Earlier this year, I directed a musical for an elementary school.
I usually work with Children's Theater Groups where I have known my assistants and been very familiar with the stage we were using beforehand. Going in to a new situation, not knowing a soul, I had to come up to speed quickly on a lot of fronts. The biggest issue I found was the stage itself.
The stage had adequate space, good lighting, a nice procenium curtain, large stairs in the front for use as choir risers, but it had some major problems. 1) There was absolutely no space to the sides or back to hold performers or sets or props or anything. 2) The black hanging drapes were hung in such a way as to block any entrances for the performers to get onto the stage. 3) The only feasible ways to move large masses of performers onto the front of the stage (via the risers) was from the hallway doors into the gym which, incidentally, were the only exits for the public as well. 4) There were no costume changing places, no holding tanks for the performers, and no place for a props table except out in the main hallway in full view of the public. Obviously, whoever designed this stage did not intend to use it for dramatic performances.
I usually work with Children's Theater Groups where I have known my assistants and been very familiar with the stage we were using beforehand. Going in to a new situation, not knowing a soul, I had to come up to speed quickly on a lot of fronts. The biggest issue I found was the stage itself.
The stage had adequate space, good lighting, a nice procenium curtain, large stairs in the front for use as choir risers, but it had some major problems. 1) There was absolutely no space to the sides or back to hold performers or sets or props or anything. 2) The black hanging drapes were hung in such a way as to block any entrances for the performers to get onto the stage. 3) The only feasible ways to move large masses of performers onto the front of the stage (via the risers) was from the hallway doors into the gym which, incidentally, were the only exits for the public as well. 4) There were no costume changing places, no holding tanks for the performers, and no place for a props table except out in the main hallway in full view of the public. Obviously, whoever designed this stage did not intend to use it for dramatic performances.
Notice the gap in the black drapes behind the cottage set. It was the only entrance from the back hall onto the stage. We finally pinned the black drapes together at the top so a gap wouldn't show as the actors entered or exited the stage.
Because, in Children's Theater we are used to being creative with very few resources, we were able to come up with innovative ways around these problems. But the bigger issue is that I have heard that this type of stage will be the replacement model for all stages being built in school renovations in this area. Why would anyone think that this is a good idea?
Why would it makes sense to build a stage with no way for the performers to get onto it? Don't they know that a good performance is all about the stage?
Why would it makes sense to build a stage with no way for the performers to get onto it? Don't they know that a good performance is all about the stage?
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