JOB DESCRIPTION
The stage manager is responsible for all logistics regarding running rehearsals and performances. The position is most easily broken into two phases: rehearsal and production.
Rehearsal Phase Duties
Facilitate rehearsals
Take notes of what goes on during rehearsals (blocking, costume, prop, sound notes, etc.)
Maintain rehearsal props/costumes (i.e., bringing them to rehearsal, keeping them safe, letting props know if they run out, etc).
If actors are missing from a rehearsal, it is your job to hunt them down like dogs.
Overall, you act mostly as a liason between the director and the actors.
Production Phase Duties
During the production phase, the ASMs will act as liasons between the SM and the actors, and help out with box office as needed.
Detailed Job Description
Pre-production:
The SM will meet with ASMs to explain roles and determine scheduling for the rehearsal.
Read-through
Be there! You’ll get to know the actors and meet the director, and see how the rehearsal runs. If you haven’t ASMed with the Ensemble before, make arrangements with the SM to observe a full rehearsal before you ASM on your own.
Rehearsal period:
Help run rehearsals.
Take down blocking in SM script copy. Always take down in pencil as everything has a tendency to change.
Keep track of props/set/costumes- note any new changes or director notes
Be on-book for actors. (when they say "line" give them their line)
After rehearsal, put things away as necessary. The SM/ASM is responsible for securing all rehearsal items and the rehearsal room.
Write a rehearsal report. WRITE DETAILED REPORTS. Make sure any notes from the director on what needs to be rehearsed, what props are needed, costumes, etc. are taken down. An example is attached. This helps the prod staff keep updated on new items they need or constraints on items they know about.
Attend Production meetings
Setting up rehearsal:
-Arrive early to rehearsal.
-Set up the room as needed.If it's locked, call CAC to get it unlocked. (617-253-1500: ask to speak to the CAC manager on duty. Program this into your phone NOW. Do it. Go. )
-Tape down the set lines (once we have a set). Start doing this as soon as you have a set layout. It will help the actors a lot later
-Set rehearsal props/costumes.
-For table reads, make sure you have enough chairs and tables.
Making sure people are on time:
One of your tasks it to make sure actors arrive on time to rehearsals, and track them down if they don't. Some tips for making sure people arrive, and arrive on time:
-Call actors who are more than 5 minutes late (or late at all, if you want). Leave messages even if they aren't there (guilt trips).
-Keep a spreadsheet of how often people have been late or their total amount of lateness. This makes for great guilt trips (especially if you send out weekly e-mails declaring who's the latest person overall, or give some other punishment).
-Put actor's phone numbers in your phone. It will save time in the long run.
-If someone is chronically late, it's okay to call or text them before rehearsal starts to make sure they're on their way
-If someone is really late, send someone looking for them. A good way to start with this is to call someone you know if their dorm, and have them knock on their door. Have someone check lounges, friend's dorms, boy/girlfriend's room, the student center, and anywhere else they might be.
The Props Cart
-Use a shopping cart to carry props to rehearsals
-Make sure you know why each thing in the cart is there. If there's a prop in the cart and no one's using it, figure out who should be
Line notes
-Start taking line notes a week or so after the actors go off book
-Get an ASM to come to rehearsal so one of you can take line notes while one focuses on rehearsal
-write down as many notes as you have time for
-If someone is making the same mistake over and over, tell them (in case they don't read the notes *gasp*)
-Try underlining everything that people mess up, and showing them after the rehearsal is over, so they get instant feedback as well as detailed feedback
-Send out the notes as soon after rehearsal as possible