One Day I'll Get Out Of This Town...

So again the KCRep has asked me to be a Production Assistant and again I have said yes, because hey it's a job isn't it? Please don't get me wrong I like KC and all, but I'm starting to feel like I've been in one place for too long.

No news on what might happen after my stint in KC, at least not yet. I'm still hoping things work in my favor and I get to do some traveling.

Until I have more to talk about,
Laura

And Now For Something Sort Of Different

Hello again,
I write this sitting backstage at the next piece of work. I am a Production Assistant (moving up in the world) for the Kansas City Repertory Theatre's production of A Christmas Story, The Musical. Now before you get all excited because you love that movie I have a confession to make, I've never seen the movie. I know I know they show it 24 hours on Christmas day, but that is time to be with my family and the tv does not get turned on...but I digress. I was in charge of costumes in the rehearsal hall but now that we are in the theater I have changed over to moters. It is just a little bit nerve racking, this scenery is moving fast and I have already had to cram the emergency stop button once today. Other then that we've made it into the second scene on the first day of tech, not bad. World premires are interesting, there are alot more people to deal with, aka writers and composers. I think we recycled half of an old oak forest with the amount of paper we went through in the rehearsal.

I have nothing lined up for after the 3rd of January, once A Christmas Story is closed. My next gig got bumped which is why I am back at the Rep in the first place. Though on a personal note I might be buying a house in Michigan if my other half get's a job there. Then it will be wherever the wind takes me. So hang on for the ride, because who knows where I will turn up next.

~Laura

Into the Woods and Out of the Woods and Into the Woods...

Hello again,
I should be sleeping as I do not have to be back in the theater until 5:30 on Tuesday, but you all deserve an update.

I have joined the ranks of the Into the Woods crew for the Kansas City Repertory. After a 100 hours of tech (I wish I was joking) the show has been running with only minor snags along the way. The show itself is 2 hours and 50 minutes of hurry up and wait. It wouldn't be so bad if there was lots to do or nothing to do, but the hurry up and wait for the next cue bugs me for some reason. It is absolutely grueling on a two show day...and we have four of those this coming week. Please don't get me wrong it is great to be a deck hand and only have the responsibilities that someone else has given you i.e. go there and push that button when I tell you. I'm okay with that and by no means do I do the most work in the show, not even close. There is a crew of twenty people working on the show. That includes dressers, spot ops, board ops, ASMs, PAs, and deck hands. We out number the crew by three people so if one would do the math there are 37 people working on this show daily! Luckily we all get along pretty well.

Other then that not much to tell. I am looking for work inbetween now and leaving for Africa. I found a place looking for a Stage Manager for Little Women, but I need to know when I leave before I apply for the job. If not I think I might be wiring my parent's attic to make some cash, which I'm okay with too.

If you know of anybody looking for a Stage Manager and are willing to pay her send them my way,
Laura

And I'm Off

Good evening everyone!
I am off to Kansas City in the morning. Two day drive by myself...yay...okay not really. Don't worry I'll have Clive Cussler's Corsair to keep me entertained, but feel free to call. I should get to somewhere around Columbus, Ohio before I have to stop tomorrow.

For those of you in KC see you soon for everyone else thanks for dropping by,
Laura

Check Please!

Holy crap reality check please!
I'm going to South Africa in December...yeah holy crap! For a year! I'm excited and scared and going to be REALLY far away from everyone. I'm not quite sure how I feel about that...oh yeah terrified!

Anyway I leave for Kansas City on Thursday.

Thanks for dropping by,
Laura

Home?

Hello again!
I am actually at home, hard to believe I know, but don't worry I'll be back to work next week. I wanted to share with you a photo.

This is the Black Hills Playhouse and it has been home for the last three months. If you have read my previous posts you know the playhouse is in danger of being thrown out of Custer State Park, and I won't get back up on my soap box about that. I had an amazing time in the black hills and I want to be able to go back. I learned a heep and met some really neat people. If you get the chance work there take it. It could change your life :)

Into the Woods opens the 11th of September and I am ready to join the crew full of people I already know. Beth the ASM told me it was going to be a great show but it would probably kill us...so nothing out of the ordinary ;)

So I'll keep my feet up for a little which is good cause my bum is killing me...oh I guess I could tell you that story. I went horseback riding two weeks ago and at a full gallop the cinch on my saddle came loose. There is really only one thing you can do at that point...fall. So I did and I have a bruised tailbone, but nothing broken. Hence the sore butt. Other then that I'm peachy.

Thanks for dropping in,
Laura

Work for real this time!

So it is set, I am headed back to Kansas City for work on the 5th of September! The KC Rep has employed me for a month and though it is not as long of a run as I would like it's work.

Almost done here in SD six days left.

~Laura

Rule of Thumb...

DON'T WASTE MY TIME!

*breathes in and out*

Sorry. First rehearsal with the band and the music director is frustrated...not with the cast but with the music. Anyway it will all come together...I hope.

This has been a very long rehearsal with about an hour to go. I will try not to scream. Promise.

~Laura

Yay Work!

I have worked my butt off here in SD and enjoyed immensely but the future keeps rearing its head. I got an e-mail today from the Kansas City Repertory Theatre, they want me as part of their stage crew for Into the Woods! That will keep me busy until early October. It is not as long as I would like, but hey they are going to pay me.

Other then that Sweet Metigoshe has begun rehearsals and I'm back in the rehearsal hall. This will be an interesting piece as it is a new piece and full of dance and music but no singing.

The other stage manager is not feeling well today. I have no room to talk, if she goes down five minutes before the show I cannot complain. I ended up in the hospital opening night of SUDS. Poor Kara and Charles (the lighting designer) called my show. If Kara goes down I will call her show for her.

That's about all for an update. Thanks for stopping by,
Laura

Christmas In July!

So the playhouse does Christmas in July every summer. Why? The answer is pretty simple, it keeps people from killing each other. Right now it is a week from tomorrow and quite frankly I don't know if we will make it that long. I hope so.

In other news SUDS is open and running fairly smoothly. My prep for Sweet Metigoshe is done and ready for the rehearsal hall (ick!)

Okay back to folding program inserts,
Laura

Ready for Tech!

Tech begins on Monday...okay spacing is on Monday and tech is Tuesday, but we get out of the rehearsal hall. I am ready! I'm ready to see the beautiful set Casey has designed for us and see it all come together. I hope the public are excited about this show because, though it has very little plot, it is a lot of fun, and the music is hard to get out of one's head!

The cast is ready to get out of this sweltering rehearsal hall...actually it was cold in here this morning. I think it's coming together very well, and the run through went very well this morning.

And I'm rambling...

~Laura

Things I Love About My Job

How many people can go to work in the theatre and see this? This is why I love doing theatre in the middle of nowhere. You can't find this in a city!

Just thought I'd share,
Laura

A Cry for Help!

Hello Everyone,
As some of you know (and some of you don't) I am in the middle of Custer State Park South Dakota for the summer. I am working for the Black Hills Playhouse. Most of you also know that the economy has not been nice to theatres recently. It is because of this that I write you now. The Black Hills Playhouse, which has been around for 64 years, lease is up in the fall and the state has no intention of renewing it. This means somewhere I will have worked will disappear. I can't stand for that if there is something I can do to help, something you can do to help. All it will take is a little bit of your time, a pencil, a piece of paper, an envelope and a stamp.

Write the Governor of South Dakota and tell him that the Black Hills Playhouse should stay in the park and be allowed to remain open.

It is such a neat place to work I would hate for it to disappear. Here is the address.

Governor Mike Rounds
Office of the Governor
500 E. Capitol Ave.
Pierre, SD 57501


Thanks,
Laura

TECH!

Hello,
Yesterday and today have marked the technical process for Brighton Beach Memoirs and I am glad. Honestly I don't like to sit in a rehearsal hall for very long (which is why I like summer stock) so getting to call cues and watch the show come together in the theater excites me (despite the long days).

I think working at the dinner theatre in Kansas City prepared me for such a short technical process. Two days and call it art. The costumes are lovely, the set will be complete by tomorrow, and we have almost all the props. Let's get this thing moving!

Other then that it's just another day in paradise.

Thanks for dropping by,
Laura

Good News and Bad News

The good news...
Eric the TD gave us the morning block to continue being onstage.

Bad news...
I'm under the thumb of my graduate school's financial aid department. So some words of wisdom from someone who has been there. When you go to school (graduate, undergraduate it doesn't matter) make sure all of your loans go through. Make sure that your financial situation is clear before the end of the semester...ideally it should be cleared up the beginning of the semester. Believe me it will keep you from having to pay $760 out of your own pocket to get them to release the holds from your student account, so you can register for your final class. But I digress...get your loans figured out and hope your financial aid department is worth something.

~Laura

On Stage!

Greetings!
Today is going to be interesting for a number of reasons.

First we get a chance to get onstage tonight. This is good because the rehearsal hall just isn't big enough to block out the entire set.

Second the weather here in SD has changed and it is quite cold. The rehearsal hall has reached a workable temperature thanks to three heaters, but there currently is no heat in the theater. It is going to be chilly when working on stage tonight. Burrrr!

Third in order to work on stage this evening all of the hand props that are currently in my rehearsal hall must be brought to the theater. Were we doing Our Town it would not be a problem, but as it is Bright Beach Memoirs there are many plates, cups, silverware, footballs, grocery bags, tea towels, books, baseballs, etc. to be transported. Luckily Eric the TD has promised me a few extra hands to transport props.

If we were staying in the theater this whole situation would be great, but alas that is not the case. Tomorrow we'll be back in the rehearsal hall. Saturday is our last day in the rehearsal hall, thankfully and tech begins Monday.

Thanks for dropping by,
Laura

Things I Miss

Hello again,
I think I was spoiled at school, or maybe I was spoiled because of doing Equity shows. Namely where there is a time limit on rehearsals. I am not fond of rehearsing nine hours a day and not getting any time to do more then throw myself in the shower and fall asleep before my head hits the pillow.

*Takes a deep breath*

However there are many lovely things about the people working here and I don't regret coming. At least the food is good :)

Alright enough of this, back to the business at hand, which will be dinner in a few minutes.

Thanks for dropping in,
Laura

First Rehearsal Impressions

Hello again,
Today was the first rehearsal for Brighton Beach Memoirs. We have done two read-throughs today. Just first impressions, there are either going to be a lot of internal cues (isolating areas of the stage) or I'm going to have little to do in the cue calling department. It's a strong cast, I think they'll be fine, we'll see when we get them on their feet tomorrow.

It is beautiful here, mountainous but beautiful.

Later days,
Laura

Traveling...again

Hello again,
Well I left KC and went home for ten days, got a nice surprise from my buddy Patrick, and now I'm on the road again. This time to South Dakota to work on three shows. Hopefully afterwards will be a bit of a breather but for now "Moving right along."

~Laura

A Quick Hello

Hello world!
Just a very quick hello as the show up stairs is going to end in about five minutes and I need to be there for strike. My name is Laura and I am about to be an M.F.A. Stage Manager (about to be meaning I'm going to graduate). Currently I reside in Kansas City, MO but that too is going to change shortly. Anyway hello and there will be more soon...I hope.

~Laura