Hi, everyone! This is Melissa, the Community Manager for Broadway Media.
I'm so glad to learn about all of the upcoming performances of Anastasia; it's a beautiful show, and I know you and your students will have an incredible time being a part of it.
Broadway Media's materials for Anastasia were initially developed based off an earlier version of the script; in fact, the materials are an exact replica of the projections direct from the original Broadway production. We are aware of the discrepancies between the current script and our cues, and are working on a solution we anticipate to be completed by end of February. In the mean time, we do have a short term solution for current productions. If you haven't already, please reach out to your Account Manager (Erin); she'll be able to assist!
Anastasia is very special to us at Broadway Media, as it is a true dedication of our mission, which is to break down barriers to the performing arts. The projections create solutions for difficult staging moments and provide materials for a magical production. It also contributes to the ecosystem of theatre itself; as when you purchase a license to the Anastasia Scenic Projections, the original Broadway creator receives royalties, furthering financial freedom to create new work!
This forum is a wonderful resource. We love reading about your experiences and appreciate the ideas and feedback that come from it. Please know that we welcome feedback directly, as it's the best way for us to learn and evolve! Our team is expanding and growing beyond pre pandemic size again, so we are here and listening. Feel free to message me here or drop me an email!
Break legs on your upcoming performances!
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Melissa Kratish
Broadway Media Distribution
CA
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Original Message:
Sent: 01-09-2022 13:38
From: Robert Forbes
Subject: Anastasia Train Car
Our "Attendants" are the other passengers on the train car. Our train is in two halves and does not have a "top" But would look like this in our artist's rendering. If, in the end we felt we needed more vertical things to put in, then we would add that design element, but we're not there yet. It's currently at the painter's studio, so I can't show you the actual set piece yet.
We are also using the Broadway Media projections, which look AMAZING, but they are not "script matched" as they note. β The script is 105 pages long, the projections end at page 115. They have a project underway to make them so, but I have not heard anything further about that since they told me they were going ahead and assigned a resource to it, a month ago.
There are definitely some problem areas in the projection cue suite - particularly in this train sequence. I have shared my detailed analysis with them.
Happy to share my findings with you ... send me an email.
Rob
Robert Forbes
Producer
Mountain Dream Productions
info@mountaindreambc.com
www.mountaindreambc.com
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@mountaindreambc
Original Message:
Sent: 1/9/2022 8:08:00 AM
From: Karen Malone
Subject: RE: Anastasia Train Car
We are ALSO doing Anastasia! Guess that's the show to do this year. I agree with Lori, it's high school, so we are going to use attendants. I figure if the train spins easily, they can stay upstage the whole time, and might actually blend in with the passengers. We have a small hole center stage, covered by a plate that they must have created for Les Miz years back. We are hoping to put the pole in the middle of the train and put it in that hole, so it rotates around that pole. I also have very little wing storage, so it would be great if the train could be in two halves, but the top part might be a problem assembling onstage. Any thought on how that might be achieved? Are you using the projections from Broadway Media? (extremely helpful company!) If so, front or rear projection? What are you using for your screen? Is anyone using set pieces (French doors, columns, arches?) in addition to the projection? Also, what are all using for the music box? I'd rather not spend the $80 I'm seeing online. Our show is at the end of March, so if it goes well, and anyone wants the train and lives in the Long Island area, it's yours!
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[Karen] [Malone]
[National Board Certified Teacher of English]
IB Theatre Teacher
ITS Advisor
[Commack High Schoo]
[Commack] [New York]
Original Message:
Sent: 01-08-2022 11:15
From: Lori Bush
Subject: Anastasia Train Car
We are also doing Anastasia. We have opted to go with the rolling platform, and have the stage hands costumed as train attendants at each corner moving the car. My thoughts are, this is a high school production. Using people to turn the car gets more students on stage, costs a lot less, and let's be honest, it's high school not Broadway. If they stand there expressionless, looking like attendants, they won't take away from the actors or the effect. That's my opinion anyway:) I'm having a bigger issue with figuring out the staging of the ballet and the multiple theatre boxes on a small stage!π€¦π»ββοΈ I would love to hear your solutions for that:)
Lori Bush
Director of Theatre Activities
Pike County Middle School
Pike County High School
Sent from my iPhone
Original Message:
Sent: 1/5/2022 2:42:00 PM
From: Cory Jennett
Subject: Anastasia Train Car
Hi everyone.
Our high school is producing Anastasia for our musical this year. The director wants to keep it as close to the Broadway version as possible...which means that she wants a train car that can spin onstage.
The Broadway version, of course, had access to a revolving stage; we have no such luxury. I came up with two solutions:
1. We build our own revolving stage. This would mean it would have to sit up about 6.25" in the air, and the train car would not be able to leave the stage at all.
2. We put the car on casters and have students rotate the car around in a circle. The director does not like the idea of having the audience see people turning the car.
The director asked if we could put tracks on the stage. It is a brand new stage, so it would not be a good idea to drill into it to attach the tracks and keep them from moving. And without a fully functioning engine, students would still need to move it onstage and spin it manually in front of the audience.
I contacted a nearby university to see if the theatre program and the engineering program could partner up to help solve this problem, but I was also hoping to pose the question to you all. How would you go about putting this on?
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Cory Jennett
KS
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