I was wondering if other directors have the same problem that I have with the tradition of having the director come up on stage after the closing performance? It seems that it is happening with every show. I appreciate the gesture, but I am becoming increasingly uncomfortable dealing with an emotional cast in front of  hundreds of people. (The cast of my show that closed yesterday were mostly new actors and they were all crying.) It has become so much of a tradition that it seems everyone who worked on the show wants to be thanked in front of the closing audience. First of all I feel bad for the audience having to sit through it because they don't know most of the people. I don't want to prepare a speech because that seems tacky. But invariably I forget to thank someone on the set crew or acknowledge a volunteer then there are hurt feelings. I always prepare a funny speech and have little thank you gifts and pictures for everyone that worked on the show at the cast party. I would love to skip the part where I am hauled up on stage and leave the gift giving and thanking till the cast party. Any ideas of how I could go about breaking the tradition without looking like a don't appreciate them.

Linda

We had a similar tradition: the curtain speech before the show, where the director came out and made a little speech to the audience before the curtain went up, welcoming them to the theater and pointing out the locations of the restrooms and the theater exits in case of fire. I was told that it was required because the fire marshal said we HAD to point out the exits (which were marked with lighted signs visible from every seat in the house, with backup batteries in case the electricity went out), but I eventually learned that wasn't true (doh -- probably dated from the early days when they didn't have the signs). To me it always felt like the real purpose was to allow the director to get out there, enjoy a moment of glory, and make sure everybody in the audience knew who they were so they would receive proper recognition in the lobby after the show. On the one hand, it's a very nice gesture to the volunteer director, who usually works harder than anybody. On the other hand, at least to me, it felt like an excruciating bit of self-promotion, and I hated every second of it (especially pointing out the bathrooms). Worst of all, it seemed to emphasize that this was an AMATEUR theater production. Once I found out that the fire marshall didn't require us to point out the exits, I stopped doing them, explaining that I'd worked very hard to create a professional-quality production, and then I ruined that professionalism by walking out and telling everyone I directed the thing ("hey everybody, look at ME!") and that the bathrooms were down the hall. Turned out other directors felt the same way; a few others stopped making them, and eventually they died away, except for the occasional emergency situation (technical difficulties or a replacement in the cast).

Forcing an audience to sit through an orgy of self-congratulations after a performance is not very considerate of those who paid you good money for what they were probably hoping was going to be a professional-quality production. And the audience already knows who worked on the show -- that's what the program's for. It's not the audience's place to thank everyone personally by acknowledging and applauding them as their names are called out; that's for the director to do after the show at the cast party.

(Now I'm sure I've offended everyone who makes curtain speeches -- if you like 'em, more power to you, but I hope I never have to do another one!)

We never do it. Won't allow it. I agree with all Chris said. We have a curtain speech at intermission as we thank our sponsors, make announcements about upcoming auditions and shows and then have a raffle for two-free admissions -- our way of getting new folks on our mailing list. The audiences at our shows don't even know who the director is, and that's the way I like it!

Bewdy Linda your ?strine? ability will increase - without you knowing it!

I believe there is a radio frequency device that you can switch on to interfere with cellular signals?
Never had to go to  the extent of signs on the Teasers or Pro as yet! - but a worthwhile idea, I hope it works?.

 

Oh, It's going to let me post a reply. I've been trying for 3 days.  Ok so let me get on with it.  This is a tough habit to break. The small theatre company I belonged to had pre show announcements as well as Closing Night Director call.  After a few shows I just made sure there were announcements in the pragram in bold print about cell phones, fire exits etc and that pretty much took care of that until for 2 nights in a row someone's phone rang during the show and they got up and answered it and excused me, excuse me'd themselves all the way out of the theatre talking on the phone the whole time!  The producers MADE us make a live announcement after that.  This was a very small theatre like yours Chris, only 89 seats so needless to say it was very disruptive. The Closing night Director on Stage" fiasco is something I put a stop to one time at our first read thru.  I have a list of Rehearsal Guidelines and Theatre Ettiquitte (How DO you spell that word?) that I give to everyone and I go over it with the whole group. Opening and Closing night procedures are on there - as well as things like no flushing toilets during the show and other various things.  I never had to  get up on stage with the audience present again!