It’s no secret in the theatre world that stage managing is difficult. Between creating schedules, tracking each and every change and development in rehearsal, making sure the show runs smoothly each night, and of course, managing actors and tech staff, it gets hectic. You are ultimately charged with
Christy Altomare always knew she wanted to be a performer.
It is 7:04pm on a Thursday. To the average audience member of THE COLOR PURPLE, the most important person waiting backstage is one of the above-the-title stars (Cynthia Erivo, Jennifer Holliday or Danielle Brooks). But those in the industry know that, at this particular moment, the most important person is a woman sitting stage right in front of three monitors. That woman, with a headset on and binder in front of her, is Stage Manager Sharika Niles. She is the one who will soon give the word to start the show. She is the one who tonight is in charge of 'calling the show.' She is the one who will dictate the show the audience sees by giving the word for a spotlight, sound effect, set movement, etc..
Playhouse's 'Peter' brings a 'spectical' to the stage
Hello my lovely intro students. Please watch the following videos, linked AND embedded in this post, on Stage Directions and Composing meaningful stage pictures. You will be assessed on this inform…
About The Back Stage Guide to Stage Management, 3rd Edition The Most Widely Used Manual For Aspiring And Veteran Stage Managers – Now Revised and Expanded The next best thing to shadowing a Broadway stage manager, this detailed, behind-the-scenes book as been brought completely up to date. First published in 1991, it is widely used and has been lauded as the most comprehensive, educational book on stage management available. From preproduction planning and first rehersals to opening night and final strike, all the essentials of the profession are presented here in a friendly, engaging style. Blending how-to information with anecdotes from his own career, author Thomas A. Kelly explains the entire theatrical process, including: – Organizing all rehearsals and performances – Maintaining the working script, cue sheets, and daily records – Supervising the technical aspects of the show – Running shows outdoors and at other non-theatrical venues – Dealing with performers and crew members on all levels This new edition reflects all the latest developments and innovations in the industry and adds a totally new chapter on opera stage management, complete with an in-depth breakdown of the challenges this style of production presents. The text is supported by sample documents, diagrams, and charts that straddle time-honored approaches with what can be generated by today’s computer software. All the latest stage machinery is discussed, along with tips on finding employment. This guide remians the first choice for anyone who works in any branch of the profession, whether amateur, educational, or professional.
Listen... Week 2 This took about six hours to set up. Fortunately where I work has about a hundred unused shades in the upstairs for some reason, so I decided to put them to use. Most of the time was spent wiring them electrically. I got into a rhythm after about the fourth one and started zoning out making these things. After making simple chandeliers out of these shades I then dragged them outside to this old born and ran a bunch of extension from a nearby building to power them all. It took about an hour two hang everything and a while long to get the chair and leaves out there and in place. However, I would say it was worth it. A couple friends came out and hung out with me while I did it and it was a good night to say the last.
Photo Credit: Weatherbox, via Free Images If you are a theater buff like me, you love to get a peek backstage. The pretty set and lights up front are nice, but if you are a true thespian, you want to get a look at the script, talk to the set designer, and see how...
Hi! I hope that you are having a great day!I love acting. I have been acting since I was really young. I remember performing at the playground and forcing all of the other kids to watch it.And, after a while, I started studying acting and I loved it!I had classes every Saturday and it was my favorite day of the week.Over the years I learned a lot from my teachers and classmates. And in this post, I will share some of the things that I learned. • It's not about lyingWhen I started acting I though
“Paige Hathaway’s scenic design evokes a weathered downtown warehouse with stark steel ladders and a sumptuous moon hanging high over the various found objects in the background. At times the...
Gaining popularity in recent years, black light theatre, or the utilization of UV lighting to create shapes with white gloves, is easy and fun to learn. Often paired with music, black light presentations utilize one or multiple pairs of white-gloved hands to form occasional shapes through hand and finger placement. ...
With "Hamilton: The Exhibition" open in Chicago and Beetlejuice on Broadway, we interviewed set designer and creative director David Korins about his work.
Are you all about the drama? Get an inside look at careers in the performing arts, from backstage to onstage to business, including how to apply stage makeup and what technology makes the show go on.
Stage Door Sign - The Palace Theatre - Columbus, Ohio
Our Stage Lighting Poster is a great educational resource that will help you create relevant and engaging Drama and Theatre classrooms.
It’s been a long while since I’ve posted and I would like to start this post off with an apology for that. Things got very busy, chaotic, and stressful for a while there. I left my job …
Toys....they have been making children smile for ages. We have all had these playmates that kept us entertained and gave us a sense of security. I can still remember some of the metal,wind up,clockwork toys even though my generation entered the plastic age thus sending this style of toy to "Toy Heaven". Of course there are always collectors who rescue and give dignity back to these wonderful antique toys. But toys as well as any other collectible need not be confined to a glass case where they end up becoming sterile and losing all of their personality. I am an advocate of bringing collectibles out of their cases and using them to decorate your home. You don't have to have a big collection lining an entire wall, just some fun pieces scattered about will do. If you are looking for a way to bring warmth and personality to your home, consider accessorizing with an antique toy or two! I have posted some pictures of antique toys, any of which would look wonderful as part of a tabletop vignette or standing alone by themselves. I hope you enjoy!! Clockwork toys are especially fun to watch and a great conversation starter. They can bring such warmth to your home because they shout out "look at me, touch me, interact with me!" Sometimes collections begin because of a special find in a garage sale or flea market, or from rummaging through an attic or basement. Clockwork Tightrope Walker c1885, extremely rare. 1910 Steiff sheep on wheels A wonderful old German Ferris Wheel Antique giraffe and doll pull toy Mason & Taylor circa 1880s clockwork toy of a pressed papier maché shoulder head child doll, with pressed metal jointed legs pushing a child's perambulator Rare Wonderful Rare French Mechanical Musical Automaton Love the old fire truck! Children's French Antique wooden toy scooter Delightful and Rare French Mechanical Pull-Toy "Polichinelle Riding an Ostrich" A bisque-headed Polichinelle doll is seated upon a large paper mache ostrich. Jack in the Boxes Old trains can be displayed in a number of ways. Old circus toys like the ones in these two photos are always fun and make great vignettes. Antique Harlequin toy with porcelain head, dating from around 1880 Try mounting toys on a wall. These antique toy scenes would look lovely in a tabletop vignette. Clockwork figure, "Le Gai Violiniste", made in France by Fernand Martin about 1900 This old German toy would look perfect in a beautiful tabletop vignette. Woman on Sewing Machine, c. 1905 / clockwork tin toy And don't forget puppets! Early Prewar Japan 1910 Big 7" (18 cm) Clockwork Tin Toy Bicycle Motorcycle Collectors with a passion for antique toys often build their collections with toys that bring back fond memories from their past. An old doll with eight legged walking mechanism.This is definitely an attention getter! Being some charm to a sunny windowsill. Cute idea for old metal trucks! Christmas is the perfect time of year to decorate with antique or vintage toys. Sources via Pinterest , Google, and Tumblr Click here to see the previous post! http://eyefordesignlfd.blogspot.com/2013/08/take-tour-of-queens-dolls-house.html This blog post was published by Lisa Farmer
Every job has its tools and one of the biggest money suckers for a stage manager is their kit. What’s a stage manager kit? Well, it harkens back to the idea that a stage manager is the person who is “absolutely responsible for absolutely everything” for a production… which is an over or under simplification…
For his ongoing series The Fourth Wall, Hamburg-based photographer Klaus Frahm shatters the illusion of stagecraft by taking us behind-the-scenes of several European theaters. Shot from the vantage point of the stage looking toward the audience, the photos reveal the stark contrast of ornate auditoriums and the technological scaffolding that facilitates a major theatrical production. Frahm captures the elaborate configurations of lights and the surprising enormity of the fly space hidden just behind the red curtain that can be up to three times larger than the seating area. More
The end of August is usually a time where college seems to be on everyone's mind. Whether it's incoming freshmen getting ready to move into their residence halls or high school seniors preparing their applications, college is a constant discussion. For theatre students, where you attend c
japanese artist kohei nawa has immersed visitors at the aichi triennale in undulating sea of bubbling matter, surrounding the walls and floor in porous, cloud-like material. 'foam'
Listen.... When one has nothing left make ceremonies out of the air and breathe upon them. Week 46. Four more weeks! It may actually end up being closer to six. I ended up scrapping two or three of the earlier shoots and I am 99% sure I am going to leave those buried for eternity. I dont know if this is a good or bad thing but it is what I want to do. I made the house out of the stuff "For Sale" signs are made out of. It is this extremely cheap plastic sheeting that I found when looking for materials one night. Its probably 1/4 of the price of wood so hellllllll yeah. I used the frame of the house in this picture and just built onto it. It took around three nights? All I know is I watched all of Band of Brothers and it was totally worth it. The mini-series is/was incredible. When shooting this I suspended the house from the roof of the barn using ratchet straps. They are a billion times easier to use then rope because you can make micro-adjustments to the height without untying anything. Seriously recommend getting some! Then I put a flash in the house and had a friend hold a flash across from my other friend sitting down and yeah! On a side note: I am taking a road trip to Denver, CO and Lander, WY next week so hopefully I find some awesome locations!
Whether you are a drama teacher looking to introduce your students to blocking and stage conventions for the first time or an English teacher hoping to help your students with in-class performances by giving them a basis in drama, this 30 minute activity is here to help you! Through this activity and presentation, students will gain an understand for what blocking is, how to write down blocking in a script, and how to stand on stage. Students will get hands-on experience with blocking through using common blocking symbols and writing the blocking down in a script. All files are in Google format, but if you need them in Microsoft format, you can go download them from Google in Microsoft format. In this bundle you will find: * A link to the Google Slide Presentation of Blocking and Stage Conventions (16 slides) * A handout of common blocking symbols (1 page) * A Blocking and Stage Conventions Practice Worksheet (3 pages) PLEASE NOTE: If you have purchased my Mime and Body Language Unit, these activities are included in that unit. (The only things not included in that unit is the Blocking and Stage Conventions Practice Worksheet. That is only available here. ) For you, the busy drama teacher, all you have to do is print and teach! Everything is now prepped for you! Have fun and enjoy teaching the basics. Break a leg!
It's always a good idea to keep a few acting exercises in your back pocket. So here are six powerful acting exercises for teenagers.
Stage Management is an art that is learned through extended study, mentoring, and experience. In the world of professional theatre, the stage manager is one of the most important players. Far more than just calling cues, the stage...
Ever wondered what it's like going behind the scenes of a venue? We took a backstage tour of the O2 Arena in London, for all the VIP secrets!
webster hall // nyc
Upon William Henry Vanderbilt's death, he left his side of the Vanderbilt triple palace in New York City, which he had built for him and his daughters, to his youngest son George Vanderbilt. Upon George Vanderbilt's death it was to pass to George's eldest son, if he had a son. George Vanderbilt died without a son, so the Vanderbilt mansion at 640 Fifth Avenue, along with $1 million, passed to the eldest son of the eldest son of William Henry Vanderbilt, Cornelius Vanderbilt III and his wife, Grace Wilson. Neily, As Cornelius Vanderbilt III Was Called, Was The Handsome Son Of Cornelius Vanderbillt II, Who Disinherited Him Because of His Marriage To Grace Wilson Grace Wilson Vanderbilt, Of The "Marrying Wilsons", Would prove Them All Wrong And Succeed Them All As The Last Mrs. Vanderbilt Neily had been disinherited by his father, who disapproved of Grace and her family. Since Cornelius didn't like Grace, none of the Vanderbilts did and she was shunned by the entire family. Not even Neily's stern mother, Alice, who was considered a saint, would see them. The only Vanderbilt who would talk to them was Neily's uncle, William Kissam Vanderbilt. "Why, It's The Back Hole of Calcutta" Grace Exclaimed Upon Entering The Mansion "I Couldn't Possibly Live Here" At Grace's desiring, Neily quickly had plans drawn up for major alterations to the mansion at 640 Fifth Avenue. Once done, he turned the plans over to famed architect Horace Trumbauer, who would carry out the renovations. The cost of the renovations would total to $500,000, which at that price the newspapers commented "For that amount, as fine a private home as the average wealthy man could wish for could be built in the most exclusive residential part of the upper east side" Horace Trumbauer (middle) Had Done Numerous Commissions For Several Of The Super Wealthy, Such As The Wideners And The Stotesburys Once Completed The House Was One Of The Most Luxurious And Grand Homes In All Of New York City 2 years later the house was ready for occupancy and the Vanderbilt's immediately opened the house with a large ball. The exterior had been completely stripped of most of it's decorative features and the home had been expanded in the back. The most obvious addition was the large, one story entrance pavilion. Grace Always had A Red Carpet Rolled Out From the Entrance Pavilion To Greet Arriving Guests And Lead Them Inside The interiors had been completely gutted, the only thing salvaged was the large, malachite vase that had stood in the original entrance vestibule. The new interiors included on the ground floor a marble-lined hall, two dressing rooms, a three-story great hall, a ballroom, music room, dining room, family dining room, library, art gallery and the red and gold ante room. The second floor held Neily and Grace's private master suites, each with their own bath and dressing room, Grace's pink boudoir, Neily's private sitting room and sound proof laboratory, the breakfast room and the children's rooms. The next two floor held the guest rooms, guest sitting rooms, bathrooms, dressing room and the female servant's rooms. The basement held the male servant's rooms, kitchens, laundry rooms and other service rooms. The Stone Steps In The Entrance Pavilion Led Up To The The House, A Portrait of The Commodore Greeted The Guests The Great Hall Held The Large, Malachite Vase That Had Been In The Original Vestibule Before The Renovations The French Ballroom Could Hold 500 People And Was Used At Least Once A Month For Balls, Events or Parties The Music Room Had A "Parquet De Versailles" Floor That Was Considered Too Beautiful To Cover Up The Art Gallery Held The Art Collection That William Henry Vanderbilt had Spent His Life Collecting The Library, Which Held Barely Ant Books, Was Where Grace Had Tea Every Morning, Around The Room Were Pictures Of The Famous People Grace Had Entertained The French Dining Room Had A Table That Could Extend Out To Hold 50 People, All At Once, At One Of Grace's Many Dinner Parties The Family Dining Room Was Where The Family Had Their Private Meals On The Rare Occasion That They Weren't Entertaining, The Paneling Had Come From Their Original New York City Townhouse By the time the house was completed, Grace had already been recognized as the new Queen of New York City Society, replacing Mrs. Astor, who had died back in 1908. Grace began to host several balls and dinners during the New York City season. An invitation to her house, would secure social success. Every year, at the opening of the Metropolitan Opera House, Grace's arrival was always the one most looked forward to. Her box at the Met was located on the famous first tier of boxes, the famous "Diamond Horseshoe" as it was called (Mrs. Astor had always claimed that the "Diamond Horsehoe" had been named after her famous 200 stone diamond necklace, which she had always worn at the opening of the opera). The Opening Night At The Metropolitan Opera House Was The Highlight Of The New York City Social Season Shortly after they moved into the Vanderbilt mansion, Neily began to realize the mistake he made, sacrificing a fortune for a pretty face, because once a pretty face was gone, it was gone. Grace began to grow uglier and uglier with the years. She began to grow white hair early in life and she left it alone, except for dying it a special Chinese Tea. She began to gain weight from all the French cooking at her dinners and, because servants did everything for her, she did absolutely nothing to lose weight. Grace Vanderbilt At The Opening Of The Metropolitan Opera House, Which She Never Missed, Always Receiving Guests In Her Private Box Grace had a very organized schedule, which was, one ball a month, two large dinner parties a week and smaller dinners and brunches daily. At Grace's dinner parties were the usuals: Berwinds, Goelets, Hammonds, Aldrichs, Burdens, Harrimans and Biddles. At her large dinners there was normally around 100 people, most of whom Grace scarcely knew, but at her small dinners of normally 50 people, Grace knew everyone there. Pictured Above Is One of Grace's Small Dinner Parties, In Attendance That Night Were Mrs. Winthrop Aldrich, Sir And Lady Cadogan, Mr. And Mrs. Hammond, Rep. Joseph C. Baldwin (R-NY), Madame Deprez And J. Watson When in Newport, Grace rented "Beaulieu" cottage, formerly the home of John Astor III and William Waldorf Astor, which she later purchased. It was at "Beaulieu" that Grace gave her first major party, where she had the play "The Wild Rose" come to Newport and perform for her guests. "Beaulieu" Cottage Was Right Down The Street From Neily's Parent's Cottage, "The Breakers", Which Was Still Occupied By Alice Eventually Alice excepted Grace and Neily, although the relationship was frosty. Alice, who was considered one of the most wealthiest women in the world, began to help Neily and Grace out financially, which they needed. Frosty Alice Had Worn Nothing But Black And Pearls Every Since The Death Of Cornelius Vanderbilt Grace also wanted a yacht, like her sister May Goelet, and she had Neily commission a large boat, which they called "The North Star", named after Cornelius Vanderbilt I's yacht. The yacht was fitted with the finest materials and included a drawing room, library and dining saloon. Each Year, At Grace's Urging, The Vanderbilts Sailed "The North Star" To Those Ports Where They Would Most Likely Be Seen By Royalty To escape his wife and the entertaining that she brought with her, Neily joined the army. World War I proved to be his finest hour. Neily also developed horrible habits of smoking and drinking regularly. He was quite mean to his son, who claimed he liked Neily better when he was drunk than when he wasn't. Neily Became Known As "The General", Something Grace Was All Too Pleased To Call Him In Front Of Guests Neily also thought he might like to enter politics, so he attended the Republican National Convention in Saratoga Springs, although he realized it was too expensive for him saying "Look I may be a Vanderbilt, but I am not a Rockefeller!" Most of the time, Neily just retreated to his other yacht, the Winchester. The "Winchester", Which Neily Had Purchased From Vincent Astor, Was Mostly Paid For By Alice And Neily's Sister Gertrude Whitney While Neily would be sailing around on his yacht, Grace would be back in New York City entertaining . Every year at the New York City mansion and "Beaulieu", Grace would be entertaining up to 10,000 people a year. Every night at dinner parties, Grace would have a red carpet rolled out across the sidewalk to lead the guests inside. Greeting guests inside, she would be beside two footmen in livery, welcoming them inside. Although she hated the press, they loved her. She was mostly photographed at the opening of the Metropolitan Opera. Grace Vanderbilt Never Missed The Opening Of The Metropolitan Opera House, Not Until Her Death Would She Ever Miss One When Alice died in 1934, she left Neily the Gwynne Building in Ohio and about $7 million, if it hadn't been for her money, Grace and Neily would have been broke. Grace and Neily were spending hundreds of thousands of dollars a year on parties, jewelry, taxes, clothes, food, servants and numerous amounts of other things, although this didn't stop Grace. Grace Arriving At The Opera With Her Three Famous Signatures: The Bandeau or "Headache Band"On Her Head, Her Diamond Stomacher And The Famous Silver Fox Wrap When Grace and Neily's son, Neil, announced he would be working as a newspaperman, they promptly kicked him out. Neil had had an unfortunate childhood, Grace had been a distant mother and Neily had wanted nothing to do with his children, so he was not surprised when they kicked him out. Neil Vanderbilt Would Go On To Be Married Very Many Times, Much To The Disapproval Of Grace While Grace was entertaining and mixing with royalty, the world around her was changing. Over time the residences around the 640 Fifth Avenue mansion had been replaced with large skyscrapers and soon the 640 Fifth Avenue mansion became lost in a sea of skyscrapers. The Other Side Of The Vanderbilt Triple Palace Was Getting Ready To Be Torn Down And Replaced With A Large Apartment Building Slowly they came down, one by one Vanderbilt Row disintegrated and soon only Grace and Neily's aunt, Florence Twombly, were left. 640 Fifth Avenue became a shrine of a bygone era, the only private residence left on that side of town. In The Middle Of A Sea Of Skyscrapers Was Grace Vanderbilt And Her Imposing Mansion, 640 Fifth Avenue When Neily died, he left an estate of $4 million. Grace inherited $2 million and $900,000 to his two children. It had turned out that shortly before his death, Neily had sold 640 Fifth Avenue to developers to raise money. Under the terms of the agreement Grace would get to remain at 640 Fifth Avenue until two years after Neily's death. Grace continued to entertain just as lavish as she always had, hosting her last ball in 1941. Finally she too had to give up. The Movers Came And Packed Up The Large Art Collection, Which Was Being Given To The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Along With The Malachite Vase The Vanderbilt Mansion Under Demolition, 600 Workmen Instructed To Tear Apart 640 Fifth Avenue, The Last of It's Kind The Great Hall Of The Mansion Was Completely Torn Apart, Not One of It's Decorative Features Saved Grace Vanderbilt moved to another New York City townhouse, which was now in the heart of the fashionable district, which had formerly belonged to William Starr Miller, Grace called it "The Gardener's Cottage" because it contained only 28 rooms, compared to the 85 rooms at 640 Fifth Avenue. The William Starr Miller Mansion, Which Grace Bought For $800,000, She Regally Brought Her Butler And Her Bathroom The William Starr Miller Mansion Today, Surrounded On All Sides By Skyscrapers, Which Tower Over The Mansion It was at the Miller mansion when Grace passed away with her family by her side, worrying if the money would last. Grace once said "Poor Marie Antoinette, If the Revolution ever came to America I would surely be the first to go"
As Tabac Rouge opens at Sadler's Wells, revisit James Thiérrée's surreal shows in which theatre, dance and acrobatics collide
Image 11 of 27 from gallery of Ziggo Dome / Benthem Crouwel Architects. Photograph by Jannes Linders
Guide to Creating a Stage Manager’s Kit Being a stage manager is no easy task, as it comes with a plethora of responsibilities. In pre-production, the stage manager (SM) serves … Read More "Create a Stage Manager’s Kit"
There are all sorts of milestones that remind you that time is going by, like realizing that a boyish movie star is on the verge of fifty (see Cruise, …
Sometimes spending a little can make your life a lot easier. Apps are one of these instances. Like when I mentioned that a Macbook can be a frugal decision, sometimes a smartphone is too. Honestly, how did we get by before these things? A performer asks some crazy question about the origin of a word…
Explore Adrien Mondot's 923 photos on Flickr!
The National Trust Festival of Light at Mount Stewart's will open this weekend with hundreds of illuminated trees, music and art.
