Daily Archives: October 17, 2022
For parents.
Hello!
I don’t recall if this has been communicated (it probably has), but if it has not, one thing that would be extremely helpful, starting Saturday, if possible, is to have a parent in the classroom behind the stage to just serve as an adult presence. Usually this job just involves doing crossword puzzles, etc., but you also serve as a first line of defense in case there is a quick crisis. Just between the crisis time and when someone can reach a staff member at the front of house. This is not a show-long commitment, but rather a rotating one. If you are interested, please contact me or Mrs. Shope. Basic, basting-stitch skill is a HUGE plus, as is basic first aid knowledge.
VERY IMPORTANT: The costumes are designed and rented as a whole, internally consistent part of the show. They may not always be intended as high fashion, but that is part of the storytelling, depending on the character and scene. Any on the fly repairs should be basic and reversible. Basting stitch, etc. Ideally, unless it is a performance, a damage costume piece should be hung up. The actor should then report it to me, and to the stage manager, who will inform the costumers. Any costume piece changes will be managed by the costume designer, and so if there is a concern about a specific garment, please let me and the Stage Manager know immediately, and we will talk to the designer about a replacement. However, time is limited and working with a given costume is part of the play building process. Actors sometimes have a tough time with that, so, if you can be aware that those conversations may come up at home, keep all of this in mind.
Actors are also responsible for putting their costumes away as they will have found them. They and their families are responsible for any missing pieces. So, encourage, encourage, encourage.
House opens when the interior curtains of the lobby open up. Usually 30 minutes before curtain. We ask that you stay in the outer lobby prior to this. Although it is extremely tempting to reserve blocks of seats, we have had concerns in the past about massive blocks of seating being claimed before the house even opens. if you can resist this temptation, although it’s understandable, that is requested. Your best bet is to bring a folding chair for yourself to sit towards the front of the lobby and be one of the first towards the doors of the theater to claim seats when the house opens.
Any help that you can lend to make sure that your Actor/crewmember gets as much sleep as possible is greatly appreciated. However, if they are late or absent from a chunk of school, school rules emphasize that they cannot participate in after school activity. There have been many times when this extended to rehearsals. So, at the same time, please know that they need to be attending school, unless they are visibly and measurably, sick, with fever, etc. In that case, help them make wise decisions to stay home. It’s great to have them, showing a lot of enthusiasm and drive, but we have had waves of illness in the past because of actors putting the show first, and it’s exactly as much trouble as you would imagine.
When in doubt, contact me at 865-748-3636, or Mrs. Johnson at Leanne.Johnson@webbschool.org.
Because of the many people involved, and the unpredictable/spontaneous demands of theater, tech and certain rehearsals have a major “hurry up and wait” factor. I ask that you keep in mind this unfortunate truth, and know that we absolutely try to minimize this. if you are ever waiting to give someone a ride, feel free to slip into the theater and watch part of the show. Or all of it!
We will have a limited number of full, printed programs for the actors/crew. Digital programs are available to everyone. QR codes will be posted, and if you aim your cell phone camera at these, a little link should pop up that will take you to the PDF online. If you are unfamiliar with using QR codes, or if you have friends and relatives, who may not know how to use QR codes, ring me up and I will do everything I can to help.
If you respond to this on the blog or hit return on the email, those messages tend to go into the ether. Any responses or questions should be fielded at any time to me at 865-748-3636.
Your understanding and support is one of the most important elements towards a great show at this point. I have no doubt that you are the secret stars of what we are doing, and I appreciate the sacrifices and understanding that you have shown and will contribute between now and closing night. Any questions, any comments? I absolutely am eager to hear from you.
Best,
Patrick McCray
Call times and VERY IMPORTANT INFORMATION
Saturday
Crew: 10:30
Cast: 12
EVERYONE- bring a small, spiral bound notepad that you can keep in your pocket and several pencils. This is mandatory. Please, no folded up scratch paper. Put your name on the note pad. Keep it with you at all times. This is really, really, really, really important.
Order of activity on Saturday:
(.5 YOU MUST SIGN IN ON THE CHART THAT WILL BE IN MY ROOM. Once here, we ask that you do not leave without an emergency reason and permission from both Mr. McCray, Mrs. Johnson, and Mrs. Helbig.) 1. Costume orientation.
2. etiquette and Makeup/hair orientation.
3. Props orientation.
4. Run scene changes.
5. Preliminary body mic check and costuming (because costume changes are part of the scene changes)* 6. Run show for content and scene changes.
7. Troubleshooting, notes, dismissal.
8. Wrap up. We will have a pad on the stage for you to write down any missing props.
* some costume pieces may still be under construction or alteration. We will only be working with the pieces that Dwayne feels confident about us using on this day. Please take a fresh shower that morning and wear the foundation garments you think you will use for the show. At the very least, the same types.
We usually aim for a mid show meal around 3-4. If you are in costume, you must store this safely in a place you can remember before you eat. Eat no food and consume nothing but water while you are in costume. No flavor drops in the water, please.
Our target for dismissal on tech weekends is usually around six or 630. But emergencies happen and sometimes we have gone as late as eight. We ask that you make no formal plans for anything prior to 830. We will use the blog to update parents on our progress and estimated time of dismissal, though.
Parents are welcome to watch any phase of any rehearsal that they like. If they have any feedback, I am happy to have a conversation. Please have these with me personally. I will answer any questions and field any notions/ideas immediately.
Sunday
Same call times. We will be doing a full run after a sound and light check unless you are updated otherwise.
M-Th
On regular school days with a regular schedule, there will be a meal right after school. Bring something to physically write down notes with. You will then have time to get in to costume. We usually do not worry about make up until Tuesday or so. Warmup on stage at 5:30. Go is as close to six as we can. When we have professional musicians (in addition to Mrs. Helbig) they are often arriving around six, and they will be getting notes and warming up. At the very least, at six, you should be miked and in the drama lab, ready to hit the stage upon notice.
Saturday and Sunday of show week:
On show days, please be at the theater no later than 2 hours before house open. Sign in immediately or you will be considered absent. Do not sign in for anyone else. Do not leave earshot of the Stage area under any circumstances.
On show days, house will be open 1/2 hour before go. At house open, all outside warm-ups should be done, your costumes should be in place for any quick changes. The stage should be set and you should not, for ANY reason go out onto the stage until you get the places/go cue.
Each evening before you leave, please hang up your costumes exactly as you will find them, hung up during tech/as instructed. We will dismiss each day only when props are accounted for, and in place, the green room is clean, and the costumes are hung and stored exactly as they need to be for the next day. This is extremely important.
THIS IS FOR REHEARSALS AND PERFORMANCES, INCLUDING THE FINAL SHOW. After seeing relatives and getting into your civilian clothes, please gather in the central section of the auditorium until dismissed.
Finally, on the Sunday, on which we close, we ask that you stay at the theater between the two performances.
Please remember to take a shower each morning/prior evening, and to use a good, unscented, deodorant/anti-perspirant. If you have some kind of allergy, let us know and bring whatever kind of crystal or substitute you use.
Please start drinking eight 8oz servings of water a day, wash your hands before eating, do not share any food, etc. if you are at all inclined, please wear a covid style mask as much as possible before coming to the theater during the day. Vaccinations are still subjects that people have strong feelings about, but a mask is a mask, and given flu season is particularly bad this year, a clean mask can’t hurt while you are out and about and in school.
If you would like a poster to privately print or forward to relatives, I am attaching one. We will also be putting some up around campus.
Thank you for everything!
Best,
PMc
Today
There was something accidentally vague in the last schedule announcement….
We very much need to have a run of the show today starting at 5 o’clock sharp. This includes everyone. There is a chance that we may be done at 6:30, but it might run a tad later. The latest that it would run, however, especially given the short notice, would be 7:15.
I very sincerely apologize if this causes any inconvenience. If this creates some sort of serious crisis, please call me immediately at 865-748-3636 so that I can know your concerns and do what I can to help.
Of course, if you would like to watch some or all of the run, although it will be extremely rough, you are more than welcome to join us and watch.
Please accept my sincere thanks for your flexibility and help
Best,
PMc
McTheatre 