While working backstage during the first run through of the show, the ASMs developed a method that best fits what the transitions require. As stage managers, we thought it would be necessary to create a method that lines up all the requiredpieces in the order of the episodes. We call this the Conveyor Belt Method. Episode one is preset on stage at the top of a performance, and every group of pieces for each episode that follows is set backstage from stage left to stage right. As the actors transition set pieces on and off stage, the ASMs and running crew shift all of the props/pieces on stage, push the next group as close to backstage left as possible, which clears room on backstage right to store the episode that is finished. This method works well due to the organized manner in which everything is moving on and off stage. There are some tricky transitions because of the large sized set pieces we have, such as two beds and a large cage.

The trickiest transitions are those in and out of Episode 5. There is a big hospital bed that needs to be moved offstage after Episode 4. This big piece takes up a lot of room backstage, so it is vital that the ASMs are able to keep the Conveyor Belt moving. All set pieces for Episodes 6, 7, 8, and 9 need to be moved stage left in order to get the hospital bed backstage again. The transition out of Episode 5 and into Episode 6 is also tricky. Episode 6 reuses the bed that is used in Episode 3; in order to get the bed into the correct positioning, we must take it out of its lineup in the Conveyor Belt and move it up closer to backstage left. The problem is that we have a limited amount of space backstage, and sometimes it resembles playing tetris trying to get the bed from one side of backstage to the other with so many pieces in the way. Another part of this transition is the fact that the bed needs to be redressed in different sheets, and the boxspring used in Episode 3 needs to be removed and stored safely backstage during Episode 6. Although it’s tricky at times to position all pieces where they belong, the Conveyor Belt Method is the most efficient way of smoothly transitioning through the play.