Most people that work in theatre have a pretty good idea of what a stage manager does during rehearsals - at least, the things that can be seen. We take blocking notes, cue lines, keep track of the time, coordinate presets and scene changes, answer the questions, and solve the problems. Yet, there are so many things a stage manager does, so many balls constantly being juggled, that many elements of the stage manager’s job go unnoticed. So, in honor of the unseen, here is a sampling of some tasks a stage manager completes before rehearsal. Early in our morning, we check our phone. There is a smattering of unread emails. The lighting designer is curious about why the blocking changed during that intense monologue, as now she has to rethink the entire look. She wants to meet with the director and see a run through of the new blocking in rehearsal, today, if possible. One of the actors requests a day off next week for his daughter’s science fair. The day he wants, of course, was the day we planned to have a designer run. The costume designer hopes to stop in for a last-minute fitting because the long-awaited antique dress has finally arrived in the mail. There are questions about comp tickets, about days off, about snack allergies, and so on. …show more content…
We are the intermediary for all, whilst we adhere to strict union rules, venue constraints, and the occasional difficult personality. Each time we are away from our electronics, when we shower or ride the train, we return to further inquiries. Yet, we are consummate professionals and morning like this are typical. We know the most efficient course of action for each situation and each temperament. Plans are made, compromises
They operate, maintain and guard the technical assets of the theatre. This includes supervising the use of lighting, sound, communications equipment, and the use and maintenance of stage facilities. They are also in charge of supervising and assisting with set and stage construction and management. They are also the ones who monitor the condition of equipment such as the lights, sound. Finally, they are the ones who arrange for the repair and replacement within budgetary constraints.
In the play Our Town, by Thornton Wilder, the Stage Manager is an important, but also confusing character. This character is shown to be almost omniscient and is also displayed as almost god-like character. He inserts himself into the play by talking directly to the characters and also becoming some of the characters such as the minister and the owner of the drugstore. He is portrayed as very wise especially when talking about the character’s deaths and when talking to the people in the afterlife. The Stage Manager is meant to be limited omniscient god-like character. This is shown through the way he knows of the characters deaths, the way he plays with time, and the way he interacts with characters both dead and alive.
Dramatic Monologues The dramatic monologue features a speaker talking to a silent listener about a dramatic event or experience. The use of this technique affords the reader an intimate knowledge of the speaker's changing thoughts and feelings. In a sense, the poet brings the reader inside the mind of the speaker. (Glenn Everett online) Like a sculpturer pressing clay to form a man, a writer can create a persona with words. Every stroke of his hand becomes his or her own style, slowly creating this stone image.
On September 14, 2016, I went to observe the Mermaid Song. The Mermaid Song is the WonderQuest directed by Gay H. Hammond and the rehearsals was in Pearce auditorium on Breanu campus. The Mermaid Song is adapted from The Little Mermaid by Hans Christian Anderson. The rehearsal started at 6:30 pm but I was there at 6:15 to observe what the job of the stage managers. The rehearsal was “blocking” and this terms means that the director decides when and where the performers should move and position themselves on the stage ( ). The performers were divided into three groups and since the group three were assigned to perform off stage, they were not in the rehearsal that day. The rehearsal started with a song. After the song, the little mermaid goes
A stage manager will need to prepare the rehearsal venue, for example, mark -out for props or performers during pre-production. He/she also has to liaise between creative and production team and also prepare plots for the crews during rehearsals. After the rehearsals, during production, stage manager has to set up prompt corner and manage technical and dress rehearsals, the crew and the plotting sessions. It is very important during the performance; stage manager needs to manage the performances and manages their crews.
As a director, I learned the importance of timing, collective corporation, and stage placement when it comes to actors and objects. Being a director is a crucial position within theatre because the director controls every action occurring on the stage. As I took on the role of a member of the tech crew, specifically the assistant stage manager, I must say that I found it to be much more important than I previously expected it to be. The tech crew ensures that all of the key elements of the production are put together such as props, set pieces, and lighting. Being part of the tech crew was a humbling experience because it brought light to another part of the theatre production that I did not realize was just as important as the rest.
Stage Management Stage Management is one of the most important jobs when it comes to live productions in theater. These managers work alongside the directors, actors, set designers, and stage crew. They make sure that everyone is on task and on the same page so the show can continue as planned. Stage managers assist the directors in instructing the actors where to stand or how to say certain lines during rehearsals. In smaller productions, stage management can be performed by one person, while in larger productions, it is usually performed by a team of managers consisting of a head stage manager, or Production Stage Manager, and one or more assistant stage managers.
It is the same thing every day, move this and that, sit back on the bench. Have semi-deep discussions with the rest of the tech crew. Talk to the actors when they are backstage even though you are not supposed to. Help with quick changes and carry around mic tape because there is always someone who needs it. Rehearsals move along fast until the night before the first show.
Do you know how it feels to be one of the most important people while not having all the attention directly on you, front staged and centered? How about being the one to answer fifteen million questions and do everything needed while no one can fend for themselves? This is what it’s like to be an assistant director backstage and some of the things I’ve taken from this in my school’s musicals and plays include: self-discipline, time management, leadership, and organization. The assistant director is just as important as a lead in any given musical or play, we just simply do the important things all off stage. I first started off my drama career during my sophomore year when I decided to become part of the crew backstage for our school’s musical,
My main role during my work placement with the English National Ballet was to follow and observe the chief electrician, David Richardson, and his team. My placement fell during the company’s technical rehearsal week at the New Wimbledon Theatre for their new production She Said, a triple bill of three new works by three female choreographers. This gave me the opportunity to observe how a large, respected company approaches the creation and presentation of new work and the many different roles needed within such a substantial team of people.
Communication in the Theatre Industry Communication is an absolute necessity in the theatre world. Without it, the whole production could fall to ruins within minutes. Cues could be missed, set pieces could be misplaced, and actors could become confused and forget their lines. There is also a very big chance that someone could get injured. Communication is key to a stress-free workplace.
The most important lesson I learned in this production is communication is important but in combination with confidence. This was specifically shown in this production with the director and lighting designers relationship, which was a little strained in this from a lack of these traits in both the designer and director. Moreover, from this production my professional skills have grown in that I appreciate this aspect of theatre more greatly, having never done any light operating prior to this show, everything was new and from this learning I developed. All in all I am proud of all that I accomplished, and glad I learned how to convey what is needed in order to successfully achieve a lighting design. For those of you who have yet to do your practicum or are soon embarking on one, my advice to make the most of your practicum is to approach it with an open mind.
I have never been a Deputy Stage Manager (DSM) so I was apprehensive for my first experience as I have very little insight into what the job fully entails. The knowledge I have I gained from observing other DSMs in rehearsals and in shows during my first year as a lighting (LX) and sound (SND) operator, picking up things from lectures and also from reading ‘team dynamic and roles’ (see Appendix 1) from Stage Management, The Essential Handbook[1] and also from reading ‘backstage who’s who’ (see Appendix 2) in Stage Management, A Gentle Art Form[2] and from all of these it helped to give me a basic insight and idea into what to plan for. All this was useful learn, as it prepared me mentally for the amount of work to expect causing me look into
Set manager should also focus on entrance and exits the stage so the actors can be quick. Collaboration is an important key in any production. After reading the script, set manager should then collaborate with the director because he might have something to add or say about the theme of the play. This first meeting is very important because if set manager has any question he can clear out here. Do some research like find some photos that can help the director to clear his visions. If he thinks that you need help then he will provide designer, an architect, and
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