It is the responsibility of the stage manager to help coordinate all aspects of a production. The stage manager works closely with the director and actors assisting with the organization and running of all actor, technical, and dress rehearsals and performances. The smooth running of rehearsals and all performances is the primary responsibility of the stage manager.
The stage manager serves as the liaison between the director and other members of the design and production staff distributing information, running meetings, and keeping the production on schedule.
The production stage manager is responsible for providing the following information to following areas during the production process:
- To all production members:
- Production staff contact sheet listing name, role or production position, phone number, and e-mail address
- Production rehearsal/ performance report. It is suggested that reports be sent via e-mail
- To the designers: any script revisions and (optionally) a revised script for the production
A good stage manager is responsible, organized, efficient and dependable. A stage manager must be calm under pressure, must be a good problem solver, must be considerate, and must have a good sense of humor.
The stage manager reports to the director.
Specific requirements of the Production Stage Manager:
- Organize and coordinate auditions
- Organize, call and attend all production meetings
- Assist the director with scheduling, organizing and running all actor rehearsals
- Tape the groundplan with removable tape in rehearsal spaces
- Maintain order in rehearsals
- Assemble rehearsal props
- Maintain a prompt script (production book) recording blocking, business, props, scenic, or costume moves as relates to actor movement, and all cues and other production related paperwork
- Create, distribute and maintain all preliminary and production plots (actor, scenic, lighting, props, costume, effects, sound, etc.)
- Stay in contact with all members of the production team facilitating communication and scheduling
- Meet with sound, lighting, costume, and scenic designers as needed to write cues prior to the first technical rehearsal
- Create and monitor cast and run crew sign in sheets
- Participate in all cueing rehearsals
- Participate in "dry techs" (if necessary)
- Run all technical and dress rehearsals in coordination with the director, technical director and designers
- Give all calls to actors (half-hour, ten minutes, five minutes, places)
- Call cues for rehearsals and performances
- Coordinate starting times with house manager on performance nights
- Create checklists for both stage manager and assistant stage managers for use in the running of the show
- Participate in the strike
The performance of the stage
manager is evaluated by the director or faculty supervisor and production
manager.