Bravo

Well, again I am wishing that appreciation for crew was taught in the universities. I recall having a discussion with my cast (when I directed BLWIT) about not going out to meet their friends and family until they had removed their costumes and microphones, as these crew members had worked all night and it was rude to just assume they could wait to pack up their departments to go home until after the actors had gone up to receive accolades for their performance. I was surprised that I even needed to say this, and even more taken aback by the attitudes that were thrown back at me, accompanied by statements of "Well I have people here to see me..., Can't they wait a few minutes? Isn't that what they are paid to do?...
   Why is theater etiquette only taught to theater majors, and musical theater/voice majors have no idea, and no respect for the hard work of others around them? (I realize this doesn't apply 100%, but in my experience at ASU, it applies to about 95%) I feel like they felt so entitled, and it was all about their moment to shine and be given kudos for their amazing talents.
   I bring this up (firstly because I don't really have to worry about anyone reading my blog) but because I was reminded of this Sunday night in rehearsal. The crew are working fifteen hour days to make this production work. They are constantly on alert for safety issues, to keep the show running smoothly, and in this arduous tech process are resetting sets and cues again and again to make it right. I am also so impressed by my cast. No one their work for granted. No diva attitudes, everyone stays in position and repeats these cues ad nauseum until they are perfect. I was especially impressed with our Valentine (SP) who was folded into a doll house on and off for over a period of two hours. Every so often they would open it up to let him have some air and release his upper body, and a few times he was able to get out and stretch. There was no complaining, no eye rolling, and no sense of self importance and "poor me", also JT in the jack-in-the-box sitting in there waiting for his cue to emerge. These actors realize that it is all part of a whole, and without the crew who is working tirelessly to create our world, we would have nothing.
   I do realize that youth and arrogance can bring all of this about, but I feel like it is a disservice not to ingrain this in the department early on.
Cheers
MB