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!)

Thank you for the suggestions. I have managed to get rid of the pre-show speeches by staging my productions so that there was no room for them. Tricky in a couple of cases, but now those are gone. We have beautiful signs on easels asking people to turn off their cell phones and letting them know about intermission. The problem that I have with the last show thank yous is that the cast plans it as a surprise. After 30 years and 100's of shows, I am not surprised anymore. But I feel ungrateful saying. "Please don't thank me in front the audience." That I am not grateful is far from the truth. I am so thrilled that people actually volunteer to be involved in a show that I am directing, I am practically giddy. I just don't want to go up on stage after that last performance. I think I am going to try talking to a couple of people in the next cast that I have known for awhile about it. Maybe they can influence the rest of the company. If that doesn't work, I am seriously considering hiding out in the ladies room. I love it when the audience has no idea who I am.

Joe, I read your response through a couple of times. I think I am getting the hang of the lingo.

Linda

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?.

"Arh! - Tradition? ?..

Without our tradition we?d be just like a ??Like a ?..

Fiddler on the  roof!"

Just to relate a story I was told years ago.
When I first arrived on my own in the land of Oz. Being all knowing & able to take over the world with 2 ?Eveready ?batteries, having attained the ripe old age of 14.  I got a job backstage at The Maj ( His Majesty?s Theatre Perth).  One of the mechanists ?Wally Wombat? told me a story about old man Dawe, who in the early 90?s owned the theatre & the hotel built next to it.. In those days bars were only  allowed to serve alcohol from 10am to 10 pm Monday to Saturdays & for 2 Sunday sessions of 1 hour each, known as the ?Sunday Swill?. (that?s another story). No matter what was playing on stage at the time. - Every night right on cue at 9.45pm he would appear in the ?Gods?,  ring a handbell & shout loudly  "Time Gentlemen please!" to signify to the audience that they  had only 15 minutes to order there last drink from the bar. Of course the show would stop for his announcement & then carry on as though nothing had happened! According to ?Snuffy?,   the Head Lighting Tech,  oldman Dawe had it written in all the  contracts, the agreement to the announcement was a mandatory condition of hire - I they didn?t agree to this, they could go some where else & do their show! Apparently he had forcibly cancelled & closed a number of shows during their run. Because they had objected & tried to stop him making the announcement each night.
Thank heavens we have ?Restrictive Trade Practices? nowadays!

Sorry!

That should be  -  the early 1900's - not the 90's

Opening safety and cellphone announcements--a necessity.  This usually falls in the realm of stage management duties.  I coach my stage manager so he doesn't sound horrible, and we write out scripts.  We even remind the audience to turn the cell phones off at the end of intermission--high schoolers can't get through 10 minutes without phoning or texting someone it seems.

I have seen opening announcements performed humorously by an actor--but I'm usually just happy to get my actors performing the script without writing something new for announcements as well.

The Closing Night Tradition--I wish it would stop.  We have a set to strike!  But, the cast feels this is the appropriate time to thank you for devoting the hours and gray hairs to them.  It brings them closure.  So, I walk backstage during the last few minutes of the play, wait to be called to the stage after the curtain call, and say a few words about how wonderful it was to work with these talented young people (which I usually mean from the bottom of my heart) and hug a few of them before closing it--in all about 2 extra minutes.  They usually present me with a gift and some flowers.  Sometimes parents who are here on closing night bring me gifts as well.  But then I announce to the cast to get out of costume in 15 minutes and report to me for strike assignments.  My crew and I start taking down something on-stage, so we have a reason to kick them offstage quickly.  If parents are hanging around to take their children home, remind them how long strike will take and that we'll call them when strike is over.  (By the way--inform all people who need to know about strike being mandatory, when it is scheduled, and how long it is expected to last.)

Gaafa,

I must confess that I have made such a speech.  I had to point out all the exits since we were in such an awkward space.  The audience entered from backstage, so they really shouldn't run that way in the dark in an emergency.  I was teased endlessley (for years) about looking like an airline hostess! 

On a side note, always write out a script for pre-show announcements.  My director trys to do it off the cuff, and he just sounds awful and makes little sense. 

Yikes, I'd hate to drug up on stage at the end of the show by the cast.  I agree let them thank you at the cast party, or back stage after opening night or soemthing, there's striking to be done on that last show, less tongues flapping, more drills running.

Just to chime in on the curtain speech topic, I personally hate them the audience is there to see the show not the pre-show.  With that said, however, I've seen more and more need for the common courtesy announcements like cell phones, cameras, etc.  You can put it in the program, you can have huge signs in the lobby but you can't make someone actually read any of it. 

An advantage of making the announcement live is that people do have to pay attention.  I've done the cell phone speech far too often and just about every time you hear the rustle of purses and the ugly sounds of phones shutting off.  (btw why do phones have to make stupid sounds when they shut off, just beep and off is all that's needed).

Normally we do it as a pre-recorded announcement that in PBS style thanks the corporate sponsors and things like that.  We change it for every show so people pay attention and if the show is a comedy we try and make the announcements funny.  We're more straight forward with dramas.

The only times I do the curtain speech live is when we're hawking subscriptions for the following season.  I hate to say it, but you can't pass up the opportunity to make the sales speech to a captive audience that already has an interest in your product, otherwise they wouldn't be in the seat.

Wow. I honestly have to admit I have never seen this last curtain tradition take place in shows I have been involved in. To that, I would say, thank the heavens indeed!

In the theatre where over the last few years I have done most of my acting, the manager of the entire theatre comes out just before the show opens, and reminds you to turn off cell phones, and that there is punch and cookies at intermission. Sometimes he mentions the next show on the calendar, and sometimes not. That sort of thing seems pretty straight forward and acceptable to me.

But I ask all of those people who are in theatres that do this tradition, do audiences actually stay and watch such speeches take place at the end of the final play? And if so, how antsy do they look half way into it?

I am not trying to be sarcastic, I just honestly never heard of this tradition.

In one of the theatres I work in we avoid the whole thank everyone and their brother after the last curtian call thing. Here is what we do. Cast and crew gather on stage 15 minutes before the house opens(we do this for every show) during this time we go over any business needed and then we recite the theatres creed(they used to call it a prayer but there is no God involved) the last night during this meeting the cast gives their gifts and says their thank yous. it works out great. We also have a toast after each opening night show. This is great for me because there is nothing I hate more than being dragged up on stage!

FYI the creed goes like this:

We come together in this place with open heart and open mind. The bond of the love of theatre and the wish to share this art. To king and player alike may we join together and make beauty on this stage tonight.

Written By Nicloe Nelson for Stages of Omaha

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!

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....

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

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

I was just in my first play at a community theatre that I've always wanted to be a part of, but never had the courage to try.  One thing I loved was that after the opening night show was over, we all changed into our street clothes and met on the stage.  The audience was gone and it was just people involved in the show.  We all toasted the show with champagne that the director had brought, and talked about how the performance felt.  It was the only performance the director attended out of the eight show run that we had.

In my little community theater, the calling of the director is a tradition. But the trick is to keep it short and sweet.  I work in a recognition of the sound and lighting crew into the curtian call.  The cast just indicates the lighting booth and claps so they get recognition each night.