Community Theater Green Room Discussion Board: Breaking tradition

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k8tt
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Posted: 10/31/05 at 11:42am

Shatcher - I like this 'before the house opens' tradition of yours. We tried to avoid the closing night thankyous this past Saturday and it was a disaster. No one told the pit orchestra that we weren't doing speeches, so the oboist came up on stage during the final applause and started a LONG love-fest about the Musical Director! The Musical Director then thanked his orchestra, the cast, etc. and the Director felt compelled to do the same.

What went wrong? The Director was flustered and thanked EVERYONE (and their dog) except for yours truly (as SM I have made this show a full time job for the past few months)! I had pretty hurt feelings and the cast was outraged - started chanting my name on stage as the audience was trying to escape. We will NEVER do that again!

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Joan54
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Posted: 11/01/05 at 1:11pm

Wow..sorry I missed that...sounds like drama to me. Especially the part about the cast chanting your name....there's a scene for you. I like that you descibe the audience as "trying to escape". As an audience member I have simply left after a decent interval of applause and let the cast babble on without me.

Don't get your nose out of joint about being left out...as you said the Director was unprepared and flustered. Thank-you speeches always seem to leave someone out which is why they should be banned from the theater....

"behind a thin wall of logic panic is waiting to stampede"

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jtonner
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Posted: 11/02/05 at 8:17am

Our group does not do closing night "call ups". It did, unfortunately, happen to me once when the mother of the lead decided that she should have her daughter call me up. I went, not happy about it. From then on, on closing night green room, I tell the cast to not call me up, because if they do, I will leave the auditorium and let them stand there.

As for pre show announcements, I do not like them either, but it sometimes appears they need to be done. We have a printed sign, but it seems people either cannot of do not read, or they do not pay attention to what the sign says. I think this is the lesser of the two "evils".

John

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GoldCanyonLady
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Posted: 3/13/06 at 9:55am

We have a lot of great theatre opportunities here in Arizona and never have I had to endure the thank yous at the end. We are a small local theatre in a senior community and the previous director told us that we should call her up and they had flowers for her and all and they did it every one of the four nights---not just closing night.

I just finished my first play as director and I made the opening announcements over the PA from the sound booth. Since we don't have a curtain, I announced that at the end of each act and at the end of the play the house lights would go out and stay out for up to 30 seconds. I asked them for their safety to stay in their seats until the lights came up.

I simply told the cast that I didn't want to be called up. I told them we would look more professional. They did their bows, the group bow, then the lights went out and they quickly exited the stage, came down the stairs and stood in front of the stage to be greeted by the audience. That was it and I loved it. It felt less like a high school play this way.
Barb

Barb Hofmeister,
MountainBrook Village Players, Gold Canyon, Arizona.

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avcastner
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Posted: 5/20/07 at 12:54pm

FYI: I'm the "guest" from a few posts earlier--my username didn't migrate when the forum updated.

I have sinced changed the way I handle closing night thanks. The actors still insist on thanking the backstage people and me from the stage. They even have gifts for me. I just wave from the back and cue the lights to go down. (Of course, I do tell them not to even think of calling me up onstage). Still, the whole thing only takes about 1 extra minute, because only one person is allowed to speak.

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Kurt Muller
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Posted: 5/21/07 at 7:21am

Joe, Linda might be getting the hang of your colourful colloquiallisms, but I'm blowed if I am!!

And I'm a third generation true blue Aussie!!!

Mate, what language are you speaking?!! Don't tell me. You're one of those blokes from the Land Of The Long White Clod, aren't you? I can hear the Kiwi accent from here!!

Just kidding, mate. But still, you might want to slow down a bit when you're writing, eh? All the good points you make, sometimes get lost in translation.

Cheers.

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suzecue1
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Posted: 5/21/07 at 11:51am

This may be a little "cold" of me, but why in the world would you want to do this in front of a paying audience? Don't you want them leaving and thinking about the fabulous show they just saw? We always save our "thank you's" (and gifts) for the cast party, when the people that were involved in the show, and a few family members, are present.

Now at our high school productions, when there is no cast party with the directors in attendance, the senior students call the directors up the last night, to thank them and give them gifts. In turn, the directors introduce and recognize the seniors and the fact that the show is their last High School production. It is a nice wrap up for schools - but I wouldn't put a regular CT audience through it. Way too emotional IMHO

Sue
*****
So many hats.....so few heads!

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jphock
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Posted: 5/21/07 at 4:25pm

There was a group I had the great displeasure of working with on their 10th anniversary show. After the final bows the director (and president of the organization) came on stage to individually thank EVERY person in the audience that had ever been in one of our shows. It went on for over 15 minutes.

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TonyDi
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Posted: 5/22/07 at 8:21am

MY IDEAL situation - ANNOUNCEMENTS about Fire Exits, Cell phones, smoking, photography of any kind, announcements IN THE PROGRAM, on a PROMINENT DISPLAY CARD IN THE LOBBY (with simple sketch of the space indicating emergency exits), and then subtly announced over PA if available just before start of show. Sponsors get their line in the program, friends, people who loan things, others "forgotten" are thanked and leave it at that.

CURTAIN SPEECHES - NO!! NEVER!! If needed a GOOD VOICE OVER PA for reiteration of announcements "In a world where time in theater, means......" YOU know the movie voice guy.

Gift giving or recognition - CAST PARTY OR PRIVATELY if no party. Who wants to be called on stage on the last night when you're dressed for STRIKE? NOT ME!

If CELL PHONES ARE NOT turned off, ushers politely go to offender and tell them. IF NECESSARY - a seasoned, pissed off actor will turn to the JERK IN THE AUDIENCE and tell them to PISS OFF with the phone - sad but it's been done and the audience usually applauds the actor. THIS IS TONGUE IN CHEEK but I've seen it and loved it. As an audience member I've even gone so far at to tell someone what an ass they were and to turn off the cell phone. I know I love to incite theater riots if someone is being a jerk AT MY EXPENSE TOO.

PRAISE AND ACCOLADE comes when the job is done well and proper. I have a patron following and they know me by name and on sight - many have become good friends and followers over the years. HARD to make a subtle, unnoticed appearance anywhere in the theater and NOT be stopped for pats on the back. BUT I try to dumb-it-down so much that it's brief and as unnoticed as possible. I'd rather the audience leaves without fanfare of any kind. THAT goes for this infernal meet and greet after the show. THAT doesn't happen in professional theater. Actors like to sneak out the back stage door only to occasionally be inundated. BUT that rarely happens in CT so why allow them to further pat actors on the back when they just got finished applauding them - maybe even giving them a standing O - only to be compelled to have actors waiting at the door for further pats on the back. I just don't get it. I don't need it. WHEN I as a director hear the applause, I lay claim to as much of it as the actor does. As an actor, I SHARE IT with the director without whom it might not have achieved the response it does - whatever that might be.

I am NOT big on traditions much less believe in superstitions either. THAT is about the biggest load of guano that I've ever heard. I have broken ALL those superstitions and NOTHING - in 50 years - has EVER happened of a negative nature as a result. Such drama, such crap. I believe you do your job and if done right, nothing is going to jinx what occurs. It's about hard work, dedication, proper approach for each situation and then casting the bones on the floor and hoping they line up for good fortune. Kidding! THAT would be superstititious and I just said I wasn't. METAPHORICALLY speaking then.

ANYWAY ideals might be wonderful - however they're too infrequently achieved. THAT is why I do so little theater anymore. Can't stand the silly things that go on and that never seem to change.

Tony B

"Almost famous"

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pdavis69
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Posted: 5/22/07 at 11:43am

We very rarely do announcements at our theatre. We will make exceptions if we are having gunshots or strobe effects, then we will warn the audience ahead of time. As far as a director's bow, never. I can't speak for all of our directors but I get my satisfaction in watching the audience during the performance. We do our hugs and thanks at a party. That's private to us not having to do with the audience.

Patrick L. Davis
Fort Findlay Playhouse

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Directing
Community Theater Green Room Discussion Board :Producing Theater :Directing

Topic: Breaking tradition( Topic Closed)
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Author	Message
k8tt Star Joined: 4/05/05 Location: Canada Online Status: Offline Posts: 73	Posted: 10/31/05 at 11:42am
	Shatcher - I like this 'before the house opens' tradition of yours. We tried to avoid the closing night thankyous this past Saturday and it was a disaster. No one told the pit orchestra that we weren't doing speeches, so the oboist came up on stage during the final applause and started a LONG love-fest about the Musical Director! The Musical Director then thanked his orchestra, the cast, etc. and the Director felt compelled to do the same. What went wrong? The Director was flustered and thanked EVERYONE (and their dog) except for yours truly (as SM I have made this show a full time job for the past few months)! I had pretty hurt feelings and the cast was outraged - started chanting my name on stage as the audience was trying to escape. We will NEVER do that again!
	IP Logged

Joan54 Celebrity Joined: 10/03/05 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 207	Posted: 11/01/05 at 1:11pm
	Wow..sorry I missed that...sounds like drama to me. Especially the part about the cast chanting your name....there's a scene for you. I like that you descibe the audience as "trying to escape". As an audience member I have simply left after a decent interval of applause and let the cast babble on without me. Don't get your nose out of joint about being left out...as you said the Director was unprepared and flustered. Thank-you speeches always seem to leave someone out which is why they should be banned from the theater....
	"behind a thin wall of logic panic is waiting to stampede"
	IP Logged

jtonner Star Joined: 2/02/04 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 56	Posted: 11/02/05 at 8:17am
	Our group does not do closing night "call ups". It did, unfortunately, happen to me once when the mother of the lead decided that she should have her daughter call me up. I went, not happy about it. From then on, on closing night green room, I tell the cast to not call me up, because if they do, I will leave the auditorium and let them stand there. As for pre show announcements, I do not like them either, but it sometimes appears they need to be done. We have a printed sign, but it seems people either cannot of do not read, or they do not pay attention to what the sign says. I think this is the lesser of the two "evils". John
	John
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GoldCanyonLady Celebrity Joined: 2/05/05 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 172	Posted: 3/13/06 at 9:55am
	We have a lot of great theatre opportunities here in Arizona and never have I had to endure the thank yous at the end. We are a small local theatre in a senior community and the previous director told us that we should call her up and they had flowers for her and all and they did it every one of the four nights---not just closing night. I just finished my first play as director and I made the opening announcements over the PA from the sound booth. Since we don't have a curtain, I announced that at the end of each act and at the end of the play the house lights would go out and stay out for up to 30 seconds. I asked them for their safety to stay in their seats until the lights came up. I simply told the cast that I didn't want to be called up. I told them we would look more professional. They did their bows, the group bow, then the lights went out and they quickly exited the stage, came down the stairs and stood in front of the stage to be greeted by the audience. That was it and I loved it. It felt less like a high school play this way. Barb
	Barb Hofmeister, MountainBrook Village Players, Gold Canyon, Arizona.
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avcastner Star Joined: 12/21/06 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 85	Posted: 5/20/07 at 12:54pm
	FYI: I'm the "guest" from a few posts earlier--my username didn't migrate when the forum updated. I have sinced changed the way I handle closing night thanks. The actors still insist on thanking the backstage people and me from the stage. They even have gifts for me. I just wave from the back and cue the lights to go down. (Of course, I do tell them not to even think of calling me up onstage). Still, the whole thing only takes about 1 extra minute, because only one person is allowed to speak.
	IP Logged

Kurt Muller Player Joined: 11/11/05 Location: Australia Online Status: Offline Posts: 28	Posted: 5/21/07 at 7:21am
	Joe, Linda might be getting the hang of your colourful colloquiallisms, but I'm blowed if I am!! And I'm a third generation true blue Aussie!!! Mate, what language are you speaking?!! Don't tell me. You're one of those blokes from the Land Of The Long White Clod, aren't you? I can hear the Kiwi accent from here!! Just kidding, mate. But still, you might want to slow down a bit when you're writing, eh? All the good points you make, sometimes get lost in translation. Cheers.
	IP Logged

suzecue1 Star Joined: 9/19/06 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 90	Posted: 5/21/07 at 11:51am
	This may be a little "cold" of me, but why in the world would you want to do this in front of a paying audience? Don't you want them leaving and thinking about the fabulous show they just saw? We always save our "thank you's" (and gifts) for the cast party, when the people that were involved in the show, and a few family members, are present. Now at our high school productions, when there is no cast party with the directors in attendance, the senior students call the directors up the last night, to thank them and give them gifts. In turn, the directors introduce and recognize the seniors and the fact that the show is their last High School production. It is a nice wrap up for schools - but I wouldn't put a regular CT audience through it. Way too emotional IMHO
	Sue ***** So many hats.....so few heads!
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jphock Lead Joined: 10/21/05 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 35	Posted: 5/21/07 at 4:25pm
	There was a group I had the great displeasure of working with on their 10th anniversary show. After the final bows the director (and president of the organization) came on stage to individually thank EVERY person in the audience that had ever been in one of our shows. It went on for over 15 minutes.
	IP Logged

TonyDi Celebrity Joined: 9/13/06 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 325	Posted: 5/22/07 at 8:21am
	MY IDEAL situation - ANNOUNCEMENTS about Fire Exits, Cell phones, smoking, photography of any kind, announcements IN THE PROGRAM, on a PROMINENT DISPLAY CARD IN THE LOBBY (with simple sketch of the space indicating emergency exits), and then subtly announced over PA if available just before start of show. Sponsors get their line in the program, friends, people who loan things, others "forgotten" are thanked and leave it at that. CURTAIN SPEECHES - NO!! NEVER!! If needed a GOOD VOICE OVER PA for reiteration of announcements "In a world where time in theater, means......" YOU know the movie voice guy. Gift giving or recognition - CAST PARTY OR PRIVATELY if no party. Who wants to be called on stage on the last night when you're dressed for STRIKE? NOT ME! If CELL PHONES ARE NOT turned off, ushers politely go to offender and tell them. IF NECESSARY - a seasoned, pissed off actor will turn to the JERK IN THE AUDIENCE and tell them to PISS OFF with the phone - sad but it's been done and the audience usually applauds the actor. THIS IS TONGUE IN CHEEK but I've seen it and loved it. As an audience member I've even gone so far at to tell someone what an ass they were and to turn off the cell phone. I know I love to incite theater riots if someone is being a jerk AT MY EXPENSE TOO. PRAISE AND ACCOLADE comes when the job is done well and proper. I have a patron following and they know me by name and on sight - many have become good friends and followers over the years. HARD to make a subtle, unnoticed appearance anywhere in the theater and NOT be stopped for pats on the back. BUT I try to dumb-it-down so much that it's brief and as unnoticed as possible. I'd rather the audience leaves without fanfare of any kind. THAT goes for this infernal meet and greet after the show. THAT doesn't happen in professional theater. Actors like to sneak out the back stage door only to occasionally be inundated. BUT that rarely happens in CT so why allow them to further pat actors on the back when they just got finished applauding them - maybe even giving them a standing O - only to be compelled to have actors waiting at the door for further pats on the back. I just don't get it. I don't need it. WHEN I as a director hear the applause, I lay claim to as much of it as the actor does. As an actor, I SHARE IT with the director without whom it might not have achieved the response it does - whatever that might be. I am NOT big on traditions much less believe in superstitions either. THAT is about the biggest load of guano that I've ever heard. I have broken ALL those superstitions and NOTHING - in 50 years - has EVER happened of a negative nature as a result. Such drama, such crap. I believe you do your job and if done right, nothing is going to jinx what occurs. It's about hard work, dedication, proper approach for each situation and then casting the bones on the floor and hoping they line up for good fortune. Kidding! THAT would be superstititious and I just said I wasn't. METAPHORICALLY speaking then. ANYWAY ideals might be wonderful - however they're too infrequently achieved. THAT is why I do so little theater anymore. Can't stand the silly things that go on and that never seem to change. Tony B
	"Almost famous"
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pdavis69 Celebrity Joined: 3/26/06 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 437	Posted: 5/22/07 at 11:43am
	We very rarely do announcements at our theatre. We will make exceptions if we are having gunshots or strobe effects, then we will warn the audience ahead of time. As far as a director's bow, never. I can't speak for all of our directors but I get my satisfaction in watching the audience during the performance. We do our hugs and thanks at a party. That's private to us not having to do with the audience.
	Patrick L. Davis Fort Findlay Playhouse
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