Musical Theatre (31) - Transitions

In today's lesson we almost completed a full top-and-tail run to work on transitions (although we didn't complete it, we did discuss what we shall do for the rest of the show). Below is what we worked out:

• FIRST SET - table // chair // "wood burner" (i.e. dustbin) // guitar
  • Remains for "Tune Up 1", "Voice Mail 1", "Tune Up 2", "Rent" and "Tune Up 3"
  • Cameron takes off the wood burner after "Tune Up 3" as he leaves
• SECOND SET - table // chair // guitar
  • Remains for "One Song Glory", "Light My Candle", "Voice Mail 2", "Today 4 U" and "You'll See"
  • Cameron takes table off. Henri takes guitar off. Owen sits on chair, and Lewis pushes Owen off stage on the chair. At the end I bring on the white block (used as the step to get on to the L-Shaped decking) to centre on it's side (to become the amp) and a mic stand. 
• THIRD SET - white block on its side // mic stand
  • Remains just for "Tango: Maureen"
  • Cameron puts whit block back as step and takes off mic stand. Tyler and Warren bring tableand guitar back on.
• FOURTH SET - table // guitar
  • Remains for "Life Support", "Another Day" and "Will I?"
  • Henri and Cameron turn table around (to reveal the back of it, as it has a brick wall pattern hanging down to suggest a different location). Cameron was told to take off the guitar, but as he is in the next number, and is already turning the table, I believe Taylor should take it off as she exits stage right anyway.
• FIFTH SET - table
  • Remains for the rest of Act One
• SIXTH SET - two small round tables, stage left and stage right // one large table centre stage (all tables with cloths on)
  • All is set during interval
  • Remains for "La Vie Boheme" only
  • Taylor sits on the stairs at the end, Henri sits on the edge of the stage - both for the "AZT break section". Tyler and Lewis takes off stage right table, Warren and Cameron take off stage left table. Owen and I adjust the sheet on centre table so it is only half covering the table (to become the table in the flat, looking like it is covered with a dust sheet).
• SEVENTH SET - table with sheet half covering - looking scruffy
  • Remains for "Voice Mail 3", "Happy New Year B" and "Take Me or Leave Me"
  • Warren then adjusts sheet to cover entire bed and Tyler brings on pillow - as if they are nurses at the beginning of the next number.
• EIGHTH SET - table with sheet over and pillow // chair
  • Remains for "Without You" only
  • During song, Will brings on chair. Taylor takes it off at the end during the blackout.
  • During blackout at the end of this number, Owen takes off his pillow and Cameron puts black stage block (that has been on the floor in front of the stage for the entire show - used in "Life Support" and "Will I?") at the back behind the table.
• NINETH SET - table with sheet over // black block behind table
  • Remains for "Voice Mail 4" and "I'll Cover You (reprise)"
  • During blackout at the end of this number, entire stage is cleared.
• TENTH SET - no set
  • For the rest of the show ("Goodbye Love" and "Seasons of Love")

In our top-and-tail run, we only got up until the end of Act One, but we all discussed the rest of the show. I really liked Lewis and Cameron's idea of having a sheet hanging off the back of the table with a brick pattern on the other side, as it allows for an easy set change that presents a clear change in location. Originally, Mr Webb wanted us to have three small circular tables for "La Vie Boheme" but I suggested that we have the table we shall use for the latter songs on from the beginning of this act to make set changes easier. This meant that we didn't have to change our set at all, and instead just have to move a sheet around a little bit. Next lesson, we will hopefully do the entire transition run, and then begin our complete full runs.