Things I’ve learned from stage managing…

It’s possible to make tar that you can get out of everything except a pair of suede pumps.

Fake barf is almost as nasty as real barf, especially after it’s started to go bad.

Actors need lots of reminding, but not as much as directors do.

I hate paraphrasing.

No matter how many line note forms you have, you don’t have enough.

An apple is better than a Coke for keeping you awake, but lasts about an eighth of the time. (Minty gum is good too.)

My nose starts to run as soon as we start working on a really quiet scene.

The first dress rehearsal will always suck.

Live theatre is fun and scary as hell.

Stage managing in a dress may not be practical, but for me it’s necessary.

It’s also necessary to do as much as I can barefoot. Deal with it. (I think it’s a leftover dancer thing.)

Make damn sure you check that Gene's spotlight is off.

Make damn sure you make your cell phone is off.

No matter how tired you get of it, never EVER skip the dimmer check/sound check.

As soon as you go out on the sidewalk to call someone and find out where they are, they'll pull around the corner.

Saying "The Scottish Play" instead of "Macbeth" may seem stupid to you, but the other actors will have your head if you ignore it.

It's MUCH easier to exercise when you're not in rehearsal.

It's much easier to do everything when you're not in rehearsal.

God I miss it.