[SML] Small touring Christmas carol

Fri Sep 11 00:57:43 UTC 2015

Oh, nearly forgot - we also have a couple PVC pipe-and-drape type drops we
use for some of our kids shows. Two telescoping legs with cross bases of
more pvc across bottom, and a roll drop on top. Ours is painted to look
like the front of our historic opera house. Immediate impact and provides
backstage for us. Just fits in the length of a mini van for storage, and
not much more girth than a couple PVC pipes in the bag.

Erin

On Thu, Sep 10, 2015 at 6:54 PM, Erin Joy Swank <erinjoyswank at gmail.com>
wrote:

> I am the production manager for Central City Opera's touring programs.
> Ours are more of a series of opera arias/duets/scenas and musical theatre
> solos/scenes strung together, so our production needs aren't too specific -
> no balconies needed. What I've found works well to transform just about any
> space are 2 to 4 tri-fold wicker screens (and hey, if we get an actual
> stage, it helps fill up the space and lights play great on them). We have a
> couple of them we added backing to, including all the way to the
> bottom, and can position them either upstage or on the sides to create
> "offstage" areas and crossovers as desired. That and a couple fake ficus
> trees and plants can really fill up a space quickly. And most of our shows
> have "the ubiquitous bench" - a fake stone looking plastic curved bench,
> weighted if possible so they can stand on it easily. When tables are
> needed, we use either the collapsible three-stick-legs round ones with a
> decent tablecloth from Bed Bath and Beyond, or else a small rectangular
> folding table. If we have time, we throw around more fake ivy - on screens,
> bases of trees, wherever looks nice. If more props are needed, yes, we've
> done the treasure chest o' props on stage, too. We also have a square
> wicker box that can hold a multitude of sins and add as decor. And most of
> our decor I've picked up at thrift stores over the years, other than the
> screens.
>
> We don't necessarily bring our own lighting (though I have some simple DJ
> lights for the smallest venues), though we always have a battery-operated
> light for the pianist.
>
> Hope that's helpful.
>
> Erin
>
>
>
> On Thu, Sep 10, 2015 at 4:31 PM, Chip Wood via Stagecraft <
> stagecraft at theatrical.net> wrote:
>
>> Joe, first off, let me congratulate the group, we never reached "pro
>> level".  But we would be re-booked even tho we hadn't picked the next show
>> yet.  We toured the same places (lots of "assisted care" places in AZ), but
>> give vet hospitals and re-habs a try.  Those guys and gals will put a lump
>> the size of a football in your throat.
>>
>> The in was from 30 to 90 min because as on any tour each venue was a
>> newly "found" space.  And EVERY venue had it's own peculiarities (think
>> about getting stuff into small elevators) and honchos (sometimes several
>> that did not often compliment the others) who added to the time w/ lots of
>> "Helpful" suggestions. Out was  max 30 min depending on the enthusiasm of
>> the crew-actors and me and how accessible was the SUV.
>>
>> I found that 3 free-standing tri-fold 5'x7' masking flats helped a lot to
>> make any space theater like, but needed heavy weights to keep from
>> tipping.  I used thrift store body weight belts. Hanging small
>> ornamentation on the tri-folds for various scenes changed the setting very
>> quickly.  I even used an ordinary step ladder for the party, balcony, and
>> fencing  scenes in R&J just by hanging different stuff on it.  A large
>> heavy-duty prop box (think "Fantastics") was used on-stage in the 1st show
>> and became kind of a go-to for every show.  It was used for prop and
>> costume storage, bed, mountain, pyre, bench, almost anything.  Lighting
>> flexibility was almost non-existent.  We considered it a plus if they could
>> be turned off and on and provided adequate lighting on the actors faces. I
>> was the TD and sound op and kept busy as off-stage narrator and quick bits
>> onstage.  We kept it to 45 min max w/ my wife (Artistic Dir) writing
>> adaptions of out of copyright material.  I added the projection only on the
>> last show, but it really seemed to add something as crude as it was.  Give
>> 'em the ol' razzle-dazzle!
>>
>> NEVER allow the venue to serve food during the show.  Many of the diners
>> will have LOUD complaints to the dining staff.  A plan that worked was
>> dinner (while we were entertaining them setting up)from 5-6 depending on
>> their routine, the 1 hour max show, and then dessert while we broke it
>> down.  They usually didn't fall asleep and got to bed early.  We did
>> matinees too, but they never came off as well as early evenings.
>>
>> Oh, have the actors mingle w/the audience after the show, they love that
>> and will tell them about a great-grandson  that had the lead in the HS play
>> or their amateur nights in the service or (both actual) they won a
>> supporting Tony or was a Rockette 60 years ago.
>>
>> No pics during shows, we were all too busy.
>>
>> Chip 1
>>
>> On 9/8/2015 6:59 PM, Joe D wrote:
>>
>>> I recently had a conversation with the director of "Servant Stage" a
>>> volunteer company, at a professional level, with the goal of taking theater
>>> to non-traditional places to people who can't afford regular theater. They
>>> do a lot of nursing homes, and similar venues.   Since they may do 60
>>> performances of a particular show, sometimes 2 or 3 in one day, quick
>>> set-up and down is critical.  Projection would seem to be a good way to
>>> change the scenery, provided you have the space to do it.
>>>
>>> So far, they have not used any special lighting, but I am trying to
>>> convince them to add at least a little.  Especailly, since they go to
>>> non-traditional venues where the audience is often stuck in the same
>>> facility for long periods.  I think that anything we can do to transport
>>> them to another imaginary place will be of great value to them.
>>>
>>> Would you care to share more about the show you mentioned on the
>>> stagecraft list? How long to set-up, tear down?  Any pictures?
>>>
>>>
>>
>> ____________________________________________________________
>> For list information see <http://stagecraft.theprices.net/>
>> Stagecraft mailing list
>> Stagecraft at theatrical.net
>> http://theatrical.net/mailman/listinfo/stagecraft_theatrical.net
>>
>
>
>
> --
> Erin Joy Swank
> 937-308-0366 cell
>

-- 
Erin Joy Swank
937-308-0366 cell
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://theatrical.net/pipermail/stagecraft_theatrical.net/attachments/20150910/5268a2c6/attachment.html>