Main Role and Responsibility
The Stage Manager (SM) is the person responsible for executing the Director's vision.She delegates and supervises to ensure the production is running on schedule. Theproduction becomes the sole responsibility of the SM after final dress rehearsal. (In some instances the Director will retain artistic control, for example if theshow is continuing on to a festival. Ifthat is the case, the Director gives her/his practicalnotes to the SM, who implements them. The Director may also give SM notes to pass onto actors about their performances.) Directly reporting to the SM are the Assistant Stage Managers (ASMs). Costumers and technicians will also report to the SM once the designs are approved by the Director. A good SM is well-organized, likes detail work and problem-solving, has excellentpeople skills, promotes ensemble and harmony, works well under pressure and can leadand delegate. The SM is the most powerful position on a production. An excellent SM is feared and respected and can be counted on at all times.Main Duties- maintaining a Prompt Book (can be delegated to ASM)
- creating and maintaining a Call Book
- scheduling rehearsals
- attending all rehearsals
- organizing set-ups, tear-downs and strikes and load-ins, tours
- supervising technical rehearsals
- trouble-shooting
- communicating between crew and Director
- creating and maintaining checklists for costumes, makeup,
- props, set pieces, pyrotechnics, fire arms
- timing the length of scenes and acts
- has information about venue: tech, light and ground plans, municipal regulations (fire, pyrotechnics, etc)
- collecting and turning in all receipts and bills to Producer
- calling the show
- liasing with House Manager and venue's and production's Technical Director
- running rehearsals in the absence of the Director
- can step in to assist with set building, decoration, props collection if required
... AND ...
- book up to date with all cues ready (and blocking)
- copy of all property, set, lighting, and sound sheets
- liaise with all technical crew so they know when they should be at rehearsals, what technical things are expected of them, etc.
- make notes about thing to be done re: tech and approach appropriate people - have rehearsal area taped out and ready for each rehearsal - start and end rehearsals
- time all rehearsals, acts, scenes, etc. for director
- if set needs to be moved, etc. make arrangements after checking with director
- from tech rehearsal on - run show - make sign in sheet
- be sure ASM knows what is expected re: jobs
- be sure all cast and crew know about sign in sheets
- be sure that all crew know about photo dates, cast party, etc.
- be sure that cast and crew know you will kill them if they do any stunts on last night or ANY performance night
Performances
- post and check sign-in sheet to know if all cast and crew are in and on time.
- be sure stage is clear and ready for production
- be sure techs have done their cue and equipment checks - clear all unnecessary people out of booth and playing areas
- do sound check with all needed intercoms (this can also be sound tech's job)
- turn off ringer on phones
- give house manager okay for opening house and talk to manager about intermission times. During intermission check that you are still on time with house manager.
- do calls for actors (this can be ASM) - call the show
- time show - if timing is very much off rehearsal talk to actors
- let FOH people know when they can open doors
Post Performance- check that booth is in good condition
- repalr anything that is needed on set
- set for next day
- check that techs have put everything in order before they leave.
- check with director about any changes.
Labels: Jobs
