Stage Managing “Scenes From the Big Picture”

Posted by DCA Theater on September 10, 2008 in July-December 2008 Season, Scenes from the Big Picture

Written by J David Moeller (playing Frank Coin)

Nikki Lint is a professional Stage Manager, and manage this show she does with a style that makes an intensely difficult job look surprisingly easy.

During rehearsals she not only had to keep track of the stage blocking of the 21 member cast, she also had to synchronize their schedules for rehearsal times/appearances, watch the script and be ready to give out a dropped line when called for, keep tabs on convoluted “transitions” between scenes where the cast moves furniture and props in and out of the set, co-ordinate props and set building, and on and on.

Her job was as back-up to Scott Cummins, the director, and—though many may not realize it—she takes charge of the show after it’s opening; i.e. she then becomes the director, though she makes no changes, but insures the production maintains its course as described by Cummins.

Nikki also “runs” the show during performances: calling for light and sound cues, alerting actors as to their curtain times, overseeing the setting of props, making sure dishes used in the show are washed, etc.

She doesn’t do it all herself, though. She’s assisted quite thoroughly and capably by Assistant Stage Manager, Mary Rose O’Connor.

These two women are responsible for making the show run smoothly so that audiences never realize anything is happening except for the acting on stage. Without Nikki and Mary, the show would not go on!

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The Storefront Theater Ghost

Posted by DCA Theater on September 4, 2008 in July-December 2008 Season, Scenes from the Big Picture

Written by J David Moeller (playing Frank Coin)

It is not uncommon for a theater to be the home of a ghost. While working at the Zachary Scott Theater Center in Austin, Texas I was told of, but never met, the old Indian living in the upper regions of the fly space above the stage. He had a penchant for the costumer ladies who worked late at their sewing machines. He was often seen behind them and would often tap them on the shoulder when he like their work. Another of his favorite haunts was the catwalk above the stage. He’d sit and watch the shows from his perch.

In Los Angeles there is a theater that was once a funeral parlor. It is said that Lou Costello, of Abbot and Costello fame, was laid out there. His ghost would often be seen in the halls near the greenroom where he would “play” with actors on their way to the stage.

And the Storefront Theater apparently has a ghost. He was spotted in a photograph taken during set construction for “Scenes From the Big Picture” (running through October 5th). Little is known about this specter other than he might have been a crew person; perhaps a carpenter or lighting technician. He dresses comfortably and seems helpful, not threatening in any way.

In fact none of the ghosts mentioned here have been scary at all; but supportive of the people around them, perhaps even helpful in their own way.

The photo below was not “Photoshopped” or altered. It appears as it was taken during construction.

Scenes from the Big Picture: Post your review!

Posted by DCA Theater on August 22, 2008 in July-December 2008 Season, Scenes from the Big Picture

August 28, 2008—October 05, 2008
Storefront Theater
Written by Owen McCafferty; Directed by Scott Cummins

Continuing Seanachai Theatre’s tradition of Irish storytelling, this play smashes the “big picture” into vivid snapshots of intimate groups of people.  Moving from shops to pubs to life on the street, the urban story masterfully weaves together the lives of twenty characters in forty scenes into a 24-hour slice of contemporary Belfast life. Originally presented by London’s Royal National Theatre in 2003, this production is the premiere presentation in the Midwest.

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Interpreting Seanachai’s Irish Jargon

Posted by DCA Theater on August 21, 2008 in July-December 2008 Season, Scenes from the Big Picture

Written by J David Moeller (playing Frank Coin)

The cast and crew of Seanachai Theatre’s Midwestern Premier of Owen McCafferty’s “Scenes From the Big Picture” moved into the Storefront Theater Tuesday beginning the final stages of preparation for the opening August 30, at 7:30pm. The play interweaves the lives of 21 people from all strata of society.

It’s written in today’s up-front style and language and minces no words to make its points. As in any living language, the conversations the characters have are laced with jargon/slang.

Casey VanWormer, Seanachai’s “Scenes” dramaturge, says, “I dramaturge mostly because I’m a giant nerd and enjoy spending sunny summer days in the library. Really! My training is in theatre performance and playwriting, but I found my favorite part of putting on a show is the rehearsal process and the research and world building that goes into it.”

VanWormer was dramaturgical intern at Victory Gardens last year. “I feel the rehearsal process is about narrowing down and specifying, about building a world in which every detail is planned out precisely. It’s my job to continuously open things up, to inform the world of the play with a universe of information.”

For us at Seanachai she, among a veritable tome of information (crime statistics, birth and death records, an interview with the playwright) has compiled a list of slang terms and their meanings to assist we actors in better understanding our speeches.

Here are a few that audience members might hear and their meanings.

Dankers (adj): Bad, crappy

Diddies (n): Breasts

Do a runner (v phrs): a hurried departure without paying for a received service

Gargle (n & v): alcohol - to go out drinking

Header (n): nutcase, unstable person

Kip (n): A substandard dwelling
Kip, to have a (n): short sleep, nap

Knock (someone) back (v): To reject someone or their suggestions.

Moo (n): An objectionable woman. Derogatory but also jocular. Essentially the same as ‘cow’ but using the children’s onomatopoeic name for a cow.

Napper (n): head

Poe (n): Chamber pot

Ponce (n): homosexual

Rocket (n): Ditzy, a “space cadet”
2. Penis
3. Reprimand

Shower of shite (n): contemptible person, place or thing

Skins (n): the papers used to roll a joint or a cigarette

slabber (v): to “talk shit”  2. to talk a lot but make no sense

tosspot (n): Insulting terms of address for people who are stupid or irritating or ridiculous. A chronic drinker

Nudity on Stage

Posted by DCA Theater on August 18, 2008 in July-December 2008 Season, Scenes from the Big Picture

Written by J David Moeller (playing Frank Coin)

Today with the Hayes office of filmdom a memory in fewer and fewer minds, nudity in films has almost become an expected occurrence. But what about stage nudity? It’s not as common. But it is still controversial.

When the American Tribal Love-Rock Musical “Hair” first appeared in the late ‘60s some communities were aghast there was pronounced nudity on stage and many banned the production (It ran for almost 1,800 performances in New York).

“Scenes From the Big Picture” has a bit of short lived nudity presented well within the context of the production and in no way gratuitous or demeaning.

Director Scott Cummins states unequivocally that “Theater is to provoke, but only if the material is appropriate and true.” In “Scenes” it is both.
In the show, the character Connie is dancing and flirting with two young men in the street below her Belfast flat. They enthusiastically flirt back…egging her on to “show yer titties!”

She does. And dances away from the window giggling and full of the fun of the moment.

Lee Stark is the young actress playing Connie. She agrees with Director Cummins and continues, “Our standards are skewed toward violence these days and that’s ok. But nudity is ok as well.” She goes on, “Nudity has a place in theater as violence does, but it must have a reason to be there.”
Ms. Stark qualifies that she has no qualms about her nudity in the show and is quite comfortable and assured in her part. “Nudity’s never been a big thing with me”, she says.