What's a perfect "Congrats" gift for Husband's stage debut?
October 7, 2024 6:23 AM
Are you a Theater Kid? Do you know and love a Theater Kid? If so can you please help me come up with a good "congrats you rock" gift for my husband's stage debut? Details inside!
This is a university production in which Husband is playing a fairly major role!! He is over the moon and has loved this experience so far and I could not be prouder! That said, the show opens in just about two weeks and I really would love to get him something to commemorate this occasion...but what? I know nothing about theater and whether there is anything that might hold a special significance for this moment?
I would be looking to spend @$50-75, a bit more possibly if necessary. I'm trying to stay away from consumables; I'd rather it be something lasting. Sadly I am not particularly crafty so probably no handmade things either.
Thank you in advance!!
This is a university production in which Husband is playing a fairly major role!! He is over the moon and has loved this experience so far and I could not be prouder! That said, the show opens in just about two weeks and I really would love to get him something to commemorate this occasion...but what? I know nothing about theater and whether there is anything that might hold a special significance for this moment?
I would be looking to spend @$50-75, a bit more possibly if necessary. I'm trying to stay away from consumables; I'd rather it be something lasting. Sadly I am not particularly crafty so probably no handmade things either.
Thank you in advance!!
What is the role?
posted by Ardnamurchan at 7:01 AM on October 7
posted by Ardnamurchan at 7:01 AM on October 7
I looked for "What a piece of work is a man" merch and all I found was insults.
posted by BobTheScientist at 7:06 AM on October 7
posted by BobTheScientist at 7:06 AM on October 7
Is someone with the theatre department or the university taking high-quality photos of the production? Can you get your hands on one or two or three that feature him, in costume, on stage, in action in a scene? A nicely-framed photo or several could be a lasting gift that preserves the memory of the experience.
posted by spamloaf at 7:07 AM on October 7
posted by spamloaf at 7:07 AM on October 7
The best opening night gifts I've ever gotten have been heartfelt and related to the show or to my character in some way. Some examples: a small stuffed animal wearing a tiny version of my characters climactic costume and jewelry (made from the same materials) constructed for me by the costume shop crew; a beautiful coffee table book on the artist the playwright based by character's backstory on, given to me by the playwright; a zippo with my character's name engraved on it given to me by the actor with whom I shared a cigarette-break scene. (All three of these objects are in the room as I type this.) There have been countless more that were consumables - playlists/mix CDs/tapes, chocolates and whisky, incredible opening night bouquets, etc - and of course, cards and notes and letters that I treasure.
Basically, there are no real one-size-fits-all traditions here. You know your husband, you know the show/role, so there is probably an overlap between them wherein you'll find a good gift.
(Oh - one more: there will be professional photos taken of the production by the university. If you can talk to someone on the production staff, you can arrange to look through them and find one of your husband that is particularly good and get it framed.)
posted by minervous at 7:08 AM on October 7
Basically, there are no real one-size-fits-all traditions here. You know your husband, you know the show/role, so there is probably an overlap between them wherein you'll find a good gift.
(Oh - one more: there will be professional photos taken of the production by the university. If you can talk to someone on the production staff, you can arrange to look through them and find one of your husband that is particularly good and get it framed.)
posted by minervous at 7:08 AM on October 7
As asked above sharing the role helps. Something personalized to the character is amazing. Ie had a friend play a version of Indiana Jones in a character called Oklahoma Smith. (heh). So his wife bought him a zippo engraved "Okie" on it. He carried it forever, including 20 years after their divorce.
posted by chasles at 7:12 AM on October 7
posted by chasles at 7:12 AM on October 7
This is the play (sorry I couldn't find much that wasn't behind a paywall). He's playing Bill, the empty-nester dad.
posted by deep thought sunstar at 7:37 AM on October 7
posted by deep thought sunstar at 7:37 AM on October 7
There's no "traditional" gift in the theater world - the one-size-fits-all gift is usually flowers.
In my own theater career, though, the opening-night gifts we traded amongst ourselves were token things that were either consumables (I made little jars of jam for a kind-of-big cast one year, someone gave me some chocolate for the last show I did) or related to the show in some way (for a show where all the men had to sport fancy beards, I got each guy a small cake of fancy shaving soap in a mug). Or, I went with little gifts that alluded to some of the backstage antics (one show was at a theater that had problems with the lighting, so I gave everyone little mini flashlights).
I'd think about something he's said about the role or about the experience of doing this; if he's talked a lot about relating to the role for a particular reason ("I feel like I really know the guy because all he wants to do is fish") then look for something that relates to that ("here, honey, here's something about fishing that you and your character would both enjoy"). Or if he's talked about how this is a lifelong dream, maybe something about achieving your dreams late in life.
And DIY'ing stuff doesn't necessarily mean you have to be crafty, either. One show I was with had an unusually high number of injuries, sicknesses, and such during the rehearsal period (two people got the flu, one person cut himself on a knife we THOUGHT was fake, my grandfather died three days before we opened and I had to skip the final dress to go to his funeral), and so for the opening night I made up little "Official First Aid Kits" for everyone by just drawing a red cross on envelopes and stuffing them with a variety of single-dose packets of different OTC medicines and a couple of silly band-aids, cheap "good luck charm" trinkets from a gumball machine and a small square of chocolate.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 7:58 AM on October 7
In my own theater career, though, the opening-night gifts we traded amongst ourselves were token things that were either consumables (I made little jars of jam for a kind-of-big cast one year, someone gave me some chocolate for the last show I did) or related to the show in some way (for a show where all the men had to sport fancy beards, I got each guy a small cake of fancy shaving soap in a mug). Or, I went with little gifts that alluded to some of the backstage antics (one show was at a theater that had problems with the lighting, so I gave everyone little mini flashlights).
I'd think about something he's said about the role or about the experience of doing this; if he's talked a lot about relating to the role for a particular reason ("I feel like I really know the guy because all he wants to do is fish") then look for something that relates to that ("here, honey, here's something about fishing that you and your character would both enjoy"). Or if he's talked about how this is a lifelong dream, maybe something about achieving your dreams late in life.
And DIY'ing stuff doesn't necessarily mean you have to be crafty, either. One show I was with had an unusually high number of injuries, sicknesses, and such during the rehearsal period (two people got the flu, one person cut himself on a knife we THOUGHT was fake, my grandfather died three days before we opened and I had to skip the final dress to go to his funeral), and so for the opening night I made up little "Official First Aid Kits" for everyone by just drawing a red cross on envelopes and stuffing them with a variety of single-dose packets of different OTC medicines and a couple of silly band-aids, cheap "good luck charm" trinkets from a gumball machine and a small square of chocolate.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 7:58 AM on October 7
What if you created a Playbill for the show, printed that, then framed it?
posted by hydra77 at 7:59 AM on October 7
posted by hydra77 at 7:59 AM on October 7
A nice matted and framed copy of the playbill (perhaps two of them so you can show the cover and the page where your husband is listed) would be very nice. Knowing what mrs. mmascolino spends on doing this for her art, it might be more than your desired range.
posted by mmascolino at 8:14 AM on October 7
posted by mmascolino at 8:14 AM on October 7
I would find something promotional related to the show (the program, or photocopy the title page of the script, or a production poster) and get the rest of the cast & crew to sign it, then frame it. If the show is very low-budget with no printed materials, then I'd have everyone autograph a mat that will go around a framed cast photo.
posted by castlebravo at 8:50 AM on October 7
posted by castlebravo at 8:50 AM on October 7
- go to the local library / maker space and 3D print a fun, personalized trophy / award (especially funny if his name is Oscar or Tony). no craft skills needed. Neither me or partner are theater kids but he recently won a very informal, silly cooking competition among friends - the award was a 3D printed chili pepper and he has lovingly displayed it on his dresser for the last 9 months.
- post on your local neighborhood group that you’d like a custom piece of art within your budget. Give the artist a couple parameters ex. Why this is important to your husband, details about his character, description of scenery from the show. Let them go nuts doing something completely of their own interpretation. Frame it.
- if he’s not allowed to keep parts of his wardrobe, but something sticks out to you, buy him a dupe and frame it in a shadow box. Ex. Hat, bow tie, name tag, anything special to his character.
posted by seemoorglass at 8:51 AM on October 7
- post on your local neighborhood group that you’d like a custom piece of art within your budget. Give the artist a couple parameters ex. Why this is important to your husband, details about his character, description of scenery from the show. Let them go nuts doing something completely of their own interpretation. Frame it.
- if he’s not allowed to keep parts of his wardrobe, but something sticks out to you, buy him a dupe and frame it in a shadow box. Ex. Hat, bow tie, name tag, anything special to his character.
posted by seemoorglass at 8:51 AM on October 7
A lapel pin of the comedy/ tragedy masks...or maybe a pendant.
posted by Czjewel at 9:53 AM on October 7
posted by Czjewel at 9:53 AM on October 7
Assuming this will not be your husband's first outing on the boards, perhaps starting a scrapbook. Get photos, get the playbill signed by the other actors, crew, designers, & director, save the poster.
posted by brookeb at 5:14 PM on October 7
posted by brookeb at 5:14 PM on October 7
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posted by k3ninho at 6:58 AM on October 7