BA Musical Theatre Showcase
GUILDFORD SCHOOL OF ACTING
During March 2023, I took on the role of Deputy Stage Manager for the BA Musical Theatre third-year cohort's showcase, in which we produced 35 musical number in under three weeks and filmed them all in just four days.
BA Musical Theatre Showcase was my first venture into the role of being a Deputy Stage Manager - a concept that was initially daunting me due to my interests lying more within the realm of stage and the role of stage manager, however I knew the experience would be invaluable and thus, put myself up for the challenge.
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My initial thought was that due to the project being a showcase and not a show that I would be in for an easier ride ... I found that to be somewhat inaccurate. While the pressure of a live performance were alleviated, due to the showcase being filmed - another new experience for me - putting together 35 numbers and managing 37 cast members amid auditions in under three weeks proved to be rather compensatory.
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I was very lucky to be part of well functioning stage management team that provided me with lots of support throughout the process and acted quickly on notes sent through in rehearsal reports, and were super on it when we moved into the space.
ASMs, Georgia Bettison and Georgia Mae Jones, working out the logistics for a 360 shot with Alex Ryland-Jones for Daniel J. Brian's number '(It Looks Like) I'll Never Fall In '
Myself holding the slate for Jacob Dachtler's number 'Belief' featuring videographer, Alex Ryland-Jones.
Myself calling 'Apex Predator' with director. Joe Prouse, in the background
Isobel Grace Bass and Davide Valenti on the relay running through their number 'Light in the Piazza' medley with Harley Hodges (Prod LX) in the background.
While I found the initial notion of being very still within the production period very strange, due to be very comfortable on my feet and moving around in my former positions, I was very quickly distracted by the workload and the importance of my role in pulling everything together in the space.
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I think the biggest challenge I found in the process was the scheduling - or more rather keeping to schedule - as with so many numbers and cast to consider, even running five minutes ver in one slot could have a rather large impact later in the day. However, the team that was curated was incredibly easy and lovely to work with and with a lot of good faith and humour we made it through the four days, successfully filming every number to a standard all were happy with.
In conclusion, while this role wasn't particularly my calling, I was extremely grateful to gain some experience in it and build on my skills in show calling as well as organisation, and I could not have asked for a greater team of creatives and crew to have worked with during it.
A photo of the creatives, crew and cast of Izzy Cross' number 'Show Off', the final number we filmed at the end of the fourth day.
A photo of myself show calling 'Apex Predator' with Georgia Mae Jones (ASM) standing in the background on hand to catch a basketball.
AN EXCERPT FROM MY PROMT COPY
APEX PREDATOR
