It is that time of year where I go through all of my junk and find things that no longer work or are no longer useful and I donate them to a local theatre to use for props. This year I have an old netbook that screams at you every time you try to turn it on and only half the screen works (And I lost the cord). There are all sorts of things that can be useful on stage from kitchen utensils to broken jewelery to battered boom-boxes. So, Donate today and help save the Arts!
Here's how:
1- Take your props (anything that doesn't work or is non-functional, but not broken) to the theatre of your choice when you know someone will be there.
2- Hand them over and say, "I would like to donate these potential props to your theatre. I hope you like them."
3- Smile and have a pleasant conversation before you leave.
4- Feel good about yourself and go on with the rest of your day.
I should make an ad...
Hmmm
See ya!
Sarah K
Monday, June 30, 2014
Saturday, June 28, 2014
Actor Superstitions
Before I go into the most common superstitions that can be found in a theatre, I want to say something. A play is something that absolutely cannot be done alone. There are a lot of people( actors, stage crew, build crew) that are on the stage almost every day of production. When that much is happening in such an enclosed space, people get hurt and even die. This leads to speculations and even superstitions. Many of the following have no confirmed origins and the stories vary from storyteller to storyteller. I did some research, both in books and on the internet, and have come up with a solid list and some short explanations for each. Some of these I have never heard before and others, well, you know.
Number 1: Break A Leg!
This is a more common superstition that has cameos in different TV shows and movies. The theory is that to say "Good Luck" to an actor automatically leads to a bad performance. The origins on this are unclear, but it has stood the test of time and is still going strong today.
Number 2: Ghosts
There are a lot of ghostly topics in the realm of theatrics. Having a lot of people, well, overly dramatic actors, in a small space means a lot of energy building up, both negative and positive. This can lead to changes in attitude, temperature, and even memory. This is often blamed on ghosts. Many theatres have a personal ghost, but the most famous ghost is Thespis, the apparent first actor ever. He apparently still haunts every actor ever.
There is also the Ghost Light. It is said that ghosts, especially ghosts of actors, do not like a dark stage and that a light should be left on at all times. (The story my stage professor told us was that the stage crew was tired of drunk and horny actors destroying the sets, so they lit a light so they could find their ways out.)
Number 3: Speaking of Ghosts... The Scottish Play
Shakespeare's play "MacBeth" is considered bad luck for some reason. The tales of the origin of the bad luck vary from death to witchcraft, all of which are added in abundance into the play. One must never say the name inside the theatre or else they are kicked outside where they are to spin around three times, spit, curse, and then knock to be let back inside. Personally, I had never heard of the spinning and spitting part and no matter where I looked, I couldn't find the origin, but there you go.
Number 4: Whistling
The origins for the myth that whistling backstage is bad luck actually has some basis in fact. When the ancient directors decided to use curtains instead of the more expensive, heavier, and more dangerous marble or granite slabs to make a more flexible stage they learned that they were not so good at tying them up or counter balancing or any of that stuff, but instead of giving up, they hired sailors. While the seamen were up in the batons, they would whistle messages and code to each other, like they would on a ship. It stands to reason that anyone else whistling on the stage would confuse the situation and could end up hurt or hurting others.
Number 5: A Bad Dress Rehearsal = A Good Performance
Now, I have personally seen this happen time after time. Still, it is not really a taboo, but more of a mental state. A psychologist might tell you that a performer might be more aware of mistakes during a dress rehearsal, where they are in full makeup, lights, and costume than if they were in an average rehearsal and then they would take their mistakes and then fix them in the performance.
Number 6: Specific Theatres
Generally any specific theatres have their own spooks and bumps in the night. Gary the Guy who fell through the Ceiling, or the Phantom of the Opera. Everyone has something.
Number 7: A Theatre is 'Dark', not 'Closed'
It is said that the spirits do not like the concept of a closed theatre. Or maybe that they like it too much. Instead, it is 'Dark'. That's right, when you leave for the night and text the building owner, you say the stage is dark and the doors are locked.
Number 8: Others
These are the basic superstitions found back stage. There are dozens more and then the ones used by each performer. Try not to let skepticism show and try to follow them because it is just safer that way. Have fun!
Sarah K
Number 1: Break A Leg!
This is a more common superstition that has cameos in different TV shows and movies. The theory is that to say "Good Luck" to an actor automatically leads to a bad performance. The origins on this are unclear, but it has stood the test of time and is still going strong today.
Number 2: Ghosts
There are a lot of ghostly topics in the realm of theatrics. Having a lot of people, well, overly dramatic actors, in a small space means a lot of energy building up, both negative and positive. This can lead to changes in attitude, temperature, and even memory. This is often blamed on ghosts. Many theatres have a personal ghost, but the most famous ghost is Thespis, the apparent first actor ever. He apparently still haunts every actor ever.
There is also the Ghost Light. It is said that ghosts, especially ghosts of actors, do not like a dark stage and that a light should be left on at all times. (The story my stage professor told us was that the stage crew was tired of drunk and horny actors destroying the sets, so they lit a light so they could find their ways out.)
Number 3: Speaking of Ghosts... The Scottish Play
Shakespeare's play "MacBeth" is considered bad luck for some reason. The tales of the origin of the bad luck vary from death to witchcraft, all of which are added in abundance into the play. One must never say the name inside the theatre or else they are kicked outside where they are to spin around three times, spit, curse, and then knock to be let back inside. Personally, I had never heard of the spinning and spitting part and no matter where I looked, I couldn't find the origin, but there you go.
Number 4: Whistling
The origins for the myth that whistling backstage is bad luck actually has some basis in fact. When the ancient directors decided to use curtains instead of the more expensive, heavier, and more dangerous marble or granite slabs to make a more flexible stage they learned that they were not so good at tying them up or counter balancing or any of that stuff, but instead of giving up, they hired sailors. While the seamen were up in the batons, they would whistle messages and code to each other, like they would on a ship. It stands to reason that anyone else whistling on the stage would confuse the situation and could end up hurt or hurting others.
Number 5: A Bad Dress Rehearsal = A Good Performance
Now, I have personally seen this happen time after time. Still, it is not really a taboo, but more of a mental state. A psychologist might tell you that a performer might be more aware of mistakes during a dress rehearsal, where they are in full makeup, lights, and costume than if they were in an average rehearsal and then they would take their mistakes and then fix them in the performance.
Number 6: Specific Theatres
Generally any specific theatres have their own spooks and bumps in the night. Gary the Guy who fell through the Ceiling, or the Phantom of the Opera. Everyone has something.
Number 7: A Theatre is 'Dark', not 'Closed'
It is said that the spirits do not like the concept of a closed theatre. Or maybe that they like it too much. Instead, it is 'Dark'. That's right, when you leave for the night and text the building owner, you say the stage is dark and the doors are locked.
Number 8: Others
- yellow = bad
- blue = bad unless countered with silver
- peacock feathers = no
- real flowers = not on stage
- Same goes for money
- real food is just fine.
- three lit candles is bad luck (and generally a bad idea)
- green is no good
- NEVER say the last line of the play in front of an empty house
These are the basic superstitions found back stage. There are dozens more and then the ones used by each performer. Try not to let skepticism show and try to follow them because it is just safer that way. Have fun!
Sarah K
Friday, June 27, 2014
Movies are Just Plays with Cameras and an Editor.
So, I love being a sort-of theatre major. I meet wonderful people and take fun classes, like Script Analysis. Before I was aiming for a BIS, though, I was an English major which was a bit of a disaster on my part. Anyway, I got into a conversation with a Creative Writing major shortly after "Disney's Frozen" came out. Now, anyone who knows me knows that I have issues with the movie. I think that it is incomplete and silly, but it is fun to watch and has some fun characters and one-line quips.
We both agreed that there were some plot holes but then we got into an argument about other things. Then I mentioned something about what I had learned in Script Analysis and the first thing that she said was something about a story is nothing like a script. Now I was a little heated at the moment, but now that I have had time to let everything sink in, I have to say:
A Movie is Just a Play with Cameras and an Editor.
A play script and a movie script, when placed side by side look remarkably similar. Many plays are made into movies and vice versa. When a book is made into a movie, it takes a scriptwriter to transpose it and before it even hits the production steps, parts are ripped out and changed. When a play (e.g. Roger and Hammerstein's Cinderella with Brandi and Bernadette Peters) is made into a movie, the scriptwriter and producer and director get together and ask: What can we add to this to make it more fun, more explosive, more it?
So, to the Creative Writing major(s) out there who believe that movies are closer to the novels they are writing than to the plays being put into production, let's see who gets the movie deal first: Cuban Swimmer, or your Great American Novel. (Also, which one gets to stay closest to the original story?)
Wednesday, June 25, 2014
Harsh Words can Lead to Harsh Actions
I was recently backstage for a production of Seussical the Musical Jr. and I witnessed some bullying. It was unintentional and nonviolent but it was there. So, I will take the words said by the director/teacher as they put on their first showing:
First of all, I am against calling classes where one learns to act Drama. That is just a bridge that should be burned or not built in the first place. These classes should be: Performing Arts, Theatre, Theatrics, Theatre Studies, The Art of Acting, Acting Logistics, or, if you are ambitious and have the slot space, The Art of Standing in front of Your Peers and Making a Potential Fool of Yourself For their Entertainment and to do Something Amazing. NEVER Drama. Ever.
Now, the title of this post is "Harsh Words can Lead to Harsh Actions" which is the point I really want to make. Middle school is a tough world to be in because everyone is evolving at different speeds where before they were pretty much all at the same level. Some people are learning what they are good at and knowing that they are good they will put themselves into a false leadership position and make others, who are still unsure of themselves, feel self-conscious and bad about their own talents and abilities, even if they are better than the other one.
The words said from one person to another can usually be brushed off, but sometimes it can lead to what the police like to call a physical altercation and what I call a fight (or well deserved B* slap, depending on the situation). When this happens backstage, there are a series of things that can, and will, go wrong. It doesn't matter if the actors are six or sixty, all actors react the same way to hate or hateful acts. That is to hate back.
Here is a compiled short list of different things I have personally seen actors do to each other backstage:
Words hurt more than a person, it hurts the performance. The audience can feel when something is off and that means that there will be people going home saying, "That was fun but I don't think I will tell my friends to come see it."
So, I encourage all actors to, before they something they might regret, take a deep breath, bite some ice, and walk away. if you cannot get into character because you are angry, walk away from a number or two unless you have lines, then get over yourself. The production is bigger than any one person and everyone contributes, no matter what your lines, part, or costume. Have fun and the audience will too.
Sarah K
THERE IS NO ROOM FOR DRAMA IN THEATRE.
First of all, I am against calling classes where one learns to act Drama. That is just a bridge that should be burned or not built in the first place. These classes should be: Performing Arts, Theatre, Theatrics, Theatre Studies, The Art of Acting, Acting Logistics, or, if you are ambitious and have the slot space, The Art of Standing in front of Your Peers and Making a Potential Fool of Yourself For their Entertainment and to do Something Amazing. NEVER Drama. Ever.
Now, the title of this post is "Harsh Words can Lead to Harsh Actions" which is the point I really want to make. Middle school is a tough world to be in because everyone is evolving at different speeds where before they were pretty much all at the same level. Some people are learning what they are good at and knowing that they are good they will put themselves into a false leadership position and make others, who are still unsure of themselves, feel self-conscious and bad about their own talents and abilities, even if they are better than the other one.
The words said from one person to another can usually be brushed off, but sometimes it can lead to what the police like to call a physical altercation and what I call a fight (or well deserved B* slap, depending on the situation). When this happens backstage, there are a series of things that can, and will, go wrong. It doesn't matter if the actors are six or sixty, all actors react the same way to hate or hateful acts. That is to hate back.
Here is a compiled short list of different things I have personally seen actors do to each other backstage:
- Stop talking
- Taking the other's makeup
- 'losing' tights or small costume pieces
- tripping
- gossiping
- peanut butter in the foundation
- putting runs in pantyhose
- placing glass in the other's shoes
Words hurt more than a person, it hurts the performance. The audience can feel when something is off and that means that there will be people going home saying, "That was fun but I don't think I will tell my friends to come see it."
So, I encourage all actors to, before they something they might regret, take a deep breath, bite some ice, and walk away. if you cannot get into character because you are angry, walk away from a number or two unless you have lines, then get over yourself. The production is bigger than any one person and everyone contributes, no matter what your lines, part, or costume. Have fun and the audience will too.
Sarah K
Tuesday, June 24, 2014
Say as Little as Possible...
When it comes to social acting, which is something that everyone (Yes, even you the totally narcissistic twenty year old with the mental acumen of a fifteen year old) does on a daily basis, there is only one rule to follow: when you want to get all the information without giving yourself away, then say as little as possible.
One of the reasons that people like actors is because they seem easy to get along with, they seem happy even when they are stressed and they bring a great personality and life to any party. An actor can fit into any situation whether it is black tie, rager or one of those awkward cheese and cracker parties at your most stuffy professor's home. I was once asked how it was that professional and semi-professional actors could pull that off. The answer is simply that they know how to observe.
Let's be honest now. The vast majority of people do not like feeling awkward or tense. We have been told that it is bad for our health. some people avoid those situations, but good social actors just act. They know enough and can keep their mouths shut long enough to avoid looking like a moron.
Now, there is another part of social acting that is very important in my personal life that has to deal with saying as little as possible. That is when I go back to my little hometown and walk into the theatre. The six or seven full time board members will be meeting with the three or four part time I-want-my-kid-to-have-a-lead-in-the-next-play-that-is-really-a-bad-junior-version-of-a-Disney-movie mother members of the board will be seated in a circle on hard chairs in the lobby where the really old member who single-handedly destroyed any chance of the productions doing well in the future sits and tells everyone else what to do while the president of the board isn't allowed a word in edge-wise until everyone else has backed him into a corner. In this situation, even though I personally have more training in running a theatre than all of them put together, I am the youngest, and therefore am ignorable and ignorant. It is all I can do to keep from screaming at all of them.
Instead, I take deep breaths and remind myself that if they wish to run their program into the ground, then let them. It will make everything so much cheaper when I come back and buy the building out from underneath them and turn it into the sparkling symbol it could have been if they had only listened to me.
Now, I would like to apologize for the unprofessional turn this post took. I obviously have issues with people who treat me like an ignoramus, like the board, my grandmother and my sister. I will post again soon.
K
One of the reasons that people like actors is because they seem easy to get along with, they seem happy even when they are stressed and they bring a great personality and life to any party. An actor can fit into any situation whether it is black tie, rager or one of those awkward cheese and cracker parties at your most stuffy professor's home. I was once asked how it was that professional and semi-professional actors could pull that off. The answer is simply that they know how to observe.
Let's be honest now. The vast majority of people do not like feeling awkward or tense. We have been told that it is bad for our health. some people avoid those situations, but good social actors just act. They know enough and can keep their mouths shut long enough to avoid looking like a moron.
Now, there is another part of social acting that is very important in my personal life that has to deal with saying as little as possible. That is when I go back to my little hometown and walk into the theatre. The six or seven full time board members will be meeting with the three or four part time I-want-my-kid-to-have-a-lead-in-the-next-play-that-is-really-a-bad-junior-version-of-a-Disney-movie mother members of the board will be seated in a circle on hard chairs in the lobby where the really old member who single-handedly destroyed any chance of the productions doing well in the future sits and tells everyone else what to do while the president of the board isn't allowed a word in edge-wise until everyone else has backed him into a corner. In this situation, even though I personally have more training in running a theatre than all of them put together, I am the youngest, and therefore am ignorable and ignorant. It is all I can do to keep from screaming at all of them.
Instead, I take deep breaths and remind myself that if they wish to run their program into the ground, then let them. It will make everything so much cheaper when I come back and buy the building out from underneath them and turn it into the sparkling symbol it could have been if they had only listened to me.
Now, I would like to apologize for the unprofessional turn this post took. I obviously have issues with people who treat me like an ignoramus, like the board, my grandmother and my sister. I will post again soon.
K
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