Posted By: mellers on
I've joined a local amateur dramatic group recently in a effort to find interesting things to do with my life rather than just vegetate, watch TV and get depressed, and for the most part it's been interesting and has actually worked sometimes too.
A few weeks ago I volunteered to assist the stage manager with the latest production which is due to go on for the 1st night on Friday and so far that's been fun too. The job of Assistant Stage Manager is nothing glamourous. You prompt the actors with their lines in the later stage of rehearsals, help make build and paint the sets, run errands for the stage manager, director (and sometimes the cast too) and generally pitch in with make up, making coffee and general gofering.
Today was the "Get In". I have never heard that term before (not having ever been involved with am-dram before, except at school). The "Get In" is the technical stage of the rehearsal schedule where the cast pace through their lines with technical cues from lighting and sound. The lighting and sound engineers set up and programme all their cues in to the lighting computers and the sets and props are all assembled, painted and "dressed" along with the cast who start to familiarise themselves with the set and the stage, having only ever rehearsed before elsewhere.
It has been a long day for all of us, but it was really interesting, building a working kitchen sink from scratch and "distressing" all the set furniture as if it had been in a serious fire 12 months previously and never cleaned or replaced. Everything is looking rather convincing now and thoroughly filthy and worn.
It's the first dress rehearsal tomorrow night and another long evening making sure all the lighting cues are correct beforehand. I am looking forward to it and really quite enjoyed
Tags:
rehearsals, amateur dramatics