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DR 240: STAGE MANAGEMENT use DRAMCOST.wordpress.com

The main Drama 240 Website. http://dram240.wordpress.com/

DR 246 http://www.queensu.ca/drama/drama246/index.html

DR 247 http://www.queensu.ca/drama/drama247/index.html

DR 246 / 247Submit Learning Objective & Self reflection to MOODLE via main DR 240 website

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Theatrical Logic

During arrival, 1) SIGN –IN. 2) Get out a PENCIL.3) Read this ‘POEM’. 4) Discuss with neighbour

to verify meanings.

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1) Stage Managers and ASMs need to be aware of many areas of theatre, such as:

2) Stage Managers and ASMs need to use various technical skills, such as:

3) Stage Managers and ASMs need to cultivate various interpersonal abilities such as:

4) Some working style traits that would be good to use when Stage Managing or ASMing would be:

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AREAS of Stage Management

S / F/ C / R

EXAMINE the items. Discuss with your neighbours.

Answer the questions about each. Remember your answers.

1) What might the item be called or titled? (Use this name on the list)

2) What is the purpose of this item? Is there more than 1 purpose?

3) Who is it for? Or Who does it help?

4) When, in the theatrical process, would it be made or obtained?

5) When, in the process, would it be used?

6) What AREAS of Stage Management might the coloured stickers represent? Verify with at least 2 others.

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Cards, Health & Safety, First Aid, Nail File, Losenges, Medical Form, Quiet Please, Safety info, Local Info.

Contact List, Presets, Running lists, Sc Breakdown, Sc Ch Plans, Prop table plans.

CD/DVD, Schedules, CTA,

Local Info, Policies.

Note-pad, Divider, Blocking plans, Petty cash forms, Stationery, Presets, Disk, Running Lists

EXAMPLES

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STAGES of Stage Management:

Preparation:

Rehearsal:

Technical Rehearsal Prep and the Tech:

Performances:

P / R / T / P

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STAGES of Stage Management:

Preparation: Script, Meetings, Charts, Lists, Designs, Theatre, Rehearsal space Prep., Schedules, Community info., Safety,…

Rehearsal: Daily Prep, Schedules, Notes, Communications, Resources, Recording, Policies, Meetings, Receipts, Spikes, …

Technical Rehearsal Prep and the Tech: Scene changes, Prop presets, Paper Cueing, Scheduling, Quick changes, Safety, Communication, Cue Lights, …

Performances: Schedules, Presets, Running lists, Actor Notes, Publicity, Strike Planning, Maintenance,….

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Read: PRUDENCE AND FREDERIQUE

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PRUDENCE AND FREDERIQUE(Those who are Left handed are going to pretend to be right handed just for this ONLY!)

Across the page on the same ‘line’ as where it is mentioned, note the following! 1) Left Column: In the centre of this column, note anything

relate to lighting or sound. Write: LX or LQ (music) , with the sound in the brackets.

2) Centre Column: Note any props or furniture. Just write the noun in FULL CAPITALS eg: NEWSPAPER at the left side of the column.

3) Right Column : Leaving a 2 letter space before the initial, note first initial of character MOVING, and possibly what they do. P enters. OR P cross to desk.

4) In the upper right box, using all the space sketch a simple room with the script needs. (doorway, desk, chair)

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As You Like It

Let’s look at scripts:

Book versions … Shakespeare .. Modern printings are pre-divided into scenes, and have line numbers that are continuous through the scenes.

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Twelfth NightArden versions have almost half the page of text notes, which would not do too well in a SM book.

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More modern plays have a ‘simpler’ layout. This one has the character name mid-page. In order to separate the spoken text from the other information, SMs highlight the stage directions and the character names as …

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Under Milkwood - HighlightedThis helps us know when the conversation goes back and forth, and how often and how quickly, as well as separating the stage directions.

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Ten Times TableThis much more compact text will be much helped by highlighting.

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Ten Times Table Highlighted

Advantages:

Easily see change of speaker

Easily separate spoken words from stage directions, to help clarity while following text for prompting.

Stage directions can be fully coloured, or ‘boxed’.

Some directors want everyone to ‘ignore’ the stage directions during rehearsals.

I prefer calm colours for highlighting.

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A third colour can be used for music ‘cues’ in musicals.

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Getting to know the script:

Read through, looking for all areas of production that are mentioned or implied.

An example of “implied” props. (Sean lights his cigarette.) Implied might be :1) a pack of cigarettes2) a lighter or matches3) an ashtray, possibly

Read through the script filling-in a pencil chart on paper separate from the prompt script pages, tracking the page numbers when production areas are ‘mentioned’. Watch for PROPS, FURNITURE, SET, COSTUMES, LIGHTING, SOUND, SPECIAL EFFECTS, and anything else you come across. That chart may look like this:

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Secret GardeAfter making this chart, made on paper separate from the prompt script, an SM can make Lists Per Script, which are a starting point for meetings about all production needs with other departments.

(Secret Garden)

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Act Sc. Pg.# Item Notes Make / Done Find / Found

1 1 15 LAMP lit and extinguishedMATCHES fake?BEDCOVERS 1 is quiltKETTLE

1 1 16 PUMP at sinkBOOKS old leatherTABLE CLOTHTRAY for tea thingsTEACUPSSAUCERSPLATESPIE one per show or??CREAM OR MILK for tea

SUGAR for teaTEA LEAVES loose , in jar

1 1 17 BOOT SCRAPPER outside porch doorPAPER to put boots onTEAPOTBUCKET for lye waterWATER from pumpLYE "Armstrong & Hammer" p 35RAG for floor washing

1 1 18 KNIFE to cut pie1 1 19 TEA TOWEL

FORKSCREAM JUGCREAM heavy cream for pie makingWOODEN SPOON for cream

1 1 20 BOWL for doughDOUGHFLOUR to dust kneading surfaceTEA TOWEL 2ND

1 2 23 HANDKERCHIEF unironed26 WASHBASIN

LADLE

What is missing from this document??

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Documents ALWAYS need a title along with other information and a HEADER is a great way to do that.

Things to include in a header are:

Title of DocumentShow Producer / Theatre Company Theatre SpaceSeasonName of document maker / SMContact for SMDatePage number OF Total pages (page 1 of 4)

Possibly: Version / Draft Number

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Stage Management Documents / Activities

Week 1 Prep

"Per Script" Lists, Scene Breakdown, Rehearsal Schedule Overview, Prompt Script incl label. (Others incl: Cast List, Company Contact List, Distribution List, Forms for Daily, Rehearsal and Show Reports,

Week 2 RehearseDaily Rehearsal Schedules, Rehearsal Reports, Actor Notes, Blocking, Key, Props Tracking

Week 3 Rehearse As Above

Week 4 RehearseRough cues, Timings for sound, Prop placement, Plan scene changes, Plan quick changes and As above

Week 5 Tech & Open Cues, (Running charts for ASM and Crew)

Week 6 RunShow Reports Daily, Laundry, Costume Maintenance, Prop and set Maintanance, Floor Maintenance.

Week 7 Run

Week 8 Run

Week 9 Run

Week 10 Run and Close Hand in all paperwork to General Manager or Production manager for Archives.

When does WHICH SM work happen??

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What do Stage Managers DO in rehearsal????

Rehearsal Observations• An actor spending a good deal of time on their knees.• Actor asking what they wear in this scene.• Director telling 2 actors to both stand on the same bench during a scene.• Actor spending a good deal of time running and jumping.• Actor pretending to smoke during a scene.• Actor produces a wallet for a scene.• Actor lays-down across 4 rehearsal chairs that are being used for a sofa.• Director tells an actor to come in the door right after the thunder.• Director tells an actor to look out a window.• Actor crumples a paper item during a scene.• Actor turns on lights during a scene.• Director tells an actor to come in the door right after the other actor sits

down.

• THEN: What do they DO with this information??

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