Both bookings were confirmed, in writing, by different people, in different documents. The stage held a band while fourteen models held the corridor. Neither calendar mentioned the other. The venue manager produced a third calendar, which mentioned
continued on p.4OPERATOR'S LEDGERMORNING EDITION · No. 88
NOBODY CALLS THE ENCORE
The caller's sheet ended one walk early. The music did not. For eleven seconds the runway held an empty spotlight while backstage debated, in whispers, whether the show was over. The designer took a bow that was meant for somebody
continued on p.10GATE & GUEST WEEKLYSHOW DAY SPECIAL · No. 1,204
WHO HAS THE DOOR LIST?
Security worked from Tuesday's printout. Forty-one names were missing, among them the designer's mother, who was asked to wait beside the bins. We had the newest list, said everyone, holding different lists. The gate reopened at eight; the apology is expected to take considerably
continued on p.7OPERATOR'S LEDGERSEASON SUPPLEMENT · FREE INSIDE
LIGHTS CUE THE WRONG LOOK
recovered from the rail. photographer unknown.
The operator's copy was version nine. The copy taped to the stage rail was version twelve. Nobody present would claim thirteen, though it was known to exist. The blackout that followed was described in the programme as an artistic choice. It was not an artistic
continued on p.8THE RAIL REPORTTHE LATE PAPER · No. 412
BACKSTAGE ASKS: WHICH VERSION?
An hour of show day went to establishing whose PDF was newest. It was nobody's. A dresser produced a printout from Thursday, older than every file but more trusted than any of them. Work resumed on the Thursday copy while the newest version circulated, unread, in
continued on p.3BACKSTAGE COURIERSEASON SUPPLEMENT · FREE INSIDE
SEVENTEEN RUNSHEETS, NONE FINAL
Each one was final when it was sent. A stage manager has begun printing them on different colours of paper to tell them apart, an approach she describes as working, in that nothing works. The seventeenth was superseded during the writing of this
Nobody hunted a PDF. The rail read the same lineup as the stage door, as the caller, as the phone in every pocket. A dresser finished early and helped the next rail along, out of what she described as sheer novelty. Work ended on time, which took some getting
continued on p.7CALL TIMES GAZETTEEVENING FINAL · 60¢
EVERY MODEL. EVERY CALL TIME. HONESTLY.
The call time changed twice on Thursday and both times everyone knew within the minute, in one place, on the record. She arrived styled for the right look at the right hall with nine minutes to spare, which she spent
continued on p.10GATE & GUEST WEEKLYSEASON SUPPLEMENT · FREE INSIDE
EVERY NAME AT THE GATE
the rail, calm. photographer unknown.
Security had the newest list because there was only one list. The designer's mother sat front row, on time, in the right chair, beside the buyer she was supposed to charm. The gate closed at eight with nothing to apologise for, a first in this reporter's
continued on p.6OPERATOR'S LEDGERWEEKEND WRAP · $1.20
FORTY LOOKS, FORTY CUES, ZERO BLACKOUTS
The operator's copy was the stage copy was the caller's copy. Version one, final, believed. The encore arrived exactly where the sheet said it would. The board op called it the dullest night of her career, and bought the caller
continued on p.11THE DOOR SHEETSEASON SUPPLEMENT · FREE INSIDE
DOORS OPENED ON TIME. NOBODY FAINTED.
RUNWAY DISTRICT — Doors opened at seven, at seven, an event so unprecedented the queue applauded the queue. One list at the gate, and every name on it. The house filled in eleven minutes, which the door staff described as boring, in the best possible
continued on p.4HOUSE NOTESSECOND EDITION · 35¢
FRONT ROW FULL, LIT, AND SMILING
One seating chart, matching the chairs. A critic was walked straight to her seat by a volunteer who knew her name, and the chart agreed. The house manager spent the show watching the show, an activity he said he could get
continued on p.5BACKSTAGE COURIERTHE LATE PAPER · No. 412
SEASON WRAPS WITH ONE PLAN
Not one printout was taped to a wall this season. A stage manager who once colour-coded seventeen versions now runs the whole season from one plan, an arrangement she describes as working, in that everything works. The archive fits in a pocket and the wall stays
continued on p.10BACKSTAGE COURIERTHE LATE PAPER · No. 412
ONE RUNSHEET. IT WAS FINAL.
doors, on time. uncredited.
There was one runsheet. It said final and meant it. A dresser, asked which version she was on, looked at this reporter with genuine confusion and said the one. Backstage was described by a veteran stage manager as suspiciously calm, like a library that
