Shadowing Practice: Adam Savage Examines the Props of Hamilton! - Learn English Speaking with Video
Choose a practice mode
Each mode opens a full-screen practice room.
200 sentences
If sentences are too short or too long, click Edit to adjust them.
1
Oh my pretties, I'm standing in a very happy place right now.
2
I'm in San Francisco at the San Francisco show of Hamilton on the set.
3
And I love this show.
4
I've talked about it endlessly.
5
I love theater because that's where I got my start.
6
And to be honest, it's the first art form that will survive an apocalypse totally intact.
7
But the old prop master in me has watched Hamilton the multiple times I've seen it
8
And just notice the sheer volume of hand props and stuff
9
that move across the stage and disappear quickly So we are going to talk to this show's prop master Mike Eichmeier
10
About what his job is like what he has to repair
11
and just how much abuse actors can dish out to the hand props Mike you are the prop master here.
12
Is that correct?
13
That's correct.
14
Okay.
15
I am the head props of of Hamilton, San Francisco.
16
And because this show is being done all over the world, your job is totally easy, right?
17
Everything was just ordered from New York and delivered and it all works, right?
18
Yes.
19
Okay, good.
20
Yes, it is.
21
Not always it works out that way, but yes.
22
And then over the course of running the show, we break things.
23
Well, having seen the show a few times, I'm astounded by the density of objects that move across the stage.
24
Even though it's a very open frame stage, like you have to manage a lot of physical objects during the night.
25
Can we talk about this right here?
26
This is a great place to start.
27
This is one of our candle carts.
28
Okay, this is for which scene?
29
This is for helpless and satisfied.
30
Right, right, right.
31
This is my favorite thing I noticed this morning, which is the fake glass of champagne and in the epoxy and the glitter Dude,
32
this so this is super cool.
33
I love this kind of thing, right?
34
Because you've got the glitter in there which makes it look like champagne bubbles to the audience Yep, and the actors and I didn't realize this you got they're all magnetic
35
So so that someone can pick up a tray and it doesn't fall Yes, they ride out on the cart and so that way and the trays actually magnet to the cart
36
That that is really one of the other things if you notice.
37
Yeah, they're not all the same.
38
Oh
39
Do different actors grab different ones depending on where they are this just
40
that they're not perfect They're not perfectly all the same.
41
So it looks like everybody's has a different glass of champagne That is lovely and then these light up
42
These are the electrics department.
43
Yep, and this is a type of fake candle.
44
I have some of these in my house They look remarkably realist wonderful.
45
So none of the flame on stage is real real Well, only time we have flame on stage is during the song burn
46
when she actually burns a letter then It's
47
that like that's a thing to set a fire on a stage It is like there's always
48
and we have an open we have a candle.
49
Yeah, we use a beeswax candle and
50
And one of the other things is about the paper that they use for the actual burn letter.
51
When they designed
52
that, they actually sat in a shop a whole day with all kinds of different papers
53
and burning them Just and burning them to see to get the right amount of time
54
So they actually spent a whole day burning all kinds of different pieces of paper
55
that we find the right one that makes me so happy Yeah That's exactly the kind of research.
56
I love yeah, and speaking of paper There's a lot of paper in the
57
show there's like the Reynolds pamphlet gets thrown all over the
58
place Where there's a couple hundred pieces of paper gotta have a large spreadsheet of stuff to
59
The Reynolds pamphlet this is this is a group one
60
that uh or takes out there and right throws up in the air
61
So this is a group of 20 never gonna be president now This is amazing.
62
Oh, so you've used some Greek text in here, but the it's like you've used an old parchment Yep,
63
how often do you have to replace this you need a certain amount on stage every night?
64
We have
65
70 of these on stage tonight
66
Actually a little over that about 75 so part of your daily thing is making sure there's enough There's enough there.
67
We actually have them all there and then also
68
These get changed out about once a month Sometimes a little just full stop changed out.
69
Yeah, because they get worn.
70
Yeah, usually Definitely a paper change every month
71
Most of the time some papers get changed that sooner than
72
that now I used to work in props
73
And I've wrangled them on set and I've built them for shows
74
and one thing
75
that astounded me is I've never not been as Amazed by
76
how much damage a small female actress can do to large welded steel Oh absolutely,
77
if it can be broken the actors find some way to break it.
78
Yes, do you have the same issues?
79
I have the same issues one of our issues is these chairs over here behind the candle cart Okay
80
Which we'll show you here
81
if you want to take a look at these chairs One of these chairs has been repaired
82
and one of them has not okay.
83
Let's see I Actually upon a cursory view it's not totally obvious to me This one feels a little lighter.
84
Is that the one that was repaired?
85
Actually the one that's been repaired it actually split the leg whoa Here okay, so you've got a join here in fiberglass to hold it
86
together actually this is fiber fix fiber fix What is that it is?
87
You know these to fix shovel handles an air dry fiber Yeah, you get wet and it has its own built-in resin
88
So what we did was we actually use the CA glue
89
to run through the joint right right through the crack Yeah clamped it
90
and then we put this over it and paint it that and like how does hoop?
91
How does somebody break that chair?
92
I don't But it was it came off broken,
93
you know each of these like these carts I can see they've got They've got little tabs for hitting their marks.
94
They pin into this track actually right here and that's how they make it on stage.
95
They're actually a train of them.
96
So this actually moves on a track?
97
Yeah, it's actually pushed out by a person and with the push stick, it actually pushes this train of four out.
98
That's incredible.
99
We have connecting bars that connect the two together, so there's space in between them.
100
And it just means that they can hit their mark that much faster, that much more reliably.
101
Well, we can't actually, because they go out on stage.
102
Right, right, oh, okay.
103
And so you can't take them out there on your own, so you train them out and one person pulls them off.
104
So everything is moving and sliding, Again, I've seen the show what gets the most abuse during
105
the course of the night probably this blue box over here
106
behind you This is the the the one he stands on to the stands on Farmer refuted, right?
107
Farmer refuted and Hamilton stands on it in my shot, right?
108
And so this one probably because during my shot it gets literally hurled upstage To the back wall,
109
okay, so I can see this getting abuse and it probably gets splinters Oh, yeah, I have to sand it make sure the actors are safe
110
And then it looks like a nice old box
111
which means it as the paint wears off you have to repaint it
112
But we do it we have to paint repaint read distress.
113
It's not trivial.
114
Oh my god.
115
Oh, yeah That simple boxes that this is your headache it is Yep, and these boxes are actually if you notice how light they are
116
because the actors actually have to carry it right
117
But it has to hold somebody it's a they're very unique They're actually foam.
118
What's that?
119
It's actually foam.
120
It's actually foam on the inside.
121
Yeah, it's a solid block It's a block you're a name.
122
I see so there's no compressibility.
123
It's basically pink foam and then they put up make a plywood shell That's super awesome.
124
Yep.
125
That's how they're so light but you can stand on it Okay, but what if so now I'm also thinking about the table
126
that Burr stands on for room where it happened Oh that table the mirror table.
127
Yes.
128
Yes.
129
That is actually on the other side We'll have to go.
130
Can we go take a look?
131
Actually, we should probably stop and look at the scepter if you want Oh yeah,
132
I want to look at the scepter since we're going that way So this is the scepter the king's scepter
133
That is lovely it is it's a really nice little swagger stick there Yeah, I could carry one of these right just walk around.
134
I think I could tell it Is Is it the same
135
scepter for each one of the yes traveling shows we have
136
a pair of these This is the one everybody uses I see but yeah, and all the shows have them That's the same piece.
137
It's the actor get attached to it over time.
138
I would imagine imagine So this isn't just where it's stored in general.
139
This is where it's stored during the show.
140
Am I right?
141
And we bring it down at intermission just like this and we unstack it and we dress both tables.
142
We clean the mirror table and dress it.
143
I had no idea it was a mirror table until I just looked up at the underside.
144
And this is the one that Burr stands on.
145
That's the one Burr stands on.
146
That's the room where it happens.
147
Wow.
148
I'm amazed that there are so many pieces.
149
You literally can't store them backstage.
150
You have to fly them.
151
Yeah, it's just easier just to hang them up because you want to take it off or you, yeah, we can.
152
That is remarkably unscratched given that an actor stands on it every night.
153
It actually has a tablecloth on it.
154
Ah, okay.
155
Let me grab the call
156
But he still stood there to tell costs removed during the dance he and he literally does a bunny hop they
157
pull it surprises me every single time I've seen the show
158
and then he jumps off of it You can actually see the footprints from last night.
159
Oh Yes, so I can always wearing some soft-soled sneakers or not sneakers, but yeah, they're shoe rubber and
160
That's the table
161
and this this hasn't this looks like it's in pretty original shape It doesn't look like you've had to repair it.
162
No, we have not had to repair it.
163
We got do a little touch-up to it We polish the mirror about once a month
164
and then otherwise every night we clean it amazing I'm noticing.
165
Yeah, I'm noticing tons of weaponry and swords around have the three swords and we have lots of muskets Oh, oh, right.
166
Wait, wait.
167
Sorry.
168
I'm too dueling pistols.
169
Can we see the dueling?
170
Absolutely.
171
Let's go get the dueling Okay, I can't believe I'm on the stage.
172
It's so awesome.
173
These are the pistols.
174
These are the pistols Oh, and the cool thing is on the they have a line on them.
175
Yeah Still trigger discipline still ingrained Wow,
176
it's amazing to see them up close.
177
I mean it's such a key moment, right?
178
You know they get used both for generally and for Hamilton
179
and these must get these must get a lot of abuse
180
over They do they get dropped on the floor every night Really?
181
Yep
182
Did they look pretty good for getting dropped on the floor
183
every days we we haven't really had to do any maintenance to them They're
184
Surprisingly heavy I notice as we've covered Armaments in Hollywood films that the actors prefer the foam weapons,
185
but the directors like to give them heavy things Yes, and these are heavy.
186
Yeah, no, there's definitely like you can see that
187
when you're right you're holding it up It's got some real half to it if it was just a piece of foam.
188
Yep, you'd see that Same way with the with our muskets.
189
Do you have more than two in stock?
190
I have I have another one Right there so that you can swap out if you need to yeah Amazing.
191
Oh my god.
192
Mike.
193
Thank you so much for letting me handle some of your toys.
194
Oh, absolutely.
195
That is really awesome There you go And there you have it.
196
I can't believe I got to touch some of those props.
197
You can still buy tickets to come see this show and you should.
198
It's playing at the Orpheum Theater.
199
Tickets can be bought at BroadwaySF.com.
200
I'll see you here.
Download App
Everything you need to speak fluently
AI PronunciationScore every sentence
IPA PracticeMaster every sound
VocabularyBuild your word bank
Vocab GameLearn while playing
Same Channel
FOR YOU
Recommend Video
C11
98 sentences
"Non-Stop" from HAMILTON
Daily ConversationWorking Adults
B22
148 sentences
The Assassin's Teapot Is Weird
Daily ConversationWorking Adults
B21
240 sentences
Home Tour | My Finished London Flat
Daily ConversationWorking Adults
B22
20 sentences
Paul W. Downs Explains How Editors on 'Hacks' Use Split Screen Technology to Get Best Performances
Daily ConversationWorking Adults
B21
112 sentences
A Day in the Life | General Contracting Site Supervisor | Sierra Construction
Daily ConversationWorking Adults
B21
256 sentences
I made a fully automatic hammer
Daily ConversationWorking Adults
B21
166 sentences
MORTAL KOMBAT II Cast Answer Burning Questions
Daily ConversationWorking Adults
B21
148 sentences
Al Pitrelli of the Trans-Siberian Orchestra talks 2025 Tour, Future Releases, and More!
Daily ConversationWorking Adults
B21
284 sentences
Why Hamnet is a Masterpiece
Daily ConversationWorking Adults
B21
107 sentences
Tugboat_Spenny's FAQ
Daily ConversationWorking Adults
B250 sentences
Tom Cruise Does Makeup The 'TC' Way | The Graham Norton Show
Daily ConversationWorking Adults
Vocabulary and speaking notes for this lesson
This B2 speaking lesson is built on the video “Adam Savage Examines the Props of Hamilton!”. This video has 200 sentences and 2239 words to shadow. The speech runs for 11:46. The speaker talks fast, about 190 words per minute, so expect linked and reduced sounds. 86% of the words are among the 3,000 most common in English; the rest is worth studying before you start.
Key vocabulary in this video
The 15 most advanced words in the video, with pronunciation and meaning:
| Word | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| prop noun | /pɹɑp/ | An object placed against or under another, to support it; anything that supports. |
| foam noun | /ˈfɔʊ̯m/ | A substance composed of a large collection of bubbles or their solidified remains, especially |
| scepter noun | American and archaic form of sceptre. | |
| candle noun | /ˈkæn.dəl/ | A light source consisting of a wick embedded in a solid, flammable substance such as wax, tallow, or paraffin. |
| cart noun | /kɑɹt/ | A small, open, wheeled vehicle, drawn or pushed by a person or animal, often with two wheels on one axle, more often used for transporting goods than… |
| duel noun | /ˈdul/ | Arranged, regular combat between two private persons, often over a matter of honor. |
| champagne noun | /ʃæmˈpeɪn/ | A sparkling white wine made from a blend of grapes, especially Chardonnay and pinot, produced in Champagne, France, by the méthode champenoise. |
| pistol noun | /ˈpɪstəl/ | A handgun |
| fiber noun | /ˈfaɪ.bɚ/ | A single elongated piece of a given material, roughly round in cross-section, often twisted with other fibers to form thread. |
| amaze verb | /əˈmeɪz/ | To fill (someone) with surprise and wonder; to astonish, to astound, to surprise. |
| astound verb | /əˈstaʊnd/ | To astonish, bewilder or dazzle. |
| musket noun | /ˈmʌskət/ | A kind of firearm formerly carried by the infantry of an army, originally fired by means of a match, or matchlock, for which several mechanical appliances… |
| pamphlet noun | /ˈpæmflɪt/ | A small, brief printed work, consisting either of a folded sheet of paper, or several sheets bound together into a booklet with only a paper cover, formerly… |
| refute verb | /ɹɪˈfjuːt/ | To prove (something) to be false or incorrect. |
| repaint verb | /ɹiːˈpeɪnt/ | To paint anew or again, especially if recently painted. |
Phrasal verbs you will hear
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| come off verb | To become detached. |
| light up verb | To illuminate, to bring light to something, to brighten. |
| pick up verb | To lift; to grasp and raise. |
| push out verb | To force (someone) to leave a group. |
| put up verb | To place in a high location. |
| run through verb | To summarise briefly. |
| take out verb | To remove. |
| walk around verb | To walk with no planned destination; to meander. |
Sentences worth repeating
Short, complete lines from the video that you can reuse in everyday conversation:
- Can we talk about this right here?
- Yes, do you have the same issues?
- Can we go take a look?
- Can we see the dueling?
- Do you have more than two in stock?
Grammar in this video
The structures the speaker uses most, with the exact words from the video:
| Structure | In the video |
|---|---|
| Present perfect have/has + past participle — a past action that still matters now | I've talked · has watched · you've used |
| Passive voice be + past participle — the focus is on what happens, not who does it | being done · was just ordered · can be broken |
| Relative clauses who / which + clause — extra information about a person or thing | morning, which is · there which makes · one that was |
Pronunciation to watch
The speaker uses 56 contractions and reduced forms, such as they're, I'm, I've. Say them the short way, as you hear them.
- The “sh” and “zh” sounds: champagne /ʃæmˈpeɪn/, intermission /ɪntɚˈmɪʃən/, shovel /ˈʃʌv.əl/, spreadsheet /ˈspɹɛd.ʃit/, sheer /ʃɪɚ/
- Long words — get the stress right: remarkably /ɹɪˈmɑɹkəbli/, intermission /ɪntɚˈmɪʃən/, apocalypse /əˈpɑkəlɪps/, surprisingly /səˈpɹaɪzɪŋli/
How to practise with this video
- Listen to the whole video once without speaking and note the words you do not know.
- Start at 0.75× speed, shadow it sentence by sentence, then go back to normal speed once it feels easy.
- Record yourself and compare with the original, paying attention to words like prop, foam, scepter.
What is the Shadowing Technique?
Shadowing is a science-backed language learning technique originally developed for professional interpreter training and popularized by polyglot Dr. Alexander Arguelles. The method is simple but powerful: you listen to native English audio and immediately repeat it out loud — like a shadow following the speaker with just a 1–2 second delay. Unlike passive listening or grammar drills, shadowing forces your brain and mouth muscles to simultaneously process and reproduce real speech patterns. Research shows it significantly improves pronunciation accuracy, intonation, rhythm, connected speech, listening comprehension, and speaking fluency — making it one of the most effective methods for IELTS Speaking preparation and real-world English communication.