Question about long running shows

[GatorNY]

Posted: 5/14/14 at 6:33pm

I went to go see ONCE today, and I am curious about who provides the cast with direction about what is working and not working once a show has been up and running for a while. My inspiration to go again was to see Paul Nolan as The Guy, and while I enjoyed the show, I felt that it could have used a shot in the arm, compared to when I saw it at NYTW and with the original cast. Thanks in advance for the insight.

[ShakinBaconGirl]

Posted: 5/14/14 at 6:38pm

I think it's the stage manager? But some directors will revisit the show every couple of months to tweak stuff to make it seem fresh. I

[dramamama611]

Posted: 5/14/14 at 8:28pm

Yes. In the absence of the director, it is the stage manager.

[CATSNYrevival]

Posted: 5/14/14 at 8:36pm

What does the associate director do then? Isn't there usually an associate director who rehearses the understudies and replacements when the director is not available? I know stage managers give technical notes like actors not being in the right spot or something, but they don't give acting notes do they?

[AEA AGMA SM]

Posted: 5/14/14 at 8:41pm

It depends on the set up of the show. Some shows will have a resident director to take care of acting notes. On some shows it is the stage manager. On others the two may tag team. Then of course with musicals you also have notes coming from the dance captain and the musical director and/or supervisor.

[CATSNYrevival]

Posted: 5/14/14 at 8:46pm

That's what I was trying to think of! The resident director. Makes sense for a big Broadway musical that notes would be a group effort between the resident director, dance captain and musical director.

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 5/15/14 at 1:09pm

This is the AEA description of a stage manager's role in the direction of a show after opening:

Maintain the artistic intentions of the Director and the Producer after opening, to the best of his/her ability, including calling correctional rehearsals of the company when necessary and preparation of the Understudies, Replacements, Extras and Supers, when and if the Director and/or Producer declines this prerogative. Therefore, if an Actor finds him/herself unable to satisfactorily work out an artistic difference of opinion with the Stage Manager regarding the intentions of the Director and Producer, the Actor has the option of seeking clarification from the Director or Producer.

[haterobics]

Posted: 5/15/14 at 1:17pm

"I felt that it could have used a shot in the arm, compared to when I saw it at NYTW and with the original cast."

Well, you also have to account for the fact that you are not discovering the work as freshly as you were then, too. I'm not saying you're wrong about the current cast, as I haven't been to Once recently, but that is a factor. Sort of like how people going to see the Cabaret revival who had been last time around are saying it is less inspired, whereas people going for the first time are blown away...

[Phantom of London]

Posted: 5/15/14 at 1:23pm

Doesn't Harold Prince do a regular chck up on The Phantom of the Opers?

If he does, I am sure when he first started doing this, he didn't think he would be doing it 27 years later.

[Tag]

Posted: 5/15/14 at 1:30pm

Hal Prince Discusses the upkeep of Phantom