Community Theater Green Room Discussion Board: Bows

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georgiadirector
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Joined: 8/22/09
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Posts: 7

Topic: Bows
Posted: 8/22/09 at 12:13am

I've talked to several people about the order of the cast's bows and there are different theories. The two leads are usually pretty obvious, but the supporting actors can be tricky. I'd like to know how you decide.

By the way, we're doing the Stone version of Annie Get Your Gun and all the supporting actors (Winnie, Tommy, Buffalo Bill, Charlie) are extraordinarily strong. But I'm interested in your general "take" on bows as well as this particular show. Thanks!

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iamadramanerd
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Joined: 5/06/08
Location: United States
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Posts: 10

Posted: 8/22/09 at 11:12pm

I think I am from old school of directing. My bows are very fast. The audience has clapped for every song and blackout, I don't want their arms to get tired. :-D
So my line up is chorus, (one bow) small parts, (one bow) second leads (two bows) and leads. (two bows and indicate the music and tech)
I hope that's clear as mud.

Wove, true Wove.

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georgiadirector
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Posted: 8/25/09 at 3:05am

Thanks dramanerd. Other's? It might sound like a dumb question but I'm really struggling. The actor with the most lines? The actor with the most solo singing? The actor who steals the show? Any other criteria? What is most important?

"I'm not crazy, I've just been in a very bad mood for the last 40 years!" Ouiser, Steel Magnolias

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jaytee060
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Posted: 8/25/09 at 10:47am

Curtain calls should not be "another act" of the show. Please, please, please !!! Whatever you do....make it fast. Performers certainly deserves a bow but when the cast is large, a curtain call can go on forever. We as an audience want to be polite and clap for your performance but we have just sit for 2 plus hours. Its getting late. And we can only sustain enthusiastic applause for so long.

This has been a major pet peeve of mine for years and I try to make my curtain calls high energy and very very fast. The audience really appreciates it.

"REMEMBER ME IN LIGHT"

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kries13
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Joined: 8/12/09
Location: United States
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Posts: 18

Posted: 8/25/09 at 1:54pm

I do straight productions and tend to lean toward the ensemble bow.

kries
I art therefore I am.
www.artisrelative.com

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Gaafa
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Joined: 3/21/04
Location: Australia
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Posts: 1181

Posted: 8/25/09 at 6:37pm

Try 'Order of Apearance'

Joe
Western Gondawandaland
turn right @ Perth.
Hear the light & see the sound.
Toi Toi Toi Chookas {{"chook [chicken] it is"}
May you always play
to a full house}

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ReACT01
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Joined: 8/29/09
Location: United States
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Posts: 13

Posted: 8/31/09 at 1:36am

Get it done ! Fast fast fast ! I like the order of apearance as well..If this is your biggest problem you are doing fine....LOL

Chris

ReACT

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Gaafa
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Location: Australia
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Posted: 8/31/09 at 9:39pm

Possibly with the exception of a Pantomime finarle, which tend to have a traditional order of 'walk downs'. The bows, as suggested, are whip in 'n off for the rag calls.

With musicals you can also get bogged down with an applause forced ensemble reprise, which is rehearsed, but at the discretion of the SM - but this can be a trap!

Gone are the days of counting how good the performance is, by the amount of 'house Rag Bounces'.

Joe
Western Gondawandaland
turn right @ Perth.
Hear the light & see the sound.
Toi Toi Toi Chookas {{"chook [chicken] it is"}
May you always play
to a full house}

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GracieLea
Walk-On
Walk-On

Joined: 7/15/09
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 0

Posted: 9/03/09 at 2:39pm

I'm in agreement with getting the curtain call done in pretty short order. Yes, the actors deserve that moment, but it can be done quickly.

As for the order - bringing characters out in their "groups" works - whether it be friends, co-horts, family, etc... even if some of them have bigger roles than others.

I just finished a production of "Come Back to the 5 and Dime...." and the director has us all on stage at the end, but we bowed in our "pairs" - Mona and Mona then, Joe and Joanne, etc.

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Gaafa
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Joined: 3/21/04
Location: Australia
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 1181

Posted: 9/03/09 at 9:15pm

Blanche shed claret, as her bow was not fast enough.

Cate's Cruette Came a Croppah'n Cop'd it!

http://www.abc.net.au/news/video/2009/09/03/2675007.htm

http://www.smh.com.au/lifestyle/people/blanchett-injured-in-stage-fight-20090902-f8ir.html

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/celebritynews/6127356/Cate-Blanchett-injured-in-Streetcar-stage-accident.html

Joe
Western Gondawandaland
turn right @ Perth.
Hear the light & see the sound.
Toi Toi Toi Chookas {{"chook [chicken] it is"}
May you always play
to a full house}

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

Author	Message
georgiadirector Walk-On Joined: 8/22/09 Online Status: Offline Posts: 7	Topic: Bows Posted: 8/22/09 at 12:13am
	I've talked to several people about the order of the cast's bows and there are different theories. The two leads are usually pretty obvious, but the supporting actors can be tricky. I'd like to know how you decide. By the way, we're doing the Stone version of Annie Get Your Gun and all the supporting actors (Winnie, Tommy, Buffalo Bill, Charlie) are extraordinarily strong. But I'm interested in your general "take" on bows as well as this particular show. Thanks!

	IP Logged

iamadramanerd Player Joined: 5/06/08 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 10	Posted: 8/22/09 at 11:12pm
	I think I am from old school of directing. My bows are very fast. The audience has clapped for every song and blackout, I don't want their arms to get tired. :-D So my line up is chorus, (one bow) small parts, (one bow) second leads (two bows) and leads. (two bows and indicate the music and tech) I hope that's clear as mud.
	Wove, true Wove.
	IP Logged

georgiadirector Walk-On Joined: 8/22/09 Online Status: Offline Posts: 7	Posted: 8/25/09 at 3:05am
	Thanks dramanerd. Other's? It might sound like a dumb question but I'm really struggling. The actor with the most lines? The actor with the most solo singing? The actor who steals the show? Any other criteria? What is most important?
	"I'm not crazy, I've just been in a very bad mood for the last 40 years!" Ouiser, Steel Magnolias
	IP Logged

jaytee060 Star Joined: 1/18/07 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 63	Posted: 8/25/09 at 10:47am
	Curtain calls should not be "another act" of the show. Please, please, please !!! Whatever you do....make it fast. Performers certainly deserves a bow but when the cast is large, a curtain call can go on forever. We as an audience want to be polite and clap for your performance but we have just sit for 2 plus hours. Its getting late. And we can only sustain enthusiastic applause for so long. This has been a major pet peeve of mine for years and I try to make my curtain calls high energy and very very fast. The audience really appreciates it.
	"REMEMBER ME IN LIGHT"
	IP Logged

kries13 Player Joined: 8/12/09 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 18	Posted: 8/25/09 at 1:54pm
	I do straight productions and tend to lean toward the ensemble bow.
	kries I art therefore I am. www.artisrelative.com
	IP Logged

Gaafa Celebrity Joined: 3/21/04 Location: Australia Online Status: Offline Posts: 1181	Posted: 8/25/09 at 6:37pm
	Try 'Order of Apearance'
	Joe Western Gondawandaland turn right @ Perth. Hear the light & see the sound. Toi Toi Toi Chookas {{"chook [chicken] it is"} May you always play to a full house}
	IP Logged

ReACT01 Player Joined: 8/29/09 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 13	Posted: 8/31/09 at 1:36am
	Get it done ! Fast fast fast ! I like the order of apearance as well..If this is your biggest problem you are doing fine....LOL Chris ReACT
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Gaafa Celebrity Joined: 3/21/04 Location: Australia Online Status: Offline Posts: 1181	Posted: 8/31/09 at 9:39pm
	Possibly with the exception of a Pantomime finarle, which tend to have a traditional order of 'walk downs'. The bows, as suggested, are whip in 'n off for the rag calls. With musicals you can also get bogged down with an applause forced ensemble reprise, which is rehearsed, but at the discretion of the SM - but this can be a trap! Gone are the days of counting how good the performance is, by the amount of 'house Rag Bounces'.
	Joe Western Gondawandaland turn right @ Perth. Hear the light & see the sound. Toi Toi Toi Chookas {{"chook [chicken] it is"} May you always play to a full house}
	IP Logged

GracieLea Walk-On Joined: 7/15/09 Online Status: Offline Posts: 0	Posted: 9/03/09 at 2:39pm
	I'm in agreement with getting the curtain call done in pretty short order. Yes, the actors deserve that moment, but it can be done quickly. As for the order - bringing characters out in their "groups" works - whether it be friends, co-horts, family, etc... even if some of them have bigger roles than others. I just finished a production of "Come Back to the 5 and Dime...." and the director has us all on stage at the end, but we bowed in our "pairs" - Mona and Mona then, Joe and Joanne, etc.
	IP Logged

Gaafa Celebrity Joined: 3/21/04 Location: Australia Online Status: Offline Posts: 1181	Posted: 9/03/09 at 9:15pm
	*Blanche shed* claret, as her bow was not fast enough. Cate's Cruette Came a Croppah'n *Cop'd it!* http://www.abc.net.au/news/video/2009/09/03/2675007.htm http://www.smh.com.au/lifestyle/people/blanchett-injured-in-stage-fight-20090902-f8ir.html http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/celebritynews/6127356/Cate-Blanchett-injured-in-Streetcar-stage-accident.html
	Joe Western Gondawandaland turn right @ Perth. Hear the light & see the sound. Toi Toi Toi Chookas {{"chook [chicken] it is"} May you always play to a full house}
	IP Logged

Topic: Bows( Topic Closed)
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