Question 2: LOCATION OF FIRST ROMANTIC ENCOUNTER
Question 3: LOCATION OF FIRST SEXUAL ENCOUNTER
Question 4: TIME BETWEEN ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS 3 AND/OR 4 BEFORE THIS EVALUATION
Inspired by real-life “Love Clauses” that dictate the nature and extent of office relationships, Contractions questions what people might willingly surrender for job security, and how much humanity one can really trade for profitability. In one scene, Emma’s manager asks her a series of increasingly personal questions about a relationship she’s started up. Studio Theatre Literary Director Adrien-Alice Hansel spoke with stage manager Eric Arnold about creating the form the actor fills out during the course of that scene.
What, in general, does a Stage Manager do during rehearsals? How does that change when a show is in production?
In general, a Stage Manager serves as the link between the cast, the director, the designers, and the production staff. They maintain the rehearsal room and keep the director on schedule throughout the process. Whether collecting props or costumes for rehearsal, the Stage Manager does whatever he or she can to facilitate an environment where the directors and actors can flourish. When a show moves to the production phase, the stage manager calls all the light, sound, and backstage actions. In addition to setting the stage every night, the SM is also tasked with maintaining the quality of the production. Shows evolve over long runs, and the SM needs to keep a watchful eye and make sure all the moving pieces of a play stay in the same line they were in when it opened.
Can you talk a little about developing the “Preliminary Official Dual Employee Relationship Filing” and “Scoring” sheets? Did you work with the actor who has to fill them out?
In several of the scenes, the Manager is taking notes about Emma's answers. Since the company is so heavily reliant on efficiency, I thought it was important that her paperwork be specific as well. Since there (hopefully) isn't a document this extreme in real life, I wanted to give Holly [Twyford] something close to what it might be in our world. I came up with the original design after a few conversations, and Holly's given a lot of great thoughts about what would be most helpful to her.
What other choice props have you crafted while in the line of duty?
The creativity a stage manager needs is one of the most important qualities in rehearsals. While I'm always trying to think ahead and anticipate where a director's thoughts might go, it's impossible to anticipate everything. There are times when a director wants to try a prop idea out immediately and it's up to me to whip something up to simulate the real thing. Extra sheets of paper from a legal pad, a pair of scissors and some tape can go a long way. While paper props give an SM the most ability to have a little fun with the writing, it's important to know where the line is. Writing something too funny or out there might become a distraction. I worked with an actor playing a tailor recently. When he decided his character would always wear a thimble and I didn't have a real one in the rehearsal space, I crafted one out of paper and tape. He wore it for the rest of the rehearsal process, even after I offered him a real metal one.
What is the most rewarding part of your job?
I would say the most rewarding part of my job comes once the show has opened. For me, calling the light and sound cues, especially a complicated sequence, is the most rewarding. Getting the timing of button presses between two and sometimes three different people is a tough thing to nail. Audiences may only notice lights and sound subconsciously, so a timing error or missed cue is incredibly noticeable because of how it disrupts the flow. Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson [at 2ndStage in Summer 2012] was some of the most rewarding nights as a stage manager I've had. Each song had its own set of cues that needed calling not only on the right line but also the right beat in the music. Shows will have a sequence that seemed impossible to call on the first day of tech, but with repetition and knowledge of the cues and what they do, it becomes easier and more rewarding as you see how a cue called a fraction of a second later has a drastic effect on the look of the show. An average audience member might never notice until I make a mistake, and that's why I find it to be so important and rewarding.