Stage Management Discussions - TheatreFace

Automated Prop Question

2016-02-01T14:45:15.778Z

Hello all.

I'm a Auditorium Technician for my local school district. The Drama Club is doing "Seussical" this year.

I have been tasked to build and deploy an egg, that at the end of the Act, will hatch on it's own.

The egg is to be at least 12" tall, and then opened (cracked) in a barndoor style manner facing the audience, that will then reveal the 'elephant-bird' inside.

Making the egg isn't the problem... paper mache' style perhaps. It's the function of opening the egg that gets me. Sure, I can take apart a R/C car and reinvent the gears... but wondering if there are other alternatives.

Thanks.

Cue Lights...Do you use them?

2011-12-03T17:06:17.015Z

I have been discussing cue lights in our stage management class quite a bit lately...

How many of you use them in your theatre?

What department cues so you use them for?

Is your system store-bought or shop-built?

Thanks for sharing!

Stage Combat and Stage Management...

2011-09-30T17:21:24.417Z

I teach a course in Stage Management and advise Management teams for our university's production program. I tell my students that the more familiar they become with a variety of performing arts skills the more marketable they will be in the "World".

One of the skill sets that I put out there is Stage Combat and Theatrical Firearm Safety. The Winter Wonderland and Movement and Combat Education (MaCE) is offering an intensive workshop ( http://preview.tinyurl.com/4x2z4hq ) in Chicago to help stage managers work with shows that demand stage violence.

I think it sounds great and I will be there...What do all of you think about the topic? Good? Bad? Ugly?

Thanks,

Stage Managment Class question #5

2011-03-21T01:42:33.852Z

Hello Everyone! Thank you once again for all your great answers. Here is my last question from the class.

As a Stage Manager, have you ever had to deal with an emergency during a production (ie, cast/crew/patron injury, technical malfunction)? Would you be willing to share details of the emergency and how you dealt with it? Is there anything you would have done differently to handle or potentially lessen the impact of the emergency?

Stage Managment Class question # 4

2011-03-10T23:49:07.162Z

Hello fellow group members,

Thank you for those who bee following and responding to my class questions. Here is group number 4 :

4a. If there is a problem between two or more members of the production team, ie, cast, crew, management, etc., how do you attempt to deal with it.

4b. How do you note cues in your prompt script? Letters? Numbers? Figures? What is your syntax for *calling* cues? Do you give warnings and or standbys?

Stage Manager class question 3

2011-02-22T03:04:53.382Z

Thank you for those that have been responding to the past questions! Here is question # 3.

3a. What type of relationship to you try to forge with your cast? Boss/task master or friend/confidant, or somewhere in between. Why do you do this?

3b. What method do you use to mark blocking in your prompt script? Why did you choose this method?

Can't wait to see what you all say!

Kayla

How to keep respect?

2011-02-10T05:05:13.071Z

I'm the youngest person on the Production Team I work with by far. I have been stage manager for a couple different shows with this group, but none to the scale I am working now. We are doing "Jesus Christ Superstar". We have an 81 man cast. This would not be a problem except that some of the younger actors know me from outside theatre and think it is ok to joke, annoy, poke, shove, talk smack, act big, and most importantly, hit the delete key when I step away from my laptop while I am working on the rehearsal report. I am friends with these people so I have brushed it off a little. Our production crew is really close and people see us joke with each other at times, but the actors who think they can joke with me are getting out of control. Worst of all, it is starting to spread. Originally, it was just a small group of 2 or 3. It is getting to be 7 or 8. That is 10% of the cast who won't respect me. What can I do to get them to understand that during rehearsals and the show, "WE ARE NOT FRIENDS!!! I am in charge, and they will respect me or they will leave." Suggestions please!!!!

Stage manager class question 2

2011-01-27T17:34:39.793Z

Thanks again for those that took part with question(s) one. Here is question(s) two.

2a. Do you still use a “Stage manager’s kit” (ie, a container with sundries, supplies, etc.)? If yes, what are some of the more interesting items in your kit? If no, why not?

2b. What position/person do you interact with MOST during the rehearsal process(pre-opening) and why? Is there a position / person that you wish you had MORE time to work with during the rehearsal process(pre-opening) and why.

-Kayla

Stage Manager question one

2011-01-21T21:48:50.434Z

Hey everyone, this is the starting point of the discussion if you want to talk part. If you have more questions about this process just let me know! I will try to give you an I deal on what area we are focusing in class on to ease any question/confusion.

This group we where talking about what makes a good SM, Supplies, Charts, and Forms. Below is the questions we came up with in class.

1a. What are the three most important traits that a professional stage manager needs to possess and why?

1b. What are your 3 most indispensible forms that you use daily and why?

1c. What are your 3 most indispensible tools you use on a daily basis and why?

I need fake snow

2010-09-24T06:08:46.685Z

I am stage managing a Christmas show this season at my local theatre, and need to know how to make, where to buy, or what I could get for fake snow. They need to be made into snowballs, and They have to break apart like they would in a snowball fight. Any suggestions?