Stage Management

1
Stage Management

• Prompt Book and Duties

2
Resources

• http//www.geocities.com/Broadway/Stage/2203/promp
  tcorner.html

3
Production Meetings

• At the very first production meeting make all
  introductions necessary
  
• Get everybodys contact information, if you dont
  already have it
  
• Establish a schedule for future meetings and,
  publicity photos, tech schedule, production
  schedule and where everything takes place
  
• Make sure everybody gets a copy and post it!

4
Production Meetings

• Always do a go around where each department
  reports on its status
  
• Keep the meeting under control
• Watch the time and professionally move it along.
• Keep copious notes about each department and send
  meeting notes to everyone so that there is a
  written record of what was discussed and
  everybody has a copy.

5
Prompt Book

• 1.      Xerox or scan the script so that the
  dialogue is printed nearer the left side of the
  paper. Only print on one side of the page and
  make sure the right margin is larger than the
  left one, so that notations can be easily made.
  (left handers may want to do the opposite)
• Punch holes in the left side of the page and
  insert the pages into a 3-ring binder
  
• Label the binder with the show, director, and
  your name in case it is misplaced.
  
• Include extra paper and a folder for collecting
  any paperwork you receive.
  
• Use paper clips to notate act divisions and any
  other information that is important.

6
Prompt Book

• You should ONLY write in the prompt book with
  pencil, because everything you write is bound to
  change at least once.

7
SPIKING THE REHEARSAL SPACE

• First, using a scale ruler, measure the
  floorplan, making careful notations of the sizes
  of the platforms. Second, find the centerline of
  the rehearsal space and mark it with small strips
  of spike tape. Then each platform boundary
  should be taped onto the floor with respect to
  the centerline. The proscenium should also be
  taped down so the actors know when they are off
  stage. Finally, if the entire floorplan will not
  fit on the floor of the rehearsal room, tape down
  the largest portion of the set containing the
  main acting areas.

8
1st Rehearsal

• Introduce yourself and explain what you are
  doing
  
• Get contact information from everyone and create
  a contact sheet
  

9
Rehearsals

• most important function is get the most
  productive results out of the time allotted to
  each rehearsal
  
• Create costume fitting schedule with the costume
  shop
  
• Create a property list with the director and work
  with the props master to get rehearsal props
  
• As props are replaced in rehearsal keep the
  director informed as to what is a rehearsal vs an
  actual prop.
  
• Take down all the blocking of the show
• Use the notation that you have already learned
• Keep a key in the front of the prompt book so
  that others can decipher the notation
  

10
Rehearsals and Prompt Book

• Pay close attention to entrances and exits
• Make notations concerning any props or costume
  pieces an actor needs to enter with or leave
  with, or leave behind on stage.
  
• Use colored dots for cues and mark where they
  go
  
• Yellow light cues
• Light greensound
• Scenic Blue
• Write the number on the dot
• Light cues are numeric, sound cues are
  alphabetic
  

11
Reports

• rehearsal report
• It should contain information about what happened
  at the rehearsal with pertinent information that
  would affect any department
  
• It is posted the next day with copies to each
  department
  
• weekly call sheet
• Posted prior to each weeks rehearsal it informs
  the cast of what actors are needed when and what
  they might need to bring.

12
Emergencies

• Know all the emergency numbers and contact
  information
  
• Decide who will stop the show and under what
  circumstances
  
• Make sure that everyone knows that all injuries
  are reported to the SM
  
• Know where the closest phone and all the
  extinguishers are.

13
Tech Week

• Get a list of cues from the designers and
  promptly put them into your book
  
• Paper Tech
• Dry Tech
• Tech rehearsal and the company

14
Tech Week

• Tech rehearsal is setting and notating all sound
  and light cues in the prompt book
  
• Let your assistants run the cast
• Have patience.
• This is your rehearsal, do not move forward if
  you are not certain what sequence of events
  happen at any given cue.

15
Calls

• Please and Thank you are the two most important
  phrases you can use. It is polite and shows
  respect. Always use them, the cast and crew will
  follow your example. It may be necessary to
  explain the protocol to a new/young group.
  Example
•  
• YOU 30 minutes, please.
• CAST Thank you, 30.

16
Calls

• Please and Thank you are the two most important
  phrases you can use. It is polite and shows
  respect. Always use them, the cast and crew will
  follow your example. It may be necessary to
  explain the protocol to a new/young group.
  Example
•  
• YOU 30 minutes, please.
• CAST Thank you, 30.
• It is important that they repeat the call back to
  you so that you know they heard it
  

17
On the Headphones

• Within this company, mutual respect for
  everyones work essential or the company falls
  apart. It is not unusual to experience
  inappropriate behavior on the headsets. Even in
  professional companies, technicians will make
  attempts at humor at the expense of the actors
  and actors will take technicians for granted.
  The Stage Manager should not allow this behavior
  to manifest itself within the company.
  Unprofessional behavior, back-stage or on the
  headphones should not be tolerated and should
  immediately be addressed.
•  

18
Calling the Show

• Once the show begins technical, dress rehearsals
  and performances you will be responsible for
  calling all of the technical cues. There are
  standards for calling cues, which each stage
  manager adjusts to their personal style and the
  needs of the production. Example
•  
• Warning light Q 23 (about a page before the Q)
• Standby light Q 23 (about 30-60 seconds before
  the Q)
  
• Light Q 23 GO

19
A Quick Sequence

• Standby light Q 21 thru 26
• Light Q 21 GO
• Q 22 GO
• Q 23 GO

20
Performance

• Your objective is to make sure that everything
  runs smoothly.
  
• Make checklists
• Preshow
• Intermission
• Post show

21
Check lists

• 1.      Doors unlocked
• Dressing rooms
• Theatre doors
• Props closet
• 2.      Lights
• Dimmer check
• Works off
• Panic/housekeeping off
• Grid lights off
• 3.      Props
• Check in
• Pre-set
• 4.      Headsets
• 5.      First aid kits
• 6.      Phones
• 7.      Sound check
• 8.      Crew present
• 9.      Performers present
• 10.  Warnings (30, 15, 10, 5, places)

22
Notes

• Make sure that the house manager is ready before
  opening the house, and keep in contact with them
  about late comers in case you need to hold for
  the house. Be sure to inform the cast that you
  are in a hold. You need to do this at
  intermission also. At 5 go to the booth. Call
  places over the speaker, and have an ASM confirm
  the actors have received the call in person.
•  
• Make sure that you have a complete cast and crew
  contact sheet so that you can phone anyone who is
  late.
  

23
Notes

• Did the stage get mopped?
• Collect all valuables from the actors and lock
  them up. Pass them back after the performance
  
• Watch the show. If it is different from when you
  opened, take notes on what is different. If it
  is an actor, give them the note. If it is your
  crew, fix the problem. To MAINTAIN the show is
  your responsibility.
• Document your notes in performance report. Who
  should be on the distribution list for the
  Performance Report?
  
• Keep track of running times
• Schedule brush-ups as needed to keep the show
  running smoothly.
  
• Clean up your blocking script and prompt book to
  turn in to the Producing Company at the end of
  the run of the show. It belongs to them.