Over the course of the entire process, I am in charge of keeping us on schedule. This includes making sure that we do not spend too long on a specific portion of a rehearsal, that every production team member gets time to adequately cover what they need to during production meetings, and making sure that performances start on time. Another one of my jobs is keeping track of everybody’s conflicts and making sure that everybody is in attendance when they need to be. I am also the guy who sends out all the e-mails. But sending out a bunch of messages isn’t what makes stage managing so fun; it’s knowing that everything you do is for the purpose of making the show run smoothly.
During rehearsals, I compose reports for the designers and staff members. These inform them of any notes that the director or I have for them. Maybe a rehearsal prop broke. Maybe we realized that one of the set pieces squeaks when it is moved (We had this issue with our chairs :)). Maybe one of the lights needs refocused. Whatever needs communicated to designers, it’s my job to make sure they know about it.
During early rehearsals, one of my main responsibilities is taking blocking notes. I need to have the most up to date copy of the script, complete with all of the movements that the actors make over the course of the story and the exact time that they make these movements. During later rehearsals when the blocking is more solidified and memorization dates approach, I start taking line notes. We, of course, strive to have the lines said in our final production match the exact words written in the script as much as possible. I take note of any times when this is not happening and send out a report to the actors that detail these errors. In earlier stages of memorization, I am also in charge of giving actors their lines if they forget them while we are working a scene.
I also lead production meetings - meetings between the designers, the staff, and myself. I serve as, more or less, the moderator of the discussion, ensuring that each member of the production team gets a chance to share anything that they need to that particular week. I also make sure that each production team (costumes, set, props, dramaturgy) is on track with their deadlines. During the meeting, I take note of any reminders that I should give production team members, any decisions that we reach, and any key possibilities that are brought to the table. I write up another report detailing these ideas and send it to the production team.
Now, rehearsals and production meetings are coming to an end. This Sunday, we start technical rehearsals! Tech rehearsals are really exciting because we get to see the entire show come together; however, they have a reputation for being incredibly stressful and even chaotic. My job is to make sure that everything runs smoothly and make the process as stress-free as possible. Tech week really becomes a stage manager’s time to shine. I need to effectively take charge to ensure that everything stays organized during our last few rehearsals before performances.
During performances, a stage manager would typically call the cues. This means that they would take note of every light and sound cue in the production and, over headset, tell the light and sound board operators when it is time to go. For this particular production, there are very few technical cues and I led the lighting design process, so I will be running the board myself. Before performances, I assist with mopping the stage, charging glow tape, making sure that all props are set where they need to be, and similar routine tasks. Essentially, I make sure we are ready for our audience.
It has been such a pleasure to work with this group of dedicated and talented artists, and I have learned a ton from my participation with the show. I can’t wait to share this story with you!
Ben Siegel
Stage Manager
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