Week 14: Correspondence

Hello! I forgot to blog last week. Apologies. Hope everyone had a good Thanksgiving!

The chapter for this week is on correspondence. A stage manager does not write much correspondence, but it is nice for them to write things like a letter of advice for the next stage manager. I was lucky enough to have a previous stage manager around if I had any particular questions, but in a professional environment, this is not always the case, so a letter helps. It is also beneficial for stage managers to write themselves critiques, so they can always improve on their work, as well as letters of recommendation for those they worked with who did a great job. As a stage manager for one college show...I will probably be writing none of these things. But I do plan on being around next semester to impart any stage manager wisdom necessary to those who follow me. Like whoever I get to stage manager my senior show...

Speaking of my senior show...that's a thing that is happening! I had auditions and I cast my show and we had our first read-through and I know pretty much what my set's going to look like and these things are all EXCITING which is why this is a RUN-ON SENTENCE. I look forward to more adventures and good times on this show if I do not lose my sanity the same way I lost my scripts...

See you next week. I hope.

Week 12: Closing and Moving/Touring

It's hard to believe A Man for All Seasons is done. Finito. No more. The show ran great! We had wonderful audiences for all four shows, and aside from a small technical mishap or two, the performances went off without a hitch. Strike, which followed Saturday night's performance, was highly efficient. Although it seems impossible, the set from A Man for All Seasons is now completely gone. All the various costumes and props are back in their places, and the stage is clear once more. Crazy.

This week, I read about closing a show in my textbook. The section most relevant to me was on strike, which can help act as emotional closure for the cast at the end of the play experience. Other sections in the book which were not so applicable were on how to manage a show as it moves on tour from one city to another. In closing and touring, as with all other aspects of stage management, it is important to be organized and ahead of the game as much as possible.

It seems impossible, but now it's time for me to focus on my senior show. Scary, but exciting... :)

Week 11: Performance Week!

LO, THE WEEK IS UPON US.

Yes, this is the week for which we've all been waiting. I had to write that sentence three times to get rid of the end preposition. This, my friends, is performance week. The curtain on A Man for All Seasons goes up this Thursday night, at 7:00pm. If you are at all capable of being in attendance at some point this weekend, I suggest you do so because this show is going to be awesome.

The set is now complete, but for perhaps another coat of paint or so. Costumes, Lights, Props, Sound, etc. are all nearing completion as well. Over the next few nights, we will see everything finally slot into place for the wonderful production that is about to happen.

I apologize if this sounds rambly and silly. I wrote a paper tonight and I'm running on very little sleep.

I'm also very excited for this play.

Week 10: Keeping the Show in Hand

Wow! It's hard to believe it's already been ten weeks of school and working on the show!

This week, I read chapter 15 in my book, which covered keeping the show in hand during a long run. While A Man for all Seasons will only be running for four performances, there are still many tips in the chapter that were helpful. The most useful section was on cast morale. I especially related to the discussion of the second-performance slump, which is the natural downturn in energy after the excitement and adrenaline of opening night.

In tech, we have hung another of the tudor half-arches, and we also now have a poster for the show, which has been placed around the campus. We are starting technical rehearsals this week, for which I am very excited. We've scheduled a photoshoot with the campus photographer. I am so excited to see this show coming together!

Week 9: Working with the House Manager

Another week, another blog entry. This week I read about how to coordinate duties with the house manager. These duties generally include ensuring the comfort of the audience members before, during, and after the show. It is important for the stage and house managers to confer about who will be responsible for what duties. The house manager is usually responsible for turning the show over to the stage manager, and would make the call to hold the start of the show for various reasons. The house manager is also in charge of things like reservations and keeping the theater (and sidewalks outside) clean and safe for things like emergency exits.

This week in tech, I did some work on a poster for A Man for All Seasons. It won't end up getting used, as someone else is designing a poster for the show, but it was interesting to play with the design elements of the poster. I also worked some more with props, and worked to coordinate more fittings with the costume designer. More work was done this week in set and lighting; those areas should come together very soon. We are a few weeks away from the show, and it's going to take a push, but I think all the elements will come together to make a great show.

Week 8: Running the Technical Rehearsal and Running the Show

It's the end of fall break, and we're one week closer to opening night!

This week I read about Running Technical Rehearsal and Running the Show. These are the areas where the stage manager really takes the reins of the show. Tech Rehearsal is an important time at which the cast's hard work comes together with the hard work of the crew. Technical elements are laid in and perfected so the final show can look and sound its best. I also read about running the show, which for me will consist mostly of calling cues for lighting and sound effects. It's important for the stage manager to pay attention to the show so these cues can go as planned, making the show the best that it can be.

This week in technical work, the set crew finished constructing the ramp which is the main feature of the set. It is really great to have the ramp and stairs in practice now and the cast are making great use of it. I also designed the tickets we will use for all of our shows, and they will hopefully be printed tomorrow when school resumes.

See you next week!

Week 7: Department Management and Property Management

Welcome back to my fabulous stage management blog!

This week I read chapter ten in my book, which covered Department Management and Property Management. The book's brief section on Department Management encouraged stage managers to interact with department heads, discussing progress and problems they encounter. For the Jewell Theatre Company, this translates to meetings at the beginning and end of each of our workdays, where our workers talk about tasks they have and what they have accomplished. The chapter also discussed managing props, which I am currently doing since we don't have anyone taking the practicum for it.

I spent most of this week working on props for A Man for All Seasons. I also had the chance to write an editorial for the campus paper about the theatre department and the fall show. In other departments, costumes had more fittings while the costume designer was away. We also painted the arches we had assembled so far, and hung the first one on the back of the proscenium. It looks really awesome!

We'll have a short workweek this week because of fall break, but I'm confident we'll be able to keep moving forward. I'll be back to blog again next week!