Show weekends
I've been in a theatre literally every weekend of 2012 (so far). I enjoy it. You can't have day jobs and then do theatre at night/weekends/free-time without having a least a small small good time. One downside though. No fun weekend time with Jeff.
My time at the theatre has a lot of ritual. When I arrive for a show, the first thing I do is drop my bags off at the stage manger's table in the back of the room. I'm a bag lady. Purse, lunch bag, and large bag to carry my script binder, notebook, and other essentials (like Kindle, water bottle, and cell phone charger). If the director/asst director is there, there may be some conversation about the night before. Regardless, the next step is sweeping. The scene shop is usually locked; I take my keys with me almost everywhere pre-show. I use a large push broom to sweep. I always push the dirt, dust, and general grime into two corners of the stage. Sweeping takes just a few minutes. Next: mopping.
As a stage manager, there are a few important things I can do to contribute to the "artistic" side. One is giving line, blocking, and acting notes that preserve the integrity of the show. Acting notes normally involve timing. If an actor starts drawing out pauses, adding things, it's in my job description to call them out on it. Another thing I can do is mop. Helps keep the set is nice condition, and keeps the floor clean for any actors who get to roll around on it. There's not much rolling in Disney's Beauty & the Beast, Jr.., so it's mostly to keep the painted floor clean.
Mopping makes me calm. I always mop in swirly shapes. It takes 5-10 minutes to do the full stage. Our theatre is pretty small- holds about 120 people with this particular seating configuration. Confession: I think I've mopped that stage floor more than I've mopped my own kitchen floor.
After mopping, my time becomes flexible. If I start early, then I might have 45 minutes to myself before vocal warmups, time to read, tweet, play phone games (like tonight), etc. Vocal warmups are 15 minutes before the house opens. After vocal warmups I watch the clock obsessively. Every minute matters, especially the last 10 minutes before curtain. When the show starts, I have about 5 minutes of concentration. Then I relax during the group song. The show has a strange flow. Being in three quarter round means there aren't as many light shifts as in traditional proscenium staging. I still sigh and smile during the title number.
My time at the theatre has a lot of ritual. When I arrive for a show, the first thing I do is drop my bags off at the stage manger's table in the back of the room. I'm a bag lady. Purse, lunch bag, and large bag to carry my script binder, notebook, and other essentials (like Kindle, water bottle, and cell phone charger). If the director/asst director is there, there may be some conversation about the night before. Regardless, the next step is sweeping. The scene shop is usually locked; I take my keys with me almost everywhere pre-show. I use a large push broom to sweep. I always push the dirt, dust, and general grime into two corners of the stage. Sweeping takes just a few minutes. Next: mopping.
As a stage manager, there are a few important things I can do to contribute to the "artistic" side. One is giving line, blocking, and acting notes that preserve the integrity of the show. Acting notes normally involve timing. If an actor starts drawing out pauses, adding things, it's in my job description to call them out on it. Another thing I can do is mop. Helps keep the set is nice condition, and keeps the floor clean for any actors who get to roll around on it. There's not much rolling in Disney's Beauty & the Beast, Jr.., so it's mostly to keep the painted floor clean.
Mopping makes me calm. I always mop in swirly shapes. It takes 5-10 minutes to do the full stage. Our theatre is pretty small- holds about 120 people with this particular seating configuration. Confession: I think I've mopped that stage floor more than I've mopped my own kitchen floor.
After mopping, my time becomes flexible. If I start early, then I might have 45 minutes to myself before vocal warmups, time to read, tweet, play phone games (like tonight), etc. Vocal warmups are 15 minutes before the house opens. After vocal warmups I watch the clock obsessively. Every minute matters, especially the last 10 minutes before curtain. When the show starts, I have about 5 minutes of concentration. Then I relax during the group song. The show has a strange flow. Being in three quarter round means there aren't as many light shifts as in traditional proscenium staging. I still sigh and smile during the title number.