Messages

31

The Green Room / Re: One of those funny cartoons

« on: Jan 07, 2011, 07:39 pm »

I just find it evokes the feeling of trying to get past Q1 at tech so well!
Of course I think that the problem is usually the LX Designer or the crew or the director, not the perfect in every way stage manager....

32

The Green Room / Re: One of those funny cartoons

« on: Jan 07, 2011, 10:27 am »

LOL. It got me in the end so many memories...

33

College and Graduate Studies / Re: Masters Degree in Austraila

« on: Dec 30, 2010, 12:26 am »

We don't really have the same academic pathways as you do in the US for Stage Management and I am not familiar with any MA courses in the subject but if you want to do it in stage management then I'd suggest looking at The West Australian Academy of Performing Arts ( part of Edith Cowan University) here in Perth, the Victorian College of the Arts (VCA) part of Melbourne University or the National Institute of Performing Art (NIDA) which is a federally funded place in Sydney. these are teh top three training schools for SMt so i assume they would be the best places for an MA. If you want to to arts management then the field widens a little - look at Adelaide perhaps.
have to go but that might get you started.

34

The Green Room / Re: show us your booth!

« on: Jun 09, 2010, 12:57 pm »

Ruth. Its so new and tidy looking! ( I was not a neat stage manager I conclude!)

35

The Green Room / Re: Vacation Suggestions

« on: Jun 09, 2010, 10:56 am »

Valetta

36

Students and Novice Stage Managers / Re: How Many times have you stage managed?

« on: May 22, 2010, 05:24 am »

I will have to think about this one and get back to you. Not really because I have done so many shows, just I have few brain cells... not sure I even have any way of working it outr since I stoped listing every show on my CV...

37

The Green Room / Re: Thread to vent about / Actors behaving badly / As haiku only

« on: Mar 23, 2010, 09:28 am »

If you want to see
Some "method stage managing"
Put the props away.

very funny!

38

Students and Novice Stage Managers / Re: New Stage Manager- New Show- International Tour

« on: Mar 15, 2010, 10:29 am »

Can you tell us a bit more about the scale of the show, the kind of venue you will perform in and if you are just doing one venue in turkey or several? That might help me give some more specificallyh useful advice.
Also I assume you have a production manager or tour manager or are you going to be doing those roles too?
How exciting for you do be doing a world premiere and a world tour!

39

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: Actors wanting more info, but can't process what they already have?

« on: Mar 11, 2010, 06:46 am »

Sounds tricky.
I was wondering wether they have some sort of hard copy overall schedule - a 'tour bible' if you will? Even a weekly version perhaps, containing all the things you are putting in the nightgly email but a week at a time. Maybe if they had something in their hot little hands they would feel more 'informed'?

40

Stage Management: Other / Re: Award Ceremonies

« on: Mar 08, 2010, 08:32 am »

I worked on the Australian Film Industry Awards night once ( as ASM). I ended up spending the whole night crouched UNDER the stage, under the MC position - dont ask! Thank god my production manager felt guilty enough about doing this to me at the last minute that he insisted the TV people gave me a monitor so I could at least watch it. However during the rehearsal before I was banished it was quite fascinating to observe. the TV people sort of doubled all the normal theatre roles. the traditional theatre SM team was basically responsible for getting people to the stage and having all the theatre crew etc ready to go, but a TV floor manager type was actually dictating the cueing as it all had to run to live TV broadcast time. The theatre SM was almost a liasion between the TV staff and everyone else.

I do remember doing an extreme amount of double checking that all The Envelopes were there and in the right order! Also  during the preproduction i was asked to find some 'trolly dolly' candidates... main requirement...be able to wear expensive designer dress and totter across the floor looking pretty....


Aside from all this, the catering was FANTASTIC!

41

The Green Room / Re: How do you "play?"

« on: Mar 08, 2010, 06:16 am »

I like to bury myself in the garden shed and melt glass. I make glass beads (lampwork), which is extremely relaxing as you cant think about anything else when melting glass. More active contenders - gardening or beachcombing.

42

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: REHEARSALS: prompting requests around the world

« on: Dec 31, 2009, 12:22 am »

while we do have some special Australian theatrical terms ( Bump in and out, chookas, etc) as far as I know we have nothing special when calling for lines. Where I worked (Black Swan, Playbox, etc) as a theatre stage manager 'line' was the usual request. Though I have come across the finger snapping and "yes?" was quite common. Bollocks is a new one on me though Matthew! The hardest is when they just stop talking and look at you - OK if you are looking at them instead of at your script, notes, director, props table, asm....

43

Students and Novice Stage Managers / Re: First time stage managing. Mixed feelings. Tips?

« on: Dec 23, 2009, 12:01 am »

Hi Brenda and welcome to SM Network.
Good for you! Even if this is your last school musical you can always get back onstage later through community groups and it sounds like your teachers really need you as an SM. You will find heaps of info on this site - try using the search function for specific questions - but you will also be able to get plenty of help from the network as you work out what your detailed questions are. Its a bit hard for us to give general tips because stage management covers so many different areas

However its a good idea to get as familiar as you can with the script and the score as soon as you recieve it, and there is plenty you can do to prepare paperwork etc in advance. I am sure there are some threads on 'pre-production' requirements somewhere on the boards and there are LOTS of great templates for just about everything in the examples of paperwork board.

Also maybe some people who have done Grease will have some specific ideas relating to tricky costume changes, props etc.

Have a great break and enjoy the show from a different angle - even if you return to acting as preference this will help you be a better actor as you will understand more about the process of creating theatre. Congrats on being someone your teacher can rely on!
Cheers
ChaCha

44

Students and Novice Stage Managers / Re: How does one become a Broadway Stage Manager?

« on: Dec 08, 2009, 08:24 pm »

http://smnetwork.org/forum/index.php/topic,2995.0.html

Hi Hopeful
The link above will take you to a big thread on shadowing. Good luck!
ChaCha

45

Stage Management: Plays & Musicals / Re: Who is organizing your promotional appearances?

« on: Nov 29, 2009, 10:08 am »

I would expect the Company Manager ( if there was one) or certainly the PR/marketing person to both provide info on the event or publicity call and to attend it with the artist. I would expect the stage manager to pass on information provided and to remind the artist to attend.I dont believe the stage manager should be attending except if some tech assistance was required ( photo call onstage  or in costume etc) or you have been specially asked to deputise for the PR person for some particular reason. I personally think that under most circumstances an artist should never be left to attend a PR call alone for a variety of reasons.