Looking for a drama

[Steven Z]

Colleagues,

I'm going to be directing a play next year after spending the last few
years doing tech for my wife's productions. I'm looking for a drama,
preferably not a 'message' play (otherwise, I'd do 'Inherit the
Wind'). It's the first play I've directed in over 10 years, and since
the school has only produced musicals up to this point ('Guys and
Dolls', 'Annie', 'Oliver' and 'Little Shop of Horrors') I wanted to
contrast these with something serious.

Suggestions? Please?

Steven Zaretsky
Harmony, FL

[Johnson, Laurie]

Steven,

Cripple of Innishmann is a very powerful play.


Laurie Johnson
Language Arts/Drama
Fruita Monument HS
Fruita, CO

[Scott Parker]

a few things to consider when changing the format from one that many people are probably comfortable with. Be careful not to hit them over the head with something too far astray from what they're used to.Other considerations when comparing to the list of musicals you mentioned: cast size, inclusion of varied levels of talent, production value for the crew.

Large musicals are often chosen to allow many students to participate at various levels. How large is the school? How will you include those that work hard and are destined for a chorus part? Musicals often include multiple sets.
I learned a really hard lesson when I first started at a high school and the director chose "A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum." The design is basically a static set  which offered absolutely no reward of running crew positions for the students who worked so hard to build the thing. (I am designing to the buildings to move into position after the grand drape opened. I also added several follow spots to the lighting design.

depending on your situation, my first reaction to your post was to suggest a comedy instead of a drama. Noises Off jumps to mind first as it has a relatively large cast and a set that moves.


Scott C. Parker
Lighting Designer
http://scottcparker.com/
Nebraska  &  New York City

[Kevin Holly]

I just did 12 Angry Jurors. Very powerful. Not much of a message,
just makes them think. The flexible casting option was helpful.

Kevin Holly
Technical Theatre Coordinator
Libertyville High School

[Steven Z]

Scott,

There will continue to be a musical. There's a theater teacher at the
school (minimal actual experience) who does the musicals -- it's
typically the only show he does. He's planning on doing one in the
fall (they normally perform in the spring). I do technical direction
for outside schools who are using our theater (many schools in our
district don't have theaters) but this will be the first time (in this
district) that I will be directing. We're scheduled for late February,
several months after the musical.

Laurie,

I'm intrigued by the Cripple of Inishmaan -- having visited the
islands, I have a sense of the bleakness that these people live with.

Thank you for the suggestions - please send more!

Steven Zaretsky
Harmony, FL

On May 4, 11:50 am, Scott Parker <scpar...@gmail.com> wrote:
> a few things to consider when changing the format from one that many people
> are probably comfortable with. Be careful not to hit them over the head with
> something too far astray from what they're used to.Other considerations when
> comparing to the list of musicals you mentioned: cast size, inclusion of
> varied levels of talent, production value for the crew.
>
> Large musicals are often chosen to allow many students to participate at
> various levels. How large is the school? How will you include those that
> work hard and are destined for a chorus part? Musicals often include
> multiple sets.
> I learned a really hard lesson when I first started at a high school and the
> director chose "A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum." The design
> is basically a static set  which offered absolutely no reward of running
> crew positions for the students who worked so hard to build the thing. (I am
> designing to the buildings to move into position after the grand drape
> opened. I also added several follow spots to the lighting design.
>
> depending on your situation, my first reaction to your post was to suggest a
> comedy instead of a drama. Noises Off jumps to mind first as it has a
> relatively large cast and a set that moves.
>
> Scott C. Parker

> Lighting Designerhttp://scottcparker.com/

> Nebraska  &  New York City
>

[miss...@aol.com]

From the ETA web site
http://www.edta.org/publications/annual_survey.aspx :
The top ten full-length plays
1. You Can’t Take It With You, by George S. Kaufman and Moss Hart
(Dramatists Play Service)
2. The Crucible, by Arthur Miller (Dramatists Play Service)
3. The Diary of Anne Frank, by Frances Goodrich and Albert Hackett
(elevated in this year’s survey by Wendy Kesselman’s recent adaptation)
(Dramatists Play Service)
4. (tie) Arsenic and Old Lace, by Joseph Kesselring (Dramatists Play
Service)
4. (tie) A Midsummer Night’s Dream, by William Shakespeare (PD)
4. (tie) The Odd Couple, by Neil Simon (both male and female versions)
(Samuel French)
7. (tie) The Curious Savage, by John Patrick (Dramatists Play Service)
7. (tie) Rumors, by Neil Simon (Samuel French)
9. Our Town, by Thornton Wilder (Samuel French)
10. (tie) Anatomy of Gray, by Jim Leonard, Jr.
10. (tie) The Importance of Being Earnest, by Oscar Wilde (PD)
10. (tie) The Miracle Worker, by William Gibson (Samuel French)

They are the "chestnuts" of high school theatre for a reason. We may
have seen/done Arsenic and Old Lacce a hundred times, but our students
are usually experiencing it for the first time.

Here's a link to a list of the plays included in Dramatics magazine:
http://www.edta.org/publications/script_index.aspx

HTH
Kristi R-C

[Steven Z]

Kristi,

Thanks - and you're right, most of these will be new to my students.
There are a couple of plays on the list that may suit. Again, I'm
looking to direct something dramatic (non-comedy) that isn't a message
play. Unfortunately, I live in an area that might view the Diary of
Anne Frank as a message play :(

Steven Zaretsky
Harmony, FL

[helliott]

the children's hour great serious play----- Original Message -----
From: "Steven Z" <stevenz...@gmail.com>
To: "High School Technical Theater" <hst...@googlegroups.com>
Sent: Monday, May 04, 2009 9:30 AM

Subject: [hstech] Looking for a drama


>

[ri...@silhouettelights.com]

If you have a couple of strong actors:

Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead
The Complete Works of Shakespeare

Lots of teachable referances to the Bard and very funny!

I strongly second Scotts thoughts of a comedy. Prove that there
doesn't have to be a band to have a good show.

--
RickR

[Mr. Yoon]

Hi Steven,

We did "12 Angry Jurors" in Fall and it was quite successful. Reginald
Rose's "12 Angry Men" also has an adapted script called "12 Angry
Women" and the combination of both can result in the "12 Angry
Jurors" (I had 6 guys, 6 girls). It was a wonderful experience as the
sexual tension was thrown into the mix and elevated the situation.

Everything takes place in one room, so light/sound cues and set
construction is minimal.

Here's the link: http://www.dramaticpublishing.com/p1602/Twelve-Angry-Men/product_info.html

Sincerely,
Mr. Yoon

Fairmont Preparatory Academy
Theatre Arts Faculty
mr....@FPATheatreArts.com
www.FPATheatreArts.com

[Vicki Stilwell]

Hi, I am a high school drama teacher and have a question about lighting. Our auditorium is fairly new, but it feels like my ellipsoidal lights are not lasting long enough. I bought 25 new bulbs for them in October and now I only have 7 working. Is this normal?? I am trying to convince the administration that we need an electrician to come look at the system. what do y'all think??
 
Thanks, vicki

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[Anshuman Bhatia]

Depends on usage. Are they on all the time or just during shows? Also what kind of fixtures are they?

--
Anshuman Bhatia
www.anshumanbhatia.com

[Scott Parker]

Hello Vicki,
Many lamps are rated for only 200 hours. Other lamps are rated for
2000 hours, but the base color is just a touch warmer. I tend to use
the 2000 hour lamps simply for the $ savings. What kind of lights are
you using? Do you know the lamp code? (It's a three letter code that
you'll find on the box the lamp (light bulb) came in.

Scott

Scott C. Parker
Lighting Designer

http://scottcparker.com/
Nebraska  &  New York City

[Michael Roche]

First, let's start with the basics. What kind of units do you have? ETC Source Fours? Strand SLs? Altman 360Qs? Something else? And also, what lamps (they're called lamps in the theatre industry, not bulbs) are you using in them? Are you touching the glass at all when you replace the lamps? Because they get to such a high temperature, any grease from your fingers that gets on the glass will cause the lamp to fail prematurely. If you're touching the glass at all, then this would probably explain it.
 
Michael Roche
 

---

From: vsti...@hotmail.com
To: hst...@googlegroups.com
Subject: [hstech] lighting question
Date: Tue, 5 May 2009 02:36:09 +0000

[wuth...@aol.com]

We did "Anne of A Thousand Days."  The kids got into the historical aspect and loved the period costumes.
GW
Birmingham,AL

-----Original Message-----
From: Steven Z <stevenz...@gmail.com>
To: High School Technical Theater <hst...@googlegroups.com>
Sent: Mon, 4 May 2009 9:30 am
Subject: [hstech] Looking for a drama

Colleagues,

I'm going to be directing a play next year after spending the last few
years doing tech for my wife's productions. I'm looking for a drama,
preferably not a 'message' play (otherwise, I'd do 'Inherit the
Wind'). It's the first play I've directed in over 10 years, and since
the school has only produced musicals up to this point ('Guys and
Dolls', 'Annie', 'Oliver' and 'Little Shop of Horrors') I wanted to
contrast these with something serious.

Suggestions? Please?

Steven Zaretsky
Harmony, FL

---

Shopping for Mom? Save yourself a little time and money on AOL Shopping.

[MeLinda Tatum Kaiser]

In the last 15 years, we've done Lost in Yonkers, The Diary of Anne Frank, The Laramie Project, Lend Me a Tenor and Third. by Wendy Wasserstein, as well as (about once every 4 years) an evening of one acts or a 10-minute play festival (they tend to be pretty light but great for getting many kids involved and very minimal sets).  For the multi-play evenings, each play has it's own producing/directing team and running crew - (also good for getting kids involved and aspiring directors to try their hand on a small project).

I'm not sure if you'd call the full length plays 'message' plays, but the depth of that work and the students' commitment and passion to these projects truly made me proud to be doing what we do (and really helped to balance out all the 'fluff').

MeLinda Tatum Kaiser

Upper Dublin High School

Ft. Washington, PA

[Ken Zinkl]

I second what everyone else has said and I'll add that depending on the
fixtures that you have it is possible that the lamps were not seated all
the way down in the socket. When this happens you get a little arc from
the socket to the lamp and after a short while you burn up the pins on
the lamp and the socket. When this happens you have to replace the lamp
(even thought it looks good) and the socket in the fixture cap.



Kenneth Zinkl
Auditorium Manager
Fort Zumwalt East High School
600 First Executive Ave.
St. Peters, MO 63376
636-477-2400 ext. 2490
Fax: 636-926-3345


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>>> Vicki Stilwell <vsti...@hotmail.com> 5/4/2009 9:36 PM >>>

Hi, I am a high school drama teacher and have a question about
lighting. Our auditorium is fairly new, but it feels like my ellipsoidal
lights are not lasting long enough. I bought 25 new bulbs for them in
October and now I only have 7 working. Is this normal?? I am trying to
convince the administration that we need an electrician to come look at
the system. what do y'all think??



Thanks, vicki

_________________________________________________________________
Hotmail® goes with you.
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[Undershaft]

For a full length show, I am putting up Radium Girls right now. My
students chose it because they wanted to take our program to a higher
level. First tragedy we've done in 10 years. Also looked at Nothing
but the Truth. both out of playscripts.com, I think.

On May 5, 8:51 am, "Ken Zinkl" <KZi...@fz.k12.mo.us> wrote:
> I second what everyone else has said and I'll add that depending on the
> fixtures that you have it is possible that the lamps were not seated all
> the way down in the socket.  When this happens you get a little arc from
> the socket to the lamp and after a short while you burn up the pins on
> the lamp and the socket.  When this happens you have to replace the lamp
> (even thought it looks good) and the socket in the fixture cap.
>
> Kenneth Zinkl
> Auditorium Manager
> Fort Zumwalt East High School
> 600 First Executive Ave.
> St. Peters, MO 63376
> 636-477-2400 ext. 2490
> Fax: 636-926-3345
>
> NOTICE TO RECIPIENTS:  Any information contained in or attached to this
> message is intended solely for the use of the intended recipient(s). If
> you are not the intended recipient of this transmittal, you are hereby
> notified that you received this transmittal in error, and we request
> that you please delete and destroy all copies and attachments in your
> possession, notify the sender that you have received this communication
> in error, and note that any review or dissemination of, or the taking of
> any action in reliance on, this communication is expressly prohibited.
>

> >>> Vicki Stilwell <vstilw...@hotmail.com> 5/4/2009 9:36 PM >>>

>
> Hi, I am a high school drama teacher and have a question about
> lighting. Our auditorium is fairly new, but it feels like my ellipsoidal
> lights are not lasting long enough. I bought 25 new bulbs for them in
> October and now I only have 7 working. Is this normal?? I am trying to
> convince the administration that we need an electrician to come look at
> the system. what do y'all think??
>
> Thanks, vicki
>
> _________________________________________________________________

> Hotmail® goes with you.http://windowslive.com/Tutorial/Hotmail/Mobile?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_HM_T...

[katherine miller]

I did Radium Girls a few years ago.  Wonderful show!  I wish I could do it again already.
Katherine Miller

----- Original Message ----
From: Undershaft <Under...@gmail.com>
To: High School Technical Theater <hst...@googlegroups.com>

[Rickie Newell]

Just did noises off myself. Worked like hell, but well worth it. Now THAT was a set!
 
Rick in GA
 

---

Date: Mon, 4 May 2009 10:50:00 -0500
Subject: [hstech] Re: Looking for a drama
From: scpa...@gmail.com
To: hst...@googlegroups.com

[Michael Dodge]

I am a production manager at a high school in Orlando and we normally have to replace our lamps every 4 months depending on the fixture. Source fours (HPL) average 4 months while our CYC boxes (FDB) average 2 months. I would suggest especially in high schools of having a scoop or some high powered wash light to use when you do not need to use your "stage lighting". Last year I had to replace lamps every month because they would burn all day every day for class. Now we use one scoop and two 2k fresnels and its plenty. The full stage lights only burn now during theatre events (we restrict it to us only because we do not get money from the admin.....)

 

Good luck

 

Michael Dodge

Dr. Phillips High School

Student Production Manager

[Dan Swiggard]

Hi Vicki 

Standard HPL lamps life span is 3-400 hours. Source four lamps are supposed to last 1500-2000 hours.

Unless you are running them 24/7 you do need an electrician. Unless they were installed with bare dirty fingers. Skin oil will cause them to explode.

Dan Swiggard

Durham school of the arts

On Mon, May 4, 2009 at 10:36 PM, Vicki Stilwell <vsti...@hotmail.com> wrote:

[ri...@silhouettelights.com]

Possibly this is too late...

I suggest contacting the dimming system maker and having someone from
their list of local techs take a look. While you may have an
electrical issue, it is more likely the problem can be solved with the
dimmers. There are many technical settings to modern dimmers that the
district electrician wouldn't know about.

If you work with a local theatrical dealer they would be a good place
to start also. They would love to have you as a long term customer.

---
RickR

On May 4, 7:36 pm, Vicki Stilwell <vstilw...@hotmail.com> wrote:
> Hi, I am a high school drama teacher and have a question about lighting. Our auditorium is fairly new, but it feels like my ellipsoidal lights are not lasting long enough. I bought 25 new bulbs for them in October and now I only have 7 working. Is this normal?? I am trying to convince the administration that we need an electrician to come look at the system. what do y'all think??
>
> Thanks, vicki
>

[Vicki Stilwell]

thank you all for all of the suggestions... my biggest frustration with the lighting system is with my school district which will not invest the money or the time in making sure that it is run properly. I am the closest thing to someone with training, but that is because i sat down with the maunual and taught myself. today, i turned on the stage lights for performances (they are turned on most days but not everyday)... and now i have 18 lights on the catwalk on instead of the previously mentioned 7. i am convinced that the school ghost keeps playing with the auditorium lights.. not sure if the problem is in the lights or the board. thanks for all of the suggestions.. now if i can convince the district to invest somemoney. i'd let all the lamps go out until the district pays to replace them, but i have 2 shows a year and want it to look right so i keep investing the $$.
 
thanks again everyone.
 
vicki
 
> Date: Tue, 12 May 2009 09:05:17 -0700

> Subject: [hstech] Re: lighting question

> From: ri...@silhouettelights.com
> To: hst...@googlegroups.com

[Steve Carpentier]

Hello all,

I am looking for a sheet of drafting symbols - doors, windows, walls, tables, chairs, etc.  - that are used in designing floor plans for sets.  does any one know where I can find such an animal that I can printout and use for my students?  I have googles - standard floor plan symbols, standard drafting symbols, etc, but to know avail... any help would be greatly appreciated.

Steve C

----- Original Message ----
From: Ken Zinkl <KZi...@fz.k12.mo.us>
To: hst...@googlegroups.com
Sent: Tuesday, May 5, 2009 7:51:13 AM
Subject: [hstech] Re: lighting question

[Leffel, Lindsey]

If you are just looking for the symbols, go to www.usitt.org and download their drafting handbook. http://www.usitt.org/bookstore/downloads/Graphic.Standards.1992.pdf It is a great resource and I use it in all my tech classes. If you are looking for templates fieldtemplate.com has some great templates available in various scales.

Lindsey Leffel
Wakeland High School
Director of Technical Theatre
469-633-5736

"I regard the theatre as the greatest of all art forms, the most immediate way in which a human being can share with another the sense of what it is to be a human being."
~Oscar Wilde
________________________________________
From: hst...@googlegroups.com [hst...@googlegroups.com] On Behalf Of Steve Carpentier [steve...@yahoo.com]
Sent: Friday, May 22, 2009 9:19 AM
To: hst...@googlegroups.com
Subject: [hstech] Drafting Symbols

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