery - they call the show. The ASM and deck crew set things up to best serve the actors. The propmaster is part of the artistic team that leaves the show after opening. They might procure a replacement if something breaks during the run, but they aren't backstage during performances.
However, what happens in pro theatre vs community theatre are two very different things. Generally if you come at a community theatre staff with how things are done "in pro theatres" they'll roll their eyes.
It sounds like your propmaster is serving in a capacity more like a floor manager, ASM or deck crew chief. If I were not involved in the hands on running of backstage, I would defer to someone in a position like that to figure out how the wings are set up. It is important to remember, though, that everything the backstage crew does is in service of the actors. If the actors are accustomed to props being in a certain place based on how your rehearsal room prop tables were set up, then that needs to inform their position more than either of your egos.
However, what happens in pro theatre vs community theatre are two very different things. Generally if you come at a community theatre staff with how things are done "in pro theatres" they'll roll their eyes.
It sounds like your propmaster is serving in a capacity more like a floor manager, ASM or deck crew chief. If I were not involved in the hands on running of backstage, I would defer to someone in a position like that to figure out how the wings are set up. It is important to remember, though, that everything the backstage crew does is in service of the actors. If the actors are accustomed to props being in a certain place based on how your rehearsal room prop tables were set up, then that needs to inform their position more than either of your egos.
49
Introductions / Re: Initiator of Smiles
« on: Jun 20, 2016, 03:49 pm »
Hi Lily, what sort of stage management have you done?
50
Students and Novice Stage Managers / Re: Master Cue Sheet
« on: Jun 15, 2016, 08:38 am »
High school theatre, Matthew. I know for me "tech rehearsal" in high school involved learning to call cues that were already written by the faculty. Most of our tech process was teaching large numbers of students how to push wagons, shuffle props and walk on a rake, though.
51
The Green Room / Re: What Would You do? (Coverage of long-term abuse at a Chicago theatre Co)
« on: Jun 15, 2016, 01:14 am »
One day before their Chicago business license was scheduled to expire, Profiles Theatre has announced that it is closing.
https://www.facebook.com/ProfilesTheatre/posts/1083950601644169
While I really don't like seeing any theatre go permanently dark, this particular event is in some ways a heartening reminder after the madness of the past week that sometimes the good guys win, even if the win is a stopgap measure.
There are definitely some points of concern. Where will Cox wind up working next? Will this bring undue censure of other theater companies that produce the same sort of works that Profiles did? Did a community of extremely dramatic people make a rush to judgment without adequate evidence? Will that house remain active in the Chicago community - a community always lacking in rehearsal and performance space - under a different name?
https://www.facebook.com/ProfilesTheatre/posts/1083950601644169
While I really don't like seeing any theatre go permanently dark, this particular event is in some ways a heartening reminder after the madness of the past week that sometimes the good guys win, even if the win is a stopgap measure.
There are definitely some points of concern. Where will Cox wind up working next? Will this bring undue censure of other theater companies that produce the same sort of works that Profiles did? Did a community of extremely dramatic people make a rush to judgment without adequate evidence? Will that house remain active in the Chicago community - a community always lacking in rehearsal and performance space - under a different name?
52
The Green Room / Re: What Would You do? (Coverage of long-term abuse at a Chicago theatre Co)
« on: Jun 13, 2016, 05:39 pm »
Here's a full summary from the author of the original article on what's happened over the weekend:
http://www.chicagoreader.com/Bleader/archives/2016/06/13/the-statement-is-a-study-in-crisis-management-not-in-our-house-leaders-decline-to-meet-with-darrell-cox-without-an-apology
Summary:
Lots of action. NIOH refused to meet with Cox unless he actually apologizes, which he did not do in his response.
The petition is getting presented at the theatre on Thursday, although their business license expires Wednesday.
Someone impersonating actress Sarah Lasko started making comments on Facebook in support of Cox & Profiles. The real Sarah Lasko stood up and announced that it wasn't her. The fake account was deleted.
Critics from Timeout Chicago and the Tribune have posted their own analyses of their prior reviews of Profiles shows, examining how they encouraged the violence by giving high ratings to lurid production after lurid production.
Two actresses posted their own accounts of what happened - one a survivor, the other who saw nothing.
Bitter Lemons in LA fired their editor in chief after he posted an article blaming Cox's victims for not saying anything until now. BL initially deleted the article but then restored the comments section.
Playwright Penelope Skinner retracted the rights to her script, which had been the next slated work at the company.
The NIOH code of conduct is being examined by non-equity theatres across the city and country.
http://www.chicagoreader.com/Bleader/archives/2016/06/13/the-statement-is-a-study-in-crisis-management-not-in-our-house-leaders-decline-to-meet-with-darrell-cox-without-an-apology
Summary:
Lots of action. NIOH refused to meet with Cox unless he actually apologizes, which he did not do in his response.
The petition is getting presented at the theatre on Thursday, although their business license expires Wednesday.
Someone impersonating actress Sarah Lasko started making comments on Facebook in support of Cox & Profiles. The real Sarah Lasko stood up and announced that it wasn't her. The fake account was deleted.
Critics from Timeout Chicago and the Tribune have posted their own analyses of their prior reviews of Profiles shows, examining how they encouraged the violence by giving high ratings to lurid production after lurid production.
Two actresses posted their own accounts of what happened - one a survivor, the other who saw nothing.
Bitter Lemons in LA fired their editor in chief after he posted an article blaming Cox's victims for not saying anything until now. BL initially deleted the article but then restored the comments section.
Playwright Penelope Skinner retracted the rights to her script, which had been the next slated work at the company.
The NIOH code of conduct is being examined by non-equity theatres across the city and country.
53
The Green Room / Re: What Would You do? (Coverage of long-term abuse at a Chicago theatre Co)
« on: Jun 11, 2016, 05:36 pm »
Jman yours in particular was a voice I wanted to hear in all of this.
Worth considering is the response of Harmony France, who, like you, worked at Profiles and saw none of the reported actions. She is choosing to believe the accusations. I understand the disconnect when the stories don't match your personal evidence.
What matters is gaining the skill to recognize when this sort of thing is happening, especially if it has never happened to you personally. And it sucks because theatre is supposed to be an environment where you can trust people. But even the most benign of shepherds occasionally has to kill a wolf, no matter what they're wearing.
Worth considering is the response of Harmony France, who, like you, worked at Profiles and saw none of the reported actions. She is choosing to believe the accusations. I understand the disconnect when the stories don't match your personal evidence.
What matters is gaining the skill to recognize when this sort of thing is happening, especially if it has never happened to you personally. And it sucks because theatre is supposed to be an environment where you can trust people. But even the most benign of shepherds occasionally has to kill a wolf, no matter what they're wearing.
54
The Green Room / Re: Birth Order
« on: Jun 10, 2016, 04:04 pm »
I'm an only child, complete with peculiar priorities, social awkwardness and a complete inability to deal with children.
55
The Green Room / Re: What Would You do? (Coverage of long-term abuse at a Chicago theatre Co)
« on: Jun 09, 2016, 02:41 pm »
Update: A couple of their former interns have posted comments to the article saying it's accurate. I have had business dealings with one of the authors before and am convinced they're reputable journalists.
The petition I posted in the opener is now approaching 2500 signatures.
A second petition has been started to strip Cox of his Jeff awards, and the Jeff Committee has acknowledged it. It's currently approaching 1000 signatures. https://www.change.org/p/the-joseph-jefferson-awards-committee-joseph-jefferson-awards-committee-revoke-darrell-cox-2003-jeff-win-for-killer-joe
Living somewhere in the middle of "it's just a job" and "the show must go on" is a tough place to be. The story behind the Van Halen "no brown m&ms" urban legend is telling - a tripwire they put in their contracts to ensure their own safety on stage was processed by outsiders to be them acting like divas.
Tempest, I hope you're out of that marriage.
The petition I posted in the opener is now approaching 2500 signatures.
A second petition has been started to strip Cox of his Jeff awards, and the Jeff Committee has acknowledged it. It's currently approaching 1000 signatures. https://www.change.org/p/the-joseph-jefferson-awards-committee-joseph-jefferson-awards-committee-revoke-darrell-cox-2003-jeff-win-for-killer-joe
Living somewhere in the middle of "it's just a job" and "the show must go on" is a tough place to be. The story behind the Van Halen "no brown m&ms" urban legend is telling - a tripwire they put in their contracts to ensure their own safety on stage was processed by outsiders to be them acting like divas.
Tempest, I hope you're out of that marriage.
56
The Green Room / What Would You do? (Coverage of long-term abuse at a Chicago theatre Co)
« on: Jun 08, 2016, 08:10 pm »
The Chicago Reader is a free weekly newspaper, long known for its in-depth coverage of matters often neglected by bigger media outlets. This week's cover story is a lengthy account of a psychopathic, abusive actor/director at Profiles Theatre, a storefront non-equity house in the city.
I encourage you to have a read. IMHO this article should be required reading for all SMs and future SMs. What would you do if this guy was on your show? Have you ever worked with someone like this? I know we have former Profiles SMs on here - is the article accurate? (You can Dear Abby your replies if you like.)
http://www.chicagoreader.com/chicago/profiles-theatre-theater-abuse-investigation/Content?oid=22415861
Join the #NotinOurHouse movement to create an abuse-free code of conduct for Chicago non-union theatres: http://www.notinourhouse.org/
Sign the petition to oust the offending persons from Profiles Theatre: https://www.change.org/p/the-board-of-directors-of-profiles-theatre-profiles-theatre-end-your-relationship-with-darrell-cox-and-joe-jahraus
I encourage you to have a read. IMHO this article should be required reading for all SMs and future SMs. What would you do if this guy was on your show? Have you ever worked with someone like this? I know we have former Profiles SMs on here - is the article accurate? (You can Dear Abby your replies if you like.)
http://www.chicagoreader.com/chicago/profiles-theatre-theater-abuse-investigation/Content?oid=22415861
Join the #NotinOurHouse movement to create an abuse-free code of conduct for Chicago non-union theatres: http://www.notinourhouse.org/
Sign the petition to oust the offending persons from Profiles Theatre: https://www.change.org/p/the-board-of-directors-of-profiles-theatre-profiles-theatre-end-your-relationship-with-darrell-cox-and-joe-jahraus
57
Students and Novice Stage Managers / Re: Master Cue Sheet
« on: Jun 08, 2016, 04:19 pm »
The only times I can see a Master Cue Sheet being useful:
- Your PM doesn't think you are capable of doing your job and wants to micromanage
- You're working on a piece with no script or anything else to serve as a prompt book
- You're handing off a show to an SM who doesn't speak your language
Careful of doing unnecessary paperwork just because you think it should exist.
- Your PM doesn't think you are capable of doing your job and wants to micromanage
- You're working on a piece with no script or anything else to serve as a prompt book
- You're handing off a show to an SM who doesn't speak your language
Careful of doing unnecessary paperwork just because you think it should exist.
59
Tools of the Trade / Re: Scooped Ice Cream on stage
« on: May 26, 2016, 05:51 am »
Does it have to be eaten? How long does it have to be on stage before scooping? Does it need to look good in a cone, or can it vanish below the rim of a dish before serving? Do people have to dance with it?
60
Students and Novice Stage Managers / Re: Stage Management Guide - Thank You
« on: May 09, 2016, 10:14 pm »
Thanks very much for sharing this with us, and for the SMNet shout out on the last page! <3