stage management. what is a good sm? a professional attitude ◦assume responsibility ◦keep your...

STAGE MANAGEMENT

What is a good SM?

A professional attitude◦Assume responsibility◦Keep your cool◦Keep your mouth shut and ears and eyes open◦Think ahead—anticipate!

Personal traits◦Be considerate◦Keep a sense of humor◦Organize and be efficient◦Punctuality and dependability

Areas of responsibility

PRODUCTION STAGE MANAGER◦Assistant stage managers

Calls cues for Board operators, Stagehands and House staff

As a member of Actor’s Equity is employed by producer and answers to producer, director and designers

Flow Chart

The Prompt Script

Provide wide margins for notes and cuesWhen photocopying, be aware of “fair use

provisions” of US Copyright lawKeep in a safe placePage tabs for easy reference are

recommendedDevelop a code which others, if needed,

can understand (IE: Warn, Go, Blocking notations, etc.)

Charlotte Cushman’s promptbook for HAMLET, 1861

Pirates of Penzance, 1912

Indices and Charts

As a record of production, the promptbook is a record not just of staging but of the entire production◦Script notations including entrances & exits◦Company list with contacts◦Costume, prop, light, sound plots◦Pronunciation guides◦Special effects◦Emergency guidelines

Rehearsal procedures

ESU THEATRE Standard Operating Procedures

Technical rehearsals

Running the show

American Association of Community Theatre

Websites for Stage Management

10 Commandments of Stage Management

THEATRE CRAFTS: Stage Management

Stage Managers Association

SM Resources

Books on Stage Management

ESU GRADS ON BROADWAY

Trinity Wheeler, AEA SM