Week One Wrap-up

Well, I am getting ready to head into the final rehearsal day of the week.... and I gotta say I`m dragging my ass a little bit. What can I say? I`m old, I guess. This is a deceptive little process, starting with only 3 cast members and adding more as we hit each new rehearsal week. I expected this week to be fairly quiet with lots of discussion around the table and me being able to get on top of a bunch of things outside of the rehearsal hall.

But no...we have been going at a great pace. As we head into today, we have a little bit of Act II to block and some of Act III, and this afternoon we will stumble through most of the play with our three principals this afternoon! For those who don`t know what blocking is, simply it is the director and cast working out the movements of the characters in each scene and me recording these movements into the prompt script. As well, Lori, my assistant stage manager is tracking how the props are set, used and moved around the set with an eye out for costume information.

This is fantastic!! I think I am going to have a very pleased director on my hands. We will have hit his goals for this week and put us in great shape when we add the next 3 cast members next week....Big Mama, Mae & Gooper. The play largely sits on the storylines of Maggie, Brick and Big Daddy and having worked out much of their paths through the piece gives us a wonderful skeleton on which we will build the remainder of the show.

As well, we have had a production meeting at which all of the departments are present and information and progress is shared, two video meetings as we have a beautiful video element to the show that will enhance the environment of the play and a props meeting...and there are quite a few props in this show, some pretty tricky. We have had 3 initial wardrobe fittings with more to come and have published 2 sets of production notes.

Production notes are put in a document that stage management sends out. We gather any and all information that comes out of the rehearsals and try very hard to clearly describe this information for each department. The writing of the notes is a very important part of my job as I see it. Having a document with accurate and respectful language is key to keeping everyone on the same page and it is always wise to have a record of what information has been relayed to who. (or is it whom?...does anyone else use whom anymore?) I spend a great deal of time on this piece of paper and make sure that my assistant is with me when I create it so that I get all of her information as well. There are always things that I will miss as the rehearsal hall is rocking and rolling and I depend on her eyes and ears very much. It is important to keep in mind that what you write has an impact on those reading it. This impact can be very positive but it can also be very negative as well. Respect and diplomacy always need to be incorporated into this document. Each person on the team is an artist in their own respect and take pride in the work that they do. Someone may spend hours trying to get something just right, only to read their email the next day telling them that it is wrong or it has been cut. That hurts. I think the stage management team needs to always keep this in mind when information needs to go out and it is worth wrestling each and every sentance you put down on the page.

Aside from the written information, I very much believe in connecting with the departments face to face, whenever possible. I always go over the notes with the director before publishing them... a note may be stated in the rehearsal hall that really doesn`t need to go out at that time, or the director may have changed their mind since giving the note. With larger notes....things that may have budgetary considerations like adding or modifying an element of the show, should also be talked about with the production manager and designer whenever possible. Having a conversation can often ease the blow of these bigger notes and further clarify an issue that is difficult to put into accurate wording in a document. Besides this, most people would rather have a conversation than receive a piece of paper that greatly impacts their art and hard work.

These conversations aren`t always possible due to busy schedules and such, but I make the effort whenever possible. I began stage managing long before the internet, email and even cell phones which made communicating all that much more difficult. These tools are invaluable to a stage manager today and give me the chance of having more detailed communication with folks outside of the production notes document.

So...all of this adds up to the fact that it has been a busy week! And a great week as well! I am even more excited and honoured to be a part of this production now. The work in the rehearsal hall has been inspiring and exciting. This play continues to fascinate me and to see these characters come to life in front of me at the hands of a skilled director and very talented actors is.........well, it is why I do this job. I find this process so very interesting and it gets me to drag my tired, 41 year old ass outta bed each morning so I can be there, in that room watching and helping this vision come to life. Our artistic team is also rocking out such a gorgeous space for this story to occur....the world that these characters will inhabit will be poetic, beautiful...from the floorboards to the clothes on their backs.

There is so much yet to do. Many hurdles to jump (hopefully more successfully than Brick does in the play) and many more long days. But I am energized and ready to take it all on. I look forward to my precious one day off tomorrow and will be happy to sit myself down once again on Monday behind the script.