"Ask any regional theatre TD and he or she will laugh at you."
Apples and oranges, but you know that, right?
" I obviously recognize the possibility that things will not be planned properly (it's not the norm, unfortunately), but if (as it appears) they are replicating the unit set on the Cort stage, with the same cast, and if it is a fairly simple show technically (as it appears), then if the stage hands can't get it done, we've uncovered a problem with the stage hands."
Whole lotta "if"s going on there - but that's not the point. What you are refusing to understand is that the stagehands, in even a more relaxed timeframe, will of a necessity go into overtime at some point in the process. They have to be at work at 8am to do work that can't be done (or safely done) with actors in the building. When the actors arrive, they have to stay to continue work that can be done and run the equipment for the rehearsal. Overtime is inevitable under the best of circumstances, and when there's a time crunch it's worse.
From your response below: "I'm with you on the overtime if that's what's required, which is why it is so perplexing that you are trying to make a mountain out of a molehill you don't know anything about. That sort of attitude is why people rag on stage hands."
All due respect, it would appear that I know more about these kinds of issues than you do. I originally posted because I objected to the tone and content of thtrgoer's post. I don't think that's making a mountain out of a molehill. I don't know what to make of your "that sort of attitude" remark being a reason for people to "rag on" stagehands - it's just another excuse to "fan the flames of stage hand hate", as you so elegantly put it earlier.
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