By Daniel Buckland level 3
North Kent college: Miskin
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The dance show 2
Watching the Chorus line dance and Glow tape
Today I watched the lighting plot for the song which is from Chorus line the musical and then I activated the glow tape, so the dancers don’t bump into anything and fall over anything in the dark. Me and some other people activated the glow tap on the stairs, on the railing, on the poles, on the wires and on the floor. Then we put down some more glow tape and foam tubes also known as cladding. The cladding was put on the ends of the railing and on the edge of the first step and I put glow tape across the side of every step so glow tape could be seen as you go up the stairs since there was only glow tape across the top of every step. Then I did some coursework.
A Chorus Line dance
Activated glow tape on stairs after more was added
Cladding and glow tape added to railing side
Glow tape and cutting card
This morning I activated the glow tape behind the curtains and then I went into design where using a bit of card, a pencil and a ruler I marked six squares to cut and then I used a guillotine that I asked to borrow from someone in the college. Then after I cut them someone else wrote numbers onto the card which the dancers pinned onto their costume to look like an audition number for the dance song from Chorus Line the musical. Then I did some coursework, and I also activated the glow tape again after lunch.
Pile of cards I cut up
Researching the use of cans
Then I did some research into the use of cans, which are the headsets used by the DSMs, lighting and sound. The DSM also gives pre show calls so the performers and techies know when the show starts and so the performers know when to be ready to go on stage. The DSM give a half an hour call, 15 minute call, 10 minute call, a 5 minute call and a beginners call which is to let the performers know to go stand near the door to be ready to go on stage also if the show has an interval splitting the show into act 1 and act 2 the same calls are done at the beginning of act 2. Also, there’s a call that the audience hear too telling them welcome to the show name and the theatre name and then the time that the show starts. During the show the DSM gives stand by calls for lights, sound smoke, fake snow or any other effects when lighting or sound needs to get ready and then a call is given when they need to activate the cue.
Websites I used for Information about cans
Researching the use of cue lights
Then I did some research into the use of cue lights which is a system for the DSM to tell lighting when to get ready for a lighting cue with stand by being a red light and use the cue now or an emergency being a red light. Even though the cues are usually given through a headset this is a backup method incase a headset is taken off, you can’t hear each other, the headsets aren’t working mid show or if something else goes wrong it also helps for lighting and sound to have a visual cue as well as a cue being said.
Websites I used for information on Cue lights
Image found online of a cue lights system
Researching Kabuki drops
Then I researched kabuki drop which is mainly used with a large piece of fabric or a large curtain to reveal someone or something on stage with a system called kabuki cells or kabuki solenoids which is released from a button by a magnetic release. This system can also drop objects as well as large fabrics and curtains but every time you want something to be dropped to need to go up a ladder and hook the object on to the system. The kabuki drop was originally made in Japan during the 1600s for kabuki dances which was known for it’s dramatic and stylistic entrances and exits but they used a manual drop with a support rod and some rope. I did some research on the kabuki drop because one is going to be used for the dance show with a button to release it and a duck with an arrow through it is dropped after a dance pretends to shoot it with a crossbow during the Addams Family song.
Website I used for Kabuki information
Curtain Kabuki drop images I found online
What is spiking?
Spiking is when an x or an L is made with tape on the stage floor to mark out where a person or prop is moved during the show so lighting plot in place and it’s in the same place for every show. For props 2 L bit of tape is placed on the floor in line with the back 2 corners of the prop and the x is usually so a performer knows where to stand so they get lit.
Weekly evaluation 4
This week I have watched the Chorus line dance song during the lighting plot, put down more glow tape, activated the glow tape, marked and cut cards for audition numbers pinned to costumes, researched use of cans, researched cue lights and I researched kabuki drops. I solved the problem of backstage not being safe enough by adding more glow tape so the dancer can see the dangers easier in the dark. I have also been activating the glow tape, so the light is absorbed and then released over a long period of time. I have improved on my knowledge of cans, cue lights and kabuki drops and I didn’t know that cans meant the headset and also it is quicker to say for example “I’m going off cans for a minute”. I did have a rough idea on what the cue lights system was and what the kabuki drop was, but I learnt some more information about them like how the Kabuki drop was first used in Japan during the 1600s for the Kabuki dance style which was where the name kabuki drop came from. I can improve on my knowledge on the next show I’ll be helping with Which is the Vintage Hitchcock-A Radio Play that will be performed by the actors because I have never heard of the play before. I do know that the actors will be making sound effects with props during the show and that it’s an old play but apart from that I don’t know much. This week I have researched the use of cans, the cue light system and kabuki drops. I did have a rough idea on what the cue lights system was and what the kabuki drop was, but I learnt some more information about them like how the Kabuki drop was first used in Japan during the 1600s for the Kabuki dance style which was where the name kabuki drop came from.