Wednesday, November 19, 2025

Overheard Stagehand Line #65: "making nasty comments in a folksy upstate accent"

Stagehand: "Why don't you hire that guy anymore?"

Head: "I got sick of him making nasty comments in a folksy upstate accent." 

Thursday, October 16, 2025

Term of the Night: "Say anything, tell them nothing"

"Say anything, tell them nothing"--old Irish saying, good for dealing with shit-stirrers. Do not give any information that is useful. Give them blarney.

Wednesday, October 15, 2025

Overheard Stagehand Dialogue #32: "business or personal?"

Young Stagehand: "When you threw that violent carpenter under the bus, was it business or personal?"

Older Stagehand: (taking a contemplative moment) "'Twas business and personal, the best of both worlds." 

Tuesday, October 14, 2025

Legendary Stagehands #3: Tommy A-Flat

Tommy A-Flat-a stagehand who once fell into an orchestra pit, I believe at the State Theatre, crushed a cello and survived with minor injuries. The nickname "Tommy A-Flat" stayed with him for the rest of his career.

Wednesday, October 8, 2025

Stagehand Dialogue #31: "...make sure he's dead..."

Young Stagehand: "When that tech dies, are you going to his wake?"

Old Stagehand: "Of course. I have to make sure he's dead." 

Tuesday, October 7, 2025

Term of the Day--a dog show

a dog show--a doomed show put in a Broadway theater by ambitious producers. Dog shows are usually put in dog houses, which are Broadway theaters east of 7th Avenue.

Thursday, October 2, 2025

Overheard Stagehand Dialogue #36: "less than nothing"

Stagehand #1: "That old carpenter? He stays in his room watching gun shows and screaming at the TV."

Stagehand #2: "Yeah, it is pretty amazing. I didn't know you could do less than nothing."