Natural Disaster vs. Rehearsal?

[katiejo]

Hey, this is my first post so I figured I'd introduce myself and then ask my question. My name is Katie and I'm a Senior at Minnesota State University Moorhead. I am a technical theatre major and just got into stage management recently. Currently, I am Production Stage Manager for "The Producers", which opens April 22.

My question involves some explanation: If you haven't been watching the news, Fargo/Moorhead has been fighting a record flood by the Red River. We had our Spring Break March 16-20 so rehearsal was on hold until the 22nd. Because of the flood fight, classes were cancelled day by day for the full week after that. We had rehearsal Sunday the 22nd, then Monday and Tuesday. Our director lives close to the river and thousands of volunteers were still needed, so rehearsal was cancelled for the rest of the week. On Friday, I evacuated my basement apartment and the students of MSUM were all asked to evacuate and the dorms are now closed until April 5th. Classes will resume again on April 6th. It is now Sunday, March 29 and the director texted me, saying he wanted to have rehearsal tonight. The SM, ASM, and Assistant to the Director are all out of town. Half the cast was evacuated from the dorms. I can't even get back into Fargo because of some road closures. He has decided to rehearse with a small group of people, without me. He told me they will be blocking some of Act II, but I doubt anyone will be there to take any notes.

How do I deal with a director who doesn’t care if his stage manager is present at rehearsal or not? Isn't the safety and wellness of the cast and crew more important than rehearsal in a time like this? Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks
-Katie

[planetmike]

Hmm, I'd guess the dates for the actual production are set in stone due to the school's academic calendar, so moving the opening night back a week or so isn't possible? Is the rehearsal location "safe" or is it near a region that may receive flooding? Have you kept in touch with the cast and crew during this time? I can sense the director getting antsy over losing at least two weeks of rehearsals only four weeks from opening. Can you encourage the cast to be entirely off book by April 6th, if they aren't already? Good luck, stay safe.

[KMC]

Welcome to SMNet, Katie!  Sorry your introduction couldn't be under better circumstances.  I hope your family and friends are all safe.

Well certainly this would fall under the "extenuating circumstances" category.  I personally think it's okay for the director to rehearse with whatever group he could assemble (provided said group was safe and any personal responsibilities like family or property were not compromised by going to rehearsal).  That's a lot of rehearsal time to lose.  In this case it's most likely going to be more beneficial to the production as a whole for him to get what he can done and you and the others to play catch up when you return.  If half the cast is gone, he likely won't be able to get a lot done anyhow.

[sievep]

Hey Katie,

First and foremost, welcome to SMNetwork.org, . . . I hope you'll find this site continually useful beyond the current situation.

As for the situation at hand, I can understand your director not wanting to lose rehearsal time.  If this is a university sponsored event and the university is closed due to a  natural disaster, then yes, I think you have a valid point.  This may not be the most popular opinion, but I actually wouldn't sweat not being able to be there yourself . . .but these rehearsals are going to be dangerous (because of the flooding) and pointless if no one can come and they are not staffed properly.  Is there a Head of the Department you can reach about this director?  

As much as we may not like to give up so early in the process, it may be worth canceling the production, or if you choose to continue a structured plan should be created rather than shooting in the dark at random scenes which will eventually become a jumbled mess and impossible to keep track of.  Losing two full weeks is pretty major, and it may be possible to move forward, or it may be time to pull the plug and focus on what really is important right now.  Sometimes we get so focused on our jobs we forget the world around us, and your director seems to have lost touch a bit.

My point is:

1)  Evaluate if moving forward with the project is possible

2)  Try to make sure rehearsals aren't happening until it's productive and safe to do so.

3)  Make sure the rehearsal period is highly planned . . .be flexible when things don't go as planned, but go in with a plan.

4)  If rehearsal is happening without you, just make sure you talk to the director after the rehearsal to keep up to speed, take blocking down as soon as you are present.

Hope this helps . . . keep us posted!

[NomieRae]

I agree with the above posters that it's not the best of circumstances, but it might be the best you can do right now.

Another idea to throw in the mix--is there another school near your campus where you might be able to relocate for some rehearsals? I'm not sure if more of your cast/crew is based in MN or ND, but maybe if a school nearby safe from the flooding concerns (which from what I hear is nowhere in ND..) would be willing to cough up some dorm space and a room to rehearse until it's safe to return? I remember doing this in Minot, ND when we had the anydrous ammonia accident.

On a sidenote, I'm from the F-M area originally (now living in NYC) and remember sleepless nights in 1997 wondering how we were ever going to save that town. Watching the community rally in the wake of another monumental flood makes me so damn proud to be from the area.

[katiejo]

Thanks so much for replying! We cannot cancel the show. We've spent too much money and put in too much time already. We're renting half the set from Minneapolis and it's already paid for. The cast is awesome and I know they can step it up and learn the show in a few weeks. Plus, it's a pretty easy show to block. The hardest part is the choreography. As for going to the department chair about this director - he IS the department chair. The problem isn't the rehearsal space either, the campus is one of the highest places in town, so it's safe. Trying to get to campus may prove to be a problem, with sandbag trucks driving around and 7" of snow still lingering on the roads from last week's winter storm. I was mostly wondering how bad it is that I'm not there and the director doesn't seem to care? Also, I forgot to mention, this is my Senior Project, along with some research, but doing the show is the biggest part. I received an email from the director with the rehearsal schedule for this week. He wants to call the entire 31 person cast Wednesday and Thursday but dorms don't open again until April 5th. Personally, I think it's pointless teaching something to the few people that could show up and have to re-teach it to everyone else later. I guess I just have to take things day by day and take as many notes as I can when I get back...

-Katie

[ScooterSM]

One thing to check in making your decision is whether there has been a "state of emergency" declared.  This decision is usually made by the governor, and is different than a "snow emergency".  If there is a state of emergency, it is against the law to be on the roads except for emergencies unless you are a first responder (or sometimes goverment worker, depending on the state).
If this is the case in ND or MN, the school cannot legally ask anyone who doesn't live on campus to be at rehearsal.  This also means that your grade can't be affected by not going to rehearsal.
As for whether you should try to go anyway, there are several different factors to consider.  Your personal safety is first and foremost.  No show or grade is worth your safety.  The wellbeing of your colleagues (cast/crew/etc) is also something to think about.  As a student, you won't have a lot of success telling a department head what he should or shouldn't do, but you can give him factual information that may help him make a good decision.  Info like how many hours it will take to restage scenes with anyone who couldn't attend the first time, the weather forecast for more snow/rain, what the city and state goverments are recommending for peoples safety, who would or would not be available (performers/choreographer/crew) if he did choose to have rehearsals without you.
If you give him this info and he still chooses to have rehearsal, trust your judgement.  Although we frequently feel the opposite, the world will not end if we don't make it to rehearsal, especially in times of emergency.  Document your conversations and your reasons for not being able to be there, know that you will probably have to work twice as hard when you return, and be available as much as possible by phone or email.  That is the most you can do.  Theatre has survived fires, floods, earthquakes, and every other natural disaster possible, and it is not worth you putting yourself in danger.  Think of it as "the show will go on" versus "the show must go on".

Good luck with this very difficult decision! (and welcome to the boards!)

SSM

[stagebear]

Hi Katie.

I just moved back to Fargo this last summer, so I know what you're going through. Right now, you have to remember that the schools are closed and the students have been asked to leave capus. As such, the school would not be happy if rehearsals were conducted during this time. You should have a discussion regarding this. Right now, both cities are in alert/high alert mode esp with the blizzard.

In saying that, you could make some suggestions on asking people to do "homework" to come back ready to be completely off book. Also, you could recommend making a heavier rehearsal schedule when classes are back in session - figuring out who/which small groups can rehearse during the day and focus the evening rehearsals on bigger groups.

The best thing is to stay strong with the director (although there are lines as you are a student). Let him know that the school is closed and therefore all activities are cancelled, but also offer any help you can give in getting individual schedules and coming up with some solutions.

I'm in town, so if you ever need anything, just let me know.

(The director isn't Craig by chance?)

[smejs]

To keep folks up to date, the Managing Director is a friend of mine and has been posting shop hour information to her students online.   She wrote, "It was announce a little while ago the campus will be closed on Tuesday due to the weather. This is different than classes being canceled. It means no one can be at MSUM tomorrow. Yes the shop will be closed. "

So there are considerations being made to emergency laws (at least on the shop end)...

We do need to remember we're only getting one person's point of view here.  Meanwhile, I wouldn't take it personally if they are able to get some rehearsals together and you can't be there.  It's trying to cope logistically with whatever they can get, and as much as we like to think so, a stage manager is not the be-all, end-all to the production, especially when you're dealing with acts of God.

My opinion, of course.  And that's someone who really does tend to think the stage manager is very crucial to being at everything.  But in this case your own safety and logistics come first.

[ChaCha]

I think if the Director wants to rehearse with a few people that is fine. Think about his process and requirements for a minute.  Maybe he dosent want to lose touch with the material. Blocking out some scenes on a few warm bodies may still help him think things through and try out ideas. Time spent developing ideas, even those that get rejected later are rarely wasted hours by a bigger picture definition of wasted - it all adds depth and layers to the eventual staging that makes it to opening night.  Assuming safety etc is covered for those participating, then I think you are just wasting energy  if you try to prevent it happen or fret about it happening. Think yourself into a supportive frame of mind and let go. I am sure a Head of Department DOES care that you are not there and that he and the cast and the process are not being supported by stage management. It just isnt his highest priority to work in that way  at this time or to communicate that to you. This is not about you in his mind.


Then lets think about you. Sometimes projects are well under way before a stage manager comes on board - it shouldnt be that way but it sometimes happens. As the stage manager you cope. You come on board and you catch up. You ask questions and you work hard. You accept that sometimes you will then trip over information known to those who were at earlier rehearsals and you just deal with that as best you can. Clearly this is not how any stage manager likes to work. But sometimes that is just how it is. Maybe this is going to be one of those times. So now stop thinking about how it 'should' be and work out strategies for ameliorating the circumstances you are facing. Maybe ask someone who is there/the director to keep you posted on the work that gets done/ issues that are raised, etc

Force be with you. Be gentle on the director AND yourself.
ChaCha

PS. On re-reading my post I think I sound a bit dictatorial -sorry - I wrote it when on a teabreak from a time management seminar! I do stand by the remarks but they are only intended as a possible take/suggested alternate view on the situation. Also I wanted to add a "welcome Katie!" to my post. Good to have you with us

[stagebear]

I just want to reiterate that the campus is closed - officials asked the students to leave for the week. This isn't just a winter storm, this is a record flood and a blizzard on top of it that is going to test our dikes. National officials (who don't know the will of Fargo-Moorhead) suggested that we evacuate the cities.

While I usually say push through and get things done if you can, the cities have asked that businesses stay closed for the second week and that people don't travel on the streets. So in this case, I wouldn't ask anyone to come in for a rehearsal.

Sorry to voice my opinion strongly, but I'm here and I know what the conditions are like. Don't risk anyone's safety while the cities are basically shut down.

[katiejo]

Thanks again everyone! I've been reading all your posts and keeping everything in mind. I actually don't think the campus is closed (except for today...) just that classes are cancelled. The staff has been asked to come in and work this week if possible. I do think the students shouldn't have to drive all the way to campus when they are asking people for no unneccessary travel in town. I talked to the Assistant Director and she is back in town and can take some notes for me until I get back, so I'm not quite as worried. I will keep you updated on how the show goes.

-Katie

And yes, the director is Craig...

[katiejo]

Update: contrary to what I believe/want (which happens to not matter so much since I'm a student), we are postponing our production of "The Producers". We are having a "Follies" type show on April 30th featuring some scenes and numbers from "The Producers" and we will actually perform it as the first show in our summer stock program, Straw Hat Players. Everyone is still guarenteed their roles, whether or not they are in Straw Hat.

This makes me sad

-Katie