Sunday, June 13th, 2010 9:30 pm
There’s usually a divide between the actors and everyone else working on a stage production. It’s not always a bad thing; it’s natural that everyone is focused on their responsibilities, and as long as there’s an understanding that the show doesn’t go on without the performance and the technical sides somehow coming together, I don’t have any issues with it. At the college, every actor is encouraged to work tech on shows they’re not cast in, so we tend not to have a “us versus them” mentality, though I certainly have seen it with other production companies.
It’s the director’s job to make sure everything works smoothly — in rehearsal. Once the show enters its final stages of preparation, though, it becomes the job of the stage manager and his or her assistants to supervise the actual show from tech week though every performance. When I turn a show over to my stage manager, it can be the most terrifying part of the whole process. Sitting in the audience waiting for the curtain and then watching the production over which I no longer have any control is a very helpless feeling, especially if anything goes wrong. But directors have to let go and trust the actors, crew and, of course, those stage managers, to do their jobs.
I’ve been very fortunate to have some great stage managers who made my opening night jitters more than manageable over the past year. Some had previous experience, some didn’t, but each of them worked hard, paid attention to the details, and performed in a professional manner throughout the rehearsal and performance periods. I’d like to recognize them now:
- High School Musical – Alex Meyer (SM) and Dan Williams (ASM)
- All In The Timing – Mallorie Krul (SM) and Regina Spain (Props and ASM)
- A Christmas Carol – Chris Brennan (SM) – and Chris had to put up with me as ASM since we cast everyone else in the show!
- The Real Thing – Chris Brennan (SM, again) and Joel Badley (ASM). Special thanks to Christine Lis (Props) and Chuck Tinker (Props Assistant).
- Young King Arthur – Christine Lis (SM) and Karry Herber (ASM).
The unsung heroes!
Thursday, June 10th, 2010 11:17 am
So. I’m morbidly obese. I have a body-mass index of almost 40. I’m 6’2″ and weigh 310 pounds (on my bathroom scale, which also thinks I weigh 317 and 298, so precision isn’t guaranteed; but what’s a few pounds here or there once you get over 300?). I like the term “obese,” because it’s much more scientific than plain old “fat,” which is also what I am.
It’s the morbidly part I’m not as crazy about. I’ve been morbidly curious driving by an accident on the freeway. I’ve been morbidly interested walking through the living room while Erin watches one of the reality shows on MTV. And I’ve been morbidly obese for some time. In fact, the BMI tables suggest that a man my height ought to be closer to 195 pounds, but I haven’t weighed under 200 since I was in junior high school.
The reason it concerns me now — finally — is that the concept of mortality is starting to become more real to me. I’m 47 years old, and all of my grandparents lived well into their 80s, both my parents are alive in their 70s, so the family pattern is good. But 47 is a lot closer to dead than 27 was, and I’m starting to experience some of the aches and pains that I’m sure would be a lot better if I wasn’t carrying around 80 pounds of, ahem, dead weight.
I’m also tired to having to play the “fat guy” roles on stage. I’d like to see what it would be like to audition for any role (except fat guys, of course) without worrying about whether I’m too big to play a part. Plus it would help me dance better, and believe me, I need all the help I can get there.
So it’s time to do something about it. I’m going to use Rick Gallop’s “G.I. Diet” again: I’ve been moderately successful twice before (once before I’d even read his book and made many of the same choices on my own). The last time was in 2008 when I lost a bit over 50 pounds… then gained it back when I took a job in Warren and started eating fast food for lunch every day again. This time I’m taking it in 20 pound increments (I’ve lost the first five typing this blog entry! okay, since Monday) with a long-term goal of 80 pounds, which would get me to 230. From there, we’ll see what happens.
I’m going to blog now and then about it so you can keep score at home. I figure this will be an additional motivation to keep going, since I’ve told you my plans publicly. So feel free to nag me if I don’t give an update.
Wednesday, June 2nd, 2010 3:55 pm
Courtesy of xkcd:
