Community Theater Green Room Discussion Board: Scene changes

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magic612
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Topic: Scene changes - how fast?
Posted: 7/25/08 at 5:54pm

I've been in shows where we literally choregraphed the set changes so that they would be fast and smooth, and I've been in other shows where it seemed like an eternity (even backstage!) for the sets to change.

In my mind, anything much over about 30 seconds or so feels like an eternity to the audience (though I know it's not always practical to do it in less based on the theater's set up). So in your group, what is typical of a "strive for" amount of time for a set change to occur?

Whatever you can do, or dream you can, begin it. Boldness how genius, power and magic in it. Begin it now. ~ often attributed to Goethe

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JoeMc
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Posted: 7/26/08 at 1:17am

I always try an engineer a seamless scene change as even 15 seconds is far too long.

[western] Gondawandaland
"Hear the light & see the sound!
TOI TOI CHOOKAS
{may you always play to a full house!}

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Linda S
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Posted: 7/26/08 at 9:00am

I agree with Joe. I like to keep scene changes to 10 seconds or less, be dead quiet and look absolutely seamless. If I can incorporate the scene change into the flow of the show, all the better.

Linda

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dboris
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Posted: 7/28/08 at 12:35pm

I agree with the others, the faster the scene change the better. I think what a lot of people forget is that for a scene change to go fast it needs to be rehearsed just like everything else in the show. There have been tricky scene changes in a few show where we actually spent time repeatedly doing the change. We would make the change, reset everything, and do it again.

Dan

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Nanette
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Posted: 7/28/08 at 3:05pm

The shorter, the better! Like dboris, we've rehearsed scene changes, both with lights and in the dark so we're used to it by curtain. I've also had an actor cover with monologue down center during scene changes while the changes are occuring right behind her. The audience was amazed, especially since it was a bunch of Jr. High students (in costume!) moving everything from tables and chairs to a sofa!

Although, the one exception I'll make to the length of the scene change was during a recent performance of 'Harvey' at the Commonweal Theatre in Lanesboro, MN. The did all of the scene changes in 1/2 light and kept the actors in character. They were much longer than would be the norm, but it was amazing to see the interaction continue between the characters.

I wouldn't want to see if every time I see a show, but it was a nice (interesting) change.

In a world of margarine, be butter!

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JoeMc
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Posted: 7/29/08 at 1:03am

A lot of scene changes I have endured, as a punter, I could have gone out of the theatre & had a smoke, they took so long, to the point it was almost an interval.

A lot of this is the fault of the Director & inability to rehearse or get it choreographed. By using the warm props, luvvies &/or twirlies to effect the change, as suggested.

I have been in productions where we have tech rehearsed the crew on scene change change, over & over again. Much to the annoyance of a director & it does get up the actors noses, when only being used for first & last lines - as though they thunk they are the most important thing on the stage?

Also I hate it when directors seem to think that a tech run, is a full dress rehearsal - thus not giving the crew a chance to shine!

[western] Gondawandaland
"Hear the light & see the sound!
TOI TOI CHOOKAS
{may you always play to a full house!}

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MartyW
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Posted: 7/29/08 at 4:40pm

Not a second more than necessary... or a second less than it takes to get the job done...

Marty W

"Till next we trod the boards.."

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tristanrobin
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Posted: 8/20/08 at 9:54am

The most egregious example of scene change time was a high school production of The King and I. A few times, they actually turned the lights on in the auditorium during the scene change - which lasted as long as five MINUTES...while the orchestra (argh!) vamped the same 16 measures over and over again. It took so long, that they ended up adding in a second intermission - which made the play even LONGER than it is already (and let's face it - The King and I does go on and on).
My favorite (not! LOL) scene change took FOREVER, and when they finally turned on the lights and started the scene, it was a BARE stage with a trunk sitting on it. LOL I think they didn't exactly grasp the concept of a scene in one to cover scene changes! LOL

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imamember
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Posted: 8/20/08 at 10:18am

Longest I can remember was a recent production of The Miracle Worker. When Annie moves into the little house we had Viney Martha and Percy move the props in fully in character in 1/2 light. Same for removing the props.

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imamember
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Posted: 8/20/08 at 10:20am

Wow, you can't edit here?

Anyways...it was originally so long we had a wheel barrow built for Percy cause the kid was so slow. It was still long, but much better than before.

Why can't I edit??

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Poll Question: How quickly do you strive to make scene changes in your shows?
Poll Choice	Votes	Poll Statistics
15 seconds or less	10	[28.57%]
15 to 30 seconds	18	[51.43%]
30 to 45 seconds	2	[5.71%]
45 to 60 seconds	3	[8.57%]
60 to 90 seconds	1	[2.86%]
Most are more than a minute and a half	1	[2.86%]
This topic is closed, no new votes accepted

Polls
Community Theater Green Room Discussion Board :About the Community Theater Green Room :Polls

Topic: Scene changes - how fast?( Topic Closed)
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Author	Message
magic612 Walk-On Joined: 7/23/08 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 4	Topic: Scene changes - how fast? Posted: 7/25/08 at 5:54pm
	I've been in shows where we literally choregraphed the set changes so that they would be fast and smooth, and I've been in other shows where it seemed like an eternity (even backstage!) for the sets to change. In my mind, anything much over about 30 seconds or so feels like an eternity to the audience (though I know it's not always practical to do it in less based on the theater's set up). So in your group, what is typical of a "strive for" amount of time for a set change to occur?
	Whatever you can do, or dream you can, begin it. Boldness how genius, power and magic in it. Begin it now. ~ often attributed to Goethe

	IP Logged

JoeMc Celebrity Joined: 3/13/06 Location: Australia Online Status: Offline Posts: 832	Posted: 7/26/08 at 1:17am
	I always try an engineer a seamless scene change as even 15 seconds is far too long.
	[western] Gondawandaland "Hear the light & see the sound! TOI TOI CHOOKAS {may you always play to a full house!}
	IP Logged

Linda S Celebrity Joined: 4/16/05 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 312	Posted: 7/26/08 at 9:00am
	I agree with Joe. I like to keep scene changes to 10 seconds or less, be dead quiet and look absolutely seamless. If I can incorporate the scene change into the flow of the show, all the better. Linda
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dboris Celebrity Joined: 2/10/04 Online Status: Offline Posts: 124	Posted: 7/28/08 at 12:35pm
	I agree with the others, the faster the scene change the better. I think what a lot of people forget is that for a scene change to go fast it needs to be rehearsed just like everything else in the show. There have been tricky scene changes in a few show where we actually spent time repeatedly doing the change. We would make the change, reset everything, and do it again. Dan
	IP Logged

Nanette Celebrity Joined: 8/01/06 Online Status: Offline Posts: 399	Posted: 7/28/08 at 3:05pm
	The shorter, the better! Like dboris, we've rehearsed scene changes, both with lights and in the dark so we're used to it by curtain. I've also had an actor cover with monologue down center during scene changes while the changes are occuring right behind her. The audience was amazed, especially since it was a bunch of Jr. High students (in costume!) moving everything from tables and chairs to a sofa! Although, the one exception I'll make to the length of the scene change was during a recent performance of 'Harvey' at the Commonweal Theatre in Lanesboro, MN. The did all of the scene changes in 1/2 light and kept the actors in character. They were much longer than would be the norm, but it was amazing to see the interaction continue between the characters. I wouldn't want to see if every time I see a show, but it was a nice (interesting) change.
	In a world of margarine, be butter!
	IP Logged

JoeMc Celebrity Joined: 3/13/06 Location: Australia Online Status: Offline Posts: 832	Posted: 7/29/08 at 1:03am
	A lot of scene changes I have endured, as a punter, I could have gone out of the theatre & had a smoke, they took so long, to the point it was almost an interval. A lot of this is the fault of the Director & inability to rehearse or get it choreographed. By using the warm props, luvvies &/or twirlies to effect the change, as suggested. I have been in productions where we have tech rehearsed the crew on scene change change, over & over again. Much to the annoyance of a director & it does get up the actors noses, when only being used for first & last lines - as though they thunk they are the most important thing on the stage? Also I hate it when directors seem to think that a tech run, is a full dress rehearsal - thus not giving the crew a chance to shine!
	[western] Gondawandaland "Hear the light & see the sound! TOI TOI CHOOKAS {may you always play to a full house!}
	IP Logged

MartyW Celebrity Joined: 2/02/04 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 555	Posted: 7/29/08 at 4:40pm
	Not a second more than necessary... or a second less than it takes to get the job done...
	Marty W "Till next we trod the boards.."
	IP Logged

tristanrobin Celebrity Joined: 4/25/05 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 704	Posted: 8/20/08 at 9:54am
	The most egregious example of scene change time was a high school production of The King and I. A few times, they actually turned the lights on in the auditorium during the scene change - which lasted as long as five MINUTES...while the orchestra (argh!) vamped the same 16 measures over and over again. It took so long, that they ended up adding in a second intermission - which made the play even LONGER than it is already (and let's face it - The King and I does go on and on). My favorite (not! LOL) scene change took FOREVER, and when they finally turned on the lights and started the scene, it was a BARE stage with a trunk sitting on it. LOL I think they didn't exactly grasp the concept of a scene in one to cover scene changes! LOL
	IP Logged

imamember Celebrity Joined: 8/18/08 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 121	Posted: 8/20/08 at 10:18am
	Longest I can remember was a recent production of The Miracle Worker. When Annie moves into the little house we had Viney Martha and Percy move the props in fully in character in 1/2 light. Same for removing the props.
	IP Logged

imamember Celebrity Joined: 8/18/08 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 121	Posted: 8/20/08 at 10:20am
	Wow, you can't edit here? Anyways...it was originally so long we had a wheel barrow built for Percy cause the kid was so slow. It was still long, but much better than before. Why can't I edit??
	IP Logged