It's amazing how simultaneously frustrating and rewarding academic theater can be. Rewarding when the students are learning, frustrating as all hell when they aren't. I think I've spent the last three days veering between wanting to scream "haven't I told you that three times already?" and being utterly amazed at how wonderful everyone is. Luckily all the actors are really patient and kind, at least around me. They're also responsible.
I'm not just saying this because some of them read this blog, I promise.
No, really.
I do have to step back and remember that 6 years ago I wasn't the calmest most organized person in the world. I'm finding it hard to project backwards, past the mistakes and lessons learned, to figure out how to phrase things most effectively. And trying to balance "if I do it myself it'll be quicker" with "I'm doing this so people can learn. I'm here to help not to dictate."

We cut the blood tonight. A show that originally was about buckets and buckets of blood, and now there's only a tiny bit on a paper towel. We could make it work, but we'd have to change all the gels, which would make the plant look less amazing, and the show is more about the plant than about the blood. Actually, I think we could make it work even as is, but I was overruled (and happy about it. I didn't really want to create that much extra work for myself).

I think it's the first show I've ever stage managed where none of the headset banter has involved criticizing actors. It's partly the people on headset, but also partly that the actors are talented, responsible, and patient.
I suppose I should amend that slightly: at one point tonight there was discussion of an actor's allergy to light.

I'm finding it challenging to come into calling a show after having seen so few rehearsals, and calling out of a book that isn't "mine" is really hard. The notes are good, but they're not mine. At the production meeting it was noted that every light cue I called on a specific actress' moves timed out perfectly, but the ones off a different actor were often slightly early. It's funny that I seem to have picked up one person's rhythm and not the other's. It'll be there, but right now it's hard. We did have a couple high-fives in the booth, however, when specials faded up in exact time with crosses. (for the record, and those of you not in the process, the light design is almost entirely specials. Which means that if actors aren't in their light, or if I am slightly off with calling a cue, they're standing in the dark)

I'm sure you were all dying to know all of that.

My godfather thinks the A-Rod trade is bad for baseball. I haven't seen him in about 15 years, but he's speaking for me in this case. Thanks to Margo for the link.
- posted by Heidi @ 1:37 AM