Active TopicsActive Topics  Display List of Forum MembersMemberlist  CalendarCalendar  Search The ForumSearch  HelpHelp
  RegisterRegister  LoginLogin
Directing
 Community Theater Green Room Discussion Board :Producing Theater :Directing
Message Icon Topic: unforgivable sin(Topic Closed Topic Closed) Post Reply Post New Topic
<< Prev Page  of 3
Author Message
skoehler
Lead
Lead
Avatar

Joined: 5/19/08
Location: United States
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 37
bullet Posted: 1/17/09 at 4:32pm
What was done seems unacceptable, but I always get a little leery of any theatre, especially a community theatre black balling anyone. 

I am sure that the story of what she did will get around, and she has probably eliminated herself from all future productions.  Let that be the end of it, don't make the organization be the bad guy.

Just my $.02, take it for what its worth, especially in this economy.
Steven Koehler
Managing Director
Civic Theatre of Greater Lafayette
www.lafayettecivic.org
IP IP Logged
KEB54
Celebrity
Celebrity


Joined: 7/24/08
Location: United States
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 227
bullet Posted: 1/19/09 at 6:09pm

I  guess I'd have to know more.  People say things that they don't mean.  How many times have you heard, "I'll quit my job if so-and-so does this-and-that?"  Mostly it is because they are upset and are blowing off steam.

It may be that actors way of expressing his displeasure.  He didn't, afterall, follow through with it did he? I agree with the others that sometimes it is nice to have an actor with passion.  If he would have acted on his "threat" then I would agree that he should have some kind of sanction imposed on him. 

I agree, too, that the bigger question is the theatre's policy on children.  Our's is that no child under the age of two should be brought to the theatre and no child under six should be brought to non-children productions.  If a child is brought they MUST have a ticket even if they don't occupy a seat.  Anyone disrupting a performance (including children) will be asked to leave and not receive a refund.
 
The biggest distraction for me was when I was working dinner theatre and would hear the ice cubes clinking in glasses.  If it were up to me no drinks would be served on the rocks. Smile
 
 
KEB
IP IP Logged
chelserin
Lead
Lead
Avatar

Joined: 3/02/08
Location: United States
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 47
bullet Posted: 1/19/09 at 6:57pm
It's true that they don't call it DRAMA for nothing. And during a run tension/anxiety and nerves are high wich makes a ripe environment for tempers to flare and things to get said, which may not be meant.
On the other hand, I don't know if this actor was a beginner or had been acting for quite a while. I would be willing to give more leeway if it's someone without a lot of stage experience. But if it's someone who has been acting for years they should know by now that ANYTHING can happen during a performance and as an actor you have to ignore it and keep going.
Yes, each theatre needs to have a firm policy for children, but it's not always children who are going to be the distractors. I've been on stage and heard snoring, whispering, breathing machines wheezing away. As an actor I would never say, "remove that person or I won't go on". And as a director I know that I would not work with that person again. They put themselves ahead of the rest of the cast and crew. Made a tense moment for the cast, which I would think would make them not be on their best the rest of the show, and potentially could have cost the audience or theatre (depending on refund policy) the money they spent on that ticket. If there is something happening which threatens your safety, by all means say something. But a crying baby?
To be in the world, and of the world, and never to stand aside and watch.
IP IP Logged
jimmy
Walk-On
Walk-On
Avatar

Joined: 10/24/07
Location: United States
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 0
bullet Posted: 2/08/09 at 1:31pm
That is TOTALLY unprofessional and you should cut-them-loose for any future relaltionships.
 
Jim
Jimmy P
IP IP Logged
Fractal514
Walk-On
Walk-On
Avatar

Joined: 3/24/09
Location: United States
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 7
bullet Posted: 3/24/09 at 9:49pm
I think that this is NOT an "unforgivable sin."  I would certainly think twice on casting this person, and I would make sure everyone else knew about the situation, but in the end, it sounds like this person DID go on stage.  Actors and Actresses have a tendency to do and say things in the heat of the moment that they would never do when cooled down.  It is possible that this person was having a horrible day, got to the theater, had a fight with someone backstage, went out there and had a baby crying during his or her scene, and then came backstage and said that in a fit of frustration.  If you had refused to remove the baby and called the bluff, then you'd have just cause.  
IP IP Logged
janetk
Player
Player
Avatar

Joined: 11/15/07
Location: United States
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 23
bullet Posted: 3/25/09 at 11:57am
I would not want to work with that person again.  Some times actors forget that it is a company not a one person show.  As a director she would give me more ulcers that it was worth.  Don't think I would work with her again.
IP IP Logged
SpenceKenzer
Star
Star
Avatar

Joined: 1/23/09
Location: Canada
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 71
bullet Posted: 3/26/09 at 3:36pm
"The Show Must Go On!"
Period.
No exceptions.  (Well, maybe a few, but they're pretty dire exceptions!)

If I have accepted a role in a play (whether under an informal CT arrangement or a formal professional contract), then the only acceptable reasons for me to NOT go on the stage to perform my role are: 
- death (actual or impending, mine or that of someone in my immediate family),
- disease or injury (my own), or
- termination of the contract (by the CT or by me or by both).

Babies, cellular phones, excessive heat ... they're all annoying ... but unless they lead to death, disease/injury, or contract termination ... then my job as an actor is to "soldier on" or "be a real trooper" despite the adversities.  That's one of the "joys" of live theater, is it not?

That being said, a pre-show announcement to the audience or a note in the program about babies, cellular phones, excessive heat, might do a lot to prevent or minimize such annoyances.

I like to hope that the majority of audience members are both smart enough and considerate enough to NOT cause annoyances (I don't bring a baby into the theater during a performance or run-thru; I turn my cellular phone or any other device OFF while in the theater; etc.).

And as for that small and annoying minority of audience members who are either stupid or inconsiderate or both ... well ... again, that's one of the "joys" of live theater.

And if I'm the actor having the prima donna moment, refusing to go on the stage because of the presence of a (?noisy?) baby in the audience? 
Well, if I'm lucky I MIGHT be allowed to pull that kind of an inappropriate stunt ONCE and ONLY ONCE.
- Perhaps there are understandable circumstances that lead to the incident, or not.  I will probably receive a private and firm-but-friendly talking-to by the SM or the Director or the Producer, indicating that this will not happen again.
- If I'm stupid enough to try that inappropriate stunt again, at the very least I should not be cast in a show by that CT for a VERY long time, if ever. 
- If I am a paid professional actor, and I try to pull that inappropriate stunt a second time, I would probably be fired on the spot and replaced by an understudy of some kind.

I am, of course, reminded of the recently released recording of Christian "The Dark Knight" Bale, having a verbal meltdown on the set of some recent movie of his.  The acting product he provides has to be worth AN AWFUL LOT to put up with that kind of inappropriate behaviour.  Many Hollywood actors who have demonstrated an ability to be "difficult" have had trouble getting roles, unless their acting product is SO spectacular that their "difficult" personalities are overlooked for reasons of Box Office.  I doubt that most CT's have that kind of leeway.
--------------------<*>
Saludos, my dahlinks, and you know who you are ... !
IP IP Logged
<< Prev Page  of 3
Post Reply Post New Topic
Printable version Printable version

Forum Jump
You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot create polls in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum

Bulletin Board Software by Web Wiz Forums version 8.05
Copyright ©2001-2006 Web Wiz Guide
buy generic cialis are in line cialis canada outcome for yourself viagra sales cost saving benefit viagra uk convert your buy phentermine online pay phentermine cod payment Lenders Everything xanax online your existing xanax overnight absolute must free incest stories online The value gay incest advance The key free dog sex pics cash flow dog sex the reduced noise free gay college guys of the period gay guys