My theatre department, like any good college program, requires us to take classes that teach us disciplines across the board. Everyone, whether you want to be an actor or not, has to take acting. We all have to learn about theatre production (aka things like scenic, prop & costume construction & how to operate a light or sound board, etc.). We all have to take introduction to theatre design.

These classes give us the skills to do basic work backstage at any show (which is something that any theatre professional should know) From there, we all have to work 'backstage' four times throughout the course of our studies here. 

When I was given the option to work backstage, I didn't want to do something like design or build something. I wanted a more central role in the shows that were being performed here. So, when a class that introduced you to Stage Management was offered, of course I took it! 

Stage management is exactly that - you're in charge of everything that goes on in the stage. From Day One of rehearsal to closing night, you are in charge of what goes on. Starting at rehearsal, you tell the actors when to be there. You are in charge of getting the props to rehearsal. You tape out the set (put pieces of tape down in the same dimensions of the set so that the actors understand where to stand, etc. before moving on to the stage). You are in charge of the crew. 

Once the show moves on to the stage you get the biggest job of all: you call the cues. This consists of learning from the lighting and sound designers when they want their effects to turn on/off/change. This can get tough because if you call a cue wrong, and the effect goes off at the wrong time, you have not only changed what is going on onstage, but what the designer wanted for the show. Think about a recent show you may have watched: when the lights turned on/off or changed when different things happened on the stage?

 That was because of a stage manager.

Stage Managers aren't just for theatre performances only. Just about any show on television, some movies and any sort of concert have Stage Managers. Duties change when the type of show changes, but they all do the same type of job: they're all in charge of the effects and the people involved with a show.

It's a pretty intimidating job, if you think about it.

At my school, you get to be an Assistant Stage Manager (ASM) for two shows before you get to be a Stage Manager. Over the last two semesters I paid my dues as an ASM. So, throughout the past week, I have been Stage Managing my very first show. It consists of 22 actors in our biggest theatre with a large crew and a lot of designers. It's gone well so far, but things can change quickly in theatre.

Here's to hoping it stays that way!