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.