Part of the stage manager's panel at Wolf Trap Center for the Performing Arts

Stage management is a sub-discipline of stagecraft. Image File history File linksMetadata Size of this preview: 800 × 600 pixel Image in higher resolution (1280 × 960 pixel, file size: 449 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Stage management Metadata... Image File history File linksMetadata Size of this preview: 800 × 600 pixel Image in higher resolution (1280 × 960 pixel, file size: 449 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Stage management Metadata... Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts is a performing arts center situated in a setting of rolling hills and woods located on 117 acres (47. ... Stagecraft (or Technical Theatre) is the art of building, attaching, and rigging scenery for theater and television as well as other technical aspects of performance including sound, costuming, makeup, and lighting. ...

Although a somewhat fluid line of work, in essence the stage management team (which can consist of a production stage manager, several assistant stage managers, and any number of production assistants) is responsible for organizing the production, communicating across different disciplines (e.g., between the director and the backstage crew, or the actors and production management), and keeping everything running smoothly. This refers not only to seamless management of the technical aspects of a production, but of the human aspects as well. A theatre director is a principal in the theatre field who oversees and orchestrates the mounting of a play by unifying various endeavors and aspects of production. ... Theatrical production management is a sub-division of stagecraft. ...

The responsibilities of stage management

The responsibilities and duties of stage management vary depending on the setting of a production, i.e., rehearsals or performance, and the type of production being presented (theatre, dance, music). Most broadly, it is the stage manager's responsibility to ensure that the director's artistic choices are realized in actual performance. Typically in theatre, the stage manager acts as an adjunct to the director in rehearsal, recording the blocking and seeing that cast members stay on script, have necessary props, and follow the blocking. As the lighting, sound, and set change cues are developed, the stage manager meticulously records the timing of each as it relates to the script and other aspects of the performance. The stage manager also ascertains that the lighting and sound cues are taken at the right time. As an example, a typical lighting cue might be called as "LX Q 38, stand by" (or , "stand by lx 38"), with the light board operator replying, "standing" (in the UK, "standing by"), and in turn the stage manager's "LX Q 38, go" ("LX 38, go") setting everything in motion at the appropriate time. The stage manager also maintains a prompt book, sometimes called "the bible," which contains all cues, technical notes, blocking and other information pertinent to the show. Insert non-formatted text hereBlocking is a theatre term which refers to the precise movement and positioning == of == a little fish. ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... A theatrical cue is the trigger for an action to be carried out at a specific time. ... The prompt book is a copy of the script for a play being produced that contains the information necessary to create the production from the ground up. ...

During rehearsals, stage managers are responsible for helping establish the show's rehearsal schedule and then ensuring that rehearsals run on time. Once the house opens, the stage manager essentially takes control, calling the cues for all transitions (this is known as "calling the show"), as well as acting as communications hub for the cast and crew. After a show opens, the stage manager is also responsible for calling brush-up, put in and understudy rehearsals to make sure that the show's quality is maintained. ^[1] The stage manager is also responsible for seeing that the director's vision is carried out when he or she is no longer attending the shows and giving notes. In a large production, a team of stage managers will work each performance; one will be responsible for calling the show, and others will be backstage ensuring that actors and crew are ready to perform their duties.

In the United States

Professional stage managers in the United States are represented by the Actors' Equity Association and/or the American Guild of Musical Artists (AGMA) and have several prescribed responsibilities. In addition to maintaining the prompt book and calling the performances, Equity stage managers must also uphold the union's rules and rights for the Equity artists. Equity has strict rules for how long rehearsals can last, when breaks must be taken, and how many hours per week each artist may work. Under AEA rules, Stage Managers are not allowed to handle the cast or crew's paychecks, contracts, or closing notices, nor are they allowed to order food for the company.^[2]. The Actors Equity Association (commonly simply Equity) is the trade union of American theatrical performers and stage managers. ...

Notable American Stage Managers include; Bob Bennett, Tom Bartlett, Beverley Randolph, Kim Vernace, Gregory Victor, Travis DeCastro, Marian Wallace, Thom Widmann, and Sam Ellis.

In Britain

In Britain, professional stage managers are represented by the British union Equity, which also represents performers. The division of a British stage management team varies according to the type of production, but can consist of stage manager (overseeing the smooth running of the show, scene changes and so on), deputy stage manager (commonly called DSM, doing the job of an American stage manager, as above) and assistant stage manager (commonly called ASM, generally working in the props and scene change area of the show, sometimes operating sound (recorded or live) or lighting as well). A fringe theatre show may employ one stage manager to carry out the tasks of an entire team. A West End theatre show in London might employ multiple stage managers, DSMs and ASMs. The Royal National Theatre in London divides the work of a stage management team in a slightly different way to regional theatres. The British Actors Equity Association (now called Equity) is the British actors trade union. ... Fringe theatre is a term used to describe alternative theatre, or entertainment not of the mainstream. ... West End theatre is a popular term for mainstream professional theatre in London, England, or sometimes more specifically for shows staged in the large theatres of Londons Theatreland. Along with New Yorks Broadway theatre, West End theatre is usually considered to represent the highest level of commercial theatre... The Royal National Theatre from Waterloo Bridge The Royal National Theatre is a building complex and theatre company located on the South Bank in London, England immediately east of the southern end of Waterloo Bridge. ...

Show Control based venues

Many live shows around the world are produced with the forehand knowledge that they will have a very long run, often measured in years. These are usually known quantities that are very expensive productions and have a guaranteed audience because of their location. Typically, they are on cruise ships, in theme parks, Las Vegas or destination resorts such as Branson, Missouri. These shows warrant very long range development and planning and use stage managers to run almost all technical elements in the show, without benefit of many of the other traditional crew members, such as sound, lighting and rigging operators. In these cases, show control systems are installed and connected to all other technical systems in the theatre, which are specifically designed to be controlled by show control and to operate safely with minimal supervision. Stage managers working these shows usually have the additional responsibility for programming the show control system, and often the other control systems as well. Show control is the use of technology to link together and operate multiple entertainment control systems in a coordinated manner. ...

References

1. ^ Parker, W. Oren (1990). Scene Design and Stage Lighting. Holt, Rinehart and Winston, 263. ISBN 0-03-028777-4. 
2. ^ http://www.actorsequity.org/docs/production/aea_sm_packet.pdf

Year 1990 (MCMXC) was a common year starting on Monday (link displays the 1990 Gregorian calendar). ... Holt, Rinehart and Winston, somethimes abbreviated as HRW or referred to as Holt, is an Austin, Texas based publishing company, that specializes in textbooks for use in secondary schools. ...

External links

• Stage Managers' Association: Professional Organization Created by and for Stage Managers. Site includes Stage Manager Directory and Job Search Listing for those wishing to hire a Stage Manager.
• SM Network: Great Community Site for Stage Managers
• Stage Jobs Pro: CVs & availability of 600+ Stage Managers
• Site Dedicated To Technicians and Stage Managers
• Stage Managers Do Make Coffee: a great, comprehensive stage manager's handbook

See also

• Prompt corner
• Stagecraft
• Theatre
• Theatre technique
• Show control