Second Interview Questions

1. How long have you been involved with theatre?

2. What are some of the jobs you have worked in over the years?

3. What were your experiences as a stage manager?

4. Where are some of the places you have worked before?

5. Have you undergone any specific theatre training? (ex: college classes, theatre classes outside of school, etc...)

Working EQ

(1) Ever since starting rehearsal on the show, I have gained a lot of experience. I have learned how to work with actors and how to supervise people who are older than me and who have more experience. I've also worked a lot on y time management skills, learning how to effectively use my time to set up as fast as possible.


(2) My interview helped me understand some major issues in Stage Managing, such as maintaining your composure. If you can't remain calm during a show, you will freak your cast out and the shows quality will suffer.


(3) Mentorship hours have really given me a sense of what it is like to be a Stage Manager outside of school hours. There are some differences, especially when you don't have tons of crew working under you to help put on a show.


(4) Research checks have confused me a bit, as I'm not sure exactly where my boundaries are. Sometimes when reading I feel as though the research might be more specific to my experiences in Stage Managing as opposed to Stage Managing in general.

(5)

• One major question that comes to mind is whether or not Stage Managing would suffice as a primary source of income. From what I have read, a lot of it seems to be hopping from one show to the next.
• Overall, I want to improve my skills as a stage manager, and gain valuable work experience in a world where it is hard for a teenager to get a job.
• The director of my show, Greg, mentioned a Business Manager at Long Beach Playhouse who has stage managed for him in the past and is an excellent Stage Manager. I would really like to talk to her to see what she has done in the past to make her so great. 

Problem Statement

1) Topic: Stage Managing

2a) Problem:

Well at my service learning, communication between me and the tech booth can be troublesome at times, due to interference from a nearby police station. This could cause issues during actual runs of the show, as it could interrupt cues to change the lights and or sound.

2b):

I plan to use my answer from the science experiment to help any future shows I work on at that particular theatre, in the hopes that cues for tech run smoother and the show doesn't experience any hiccups.

3a) Problem:

Traffic from LA always seems to have the ability to make several of the actors in the play I am running miss call time, possibly throwing off the energy for the show and resulting in a cut rate performance

3b):

I would attempt to publish my findings on ways to solve the traffic issue in a respectable automotive magazine such as popular mechanics and try to set new standards in car technology.

Interview Preparation

Who do you plan to interview? Why?

• I plan to interview the director of the show I worked on, Gregory Cohen. He has been in the theatre business for several years, and has directed several shows over the years with different crews, some even being iPoly students. This could give me a comparison on how I stack up against past crews and iPoly students. Getting into contact with Greg is painless, as I usually see him every weekend, and for rehearsals. e is the perfect first interviewee for the senior project.

What additional questions do you plan to ask?

• As stated above, I plan on asking how I stack up against past stage managers and iPoly students he has worked with. I also want to know what some of the worst experiences are that he has had with stage managers. The last thing I plan on asking Greg is about what drew him to work in theatre?

Topic Choice

What is your topic and why?

• The topic I have chosen is Stage Management, because it is a topic I enjoy doing, and already having experience and contacts in the field means a relatively simple search for mentorship hours and interviewees. I feel that picking a topic that I have an interest in and that I enjoy will make the senior project seem like less of a burden to me.

What do you hope to accomplish this year with this topic?

• I plan to use my experience in attentive listening and organization to help me become a better iPoly citizen by contributing in various areas in a more effective way.
• My topic this year is all about communication, and my experience can only help improve my communication skills. Stage managing is, in a way, a code word for middle man. Stage managers are always relaying messages back and forth. And even when we are not, we are trying to track down actors or crew, and keeping lines of communication open with most of the theatre staff.
• Stage Managers are constantly learning new things while working in the field, and this experience will help me improve my ability to learn by getting in the habit of picking up the small, seemingly insignificant things.
• One half of a stage managers job is technology. And we aren't just talking about Word and Photoshop. Tech in the theatre world covers anything from sound boards, to stage lights, the light board, and even the tools we use. This will help me become an effective user of technology by introducing me to types of technology I might not have ever had experience with.