Stage Management question for school

[CMulligan]

Hi everyone. I'm a student at the University of Windsor. I have to do a school project about stage management. I was wondering if anyone has any opinion on how to deal with problem actors, whether they're divas or late or if they have terrible hygiene. How do you tell them what they need to be told, or should you at all?

[ScottT]

It like a lot of other people have started doing this same project as well....

I would recommend running a search as it is a very useful function and will turn up probably everything you need. Also try posting/searching at SMNetwork.org - Index which is a forum dedicated to SMs.

[CMulligan]

I've already posted there, and we're supposed to have our own conversations, not search through others. Thanks though! Is there anything besides that amazing quote that you can tell me?

[ScottT]

Comming from a High School setting it's really different then at a professional level but I would guess that the SM would have to tell them straight out. If it's hampering the production then a stern word putting them in place is probably all that's needed, and after that getting the Producer or Director involved.

As for personal hygiene, if it doesn't affect the production, then it probably doesn't matter.

[rochem]

Just always be diplomatic whenever you're talking to anyone involved in the production, whether they be actors, designers, department heads, or whatever. Rather than saying "Why are you always late", try saying "Is there anything we can do to help you arrive on time?". Actors will almost always say no, and the actor will likely start to show up on time. If they actually do say yes, then find out what the problem is and do whatever you're allowed to (within AEA rules if applicable) to help them get to rehearsals. Just always be non-threatening and non-confrontational.

Bad hygiene - I can't really see it ever affecting a production, so it's not your job to worry about it. The only time you would ever need to do something about it would be if many other actors were complaining, and then you'd just say something non-confrontational and try to help out however you can.

EDIT: What's with the sudden influx of questions like this? Are all these people at the same school taking the same class, or is it totally random that professors around the world are assigning the same thing? Is your professor actually sending you to this site, or are you all finding it on your own?

[CMulligan]

We're all in the same class. And it was a suggested site. Thanks so much for your answer!

[ScottT]

Good advice Michael. I forgot the "be diplomatic" part...

But actually your teacher told you to do your research here? Not contact a local theatre for an interview on site, or even over the phone?

[CMulligan]

No, we have to have written proof of our conversations. She said forums were the best way to go. I tried emailing a couple of theatres, but I haven't gotten any answers back yet. So, here I am, desperately trying to get answers. Thanks for helping!

[rochem]

Originally Posted by CMulligan

No, we have to have written proof of our conversations. She said forums were the best way to go. I tried emailing a couple of theatres, but I haven't gotten any answers back yet. So, here I am, desperately trying to get answers. Thanks for helping!

Seems like an odd method of teaching - send your students off to a public forum to see if anyone can tell them the answers. My answer is about 10% personal experience and 90% straight-from-the-textbook. And yet she won't accept "I read the Stern book" or "I read the Kelly book" as a valid answer? I'm a senior in high school, and I pulled that definition basically out of one or both of those texts. Seems kinda counterproductive to me. But I digress.

[CMulligan]

I'm a senior in university and I have also read the Stern book and I work as a Stage Manager. I still have to do it as part of my class, so I don't ask questions. It's worth 20% of my mark, so it needs to be done. It's more of an exercise in getting us to find our own information rather than whether the answers are by the book. To be honest, I have a good idea of how to answer this question.

Thanks for your input guys. It's going to be a good help in my presentation.