Author Topic: First time stage managing. Mixed feelings. Tips?  (Read 5819 times)

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BrenCitlalli

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First time stage managing. Mixed feelings. Tips?
« on: Dec 22, 2009, 09:08 pm »
Hi, my name is Brenda.
I am a 4 year tech in my senioryear of High school.
I also started Advanced theatre towards the end of last year.

We just ended our auditions and posted our cast list for
Grease.
 
I have a very wonderful theatre teacher, Mr. Peters, who has become
much like a second father to me. I have become a strong
person in both sides of the curtain, and was faced with a dilemna the day
the cast list was put up. We had had barely enough boys to fill the parts, and
an outrageous number of girls for the 8-10 (?) parts in Grease.  .

The day the cast list was put up, a few hours before actually, Mr. Peters pulled me aside and asked me
that ultimately the choice was up to me.  Marty onstage, or stage manager backstage.
You have to understand that when it comes to my mentors, I will do what they NEED me to do, not what I WANT.
I told him I would do what he needed me to do the most. He said he hoped I wouldn't regret it and went back to typing up
the cast list.

I got stage manager. Part of me will always regret it, since this is my last High school musical, and last time I was just in chorus. But part of me is eager to show what I can do since, I've never had a high position backstage since I was the youngest tech the last time I was backstage for a musical.

I'm very much eager to here what I should be prepared to deal with. I don't have the script yet, but would like tips on prepaparing. We are in winter break right now, and will be back January 4th. Thank you very much! Sorry, I babbled!


ChaCha

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Re: First time stage managing. Mixed feelings. Tips?
« Reply #1 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
ChaCha

BrenCitlalli

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Re: First time stage managing. Mixed feelings. Tips?
« Reply #2 on: Dec 24, 2009, 02:15 pm »
Thank you so much, your response calmed me down quite a bit.
I appreciate your advice very much, I'm going to start looking right away. :-)

GuildGirl6

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Re: First time stage managing. Mixed feelings. Tips?
« Reply #3 on: Dec 29, 2009, 12:43 pm »
Hi Brenda!

I kind of understand where you're coming from, because the same thing happened to me this summer. A few things I would suggest doing to be prepared would be to first talk to Mr. Peters and find out what he expects of you. Sometimes lines can get blurred in high school on who does what (I'm dealing with it all the time at my high school), so it couldn't hurt to talk to him.

My next suggestion would be to get everyone's contact information and make sure that everyone has yours. Seems obvious, but you'd be suprised at who has your phone number and who doesn't.

Last thing, make sure you make a master calendar of conflicts, and continually update it. It will be priceless when trying to figure out if someone is skipping rehearsal or had it planned.

I hope your show goes well, and definitely don't be afraid to ask questions on this website. It's saved my butt several times, and helps keep my sanity :)

~Kelly
Number of previous SMed shows: 0
# of Band Aids used: 29
Amount of sleep lost: severe
Days of working w/o power: 8
# of tech days before opening: 3
Level of fear felt: intense
Hearing from the director that he is unbelieveably proud of you: Priceles

BrenCitlalli

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Re: First time stage managing. Mixed feelings. Tips?
« Reply #4 on: Jan 16, 2010, 10:20 pm »
Thank you all SO much.
I am loving it so far.
I've gotten a lot of sweet compliments
from the directors, and the cast.
I'm taking everything you say and applying it.
It's been a great help.
Again, many thanks.  :)