Stage Directions: The StageWrite app, a tool for documenting staging and choreography, is rapidly being adopted by big shows on Broadway, as well as by Cirque du Soleil and Universal. It’s also getting a push from Apple now, too. The app is featured on Apple’s website, and Apple even filmed a rehearsal to capture the app in action, which will be used in a documentary about the app.
2 comments:
About two years ago, I looked into creating a theatrical management application for production and crews, and did a very basic competitive analysis on the products out there. I've since gathered more ideas and thoughts on it, but haven't done further research.
Two years ago, Stage Write was simple, hard to use, and quite honestly unnecessary. And now? Well, it's quite frankly the same. You don't save any more time with the features they provide, and it's even arguably more of a hassle than organized paper documents can be. In the attempt to make a "standardized" view of things I think they've actually complicated the process unnecessarily.
I think I'll keep my ideas and see what I can do with them in the future. It's a good idea in general, and an untapped area of focus for the digital realm. But Apple really endorsed this? I'm disappointed. Have they seen the horrible user interaction? This app was hardly even designed, it's like they hired engineers to write it or something...
I am definitely trying to integrate technology into stage management practices more often. Beyond StageWrite, there are several other softwares that have the potential to be something really useful for stage managers. I've dabbled in VirtualCallboard, and found some of the features to be time as well as paper savers. I'm not huge on being green, but stage management can get a little messy with the amout of printouts one often has to make. I would say the number one advantage of these technolgies is that they make things more compact. If I can have one iPad instead of a binder, a few folders, a notepad, and an extra bag, I'm all for it.
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