A La Carte: In a Fool's Kitchen

Technical Rider

A La Carte is 40-minute performance combining puppetry, physical comedy and live music.  The show travels in a van with three performers who will also load-in and set up.  The performers include an accordion player (static downstage left or center), a clown/actor (travels full stage and house), and a puppeteer (concealed within a 3’x 6’ set piece).

    Set-up can be accomplished in most venues within an hour. A La Carte is designed to be flexible, and can be performed on a proscenium or thrust stage, black box or even outdoors.

 SET:    The set includes one 3’ x 6’ x 6’ tall demonstration cart with 3’ wings on each end (center), a folding table with two chairs (stage right), and a music stand (stage left).  The minimal playing area is 12’ x 12.’

LIGHTS:    A La Carte requires only a general lighting wash downstage covering 8-10’ from the front apron.  If available, one special light focused on the boxed area above the set piece.

ACCESS:    Due to audience participation, we will require easy access from the apron to the house, and house lights kept at least 25% during the performance.

SOUND:    A La Carte uses two onstage sound sources which travel with it, a wireless headset mic (XLR) and an accordion with direct input.  The mic will travel frequently into the house.  We may also bring an iPod with pre-show and post-show music to be operated from the sound booth.

CLEAN-UP:  A La Carte includes carrot peelings, parsley and shaving cream pies which can end up on the floor at the end.  Please have a sink, mop and water available for clean up immediately after each performance.

HOSPITALITY:  The Company requests the following to be backstage in between events on days in which more than one activity has been scheduled (times will be advanced by Tour Manager):

• Filtered water

• Fruit tray (e.g. grapes, apples, oranges)

• Vegetarian snack tray (e.g. pita bread, hummus, carrots)

MINIMUM STAGE DIMENSIONS:

Depth: 12’ (back wall to lip of stage)

Width – 12’ at proscenium (ideally at least 20’)

Height – 8’ mandatory

WARDROBE:  If more than three performances, please have available a washing machine and dryer.

DRESSING ROOMS:  At least one dressing room with adequate heating and cooling, hot water and toilets separate from public must be provided.

PARKING:  Parking for one minivan is required.

FRONT OF HOUSE:  Late seating is allowed.  We will require a minimum space of 2’ x 5’ x 8’ tall to set up our Merchandise booth.

SAMPLE WORK SCHEDULE:  Production requires exclusive use of Theater for duration of load-in and performance.

Below is typical for a small to mid-sized theater space.  Unusual space can also be accommodated.

The schedule below is a sample assuming performances at 1:00 and 5:00 pm.  Your schedule may vary, and will be forwarded by our Tour Manager.

11:00 am:  Company arrives, load-in and set up

12:00 pm:  Sound check, warm-up

12:30 pm:  Puppeteer call onstage, house opens

12:45 pm:  Accordion call onstage, pre-show concert

1:00 pm:      Presenter introduction, show begins

1:40 pm:      Show ends, Company returns for Q&A with audience, greet children.

2:00 pm:      Clean up and re-set props

2:30 pm:      Company lunch and break